Her Innocence novel Chapter 7

"I-I am g-going to the kitchen." She stuttered as she ran to the kitchen. I chuckled and went to the living room to find the couple already arrived.

"Hey there" Derek got up from the couch as he saw me approaching, we half hugged as I ruffled the hair of a very pregnant Valeria. She scowled at me as flipped her finger at me.

"You are going to have a child act mature for once." I spoke as Derek laughed and kiss his wife's cheek.

"I just love the way she is." He declared. "By the way, speaking of wife where is yours?" He questioned as he raised an eyebrow at me.

"She is preparing dinner." I informed them as they nodded. I talked with them for a while and then got up to check on Janet. I went in the kitchen to find Lydia; I turned and strode towards the dining room to find her putting a dish.

"Janet." She jumped when I called her name.

"Y-yes?"

"Is everything ready?" I asked her as she nodded. "Come join me." I said as I held up my hand for her to take. She stared at my hand for a good two seconds before she placed her on top of mine making me smile. With our hands clamped together we walked towards the living room.

"Guys, the dinner is ready." I said as they turned to face us. They both eyes were fixed on a shy Janet, Valeria eyes went down towards our hands as she beamed at me. Derek stood up and helped Valeria as they both walked towards us.

"Hey. I am Valeria, Derek's wife. We didn't get the chance to talk at the wedding." Valeria spoke first as she smiled warmly at Janet.

"Hi." Janet whispered as she bowed her head in shyness.

"Let's go to the dining room and talk." I spoke as we entered the room.

The whole dinner was amazing and thanks all to Janet. Valeria couldn't stop asking questions to Janet as she was surprised by the cooking skills Janet had. Janet was smiling the whole dinner as I felt my heart jump. That's what I wanted, her to smile all day long.

Me and Derek kept up a conversation of the new resort he was going to buy. We were now in the backyard as Janet bought some tea and sweets for us. The tea was so delicious that I wanted to keep drinking it. Janet and Valeria sat in the corner so me and Derek were listening their conversation.

"So, your mom taught you this?" Valeria asked another question just after Janet explained her the tea's recipe.

"Yes."

"Wow! I want you to be my personal chef." Valeria exclaimed as Janet blushed.

"Can I ask you a question?" Janet asked and I was surprised that she was about to ask something.

"Yeah of course."

**********

"Nathan, she needs help! How can a person not know about these stuffs in this generation!" Valeria whispered-yelled as we stood at the front door. They were about to leave when Valeria said she needs to talk.

"Valeria is right." Derek spoke.

"Listen, even I have a feeling that she has been through something and that was the reason I invited you so she can talk and today she did more than she did in these past two weeks." I explained them and continued. "She does needs help but not with a doctor. With friends, someone she can trust. And I need you both to help her, especially you Valeria." Valeria smiled at her with pat on my shoulder.

"I will." She agreed as I smiled at her, grateful.

"Let's agree to not talk about this and let Janet recover on her own." They both nodded their heads in agreement as I signed in relief.

They left the next moment as I went towards the bedroom to see her already sleeping. I pulled the duvet on top of her as I laid on the other side.

I swear to myself that I would protect her and be by her side every second of my life. Just thinking about the things, she might be gone through makes me sick. What if someone abused her, that's why she always flinches whenever I held my hand up to caress her cheek. All the thoughts were making me go crazy. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about her life before me. And soon enough, I was in deep sleep.

**********