The noise went off again and she noticed it came from the kicthen. Her heart started racing in anxiousness. Should she hide? Who could have possibly broken into her home? it can't be them. She's been very careful. Who could it be? What do they want? 'I need to defend myself!'
She looked around for a possible weapon. All she could get her hands on was the coffee table. She stood and walked over to lift it. She groaned when she could barely lift an inch of the mahogany coffee table. 'I should have bought something lighter', she thought as she grunted. She was so caught up in trying to lift her 'weapon' she didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching.
"Emily? What are you doing?"
Amy turned to find a befuddled Stella staring at her. She paused in her movements and fell into confusion as well. "Stella? Didn't you go to work?"
"No, I took the day off. You didn't look too well earlier. You didn't answer my question. What are you doing dear?"
Amy had an 'ah' moment as she remembered the morning events. She must have fallen asleep while Stella was in the kitchen. She looked down at her awkward position and felt embarrassed. "I was trying to stretch my hands. But you should have gone to work. I only fell asleep. Look at me, I'm fine."
She said it all in one breath leaving Stella to shake her head. "You're not fooling anyone dear. You still look pale. Don't stress yourself. Sit down, I'll heat up our lunch and bring it right out. Sit. And don't move a muscle."
Stella disappeared into the kitchen only when Amy settled back down on the sofa. This woman is really a nagger, but she felt like she was being spoiled instead. The corners of her lips lifted as she reached for her phone and checked her emails. Nothing new. Less clients means job well done.
"Emily?" She heard Stella's warning tone.
She quickly put her phone away and sank back in her seat. The older woman set the aromatic beef Wellington meal on the coffee table since Emily didn't have a dining table. And Stella was trying to keep the girl out of the kitchen lest she falls sick again. She served her a bigger portion than what Amy usually takes but she received it anyway. She moaned when she felt the flavours melt on her tongue.
"How is it?" Stella asked with a giggle.
"So good. So, so, good!"
"I'm glad to hear that. Eat your fill. Let me know if you need some more, alright?" She said with a gentle smile.
Amy could only nod as she ate. The two fell silent as they focused on their meal. But there was something bothering Stella. She looked at Amy's bare fingers then back at her plate. Curiosity was gnawing at her insides. She was caught between keeping to herself and satisfying her curiosity. At the same time, she didn't want to offend the girl. But it would be wrong to make assumptions. She could get the truth, just in a less offensive way.
"You have a beautiful home dear", she started casually.
"Thank you. Yours is more beautiful." Amy shielded her mouth with her hand as she was still chewing when she responded.
She really felt so when she thought of Stella's unique decorations of vases, abstruct painting, and her framed family pictures arranged in a heart shape. Wait, pictures? She quickly looked around and realized hers was bare. Besides the ring, there was no evidence whatsoever that she was married. Her panic started to kick in as she silently prayed that Stella would not go there but no, she was wrong.
"I haven't seen your husband's picture or your wedding pictures....", Stella trailed off as she observed Amy's reaction. She was ready to apologise and drop the topic at the earliest sign of sadness on her face when Amy's response took her by surprise.
"Yeah, we never took any."
Although she was calm, the wheels in her head were spinning thinking of where to take this lie she had started. What reason could she possibly give that made sense? She couldn't fake his death since she had already lied that he was alive and away.
"How come? At least for your wedding he should, yeah?"
"No. He's ugly." She blurted before she could think.
"..."
Silence. The two women stared at each other, one in clear disbelief and the other concealing her disbelief with a straight face.
"What?"
"He's very, very ugly so he decided not to take any pictures. So why should I when my other half doesn't want to either?" Amy shrugged.
"You... You... Are you serious?"
Amy nodded with all seriousness.
"Then why did you marry him?"
"For his charm." Stella immediately thought he must have a good personality at least. It was common for beautiful girls like Amy to forego looks and instead be attracted to someone's personality. She had just convinced herself when Amy's next statement made her drop her fork.
"He has lots of money. It's quite charming if you ask me."
"..."