Will You be mine, again?

Epilogue I

"Chef, table 14 is going to complete their main course, how's the dessert cooking?"
The waiter asks.

I smile and reply, "In 5!"

Having the adrenaline rush, mixed with sweet aroma of food around me. I was in cloud nine. If you asked me ten years ago, being in a white pristine chef coat being splashed with some gravy and smelling absolutely fantastic, is not something I was seeing as my future.

But here I am working in my own restaurant, which has been proudly giving the states best steaks. After three years of hotel management course and two years of amazing opportunities to work with world class chefs.

I started a small restaurant when I was just 24 years. Was I scared, definitely but here I am after five years of turning the small restaurant to a country renowned first class restaurant.

It was literally a dream which I didn't even know I had until into my first year into college. I was clueless and was learning almost all the subjects. Having no major selected when I was one year into college was such a big wake up call.

It is still giving me goosebumps on the day I took the place behind a stove in a diner at hometown. It was just another fun job I wanted to take up during the holidays. I didn't want to sit idly in the house.

That holidays were truly magical, I still remember that one night when I was beyond tired. I was flipping burgers and cooking at the same time sauce for the pizza.

When one of my friend, who was working the waiting the tables shift, called me.

"Hey Sav, table three wants to see you!"
I was so shocked. All the thoughts started flying all over my head. Did I by mistake didn't see the hair or that I added a lot of salt. Meaningless but at that truly tormenting scenarios was haunting me.

After some reassurance and along with my manager for the backup, I walked towards the table three.

There was an elderly looking couple, who seemed to be so happy and laughing.

As I nearer the table, the gentleman's face lit up.

I tried to muster up a smile and said, "Hello Sir! Hello ma'am! What can I do for you?"

"Darling, are you the one who prepared this pasta?" The old lady who looked the age of my late grandma asked with her eyes twinkling and her crow feet full on display.

Seeing their positive faces, the initial scary thoughts took a back seat. I smiled and politely said, "Yes ma'am! That would be me! Did you like it?"

The gentleman intersects his wife as he exclaims, "Liked it! Miss, I am in love with the dish! It reminded me of my mum!"

His voice had so much emotion and I couldn't help but crack a genuine smile as my heart swell up.

Seeing both of them being so happy, about something I created. Surely stirred up some feelings as well as some wheels in my head.

Everything seemed like it fell into the place. As I was standing listening to their praises, I decided what I am going to be doing for the rest of my life, to keep on maintaining this smile and happiness on people.

After being done for the day, I switched off the lights of the kitchen and made sure all our supplies were closed and in the cold stores.

I was saying my bye's and hearing back good night's from my employees. I was smiling and walking towards the outside. When the valet gives off my keys and says "Have a good night ma'am!"

I nod my head and say him to also have the same.

As I got into the car, I couldn't help but start thinking about all my friends back from high school.

Ethan, he is having the fun of his lifetime. He is a wildlife photographer and his own blog and is a well known person in his field.

Surely we talk still, last time we were talking about how he is planning to propose to his three years girlfriend. Thinking about calling him, my car bluetooth, shows me a call from Vanessa.

Shaking my head, I press the answer button. The call begins with her screaming, "Nick, if you don't get off the table right now! You are never ever going to have your phone be given to you!"

I laugh and the line goes silent as she whispers, "Shit! You heard!"

I control the laugh, "Yes! I did!"

"This is so embarrassing, I am not a bad mom ok, it's just that he has been throwing stuff all around and throwing tantrums. I don't know what to do, his dad, you know my hubby, he left to this last minute business trip for two days. Two days Sav, I think he doesn't love me anymore."

Literally hearing her slowly having a meltdown, I was for a second in loss of words. I think when you are eight months into pregnancy, hormones plays too much with the emotions.

With a smile on my face, "V, please calm down! Jack is head over heels for you! Do you remember the time when he proposed to you on top of the Eiffel Tower. Or that time when he nearly passed out as you were giving birth to Nick. And you were threatening to cut his balls off!" I start laughing in the end of the sentence.

As I hear a chuckle from the other side, "Yeah! That's there! But still, how does that justify in leaving a very pregnant wife along with a crazy toddler?"

I can see her pout as she completes the sentence.

"Darl, I don't think so it's good parenting calling, your child crazy." I couldn't help but a chuckle leaves me as I press the brakes as the lights turn red.

I hear sniffling and I mentally shout at myself for saying that, "I am sorry V, I didn't mean it like that!"

I could only hear sniffling and occasional sobs. Worry starts spreading in me.

But all comes to an end when I hear her loud laughter. I couldn't help but think that is this the work of her pregnancy hormones or just Vanessa being herself.

Talking through the entire ride back home, I smile as I press the end button.

Entering my dark penthouse. I place the keys on the table as I switch on the lights as I go towards my comfy couch.

Sitting down with a huff, I couldn't help but noticing the silence surrounding me. Feeling of loneliness, slowly starts creeping in.

Placing my head on the arm rest, I stretch and lay in the couch as I switch on the television.

News channel suddenly comes up, I couldn't help but see a very familiar face being shown on it. This is not the first time I have seen Jacob's face on the tv.

Seeing him all clad up in a tailored suit and having the aura of elegance and power. I couldn't help to think about the days of high school.

The meaningless fights and arguments of my insecure self had that costed so much time on the precious lifetime memories that would never ever come back.

I am still insecure about how I look, it's definitely has increased that I have too become famous in my line of work. I still hear some cold hearted comments being passed sometimes. But it doesn't hurt me or have any effect as it used to do.

I think that's what being mature was to be. But never ever in hundred years, I thought, maturity or overall growing in general can also put someone out of love too.

***********************