Mrs Bridget was the first to speak up as her job was at stake, " young master Edward please I need this job I_" she was saying but Maria Moore interrupted her. " Of course Mrs Bridget know one is taking your job from you not even I will do that" she said locking eyes with Edward James who was staring at her.
She was about walking past him but he stood on her way preventing her.
" If you may excuse me Mr Edward, I'll love to head out" she said but Edward James felt stabbed right in the heart as she called him Mr Edward with no emotion but still he didn't let his feelings show but rather reminded her of Kristen visit.
"I'd love if you prepare the meals for my guest_ please". He reluctantly said please but Maria Moore sighed and went back to prepare the meals.
Maria Moore busied herself in the kitchen not letting Mrs Bridget assist her as she wasn't ready to face her old friends who just arrived. Little did she know just like the saying goes 'IF THE MOUNTAIN DOESN'T COME TO MOHAMMED, MOHAMMED WILL GO TO THE MOUNTAIN".
"Where's Maria bro?" Vanessa asked as they entered the living room.
"She's in the kitchen" he told his sister who was about rushing to go meet with her long time friend but her husband Kristen stopped her.
" Babe not now, she's kinda nervous to meet" Kristen told her in a low voice but Tina wasn't taking it.
"Maaariiiaaaa! Maria, come T girl is here my love I've missed you soooo much_ where are you?" Tina called out to her as she goes into the kitchen where sweet aroma was coming out from "How are you doing Mrs Bridget it's been a while" Tina exchanged pleasantries with the chef who was excited to see her as well.
"Oh wow, I see the reason why young master Edward James is yet to visit his family Vanessa, he got himself a queen; a beautiful one at that" Tina said, though looking at Maria Moore who was trying so hard to prevent her tears from falling but also called out Vanessa from the boys.
Vanessa came into the kitchen and played along with the game.
"Wow Tina, you can say that am jealous over her beauty right now. Edward James come over here! You got some introduction to do_ by the way am Vanessa Kristen, you can call me Essa" Vanessa warmly spoke to her full of smiles. Maria Moore couldn't help it any longer as she hugged her friends who she hasn't been in contact with for so long allowing her tears to flow.
"Oh no don't cry, am truly truly truly sorry for causing your tears" Vanessa said which made Maria to chuckle a little.
"You're such an actress V_ I see now the reason you've won best actress of the season twice" Maria Moore said as she referred to the movie scenery where Vanessa said 'am truly truly truly sorry' that movie actually pushed her to spotlight years ago.
"Am sorry I_" Maria Moore was saying but Tina interrupted her.
"Maria let us all forget the past and focus in the present and hopefully the future and as it is right now am starving I don't know about you guys but these feast over here is asking me to dig in" Tina said as she takes a spoon full of vegetable sauce rice.
The chef set up the dishes on the dinner table where everyone except Maria sat down to eat. Tina and Vanessa couldn't wait as they've long started eating, Kristen was putting food for his active pregnant wife as well eating but Edward wasn't eating. He waited few more minutes but there was no sign of Maria Moore so, he excused himself and went into the kitchen but could not find her.
' where's she' he murmured fully aware she didn't go through the dining room_ the kitchen has a common door leading to the dinning room but it also has an other door into the store and to the garden. Edward James went out to the garden and found Maria assisting one of the domestic staffs with the flowers and he frowned.