Carmella entered Fernandez's room holding a tray of well-prepared lunch meal. With a smile, she put the lunch on the study table in front of the gentleman, "Time for lunch." She lovingly mentioned in Spanish, "I made your favourite; Sorrentino and locco, with el submarino. You always like it even in hot weather."

"Thanks." Fernandez appreciatively said, as well in Spanish, "Looks good."

"And delicious. You will love it." Carmella was all smiles and loving.

Fernandez glanced up at her with a nod, then put aside the books he had been working on and started feasting on the meal, the lady still standing beside him.

Then almost immediately, a thought struck him, making him worried about the attention the lady had been giving him lately.

She now took care of him as if he were actually her husband. She wanted to do everything for him; preparing his food, making his room, doing his laundry, setting his clothes in his wardrobe after the laundry and attend to him in the house.

Fernandez was able to know the reason why she was this caring and attentive, and he wondered why she would put her energy and effort into it. We are family, Carmella, my wife will come from outside the family, and she will be the one doing what you are doing...

"Tomorrow at the party," His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as the lady talked, "Are you going to bring the... girl from your university?" She spoke with slight hesitation.

"Wanjiku?" Fernandez looked up at her from his study seat.

"Yes." Carmella swallowed, "Are you going to bring her?"

"Yes." Fernandez nodded, "We are now pretty close, and I wouldn't mind bringing her to my parties and occasions."

Carmella was inwardly crushed by the information, but she tried her best to suppress it.

"By the way, Carmella." Fernandez stopped eating and looked at her, still in Spanish, "I love this girl. She is special and makes me feel great. I don't think if there will be a girl who will ever make me feel the way she makes me feel."

Fernandez then decided to bring up his concerns, "I have been noticing you, since we talked about her, doing things for me. I appreciate it, but if it means that you are after my approval and like so that I forget about her, then I am sorry because that can never be possible. She is already deep in my heart and mind. So, let us just be family, like we are, with no more special attention and care, okay?"

Carmella was further crushed, the feeling tormenting and tantalizing her deep within. It made her develop a refractory hatred toward the other woman, "But, Fernandez, what do you see in her? Is it the knowledge and education you both share?" Her tongue desperately slipped.

"Carmella, what I have seen in her is what a man sees in a woman who makes the man feel great. She makes me feel great. That's all."

The expression of pain and hurt was now open and visible in Carmella's expression, in that Fernandez could be able to see it.

"Okay..." Carmella said in a quiescent melancholy, "But just know that I will always be here for you if you need me. Since I came to your home I have always been caring for you. It will be no different." She paused, trying her best to control her emotions, "Please, continue with your lunch before it gets cold. Excuse me." She said and started toward the room’s door.

Fernandez's eyes were on her until she reached the door and closed it. Her words and manner left him with guilt, growing after every passing second. He hated how he had made her feel. But he knew that sometimes in life, one may emotionally hurt another without actually intending to.