Love At Last

Chapter Three

LILY

My day could’ve gone well if I didn’t have such a bad customer, why do people from big cities always feel like they are the best at everything? How could someone be this full of himself?

“Can you imagine him saying the donut is just alright? After saying this, he finishes the whole doughnut and cleans up the plate, including the apology,” I was ranting to Jarod, who was also at the scene. “How arrogant, he couldn’t even admit that my art was the nicest thing he had ever tasted in his entire existence.”

“I totally agree, just calm down baby girl,” Jarod replied with both hands on my shoulders. “He’s not worth all this anger, he’s just a one-time customer who is here for the attention.”

“If you say so,” just then Jacek bounded down the stairs.

“Hi mama,” he flung himself into my arms.

“Hey candy, how come you came down the stairs on your own? You’re such a big boy now,” I tickled his side.

“Yes mama, I’m…a…big…boy…now,” he said in between chuckles. I loosened my grip on him, he rushed into Jarod’s arms.

“Hey Jay, how are you big boy?” Jarod asked while throwing him up in the air.

“Mummy said we are going to Disneyland soon, will you come too?” Jacek said to him, completely ignoring his own question.

“Wow, you’re inviting more people?” I asked him.

“Yes mummy, everyone has to come with me!”

“Fine,” I never won a fight with Jacek. “What do you want for lunch?” We always went out for lunch, with nana and Jarod. Leaving the bakery in the hands of the other workers,

“I would love to have cupcake for desert!”

“I know love, what will you have for lunch?”

“Hmm…I don’t know mama, maybe chicken,” this was why my nickname for him was candy, he always wanted something sweet, never actually thinking of an actual food to eat.

Two days after, and Mr rude guy is standing in front of me at the bakery counter. He was in more comfortable clothes, he wore a mint green long sleeved Ralph Lauren polo shirt, with black suit pants. Which left me no choice but to think, did he lose his job?

“Good afternoon to you too, since you seem too busy to greet a customer,” he said to me, as rude as ever.

“Good afternoon, sorry I was taken aback for a while, I never imagined you would be back, after the review you gave the last time you came,” I told him bluntly. Jacek was beside me pulling my pants, he had been asking and begging for cupcakes, and his sugar intake these days have gone through the roof, so I ignored him. “Did you come to complain about something this time?”

He let out a hearty grin, “I’m here only because I have a date, and my date asked for us to meet here,” he seemed to be really proud of his so called date. “Can you at least offer me some coffee? How bad can your customer service be?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

I was so close to yelling at him again, he just knows how to get on my nerves. This was the worst day for nana and Jarod to go for a check up.

‘I’ll bring the coffee to your table, please kindly go have a sit.” He chuckled as he walked away, what was so funny? I turned to the coffee machine and made the best coffee I had ever made, I didn’t know why I felt the need to impress him. I placed the cup of coffee on a tray and placed some cream and sugar sachets beside it.

I took it to the table where he sat, Jacek who was still pulling my pants followed my trails. I placed the tray on the table and smiled at him,

“You didn’t tell me how you wanted your coffee, that’s why I placed sugar and cream on the tray,” he looked down at Jacek, his cold expression turned into pity.

“Why is he crying so much?” he asked turning his stern gaze towards me. I was used to his tantrums, so I had tuned him out.

“He’s just throwing a tantrum, nothing much thank you,” with that said, I picked him up and placed his head on my shoulders. “Baby, not today okay?”

“Can I please ask what he wants at least?” Jacek really didn’t like strangers, so I knew he wouldn’t like this weird guy touching him, so I said this,

“Sure, you can try,” I turned Jacek’s face towards him. Today was a perfect day to betray me, Jacek didn’t wait to be carried, he stretched his hands towards the guys direction, asking to be picked.

“Hi baby, what’s the problem?” he cooed, who knew he could be so nice to a baby. I was so shocked about two things, Jacek let his whole guard down, then this strange rude man, is suddenly so soft for a 2 year old baby.

“I’ll leave you both,” I said to them, but they seemed too into their conversation to notice me going back to the counter.

Thirty minutes gone, and no date had arrived to Mr rude’s table. Jacek was still in his arms, he had somehow convinced Jacek that he didn’t need any more sugar for the day, and they were chatting happily. I don’t know why, but I was somehow jealous, I wanted my baby to myself, and no one else.

“Hey baby girl, how’s everything going?” Jarod asked, appearing from behind me. When and how did they get back and I didn’t notice? “Why are you so lost in thoughts?”

“When did you get back?” I asked the one question going through my head.

“We just got back, nana muttered her greeting but you were so lost in thoughts.”

“Nana was here?”

“Yes, she went upstairs though,” his expression had now changed, from that of a prying friend, to a concerned one. “What exactly is wrong?”

“Well…” I was about to tell him all that had happened, but Mr rude got up, while still holding Jacek in his arms. I gestured towards his direction when Jarod gave a questioning eye,

“I’ll be leaving now, apparently my date cancelled,” I don’t understand why he felt like he should explain to me. “Your son is great by the way, if you don’t mind I would love to come once or twice to hang out with him or take him out, how about that?”

Take who out? Did he mean my son? Wait, does that mean he’s still going to be in town? Wait did he ask if I would mind? What just happened?