Rena spent the next few days working in the restaurant. If she was going to convince Ian to cross her mother then she really needed to build a case. The first thing she noticed was that Clarissa was very visible in the restaurant, and the only time Ian was visible was if he knew that Blake was in the building. The second thing she noticed was that business was booming for The Chicken and Waffle Inn. The third thing she noticed was that Blake was in the building too much; he needed to spend more time at the coffee shop. She was furious with Ian.

"Mrs. Madison, is this how it is every day? I mean, Mom is going round the tables checking for customer service issues, and she's back there helping you to make sure that the orders are put out correctly. I've seen her several times sitting to catch her breath and then she's up again. Does Ian help at all with customer service?"

"If the staff takes a matter to Ian, he tells them to bring me the problem first, and if I can't handle it to take it to Clarissa. To be honest, Rena, I've got my hands full just keeping the staff cooking and putting out a quality product. Have you seen how much we've grown?"

"Yes, it's incredible."

"Blake's got Ian trained really well in operations, but he just doesn't take part in the daily activities unless Blake is around."

"What do you mean by operations?"

"He takes care of the payroll now. He does all of the ordering for the supplies. I handle all of the orders for the food. Blake's finally got him trained to the point where he can use the accounting software without needing Clarissa's assistance. Thanks to Blake, he is showing up every day instead of being here only a few hours a week."

"What do you think he should be doing that he's not doing?"

"He spends too much time on the computer. He should be out and about making sure that health inspection needs are in order, instead of leaving that to Clarissa. We had some temperature issues that needed to be addressed a few weeks ago and one of the freezers broke. He just waited until Blake got around to dealing with it. Clarissa couldn't because she was in chemo. He should be working with me to make sure that the staff is adequately cleaning. I'm in a million places at one time."

"We don't need any problems with health inspectors. I will do a detailed check of the facility this afternoon and I'll take care of this."

Just as Rena was about to go back into the office to address Ian, she saw Clarissa leaning against the wall looking faint. She quickly walked over to her.

"Mom, you're not looking well. Why don't you sit down a moment?"

"I'm fine. Just go back to doing whatever you're doing."

Clarissa walked away and headed for the kitchen. Watching the stubbornness of her mother made Rena wonder if her acts of stubbornness were any different. For years she'd told herself that she had a right to hold on to her anger. For years she'd told Blake she couldn't come home because of Clarissa. As she watched her mother walk away, she was beginning to see that she was looking at herself.

About an hour later, she saw her mother leaving with Eldred. Mrs. Madison walked up to Rena and tapped her on the shoulder.

"That's how she handles things, Rena. When she's not feeling well, she calls Eldred and he stops whatever he's doing and cares for her."

"While that shiftless brother of mine is not paying any attention!" She stormed down the hall and burst into the office. Ian was playing a video game on the computer. Rena was screaming so loud everyone in the building heard it. She snatched the computer plug out of the socket.

"Did you know that Mom just left with Eldred? Did you know that two staff members clocked out today because they weren't feeling well? Do you know we don't have a replacement and Mrs. Madison and I have been helping in the kitchen?"

"Don't get all high and mighty with me. I'm the one that's been here for Mom, keeping this restaurant going."

"No, Ian, Blake's been here and Blake's been the one causing you to perform. I've been watching you for the last few days. When he's here, you work. When he's not, you fool around. Mom can't do this alone!"

"Then you need to come home."

Just then, Blake walked into the restaurant and heard all the commotion. From the looks on the customers' faces that conversation was going to be good fodder for the small town gossip mill. He ran down the hall. The two of them had locked horns.

He closed the door and stepped between them. "What's going on?"

"She thinks she can just come in here and run things while I've been here all along. I might not have everything all together, but I am working."

"Is sitting in an office playing video games working? Is not being aware of what's going on in that kitchen and in the dining area working? Mom went home sick and you didn't even know that. You need to be watching her, not Eldred!"

"You act like you shouldn't have any obligation to this family. Then you come in here trying to tell me what to do. If you loved your mother at all, you'd run this restaurant and we'd all be happy!"

Rena gasped and the color drained from her face. Blake pounded his fist on the desk.

"Enough! Rena is angry. When you love deeply, you hurt deeply. She's always loved Clarissa. She believes that Clarissa doesn't love her. Can't you see that, Ian?"

Then he turned to Rena. She looked like a match had lit her last fuse. He hauled her out of the office to the nearest exit, to avoid the explosion that was sure to follow. They stood behind the building. She leaned back against the wall, facing him, and was totally frustrated. His eyes reflected her pain and his concern for her.

"You're the only one that understands me. What am I going to do without...?"

He placed his finger over her lips to silence her. "Shhh." He didn't want to hear the last word. He leaned forward, kissing the top of her forehead. His lips were encouraged to want more as he heard the sharp inhale of her breath. He feathered kisses down her cheek. When their eyes met, he could see her struggle. Those deep fields of green were indeed communicating her desire and her hesitation. Blake knew she hadn't come home for him, but having her back was utterly addicting. He hovered over her lips, waiting for her to part them. He saw her eyes about to close, but she couldn't.

Her hands splayed across his chest, pushing him back. "Blake."

"What?" he whispered.

He kept hovering. All he wanted her to do was to close her eyes. He felt her resistance fade as her arms slid around his neck. He watched as those beautiful eyes closed. He cupped her face and kissed her in a way that swept them back to another time, in this very place. His arms slipped around her waist, drawing her closer. Heat danced through his veins as he felt her hunger for him rise. They couldn't let go of each other.

As the kiss began to smolder, Rena abruptly pulled away. "Oh, Blake," she breathed.

"I'm sorry, Rena."

"Don't be. We just can't do this, Blake. I had my chance. Please tell Courtney that I won't be able to help with the wedding."

Walking away from Blake at that moment was the hardest thing she'd ever done.

***

On the drive home she couldn't get the sweet taste of him off her lips, or the thought of him out of her mind. She liked what happened and hated it at the same time. This cannot happen again. He's engaged.

Arriving home, she was glad to see Eldred's car in the driveway, because that meant at least Mom was at home and not in the hospital. When she opened the door, she could smell baked chicken and something wonderful with garlic and rosemary in it. Eldred was in the kitchen plating two salads.

"What did you do, Rena, kick Ian out? I've never seen this place so clean, even when Debbie was here."

"I owe you an apology, Eldred."

He glanced at Rena and smiled. She was happy to see that smile, because yesterday had been a total disaster. Rena was not in Savannah to make matters worse for herself or anyone else. She was here to handle family matters efficiently. "It's not necessary. It took us a while before we got to the point where we didn't care what people said or thought."

He was handsome, young and vibrant. Rena smarted thinking that her mother was better off in the romance department than she was. She walked over and sat at the counter while Eldred cooked.

"That looks good. What is it?"

"Chicken breast cooked in rosemary, mushrooms, tarragon and garlic. I made a pot of risotto and a salad. You're welcome to eat with us."

"Risotto? Wow, it's challenging to get that one cooked right."

"Clarissa taught me. We all know she's a great cook."

Cooking classes, hmmm. Rena smiled, thinking about what those two must do together. She imagined them having a lot of fun. It was hard to imagine her mother acting youthful and spontaneous, but obviously she did.

"Is Mom okay?"

The word okay seemed to trouble Eldred. He looked slightly preoccupied at the thought. Rena recognized that he didn't want her to be okay. He wanted her to fully recover. She was touched. That one look let Rena know how deeply committed Eldred was to Clarissa. She knew Eldred was going to do everything possible for her to be well.

"She's resting on the back patio and was a little dehydrated when I checked her. She got overexerted. I keep telling her when the restaurant is too busy, make Ian come out of that office and then go home, but she never does. What happened today is not usual. She's actually been doing better. Today is a setback."

"We had two people out sick and Mom, Mrs. Madison and I picked up the slack. I asked her to take a rest, but she refused. Is there anything I can do?"

"Just make sure she eats. Try to make sure that she's eating foods that are minimally processed and check on her every now and then. See if she needs any pain meds." He finished plating the food and put the plates on a tray. "Rena, I'm sorry for being harsh yesterday, but you really need to talk to her."

"After all these years, Eldred, I don't know what to say."

"How about, I'm angry that you hurt me? Why did you do it? Sometimes, there's more to the story than you think."

"What did she say to you?"

"That's between us. You need this hashed out between the two of you."

Rena sighed as Eldred carried their lunch back to the patio. Then her cell phone rang. It was Blake. She didn't answer. Instead, she waited until the phone stopped ringing and then dialed Avery, her best friend from high school. They arranged to meet at a local park in the area later that day.

***Author Note***

Thank you for reading and voting and commenting and asking for updates.  Love it! 

To: My Beloved Readers

From: Jaspira

Now is my time to say how much I appreciate all you wonderful readers.  While you are reading my stories and getting all emotional.  I am reading your notes, beautiful comments and email messages that you are sending me and getting all emotional too.  The relationship between the author and the reader is a special one.  You read pages of my imagination that bring happiness to your life.  I read pages of your inspiration that brings happiness to my life.  Your support truly inspires me to write.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for sharing your feed back.  Here are my top tear jerkers for the week:

Holy crap. I read this book in one sitting. I love how the book was very detailed and excellently plotted with the minor conflicts here and there. And how everything seemed to be resolved at the end. Wow, for 13 chapters, it's been a hell of a long ride and tons of tissue used and tears produced. One of the best books I've ever read. Thank you for sharing this amazingly written short story with us. It kept me up all night because I just couldn't put it down until I read the next chapter. Once again excellent book dear. It was worth crying over 13 chapters of pure emotional excellence.

I've never cried over a book before, but now I'm crying like my dogs just died.

This story is my number one favorite...it's inspiring and motivating, it made me cry, it made me laugh and it made me want to fall in love again...well put together. I enjoyed it a lot.

A wonderfully written story with so much compassion and love. I would like to read Blake and Rena's happily ever after again and again to remind us that love never dies and endures all. Thank you for the love.