“And you too, Grandma.”
“Yes, I’ve been there, but the job of raising you has always been your dad’s. And outside of spoiling you rotten I think he’s done a wonderful job.” Sylvie’s laugh was like the tinkle of bells. “She’s got him wrapped around her little finger,” she said to Roman, “but it’s only because he’s had to endure two major scares in his life. One of them left him without his wife and me without my daughter.”
Roman frowned. “Two major scares?”
Sylvie nodded. “Yes, he almost lost Serena, too.”
“Grandma, you don’t have to-”
“It’s okay, Serena,” Sylvie said as she walked over and put her arm around her granddaughter’s shoulder. “We need to speak about these things. It’s not healthy for us to bury our pain. This is the only way we can find healing.” Sylvie’s eyes grew misty. “Serena had leukemia when she was eight years old. She spent quite a bit of time in hospital and Richard almost went crazy with worry. He couldn’t bear to lose this one part of Patricia that she’d left behind.” Sylvie wrapped her arms around Serena’s waist and pulled her close and there was a tremulous smile on her lips. “But my Serena pulled through. She was a fighter, this girl. There was nothing that would keep her down.”
Roman nodded and looked at the two women, so very different in ages but so much alike. Both were petite and although Sylvie’s hair was white and the signs of age were on her face, the sparkle in her blue eyes told him that she had been just as feisty as the young woman who stood beside her. He could now understand, too, why Richard had gone overboard in satisfying the desires of his daughter. It seemed he was trying to make up for all that she’d gone through, the loss of her mother and the threat to her own life.
But still, the pampering had to stop somewhere. Serena was a woman now. And what a woman. As he stared at her all he wanted to do was bury his face in the valley between her luscious br**sts.
Roman’s thoughts were cut short when Sylvie released Serena and clapped her hands smartly. “Okay, let’s get something to eat. You both must be starving.”
They all headed for the kitchen where she’d already placed a basket of fried chicken in the middle of the table, a bowl of salad, a tray with corn on the cob and a steaming bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Mmm, looks good,” Serena, said rubbing her stomach. “I could eat a horse.”
“You know what the sad thing is, Roman? She really could eat a horse and she wouldn’t gain a single pound.” Sylvie shook her head and feigned a look of indignation.
“What are you complaining about? You’re not fat.” Serena laughed.
“That’s because I watch my diet. You don’t have to. With your youth and high metabolism you can eat anything. It’s just not fair.”
Roman laughed, enjoying the banter. “You’re like me, Sylvie. I have to eat right and exercise.”
“You? You don’t have a spare ounce of flesh on your body,” Sylvie said with a touch of exasperation. “I’m sure you don’t have to work too hard to keep that body in shape. It sure looks good to me.”
“Grandma.” Serena frowned at the older woman but Sylvie only laughed.
Then it was Serena who was looking at him with what seemed like admiration. Was she checking him out? Roman could only hope so.
They had a pleasant meal with conversation that left Roman feeling relaxed and at home. He could not tell the last time he’d enjoyed himself so much. Here he was having dinner with his employee and her grandmother and he felt like he’d known them for years. From time to time his eyes would wander over to Serena and as she chatted comfortably with Sylvie he could not help but see her with new eyes. She was still the feisty young woman who walked into his office a few weeks earlier but now he could see another side of her. It was obvious that she loved her grandmother dearly. Maybe the woman didn’t replace her mother but there was a love and understanding between the two that could not be denied. And from their interaction he could see that underneath the strong and independent façade that Serena showed the world she was still young and vulnerable.
When they’d finished the meal Sylvie gathered up the dishes and placed them in the sink. She began to rinse them off when Roman got up. “I’ll do it.”
“Roman, you’re a guest. Sit down and relax. Chat with Serena.” Sylvie continued to rinse the dishes.
By this time Roman was almost by Sylvie’s side. “You’re being too good to me, Sylvie. I never get a chance to do household chores so give me this one opportunity. I like being domesticated from time to time.”
Sylvie laughed and stepped aside. “Okay, if that’s what you want. Who am I to fight a man who wants to do housework?”
Roman rinsed the food from the dishes and set them in the dishwashing machine and turned it on. While he was drying his hands Serena went to the counter for the cake and rested it on the table. “Time for the birthday girl to have some cake.”
Sylvie was beaming, obviously pleased with the attention. Serena got a knife and handed it to her. “Cut the cake while I take a picture.” She pulled out her cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans and held it up. “Go ahead.”
Sylvie stuck the knife in the middle of the cake and then slowly pressed down, cutting a huge slice which she laid on the plate. “Roman, you get the first bite.”
“No way,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re the birthday girl.”
“No, you’re the guest. You go first.”
“If you guys are going to fight about it I’ll go first.” Serena reached out to take the plate but her grandmother pulled it back.
“Oh, no, you don’t. It’s my birthday and I’ll go first.”
Roman laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
Roman and Serena sat down with Sylvie and they all munched on the cake.
“Mmm, this is good.” Sylvie said, obviously enjoying herself.
“Sorry I didn’t get to put icing on it, Grandma. We couldn’t figure out that part, not so quickly anyway.”