Angel of Mine (Completed)

Chapter 18

A/N:  Please be warned that there is a little heated moment in this chapter.

Dinner proceeded at a sedate pace.  Nobody wanted to start any conversation because nobody knew where to start.  The choice of wine, Bordeaux complemented the Hereford Beef Fillet for Lathan.  His mother opted for Pinot Grigio with her halibut and Cerise, well since she is not used to fine dining she opted to have a bottle of Perrier with her Pasta Vongole.  Her eyes kept darting glances between Lathan and Valeria.  She could understand as plain as day that the tension between mother and son is sizzling in the dinner table but there is still love between the two that is palpable and evident to an outsider.  Lathan may just be rebelling from his mother’s machinations while Valeria is being insecure about her maternal skills to her only son.  The entire time, Lathan has never let go of her hand, so they both mastered the art of eating with just one hand by the time dinner was through.  Valeria was watching the exchange of knowing glances between the two.  It was fun to watch.  She finally cleared her throat to get a modicum of conversation going.

“Cerise, you still have about 2 weeks off from uni, am I correct?”  Valeria asked as the waiter cleared their plates for dessert.

“Yes, Valeria.  I have to go back to my physical therapy sessions with Dr. Cayman.  He has been hounding me for the past weeks.  Though I agree that we need to restore a level of functionality to my shoulder, we can’t ignore the fact that I can no longer swim competitively again.”  Cerise’s face fell.  This fact was what she had to come into terms with more than being together with Lathan wrought.  Swimming was her only way of supporting her education.  Although her dad did promise to support her in any way, the stubborn and independent side of her character was eating at her. 

“Hey.”  Lathan squeezed her hand.  “You are not alone in this, angel.  You also have me.”

“And me.”  Valeria with her silly grin seconded, earning her a raise of an eyebrow from Lathan.  She ignored him.  “I know you and I are somehow cut in the same cloth.  We, independent women refuse to be behind the shadow of a man.  So, I have a proposition for you that I think you can never resist.”  Valeria leaned forward and placed her elbows on top of the table and clasped her hands under her chin. “Would you like to hear it?”  She asked.

“Mother I’m warning…”  Lathan scowled at his mother but was interrupted by Cerise’s soft hands squeezing his.

“Lathan, you have to stop scowling at your mother and treating her like an outsider here.  Everyone deserves a second chance and I am giving it to her.  So shush.”  Cerise cried out as Lathan cowered back.

Valeria’s smile transformed into a full on teeth out grin towards the two.   Yup, he’s whipped alright.  Oh what joy to watch these two!

 

“I know swimming is in your blood and I also learned that you love children.  You’re also on the athletic scholarship that has taken care of your school fees at the university.  You would hate to be dependent and I, your future mother in law, would also hate to see you wait on tables.  Ergo, I would like to ask if you could take on as a swimming coach for the lower years at the university; and to the children the foundation supports at the St. Joseph’s orphanage.”

Cerise nearly choked on her Perrier.  “Are you serious?”  She exclaimed.