Damsel Not

CHAPTER 14

Katie strode into the kitchen feeling fresh, sated and hungry. She was starving. She lowered herself to the counter stool, watching Beatrice rinse a few dishes in the sink. A week ago, she would have been a nervous wreck, having someone touch her things, having people watch her TV, sit on her couch, and literally be in her house.

She hated it, hated people, but these are not just people, they are her family now, her people too, family that looked out for her interests, her heart, and she too had to compromise and let them into her space. Like let Jake squeeze in a recliner for his dad, and majorly for himself when his dad was not sitting on it.

And as of a few days ago, host dinner for the whole family, and make a few African dishes, to satisfy their curiosity. Her heart swelled thinking about how they gobble down her food, with not an ounce of criticism. Back at home, she never cooking anything right, she was constantly reprimanded for putting too much oil, too much salt, overcooking it, mixing the food at the wrong time, and the best of all serving food that was still alive.

Her cooking was good, she knew it, and her family knew it. Because every time she made them a meal, they'd threw all sorts of insults at her, while devouring their food, licking their plates empty. Not a piece of the food she ever cooked was thrown in the rubbish, and not an ounce remained un eaten. She'd smile at herself, but the insults to her hands took root, and one day she stopped cooking, and now was labeled lazy. But she preferred that insult, for it was a constant, unchanging, and she didn't have to work hard only to be ridiculed, no, she only had to do nothing.

A plate of cubed beef, meat balls and salad was pushed in front of her. She lifted her head to find Jake smiling down at her, a full plate in his hands, and he come around to sit with her.

"I figured you were hungry. You are always hungry after sex." He said, playfully.

"Yeah, I always am, but shhh, your mom will overhear you." She replied, under her breath. "And Jake, you aren't asking for too much." She kissed his lips, taking the beef that he had between his teeth.

"What are you two whispering about? Glad you could join us. We have some news." Beatrice suddenly spoke.

"What is it mom?" Jake asked.

The kitchen was soon filled with listening ears who already knew what was next.

"So, in light of what happened here today, we all thought it would be nice to cheer up Katie a little bit, so we all voted, and your father is going to fuel up the old plane, new actually, sorry your lives are not in danger, anyway, we'd like to properly welcome Katie into the family with a 7 day trip to the coast, or another destination if she hates the ocean." Beatrice looked at Katie expectantly.

She knew that offer wasn't quite a catch to Katie, she could easily take herself to any beach in the world for a month, it was hard to give someone who has everything something as a gift. She knew it. But this time, it was not a trip she was offering, they all knew it, it was a chance to make Katie feel like she belonged. An apology from Jacob for thinking her an opportunistic b***h wanting to drain all the life from his son, and his brother James for fueling his father's rage. For Cassie, well Cassie just wanted to play with her locks, she wanted her as a client, to style her beautifully and if she'd allow, have her as the face of her company.

"I'd like that."

"Splendid, we leave tonight, plenty of time to pack."

"Wait, what? I have meetings on Monday." She spoke with a morsel of food in her mouth.

"Your assistance has rescheduled for you, the moment I mentioned vacation, he almost rescheduled the whole month, says your bones need a break, not just your head." She laughed fitfully.

"That sweet boy is hilarious. Bring him along for branch next week, okay?" Jacob called from inside the fridge.

Everyone began to filter out slowly and soon the house was very quiet except the clanking of spoons and plates.

"Thank you for that." Jake eventually broke the silence.

"It's the least I could do, they look truly sorry, and there is no need to take it out on them." She answered, not looking up.

"You have a beautiful heart." Jake reached over to twill a loose lock on her shoulder, admiring how ragged they looked on her head. His family must be blind if they couldn't notice her, 'I've just been f****d hair.' Surely, they aren’t that dumb. He thought.

"I get to f**k you on the beach, you know. Just imagine it, one week of s*x, food and no responsibilities. Just you, bound and writhing for more, intoxicated and adventurous. Oh Katie, you'll need rehab after I'm done with you.” He said, feeling like a thousand backs.

"Isn't that the other way round though, " she asked, sheepishly.

Jake burst out laughing.

"Might be, we'd both go on rehab, and share a room."

"That will beat the whole purpose of rehab, but I'll take it." She said happily dropping from her seat to rinse their plates.

Jake watched her gracious movements. How she constantly flipped her hair backwards, even though they fell right back on her sides, she loved him; she just didn't know what love really felt like to acknowledge it. All this, his family, her house full of his presence, how her body sought him at night, she loved him, just didn't know she was doing it, she was blind to it, and before the week ended, she'll know it too.