Soon, Margaret and Alex helped Martha bring the food out, and in no time, the dining table was loaded with a variety of dishes. Martha invited the ladies, and all of them gathered at the table.
"You did not have to work so hard, Mrs Rutherford. Just a simple lunch would have been enough," Jennifer said in her humble self.
"It's nothing much. Like I told you, this was all I had prepared for Alex," Martha said, "Now enough with the chit chat, start stuffing yourself."
"Wow! you are such a good cook Mrs Rutherford," Hazel said as she took her first bite.
"I agree. It's like ages since I have had such a good meal," Karen also agreed with Hazel.
"Thank you. If the meal is to your liking, don't shy away from taking seconds." Martha was all smiles hearing their compliment.
"It's such a shame that Alex is sick," All of a sudden a voice interrupted everyone, " If you could have tasted his culinary skills, you would be licking the plates by now," Margaret said fidgeting with her food.
All the eyes on the table turned towards Margaret and then towards Alex. They were waiting for him to say something, but Alex was reluctant to open his mouth.
"Well... I do make a few dishes," Alex finally said. Right now, he just wanted to get done with this meal without getting any attention from others. 'Out of sight, out of mind,'
"That's an understatement. Alex is an even better cook than me. I have to agree with Margaret on this," Martha added a few points in appreciating her son.
"Newb... I mean, Alex, I hope I can expect you to bring some dishes with you after your vacation," Hazel asked.
"I will. Now, can we focus on the food on the table," Alex said.
The food was so good that the ladies threw their elegance aside and stuffed themselves.
"The food was delicious, Mrs Rutherford. Thank you for your hospitality. But we should get going now," Karen said, ready to leave.
"I will also take my leave now, Mrs Rutherford. Goodbye Alex," Margaret also walked along with the ladies towards the entrance.
"Yeah, goodbye everyone," Alex was more than happy with everyone leaving.
"You should all visit us more often," Martha extended the invitation.
"We will, Mrs Rutherrford," Karen nodded, and all the ladies walked out of the house.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Following the group of ladies, Margaret also left the house. Outside... While the ladies were gathered around each other, Margaret nodded towards Karen and the others as she left. The group just stood there as they watched Margaret walk out of Alex's courtyard and walk to the house next door.
"So she lives next door," Hazel said.
"Maybe there is really something going on between Alex and the lady named Margaret," Ellaine said, "That dirty little pervert, trying to taste every sushi he can."
While Hazel and Ellaine were busy speculating the relationship between Alex and Margaret, Karen silently stood there, lost in her own thoughts.
From the moment she saw Margaret on top of Alex, she had this indescribable feeling in her heart. She felt unhappy, sore, and a bit jealous as well. And she understood her condition very well. She was not some teenager unknown to the ways of the world. But this was the first time she felt this way. There was never a moment in her life when she felt this way for anyone, especially for her drunkard husband, and her youth was spent building her career. Karen looked at the closed door of Alex's house.
'You are late,' Karen thought.
"Let's go now. There is no need for you to poke anymore in Alex's personal matters," Jennifer said and brought everyone's attention to herself, "Who he sleeps with is entirely his choice and his alone."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the ladies left, Alex, dash hoped on one leg back to his room to avoid his mother. But Martha was in no mood to leave things unanswered. She hurried behind him, and before he could lock his room, she put her foot between the door.
"You are not getting out of this easily. Now, let me in, and explain to me what's going on between you two," Martha said as she tried her best to not let Alex close the door.
"Mom, really nothing is going on between me and miss Cole. You have to believe me," Alex insisted.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Then what was that?"
"It was a series of unlucky events followed by mistimed entry from you guys,"
"Look, Alex, not that I am against it, but you should at least let us know beforehand about your relationships and your plans..."
"... And you should refrain yourself from doing something hanky panky in the house itself," Martha said, "Here, I haven't got anything for years, and my son is..." Martha whispered to herself.
"What?" Alex couldn't hear the last part.
"I am saying I don't want to catch you naked in bed with a girl. That will make things awkward between us," Martha said.
"Mom!!"
"Okay fine, I will take your word on it," Martha said, "But let me check your temperature before I go."
Martha checked Alex's temperature and his pulse, and everything was almost normal.
"Rest today, and you will be fine by tomorrow," Martha instructed, "Also, don't hop like a rabbit. Even if it's not serious, a torn ligament is painful."
After Martha left, Alex crawled into the bed. The scene of Margaret trying to unbutton him continued to play in his mind in a loop. But he had no silly smile on his face but a rather unusual smirk. He looked at his palms which squeezed those white butt cheeks of hers. The scene continued to play in his mind, and in no time, he had a boner in his pants.
To divert his mind from Margaret and get rid of such thoughts, Alex started playing games on his phone. He already had Susan. How can he think of someone else?
'I should meet up with Susan first thing when I am at Theation. She might think I am avoiding her after a night thing,' Alex thought.