Chapter 2

Lance's POV

I headed out to buy the flowers for Carmela but before entering her shop, the reflection of me on her glass window caught me by surprise. Who was that old man who looked back at me? Lance had been flying on a high with the return of his love that it seemed as if time had stopped. As if he had somehow gone back in time.

Yet here he was now looking at a very older man, an older man with some wrinkles and a graying temple. He felt an immense overwhelming panic attack threatening to take a hold of him. But the door to the shop opened at that moment and a woman stepped out. “She’s not here you know, Carmela that is." He looked down to the woman, after a second it registered that it was Carmela's assistant. I had met her at the quick wedding the kids had, and to be honest once before when I placed the standing order for the company.

Looking up at me, she smiled. "I covered all your lose ends and Carmela will not find out about the business you are sending our way. Miranda said you are looking to get her back? I've yet to decide if I like you or not. But when Carmela called today, telling me you were going to her house. Her nervousness made me smile. Now here you stand like a statue leading me to believe you are as taken aback as she is." She said looking smug.

To my horror all I said was "I’m looking old." She looked at me assessing what I said, then smiled. But that smiled had me a little worried.

"A man looks distinguished with some grey in his hair, a woman on the other hand, well let’s not get into that now." She looked at my hair and closed the distance between us as she pulled my sweater lowering my head. Then she took her phone out and dialed. I must admit I thought she was calling Carmela. "Hey baby girl, how is your schedule today. Perfect, I need you to help a friend of mine out ASAP." She hung up then looked at me.

"My daughter owns a shop on the next block, if you go now she will have you looking 10 years younger in no time." Then she disappeared back into the shop. I was left standing there holding the card she had thrust into my hands before leaving. Well hell, I thought as I made my way to my car.

Carmela's POV

I was a nervous wreck as I looked at the time. Lance was due to arrive soon and I was trying hard to settle my stomach. Had I not decided to make Panna cotta I would have been alright. But the one thing Lance loved more than money was my Almond panna cotta with red wine poached pear puree. I have no idea what possessed me to make it.

But when Rose said he was coming, I wanted to rub it in his nose how he had missed out on not only me, but my cooking. Yet now I am feeling as if I might have made a mistake. "Carmela, get a grip. We cannot let him get to us. We are strong, and it seems we are going crazy talking to ourselves in the third person." I laughed and was able to put myself together after that.

"What's so funny grandma?" Little Rose asked as she entered the room. I smiled and yanked her ponytail making her giggle.

"Not a thing sweat pea, what have you been up to? You have been as quiet as a mouse for a while.” She looked up at me and smiled.

She walked over to the living room then came back with two pictures. "Look what I drew for you and grandpa." She handed me 2 identical pictures. In them she had drawn Joshua, Miranda with what looked like a baby in her tummy. Next to them was another couple holding the hands of a smaller stick figure. I smiles since the drawing of each person was a circle with legs and hands. She handed me a crayon "write for me grandma."

I took the crayon and smiled at her. "Ok, what would you like for me to write?" I asked her as I walked us over to the table.

“This is mommy Miranda and the baby. This is daddy here. This is me and you and grandpa." I wrote above each person who they were and then handed her back the crayon. “In my picture we are in you and grandpa’s house.” She said as she walked away. I sighed, to be young again and oblivious to the problems of life. On my way back to the kitchen the door bell rang. I went over to open it and was met with an interesting sight.

A very nervous Lance was standing at her door holding flowers in one hand and a Baker’s square box in the other. But it was the way he looked that caught Carmela off guard. It was like seeing him again for the first time. What did he do to himself? It’s not that he did not look good. But Carmela liked the way he had aged. He was a silver fox.

She frowned as she invited him in and followed behind him. Rose came barreling into the room and Lance picked her up. Yet Carmela was still hung up on his change. Was he trying to look younger? That didn’t sit well with her, because she felt she looked older than him now. She found her hand moving to her own hair. Hmm, maybe she should pay the hair dresser a visit tomorrow.

She walked them to her kitchen table. The formal dining room table was a more personal setting. She was not ready to allow him entrance to all of her house. It seemed not to matter too little Rose though. She chatted to Lance about how cool grandma’s house was and she gave him a tour of the whole house. Poor Rose was unaware about how her grandmother was glaring at Lance. Yet Lance was on cloud nine with this glimpse into Carmela’s life that was offered to him by an innocent little girl. “This is grandma’s bedroom.” Rose said as Carmela sidestepped them.

“I’m sorry but we cannot go in there.” Lance frowned, that was the one room in the house he was most looking forward to seeing. He sighed and admitted defeat as they headed back to the kitchen. There they took their places at the table and had their meal. Rose provided most of the conversation as she spoke about the baby, the wedding, and school.

When dessert rolled around Lance got up and pulled the pie from its box. Rose clapped when she realized it was a French silk one. “Yummy, but grandma’s cotta is better.’ She said as she made her way to get the glasses with the delicious dessert. She was oblivious the way Lance looked at Carmela.

Lance’s POV

I felt my heart speed up as I looked at the glasses, then at Carmela. This has to be a sigh right? Deep inside, she must still want me. She made my favorite dessert. As in a trance I walked to the glass and grabbed a spoon. Closing my eyes I savored each bite. The explosion of flavor transported me back to that day we had a picnic.

Carmela looked so young and innocent. The image of the way she blushed to the root of her hair as she opened the cooler she brought and handed me a glass was burned in my brain. I had brought a gourmet meal our housekeeper had made. So she felt ashamed of her measly contribution to our picnic. But the moment I tasted her offering I teased her and told her I would marry her if it meant she would cook for me every day. It was a sweet day full of fun and exploration.

Lance was so lost in his memories he did not see that Carmela and Rose looked at each other then at him. The smile on his face was that of peace and tranquility. Rose whispered to Carmela “he looks silly.” Carmela was a little unsure of what he must be thinking. She finally got up and cleared things as he seemed to still be lost in his own world. At this point she was done with him in her house.

Once he rejoined them and his eyes opened she cleared her throat. “Well we don’t want to keep you from your busy day. Thank you for coming.” Not willing to take advantage of her hospitality he thanked her and went on his way. Not before offering to cook lunch for them tomorrow. To which Carmela said no, but Rose said yes. So Lance left all excited with the fact Carmela was going to be in his house.

He was so excited he had to share his news with Randal. Once he entered the office all he heard was laughing.”What the hell did you do to yourself?” Randal asked not holding back the laughter. Lance ran his fingers through his hair.

“I took 10 years off,” Lance said with a smirk. “Oh and Carmela is having lunch at my house tomorrow.”

……………………………

The next day Carmela stood holding Rose’s hand a little to tightly as she flashed back to that night she was sent away by Lance’s wife. “To tight” Rose complained as pulled her hand away. She ran to the door and started to pound on it.

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