Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"Join us!" Chris said, without asking for my opinion.

Jewel promptly sat down and looked at the dishes in front of her with a longing expression. "Grilled fish! I've been craving this lately."

"Shall I order you some foie gras as well?" Chris asked without a hint of hesitation.

"And add a dessert, please. Frozen yogurt with strawberry jam. For the drink, I'll have orange juice," Jewel said. She turned to me. "Madeline, would you like some orange juice too?" "It's alright. I'll just have water," I replied, putting the foie gras on my fork into my mouth.

The foie gras was smooth and creamy with a milky scent.

"Chris, is the foie gras you brought me before from this place?"

Jewel's words made me pause mid-chew.

I looked at him and saw a slight discomfort in his expression.

He slowly replied, "Yes."

No wonder he knew the foie gras here was good; he had bought it for someone else many times. Meanwhile, today was my first time having this.

He was doing this out of guilt as a form of compensation.

Suddenly, the foie gras in my mouth lost its flavor. I couldn't swallow it.

"So that's why the smell of the foie gras was so familiar when I passed by here." Jewel smiled at Chris, her eyes filled with a delicate tenderness that seemed to ensnare me, making it hard to breathe. She then turned to me. "Madeline, Chris must bring you here often. That's why he bought the foie gras for me; he knows how good it is."

As if stabbing a knife into my heart wasn't enough, she had to twist it. I felt the full impact of her words.

I looked at Chris. "No, this is the first time. I'm not as lucky as you are, Mrs. Goodwin."

Jewel's smile faltered, and she lowered her gaze.

in a frail voice, "Lucky? Ian has left me

began to fall immediately after her

was taken aback. How did a

Jewel a tissue.

tissue from Chris and wiped her eyes. "Sorry. My emotions are all over the place because of the pregnancy.

something you don't have to. We already ordered the food. Try the grilled

go of her and was about to place a piece of fish on her plate with his fork when I interrupted, "Chris, you should use the serving utensils, not your own fork, to serve Mrs.

considerately, "Chris, there's

took my plate, picked a piece of fish, and carefully removed the bones for me. I remembered the time I got a fishbone stuck in my

with one hand and offering me a sweet treat

you

in my mouth. After a moment, I added, "It would be a problem if he treated others the same way, wouldn't it, Mrs. Goodwin?"

subtle exchange between them wouldn't have been so evident if

along are you in your pregnancy?" I changed

your foie gras soon, it will get cold, and the

was trying to stop me from

he had assured me the child wasn't

was a hidden secret about the child or

I was

is already off,"

my appetite after learning that he

sharply when he sensed my change in

atmosphere we had when we first entered the restaurant

were served. The waiter politely asked, "Would you like the

then looked at Chris. "Chris, could you help me cut it? You've done it before; you know just

slicing services. Let's not trouble Chris, especially since he is busy with

I didn't think it through. I'll do it

by others,