Reunion

Chapter Eight

Mixing the vegetables and the rice inside the casserole, I made the aroma spread throughout the entire kitchen. I took the small bottle of salt and poured just enough to make it taste perfectly.

"You don't have to cook every time you come by, you know," the voice of my mother was heard when she entered her kitchen. I smiled, stirring the content inside the casserole with the big spoon.

"You love it when I cook ma, so stop pretending," I joked and she laughed, sitting in one of the stools that was in front of the kitchen counter.

I put the spoon aside and let the food cook for itself. I put the cover on top of the casserole and turned around.

"Why are you so dressed anyways?" my mother asked, looking at the newspaper in her hands. I was wearing jeans, a nice blue blouse, and blue heels to go with it. It was not something formal or even semi-formal, but it looked a bit dressy to just sit at home with my mother.

"I told you. I have a BBQ to go to in a little while. Anna's ex-boyfriend from high school is hosting it, and he lives close by," I explained, sitting next to her. She gave me part of the newspaper and I started to skim through the lines.

"Well, at least someone is getting some," she said, making me look at her with a surprised expression.

"Mother!" I called her out, laughing.

"Oh, come one, Lil. I want grandbabies. When are you going to meet someone and get married and have kids," she said, putting down the newspaper she held, and looking at me.

"Mrs. Jameson's grandson just flew in from Miami, and I heard he is a lawyer, maybe I can make up a date for you," she added, standing up and grabbing the phone from the wall.

"Mom, please!" I said, walking towards her and grabbing the phone. I put it back on the wall and looked at her with my arms folded in front of my chest.

"Please don't do that. The last time you made me go on a blind date, the guy was a creep."

She sighed and held her hands up in defeat. I shook my head, laughing. I loved my mother with all my heart, but sometimes when she wanted to do something that she thought was good, it was in fact bad. I hated been set up on a blind date, especially by her, but I understood her worriedness. Most of her friend's had grandbabies by now.

I was twenty-eight and I wasn't even in a serious relationship. I could not deny that I wanted to have someone special in my life, but it wasn't happening any time soon. I worked too much to even think about dating. Not only that, but also, I wasn't exactly a pro in the whole dating scene. I had three boyfriends in my whole life.

One was Jeff who became my boyfriend in school. We were both geeks and not really people who understood what a relationship at the time was. Then, when I was in culinary school, I met a guy. He and I became close. He was the guy I lost my virginity to. I was in love until he betrayed me. He cheated on me with my roommate at the time. I ended up moving with Anna until I finished school.

My last boyfriend was Mario. He was the son of one of my mother's friends. I dated him after I graduated from culinary school. He was an architect. I thought I had a future with him until he was given an opportunity to go work in France. Obviously, I had started the job on the country club. I didn't and couldn't leave California, so we broke up eventually.

I ended up giving up dating altogether until I thought it was time to go back to.

"I guess I will die without knowing what it is to be a grandmother," she expressed, pretending to be hurt. I shook my head, laughing. She was overdramatic sometimes, but it was who she was.