CHAPTER 142: FORGIVING HUBBY I
Suzanne was waiting for the couple at the foot of the steps. Once they arrived home, Diana didn't wait for her husband to open her door. She did it herself and stepped out, running toward the house to avoid him grabbing her.
Suzanne stopped her at the stairs. "What is wrong, my darling child?" she asked when she saw Diana's teary eyes.
"I'm fine, Grandma," Diana responded sulkily, lowering her head. "I just had a bad evening."
"Is my hoodlum of a grandson the cause?" Suzanne asked again.
Diana managed a small smile and nodded in affirmation.
Suzanne turned to James, who had joined them on the steps. "James DeNiro Alfred!" Suzanne shouted at her grandson.
Diana shivered, startled by the strength in the frail-looking woman's voice. She hadn't expected such authority from her.
James looked at his grandmother with regret. "Before you say anything, I know, Grandma. I regret making her cry, and we'll settle it between us."
"Well, I don't see that happening," Suzanne countered sharply. "You had all the time in the car, and you didn't use it wisely. Just know you're not speaking to her again today."
Turning to Diana, Suzanne softened. "Come darling, let's get you upstairs."
Diana, grateful for the intervention, nodded and allowed Suzanne to help her up the stairs.
Suzanne stopped with Diana at the top of the stairs and turned back to her grandson, who still stood there, stunned. "Oh, and I'm sleeping here tonight," she declared, her voice firm. "And she's staying with me. So, you can start dealing with that right now."
James blinked once, then twice, before turning and kicking the edge of the bottom step, sending small chips of stone scattering across the floor. But the two women had already disappeared through the doorway.
Suzanne led Diana directly to their bedroom and helped her shower and change.
Diana was just putting on her nightclothes when James entered the room.
He saw Suzanne helping his wife dress; they were so focused on each other that they didn't notice him at first. He cleared his throat.
The two women turned to him. "What do you want?" Diana asked, her tone still sharp and cold.
James ignored his wife's question and addressed his grandmother. "Grandma, please, can I talk to my wife alone?"
Diana cut in before Suzanne could answer. "Grandma, I don't want to talk to him. Maybe after I've eaten, because I'm really hungry right now."
"Well, James," Suzanne said, turning to him, "you heard the lady. This discussion, or whatever you have to say, can wait until after dinner."
At dinner, James took it upon himself to serve Diana, placing food on her plate. He noticed she wasn't putting anything on his, a clear indication of her continued anger.
He also noticed she was wearing one of the old, unflattering nightgowns he thought he'd gotten rid of. He wondered where she'd found it; he was quite certain he'd burned them all. Now, it seemed, that wasn't the case.
Diana ate the food on her plate in silence, the rest of the meal continuing under a thick blanket of tension.
Nicodemus, standing nearby, swallowed nervously, silently praying for the tension to dissipate, but his prayers went unanswered. Finally, the strained dinner came to an end.
Diana looked up at Suzanne. "Grandma…" she began.
"Do you feel like you're going to be sick?" Suzanne asked immediately, a flicker of concern in her eyes. James also perked up, a hint of panic in his expression.
"No, no, no, I don't," Diana reassured them, smiling and gently touching her stomach. "We're just very full," she added with a yawn. "And obviously very tired. I mean," she continued, her brow furrowing slightly, "I shouldn't be this exhausted. I didn't do much today, plus I slept through most of it."
James visibly relaxed, while Suzanne offered Diana a warm smile. "Honey, it's often like that in the beginning," she explained gently. "Your body needs time to adjust to being pregnant and still working before you start to feel less fatigued. At least for a while."
"Well, okay then," Diana conceded, a smile returning to her face. "I bow to your ultimate wisdom." She laughed, and Suzanne joined in, the shared laughter easing the tension considerably. Conversation flowed freely between the two women, completely excluding James.
James's grip tightened on the fork in his hand, his jaw clenching. He threw the fork onto the table, making both Diana and Suzanne jump. He stood up abruptly. "I'm going to bed," he announced stiffly. "You ladies have a great night."
They simply nodded, barely glancing at him, and resumed their conversation as if he hadn't spoken.
So much for annoying his wife in front of his grandmother, James thought wryly. He scoffed softly and went upstairs, heading straight to his study to catch up on some work before his trip the next day.
After spending another forty minutes with Suzanne, Diana stood up, stretching and yawning. "Grandma, I think I should call it a night."
"Oh, dear," Suzanne said, rising with her. "You're staying with me, right? Or do you want to go to him?"
"I want to go to him," Diana admitted. "He's traveling tomorrow, and if I don't spend these last few hours with him, I know I'll regret it. Even if I'm still angry, just being close to him will be enough."
Suzanne smiled understandingly and nodded. She enveloped Diana in a warm hug before gently nudging her forward. "Go on, then, and have a good night. Remember, if he upsets you, I'm just down the hall."
Diana returned a small smile and headed upstairs. She went to their bedroom but found it empty. She then went up to his study, entering without knocking.
James was leaning back in his chair, head tilted back and eyes closed. Was he asleep? she wondered.
She approached as quietly as possible, then realized with a small smile that this was her husband. He likely knew she was there even before she opened the door.
As if confirming her thoughts, James opened his eyes and swiveled his chair to face her. "You're not asleep yet?" he asked, his voice low and warm.
WARNING! WARNING!! WARNING!!!
INTENSE S** SCENE COMING UP IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. UNDER 18 PLEASE BE ADVISED.