Purchasing My Husband's Mistress

Chapter Fourteen: Dinner With His Parents

While cleaning the kitchen, Bianca overheard Brian telling Olivia that his Parents invited them to dinner the following night. She also detected a hint of sarcasm from Olivia, who didn't seem too thrilled about the news that her husband just shared.

Will she ever accept then, Brian sighed. Hopefully spending more quality time with them will help.

“Good. I cant wait,” Brian ignored the sarcasm and expressed his true sentiment. He was excited to be invited to dinner. He over his parents dearly and he wanted his family to be close with his wife. Nothing would make him happier.

Bianca wondered why the sarcasm. Were the parents of her amazing boss horrible ogres? Probably not, just given how lovely Brian had been. Did they not approve of Olivia? Maybe. Olivia was indeed a strong personality. Or maybe it was just Olivia who didn’t approve of them from the get go, for no reason. That could be too, Bianca pondered. She had recalled Olivia being overly critical of the mailman the other day, calling him lazy. And the same for the gardener, Olivia had to go out and explain to him and detail how she wanted her lawn mowed. All the while, Brian just took it in stride and tried to calm his wife from the undue stress she put upon herself when she wasn’t in control of something or someone, for that matter.

"Okay, Love," Olivia said to Brian as she finally succumbed to their inevitable dinner plans that she was about to be forced upon. Olivia sealed it with a kissed on the cheek and exited the room to return to her office.

I will try to play nice. I’m likable. Everyone I know likes me. It doesn’t mean I have to like them. I can be cordial for my man!

Bianca still couldn’t wrap her head around why Olivia wasn't more excited about the dinner. She would have thought that this was a great family bonding evening for them all, especially since they had been apart for so long. She would give anything for an opportunity like that.

For a second, Bianca began to think of Sunday dinners with her Gram and her brother. Bianca would cook right along side of her, the kitchen would be a complete mess, but there were lots of laughs to have had at the same time. In the living room, Bianca would hear her brother playing his video games and only stopping to come into the kitchen whenever he wanted to steal a bite of whatever they had been making.

Those were the good days, Bianca sighed heavily, missing her family.

She hadn’t seen them since she arrived at the Stanton’s.

I need to call them each later this evening and check in with them.”

Bianca awoke from her thoughts as she now noticed that Brian's mood had shifted since he had too initially entered the room with his wife. He now seemed as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Brian opened the fridge and pulled out a bear.

“Cheers,” he solemnly gestured to Bianca.

Bianca hated seeing him this way. It literally hurt her heart. Brian wasn’t much of a drinker except if he was stressed and she could see the stress written all over his face.

She’s giving me the look. She is giving me the concerned look, he noted.

Bianca was one that could empathize with most people and Brian was easy to do so for.

He chugged the beer and stared at Bianca.

Life would have been so much easier if he had married someone less stubborn, someone like her, he let the thought briefly enter and then disappear from his consciousness.

"Is everything alright," Bianca kindly asked Brian, noting that it was likely a safe question given his alcoholic consumption and the fact that Olivia was safely out of ear shot?

Brian chucked the bottle in the trash. Quickly, Bianca realized she was overstepping her bounds. "Sorry, you don't have to answer that!"

Brian stopped what he was doing and relaxed for a moment. Bianca’s thoughtfulness had made him want to smile, in a time where he wasn’t really wanting to smile at all. He didn’t, however, want her to worry about him.

"Everything is fine. Olivia just needs to understand that my parents are my parents and they love and want what's best for me, what’s best for us, what’s best for our future. My parents are very loving. We have always been very close. They want to be close with her as well.”

“That’s good,” Bianca didn’t quite know what to say. “I mean..that they want what’s best for you both.

“Yes, well, Olivia just likes her privacy, which is okay, but it causes a strain sometimes. She needs to get used to being around them more now that we live so close is all," Brian released his pent up stress into Bianca.

Bianca smiled and gestured showing her agreement with his sentiments.

“Well. It will be fine. It will all work out,” she tried to change the mood.

“”How can you be certain?”

“Because she loves you and would do anything for you!”

“I’m not so sure you are right. You don’t know Olivia!”

“I know she is your wife and if she is as good of a wife as I think, she will do this for you!”

He smiled at her. He loved her optimism.

“See, you already look less stressed. Chin up!”

Just looking at Bianca listening intently made his stress almost seem to melt away! He had tried to keep his distance from her..but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to either. She was a safe space for him and he needed that in his life. Besides his parents, he really didn’t have that, not even with Olivia, he had come to realize.

“Thanks for that," he walked towards her, leaned down to her level, and kissed her forehead.

"For what," she curiously wondered?

She would have listened to anyone who wanted support. It was just her way.

"For caring, for listening, for not judging. For just being you, Bianca!”

Bianca’s heart began to swell. He appreciated her as much as she appreciated his kindness.

“You are most welcome!”

Bianca then continued on with her duties. Walking out of the room Bianca whispered under her breath, “Thanks for being you, too, Brian!”

...........

The next evening, as Brian and Olivia got ready for dinner, Bianca baked them chocolate chip cookies from scratch to take. She figured it would be a nice gesture. Bianca was raised that you should always bring a gift to someone when they host you for dinner in their home. It was just polite. Plus, she lived to bake.

"Here, Ma'am, take these with you.” Bianca handed moved towards Olivia, who was putting on her long tweed jacket. “You will be sure to make a good impression," Bianca carengly handed Olivia the tray!

"Thanks, Bianca, but I don't need any help in that department. They love me already," Olivia added.

Bianca looked at her with a non judgemental smile. She realized just how non self aware Olivia really was. Clearly there was a disconnect with Brian, Olivia, and his parents, and Olivia wasn’t even making an effort that she may be partially responsible for any portion of it.

Bianca chose not to respond, but instead nodded and walked away.

What Bianca didn’t know that as she was walking away, Brian scowled and gestured to his wife.

"But since you made them and put in all that hard work, I will take them. Thank you, Bianca!” Olivia saved face.

“You are most welcome!”

“Enjoy your night off. Feel free to use the indoor sauna or hot tub if you like. It's good to relax now and then," Olivia encouraged her employee as she headed out the door.

Brian looked back at Bianca, wanting to comfort her for her gesture. He then mouthed back, “THANK YOU!”

................

“The cookies were thoughtful,” Brian noted as he held the doors open for his wife.

“U’m. Yeah,” was all that she could bring herself to say.

Olivia did not want to give Bianca any added props. She was already jealous that she seemed to be good at most anything she touched. Olivia hadn’t even needed to correct any of her work. Bianca was smart. She picked up on things quickly. Olivia liked things just so, and Bianca knew how to make them happen accordingly.

Brian and Olivia arrived in the town of York a half an hour later with cookies in tow. Before they stepped out of the car Brian made the first attempt to start the night off right, seeing that the car ride was a little cold and he wanted to fix that. He did not want that bad energy following them inside.

“You look beautiful tonight, My Love,” he leaned over and kissed her cheek lovingly. “You always look beautiful!”

“Thank you. The dress is new,” she noted back as she checked herself out in the small compact that had formally been in her purse.

“Are you ready,” Brian had now gotten out of the jeep and held the door open for his wife again?

“I suppose so,” Olivia forced a sigh as she took her husband’s hand and stepped down off the Jeep running boards.

A pit in Olivia’s stomach formed as she saw her in-laws. They looked so happy to see their son.

"Brian, Son, it's so good to see you, Boy." Brian's Dad gave him a big bear hug as he came rushing towards the vehicle!

He then looked at Olivia. "And there is my beautiful daughter-in-law. How are you, Olivia? " William Stanton gave her a hug.

"I'm well, Sir, thank you for asking," Olivia said, cooley as she accepted his gesture.

"Is that my boy?" Emily Stanton clearly came from the kitchen with apron in tow, went up to Brian, and grabbed hold of his face, pulling him down to her level so she could kiss him?

"Hi, Momma," Brian said happily!

Emily then looked at Olivia who had been holding a glass tray of baked goods. Olivia, you baked cookies; that was thoughtful of you," she reached in to give her a small hug and accept the gift.

"Actually, Mom, our new Maid, Bianca, made them," Brian corrected her innocently.

Olivia looked over at him with a scowl. She apparently wanted to take the credit for the cookies herself. What had he been thinking? Clearly he wasn’t!

Brian instantly picked up on the tension from his wife and tried to follow up with a clever reasoning to ease the tension of his obvious mistake.

“Olivia's been super busy, Mom, with the new house and new place practice!"

"Yes, I hear from Brian that you have become quite a success," Emily noted to Olivia.”We are so proud of you,” Mrs. Stanton smiled back.

"It is coming along; I am proud of it too," Olivia gleamed!

"And I am proud of you, Babe," Brian placed a hand behind the small of her back and kissed her forehead!

"Well, let's go sit, your Mother has dinner ready," William explained.

They four made their way into the house to settle in for the evening affairs. Jackets hit the cot rack and shoes were left on the welcome mat in front of the large wooden door.

"Bianca, why don't you go help Mom bring out the food," Brian mentioned to his wife.

Olivia’s face had gotten beat read. She was mortified.

He then realized that he called his wife, Bianca!

“I’m sorry, Love. Force of habit,” he pulled her into him and tried to apologize.

"Who is Bianca, Son," his Mom picked up on the slip-up rather quickly?

She also picked up on Olivia's reaction to the statement that Brian made and realized that his slip up would have consequences for him later.

"Truly, Love, it was an honest mistake" he ignored his Mom's question and focused solely on Olivia. He then gave Olivia a "please don't kill me" look with raised eye brows and a wrinkled nose.

Brian then looked at his Mom. "Our new housekeeper, Mom, her name is Bianca. She's made dinner most nights for us, so it was an honest mistake, you see."

Emily Stanton played off the mixup and chalked it up to an honest mistake. Little did she know that the story e as bigger than what her son had claimed.

At dinner, the conversation flowed easily for Brian and his parents. Olivia, however, had a harder time connecting. Brian's parents were more down to earth, harder working individuals than she grew up with. Olivia's family was loaded and never had to work for anything. They also had a whole slew of servants working for them.

That was one of the major things that William and Emily had hoped not to see happen for their son.

"So tell me about this fabulous housekeeper, who also cooks and bakes for you," Emily asked inquisitively at the dinner table?

Olivia shifted herself uneasily in her chair.

"When you put it like that, Mom, she sounds like a dream," he chuckled. “Her name is Bianca. She has been a great help to us with Olivia starting her career and all!"

"Well, that sounds nice for you, Olivia," Emily noted. “I’m sure she is a big help,” she extended the olive branch for Olivia to join into the discussion, but Olivia didn’t bite.

Instead, Olivia sifted the food around her plate and gave the smallest smile to his mother.

"Guess what! We have some exciting news," Brian announced to the table, sensing his wife’s uneasiness and wanting to change the subject!

"You're pregnant," William tried to guess as he switched his glance quickly over at Olivia!

"No, Dad, not yet anyway, but we are officially trying," Brian said excitedly!

"That's great you two,” Emily glowed with excitement from the news! "I can't wait to have Grandbabies!"

"Soon enough, hopefully," Olivia smiled at her in-laws! She could see just how happy this news had made them. She was thankful for this. Brian had clearly gotten his sense of family from his parents.

"How will you manage your careers and a child," Brian's dad asked curiously toward Olivia? "Your mother, as you know, didn't work when you were young," he shifted hid gaze back to Brian!

Brian was now the one to get uneasy regarding the questions. He wiped his mouth with his napkin hoping that Olivia would spout off on his parents.

"Well, I will be working! Brian also works from home, so he can chip in, plus that's what we hired Bianca for," Olivia let it slip out!"

Brian but his lip. She had done it.

"Bianca, your super star Maid/Chef," Emily asked? “You hired her already as a Nanny?”

"Well, yes, we hired her to be a maid/future nanny, but she cooks for us now too... until we have children. Although I'm quite getting used to it! We may have to hire an additional person when the children are born," Olivia chuckled!

Brian looked at Olivia, annoyed. He gave her a look of unapproved. They never agreed to that! They really only agreed to Bianca because it was the only way Olivia would agree to having kids. He didn't want a whole staff taking care of his children and his house, like Olivia's upbringing.

Brian's parents sensed his annoyance now; however, Olivia didn't seem phased by it and just blew it off.

"We haven't talked about all the specifics," Brian tried to change the mood. "Still, let us celebrate the future Stanton children," he raised his glass, and they all toasted one another.

........

That evening, after dinner, Olivia sat quietly in the Jeep giving Brian the cold shoulder on the ride home.

Brian thought about the evening. “No blood was shed. Olivia hadn’t faked a headache, as she had been known to do.”

He couldn’t figure out why she, of all people, that evening was upset.

"What is the matter with you, Olivia. I thought we had a nice dinner," Brian admitted!

Bianca huffed her breath! "Well, for starters, you called me Bianca! Do you know how much that hurt me," she raised her voice?

“It was an honest mistake, Liv. You know that,” Brian defended his actions.

"You also happily told your parents that I didn't bake the cookies. Why did it matter that they thought that I did? Lord knows that I could certainly use a break from their criticism," she stated sternly!

"Criticism? That is a lot. My parents at least try to engage with you and you barely speak. How do you think that makes me feel?”

“I ah..didn’t realize,” she tried to back pedal her prior statement.

“Listen, Liv! I am so sorry about the name mix-up again. I take full credit for that," he squeezed her hand to try and calm his wife down. "But honestly, I should be the one that’s upset. We never agreed that we would hire more help! Don't you think we should have discussed that?"

"Well, maybe we should, because we can afford the help, so why not," she asked cluelessly?

"Because that was not how I was raised, and that's not how I want to raise my kids," he proclaimed!

"Well, we're going to have to agree to disagree and re-visit this when we're not so heated," Olivia suggested!

After that, neither husband nor wife engaged further. The rest of the ride home was pure silence. They did not talk, hold hands, or even look at one another for the remainder of the ride.

When they arrived home, Brian did not hold the door open for his wife, which he normally would do. Instead, he was very much in his thoughts.

Olivia, exhausted from the evening and fighting with her husband went straight to bed. She took a Valium to knock herself out. She needed to relax and looking at Brian, who wasn’t giving in to her as he typically did, wouldn’t do the trick.

Downstairs, Brian sat on the sofa and decided that he would watch TV in the living room for a while. He needed to clear his head from tonight's events and lying next to his wife would only make him stew on the matter more than he inevitably would. He was, however, proud of himself for standing up to Liz!

“How could she assume that I didn't need my wife to take care of our family,” he wondered? “That is ridiculous!”

He knew her career was important to her, and he supported that, but he also needed her to put in the effort for him, the children, and the house! He would help, too.

He didn't expect her to do it alone... but he wanted her to want to do those things. She had the luxury of having a career from home where she could set her own schedule for a reason. This should make it easier for her than a typical career woman, Brian felt. There should have been more of a split parenting goal in mind.

Just then, coming up from the basement and walking through the living room in front of him was now, completely out of the blue, was Bianca. She was all-sweaty and wearing nothing but a black bathing suit and a towel.

"Uh, sorry, Mr. Stanton. I didn't know you were home. I ahhhhh...well Mrs. Stanton said I could use the sauna, you see," she explained.

"That is fine. Don't worry about it," he assured her.

Because he was in his head, Brian didn’t give Bianca’s entry much thought, nor did he care at all that she had used the sauna. Instead he was replaying the evening events.

"What are you doing," she looked confused? She sensed that he was not himself.

"I couldn't sleep now if I wanted to, so I'm watching some tv.”

“Oh. Have fun,” she continued drying her wet ends of her hair off and proceeded to head to the guest house.

“Care to join me," Brian called back Bianca, as her patted the seat next to him?

"I shouldn't. I'm all sweaty from the sauna," she admitted bashfully.

"That's alright," I don't mind if you don't," he smiled at her. “I could use some good company!”

Wanting to spend time with him, Bianca chose to sit down beside Brian eagerly.

Then the conversation between the two went quiet and they just stared at one another for a moment, Brian giving into her gaze with a smile. Bianca followed briefly after.

"What happened tonight," she asked?

"Oh! Olivia and I had a fight is all," Brian admitted.

Bianca looked at him a little puzzled. She hadn't seen them fight since she met them, which truthfully wasn't more than a few week ago, but it seemed like so much longer. Still, she thought that they agreed on most everything.

Sensing her confusion, he added, "It only takes a trip to my Parent's house to show me what a different world we grew up in," Brian noted...he then he left it at that and grabbed for the remote control.

Bianca picked up on his lack of interest in explaining, so she tried to change the subject.

"Okay then, so what should we watch?"

"I believe you once told me that you liked scary movies! There's a new Stephen King one on!" Brian smiled, remembering their first alone conversation at the diner. He had learned so much about her that night.

“Deal,” she happily agreed.

The two sat next to each other on the couch. Bianca grabbed a blanket after about half an hour into the movie. Her previously hot, sweaty body was now getting a chill from only being in a wet towel and bathing suit. She should have initially changed, she knew, but she would soak up any alone time with Brian.

"Let me help you, " Brian gestured to her. He then tucked the blanket in all around her and kissed her forehead as they continued to watch the movie together casually.

Bianca, who wasn’t giving initially. Old was now fully content with her surroundings. She hadn’t even worried about her wet bathing suit. She was where she had wanted to be.

An hour and a half later, they heard footsteps coming downstairs.

“Creek, creek, creek..”

It was her! She clearly had just woken, as her hair was disheveled, and her eyes seemed heavy, Bianca rationalized.

"What are you doing up, Babe," Brian asked Olivia casually when she joined in the living room?

"I couldn't sleep! I missed you being near me," she put on her pouty face as she walked over towards her husband, leaned in towards him, and passionately kissed his mouth.

She made sure that the kiss went on for longer than needed. She was not happy to see the two of them bonding over a movie and wanted to show that she still golfed ranks in the household.

Bianca was sitting next to him still, all snuggled in her blanket like an Eskimo. She didn’t let Olivia phase her. Instead she paid attention to the movie. It was all she could do to not watch the makeout session.

"Come to bed, Babe," Olivia whispered in his ear!

"We’re watching a movie. Want to watch with us? It's almost done though," he made it known to Olivia.

"No, Babe, I want to spend some alone time with my sexy husband," she reached over and kissed him again!

Brian looked at Bianca as she finally made eye contact back.

"It's okay. I'm tired anyway. We can finish it another time," Bianca assured him!

Olivia grabbed Brian by the hand, led him up the stairs to their bedroom, and proceeded to make up for the fact that they had argued. In fact, that was her standard tactics whenever she needed to apologize or when she wanted something. She always relied on physical intimacy to bridge the gap between them.

However, this time, forgiving was a lot easier than forgetting for Brian.