A few days after Lola was discharged from the hospital, Jules called.

"How about that dinner?"

It has been on my mind but I haven't had time to make reservations because our family was busy with setting up home care for Lola.

Lolo and my Dad were looking for a full-time nurse.

He was hesitant in the beginning but Dad and Regina talked about the advantages of getting help.

There was also the fact that he had a heart condition.

When Lola was brought to the hospital, we were worried for both of them.

It was a huge relief that he called Julia.

If she weren't here to help, the tremendous amount of concern would have doubled.

"Sorry, I've been busy so I haven't got time to make reservations." I told her.

"Why don't I pick you up tonight and I'll take care of it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

She told me she would come by at 7.

"Can't I just meet you at the restaurant? Just give me the address and I'll be there." I suggested.

"I would rather come to the mansion. I want to see Lola Paula too."

I agreed to what she wanted.

When I came back to the kitchen, Luke was eagerly waiting to hear from me.

"Why are you so interested?" I put the phone face down on the counter.

"Because this is the love of your life we're talking about."

My cheeks turned red when he said that.

I told him about the dinner invitation.

"Wow! Is she taking you somewhere fancy?"

"I don't know. She didn't say anything." I went back to slicing the red bell peppers.

Regina was making stuffed peppers for lunch and like what we always do when we're all together, Luke and I helped.

Dad usually takes care of the dishes.

"Are you excited?" Regina looked up from the cutting board.

"I'm nervous."

"Why? It's not like you haven't been on a date with her before?" Luke remarked.

"Because it's like starting over again." I admitted.

I haven't been on a date with Julia since forever.

A long time ago, we usually hang out in the park or at the mall to watch movies and eat ice cream.

I wonder if she still likes ice cream?

While I favor the chocolate caramel flavored ones, she isn't picky.

Except maybe for bubblegum.

I let her try it once and she didn't finish it so I ended up eating the rest of it.

Also, I don't know if she still likes the same things.

Does she have expensive taste now that she could afford it?

Does she prefer to go to fancy restaurants?

Will she still be okay if we go to a roadside eatery?

We used to have so much fun going to those places.

They call it a carinderia—a makeshift restaurant that usually serves local Filipino dishes like adobo, rice, sinigang, menudo, afritada or fried fish like tilapia.

She always worries that I'd get sick but I didn't.

I think my stomach was made of steel and she laughs when I tell her that.

#

After lunch, I went upstairs.

I opened my closet and studied my outfits on the rack.

I ran my hands over the clothes and let it settle on a cream colored long-sleeved floral shirt.

Taking it out of the rack, I felt the soft fabric and admired the huge rose design.

A sky-blue skirt was beside it and standing in front of the full-length mirror, I placed both on top of my body to see how I look wearing it.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my moment.

Regina popped her head and smiled when she saw what I was holding.

"That looks really good on you." She told me when she came in.

"Do you think so?" I placed the clothes on the bed.

"Yeah. I think Julia will be impressed." She sat on the edge of the bed and watched as I straightened the shirt collar.

"Do you need help with anything?"

"I just want to see if you're okay."

"I'm fine now, I guess."

"You seem tense, Arizona."

I sat beside her.

Over the years, Regina and I have grown closer.

She was amazed at how good I was at taking care of Luke when he was young.

They asked me to babysit him when I'm home.

"I don't know what to expect." I confessed.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I just want to do this right, you know? When it comes to love and relationship, my record is at an all-time low." I looked at her warm brown eyes.

"I know Julia is the one for me and that puts a lot of pressure on myself because our situation is basically the same. She's here, I'm there and we have to do the same thing we did years ago."

"Arizona," Regina placed her hand on top of mine.

"If you really want to make this work, I have no doubt you know what to do. You and Julia are older now. It's clear in the way she looked at you that she feels the same way. For two people who truly love each other, everything is possible."

"I guess you know what you're talking about."

Regina smiled.

Years ago, she told me how when she met my dad, she knew he was special.

She didn't know my mother just passed away but somehow, she felt the sadness he carried with him.

They started talking and although Dad never mentioned that he just lost his wife, there was something that drew her to the unspoken loneliness.

"It's in his eyes and the way he would stop talking all of a sudden, as if a word he said reminded him of a memory he had to acknowledge." Regina said to me.

Dad kept his sadness to himself until they started to get really close.

"I knew I was attracted to him from the start but I didn't want to pressure him. He lost the love of his life and I knew I would never be able to replace that." Regina smiled.

"Not that I want to. Kate will always be in his heart and he was brave to let me in."

Of course, there was one other thing she had to deal with—me.

I didn't make it easy for her.

I hated her in the beginning.

I love my mother and the thought that someone was replacing her in our lives was something I couldn't handle.

Back then it felt like Dad was in a hurry to move on from my mom.

I couldn't empathize with his loneliness because I was wrapped up in my own misery.

Regina's presence was a threat and I made sure that she knew about it.

"We've come a long way, haven't we?" I asked her.

"Yes, we did. Just like your dad, you let me in your heart too, Arizona. I knew you were scared back then but I had no doubt you were a good person."

She smiled, the lines on her face deepening.

"I'd better let you finish what you're doing." She stood up and closed the door when she left.

When she was gone, I thought of what she said.

For two people who truly love each other, everything is possible.

I am scared of what will happen.

But I love Julia with all of my heart.

I knew it when I was sixteen.

Now that that I'm older, the feeling is still the same.