Chapter 21: Dinner with the Daughter-in-Law

  Ray spent most of the next day preparing for dinner. Opening the door, he saw Lily, who was wearing the same blue dress. Ray didn't hold back and gently tugged a strand of her hair, making the girl lean in. Despite her shyness, the girl, who had spent the whole day in nervous anticipation, leaned forward and gave her beloved a tender kiss.

  When they entered the kitchen, Lily unexpectedly found herself in the gentle embrace of a very young-looking woman. She appeared to be no more than twenty-five.

  "My son really does have good taste," the woman said, gently pulling back and giving Ray a thumbs-up. "It's one of his very few virtues."

  Knowing Ray's character, Lily had expected something like this and said:

  "I won't deny that."

  During the cooking, the girls chatted merrily, so most of the responsibility for preparing the food fell on Ray's fragile male shoulders. He didn't mind this arrangement: whatever his mother said, he knew she wouldn't be against his girlfriend unless she did something out of the ordinary. But he was still very pleased by the fact that they were having fun, even though he was probably the subject of their discussion.

  When dinner was ready and they sat down at the table to eat, Amy said:

  "As a woman, it's hard for me to admit this, but when it comes to cooking, Ray has left me far behind. He's been cooking since he was little."

  Smiling, Lily said:

  "My great-grandmother said something simir."

  "I'm sure my culinary skills are one of the reasons I managed to win your heart. So now we know that the way to a man's heart isn't the only one that goes through his stomach."

  "I won't deny that," Lily said.

  "You're very young to be Ray's mother. You look twenty-five, if not twenty. My mother was an actress, but I think even she would pale in comparison to your beauty," Lily said. From the girl's tone, it was clear there was no fttery in her words, only sincere admiration.

  "Thank you, I'm thirty already," Amy replied, smiling tenderly at the sincere compliment. "Looking at you, I can say for sure that your mother must have been a beauty. How would you feel about finding some time, getting together, and watching some of her films?"

  "That's a good idea. I think the doctors will allow us to spend time together at the hospital. We'll need to pick a day when we're all free. Violet will be very happy."

  "Would you mind if I visited your sister?" Amy asked.

  "Of course not. She loves Ray very much, and I'm sure she'll be very happy to meet you."