Chapter 8 She Likes Taking Care of People
Moreover, she wasn't even sure if the Riverside Apartment had a mortgage. If it did, the monthly payments on such an expensive place would be substantial.
She needed to curb Steven's extravagant spending habits!
"Man, seventy-five bucks is a lot for cherries," Nora said seriously. "You don't get how expensive things are until you have to manage a budget. If you keep buying everything, we're gonna run out of money soon."
"Just let me know when we do, and I'll give you more," Steven replied casually.
Nora felt a warm twinge in her heart and whispered, "Even if you have money, you shouldn't waste it. We should save it for important things."
Steven couldn't grasp this kind of frugal mentality. He ignored Nora and tossed the box of cherries into the shopping cart.
Nora tried to take it out, but Steven shot her a stern look. "Try taking it out again."
Nora didn't dare to touch it.
Steven could be really intimidating when he was angry!
After finishing their shopping, Nora reluctantly paid the $180 bill with her phone, with the box of cherries alone costing $75.
Back at the Riverside Apartment, Steven carried the flour and cherries inside while Nora hauled the rest of the groceries.
Nora put on an apron and began preparing the vegetables skillfully in the kitchen.
Steven headed to the master bedroom to get the divorce papers.
Just as he picked them up, his phone rang. It was his friend.
Steven tossed the papers aside and stepped onto the balcony to take the call. "Hey, what's up?"
"Hey, I heard you're back in town. Wanna grab a drink tonight?" his friend Chris Green invited.
"I've got plans tonight. Maybe another time."
On the balcony, Steven noticed a few pots of vegetables growing.
Nora had planted tomatoes, and the rest were lush and green, though he couldn't tell what they were.
They were pretty well-kept, arranged neatly, adding a touch of life to the otherwise empty balcony.
Steven hung up the phone and walked back inside.
Nora was at the counter, cutting vegetables with her back to him.
The bustling sounds of the kitchen created a warm, homely atmosphere.
Nora was slicing a cucumber, popping a piece into her mouth, and chewing it with a bright smile on her face.
Steven thought she looked a bit silly, but also kind of cute.
He decided to wait until she finished cooking.
Enjoy the last moments of warmth, then proceed with the divorce.
"Need any help?" Steven asked her.
Nora found Steven quite considerate. Unlike many guys who would just lie around playing on their phones, he actually offered to help with chores!
Her eyes curved into crescent moons. "Could you help me chop some vegetables?"
Steven looked at the potatoes on the cutting board, feeling unsure. He had never chopped vegetables before. "I don't know how."
"Well, you can learn," Nora said, handing him the knife.
Steven sighed inwardly, took the knife, and awkwardly started chopping.
Nora covered her mouth and giggled quietly beside him.
Even though Steven wasn't very good at it, she didn't want to criticize him. Everyone had to start somewhere, and with practice, he would get better.
Maybe in the future, he could help her cook every day. The thought felt warm and comforting to Nora. She closed the kitchen's glass door and skillfully started frying the meat. Soon, it was done. "Steven, can you grab me a plate?"
"Where are the plates?"
"In the dishwasher, right next to you."
Steven opened the dishwasher and found the dishes still wet. "What's the deal? Is the dishwasher broken? The dishes aren't dry."
Nora blushed and said awkwardly, "Uh... no, I just don't know how to use the dishwasher."
She felt a bit embarrassed. Even though they had a dishwasher, she'd been hand-washing dishes for the past three months.
But since she usually ate alone, there weren't many dishes to wash.
Steven was a bit helpless. "Can it still dry now?"
"Probably not. It's already past eight. It might take a while to dry. Let's just use them for tonight."
Steven frowned. He had a bit of a cleanliness obsession and found it hard to use dishes that hadn't been properly sanitized.
Nora suggested, "If you find them too wet, you can rinse them with hot water."
Steven actually did rinse them.
Nora was a bit speechless.
What's the big deal? She's your wife, not someone to be picky about. What a strange man.
Nora made three dishes and a soup, filling the house with a delicious aroma.
"Dinner's ready!" Nora called out, going to serve Steven some mashed potatoes, only to realize she had forgotten to make them.
"Sorry, Steven, I forgot to make the mashed potatoes."
Steven confirmed once again, she was indeed a scatterbrained woman!
"Let's just have the soup," Steven said, feeling hungry and not wanting to wait for more cooking.
"Okay." Nora served him the soup, placing a large chicken drumstick in his bowl and filling it to the brim.
Steven noticed she liked taking care of people.
In the morning, when there were no towels, she immediately remembered and bought them in the evening.
She seemed to have a habit of giving the best to others. The cherries she had washed were placed by his side, even though she had stared at them longingly in the supermarket; she hadn't eaten a single one since they got home.
"Do you like taking care of people?" Steven asked, sipping the soup and surprised by how good it tasted.
Without a word, he pushed the cherries toward her.
Nora noticed his gesture and felt warm inside. She smiled, "I guess so."
Her family had always favored boys over girls.
Since she was young, her parents had always told her to give in to her brother, saying he was the pillar of the family and she should always let him have his way.
When the family made chicken soup, Nora never went for the drumsticks.
She knew they weren't for her. If she took one, her father would roll his eyes and say, "Why is a girl so greedy?"
Growing up in such a family environment, she had learned to avoid being disliked by not taking anything for herself.
That's why she was so grateful to Steven.
When she was penniless and kicked out by her family, wandering the streets, Steven had said, "Do you want to marry me?"
He was so handsome, sitting in his car, saying those words like a god descending from the heavens to save her from her plight.
Nora was filled with gratitude.
For the man who gave her a home, she instinctively wanted to be good to him.
"I guess I have a bit of a giving personality," Nora admitted cheerfully as she took a bite of meat.