Rena and Clarissa enjoyed their reunion.  Over the next few days they became inseparable.  They spent hours talking to each other.  Rena took Clarissa into her world and told her all about what it was like to grow up with her father.  Clarissa often wondered if they had a good relationship.  They did.  Clarissa had loved and respected her father.  Rena told Clarissa about her days in college and her becoming a rising star in the hospitality business.  Clarissa filled in the years of what life was like raising Ian.  They talked a lot about Ian and Debbie's marriage.  It was very hard to imagine Ian without Debbie.

"Mom, did Ian ever try to salvage his relationship with Debbie?  They were so close.  It's been hard for me to get used to her not being in his life."

"He did.  He really tried.  Debbie loved him, but they used to argue all the time.  You know as well as I do, that was just Ian and Debbie.  She wasn't used to life under pressure.  Financial pressure is bad but when you add sickness to it, the situation becomes overwhelming.  Debbie couldn't handle the impact of my illness on their marriage."

"What about their vows, Mom?  They say for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.  You can't bail out when things get tough, right?"

Clarissa held Rena's hand.  She had such a look of compassion in her eyes.  "Don't judge her, Rena.  I believe that she did the best that she could.  Some people are not as strong as others.  They were going through a terrible financial crisis and, unfortunately, that was the time that I needed help."

"I should have come."

"You were in no position to do that.  You weren't aware of everything that had happened at that time.  Now, I know you'll do anything for me.  Take comfort in that."

"Thanks, Mom.  Do you think Ian is going to be okay?"

"Yes, I do.   He and Debbie parted on good terms.  She moved to San Diego to be close to her parents.  I think he'll remarry one day.  He was a good husband.  The divorce just made him depressed.  He stopped caring about a lot of things.  He'll come around. At least, I'm hoping he will."

Once they'd gotten caught up with the years gone by, they decided to spend time with each other outside the house.  They went out to eat with Eldred.  Clarissa took Rena to her favorite shops in the mall and bought her outfits.  Rena hired a massage therapist to come over to Ian's house and give them a refreshing massage.  They were healing and becoming great friends.

***

Several weeks had passed.  Blake was so honorable he didn't put one bit of pressure on Rena.  He would call a few days a week to check on her, but they wouldn't have a long conversation.  He made the decision that he would be in full support of whatever she decided or however she wanted to do it. 

During the weeks that they were apart, Clarissa and Rena continued to spend a lot of time together.  Blake and Eldred were happy about that because it kept Clarissa out of the restaurant.   Without Clarissa being at the restaurant, Ian began to realize that the restaurant was more than about his grandmother and Clarissa.  He began to feel that he had a stake in it and that the Chicken and Waffle Inn had a real place in Savannah society.

Mrs. Madison walked up to Blake one afternoon in the restaurant and handed him a gift-wrapped box. 

"What's this?"

"It's for Ian and I want it to come from you.  It's a plaque for Employee of the Month."

"You're just wonderful." Blake hugged Mrs. Madison so hard that she let out a squeak.  "Maybe he won't be so mad at me anymore, you think?"

"I believe he's really gotten past that.  He hasn't been late to work a single day.  He helps out in the kitchen when we're short on staff.  He's learned to deal with the health inspectors.  If he finds as much as a paper towel on a bathroom floor he calls the janitorial staff in immediately.  He's really shaping up."

"Those are good observations."

"I haven't had to tell him anything."

"Mrs. Madison, you would not believe how well he's been keeping the books.  Okay, let me go and take this to him."

Blake beckoned Avery.  "Go tell Ian to meet me in the kitchen right now."

Before Ian arrived, Blake told the staff what he was about to do and he asked if any of them would like to say something about Ian's growth.  He was surprised at how many people were willing to share.  Then he sent one of the workers to ask Avery and Mrs. Madison to come to the kitchen.  Just then, Ian walked in, followed by the other two.

Ian looked quizzical.  Surely that tyrant Blake had nothing else to say to him? 

Blake patted him on the shoulder. "Ian, on behalf of the staff, we would like to present you with our first ever Employee of the Month Award."

He was stunned.  He looked around the room at all the smiling faces and his skin flushed.  "You're kidding me!"

"No, Ian, you've been doing a great job.  From now on I want you, Avery and Mrs. Madison to select someone for that honor each month.  Eventually we will get to the point where we have some type of special recognition day or a small financial gift for those who make the mark.  We're all a team.  On behalf of all of us, please receive this small gift of our appreciation."

Ian was speechless.  He opened the package, smiled, and then held the plaque up for everyone to see.  They applauded.  Ian looked so proud.  One by one the staff began sharing testimonials on the changes that they'd seen in Ian. 

Avery was the last one to speak.  "Most of us here have been a part of the Blackshear family a long time.  We saw the love Nana had for the place when she built it. We see the love that Clarissa shares every day, whether she's feeling well or not.  We all know the contribution that Blake and Rena made to this place many years ago and where that love of the business has taken them.  I'm so glad that we'll now see that same love in Ian." 

He seemed to hang on every word that Avery spoke.  The image he held of himself was not the image that Avery stated.  Perhaps he couldn't see the value of who he could become.  He listened intently as she continued.

"The Chicken and Waffle Inn is not just a restaurant, it's a story about life in Savannah.  It's given us jobs.  It's given us a place to be entertained.  It's given us great food.  Where would this town be without it?  Thank you, Ian.  We knew it was in you.  I'm so proud of how you have stepped up and are taking a big role in the success of this restaurant.  Keep it up.  You're very talented."

Everybody applauded and he was too choked up to speak.  Ian was shocked at the sensation of a stinging tear that seeped down his check.  He was determined that no one would see another.  So he held his head back until the stinging subsided.  What on Earth had just happened to him?  Blake took the plaque from Ian and had a staff member help him mount it to the wall in the kitchen.

***

When Rena wasn't spending time with Clarissa she was at Dr. Clark's house.  The two of them became quite good friends.  Their chats and peach tea was something that she'd gotten used to.  Today he had the tea prepared before she'd arrived.  Rena took full advantage of his offer to sit on his porch and take walks down the beach.  She was still pondering the situation with Courtney, but she had also been fulfilling Courtney's decision to plan for the wedding.  She and Courtney had spoken a few times to make sure the plans she was making would match the vision that Courtney had in mind. 

Rena also learned exactly where she needed to stand on Dr. Clark's property to see if Blake was on the back porch.  It didn't take her very long to figure out Blake's pattern.  She knew he was never home before 7:30 PM, so as long as she passed his house by that time she could freely walk the beach and think. 

This particular evening as Rena sat outside working on the wedding plans, Dr. Clark came outside and sat with her.  "Eldred told me about the reconciliation and I'm so pleased."

"Thank you, Dr. Clark."

"There were many of us in town who knew the full story, but you have to respect people's lives and only share your opinions when asked.  It's wisdom to handle life that way.  Your father was a good man and so is your mother.  There was not a single time that I am aware of that they didn't have you, Ian and Blake in mind."

"I know.  I've really come to terms with it.  Blake has also been so kind to me by giving me space.  I would like to ask your opinion on one thing."

"You can ask me anything."

"How could they have not seen what their plan would do to Blake and me?"

"You know the old saying, love is blind.  In this case love had blind spots.  They knew that they wanted you to have choices outside of Savannah and to become successful.  They hadn't counted on the fact that you would hate your mother so fiercely.  They never thought that her stubbornness was rooted in you."

"That makes sense.  I didn't realize how much of my mother's stubbornness I had in me until I saw her about to pass out at the restaurant and she absolutely refused to go home.  I could see myself telling everybody, 'No I'm not going to Savannah.'"

"I spoke with your dad a few weeks before he passed away and he was so sure that after he died you would return to Savannah and find a way to make things right with your mother and pick up with Blake.  Everybody wanted you to come home.  He just knew that you'd never live in New York by yourself when you had a whole town of people that loved you."

"Anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness are lethal to love and relationships.  It's amazing that once you give yourself to them, pride keeps you from seeing them in operation.  You don't know how many times over the last few weeks I wanted to kick myself."

"But you didn't know, Rena."