“If we do have plans that is certainly none of your business, but do you want to know what is my business?”
“Let’s hear it” Lance said challenging him.
“The reason why she won’t be going out with you is because you are married with three children. I had you followed and had you checked out.” Thomas hands Loren the folder. Both Loren and Robert was both surprised.
“What can I say, but I was looking for a good lay. You look like the one for the job.” Lance said to Loren.
“How dare you?” Loren slaps him.
“You still have to see me unless Mr. McClay says otherwise. You will give in they always do.”
James heard everything and came into plain sight. “You are right I am the only one who could send you home. I are fired. I knew I was right about you.” In quiet voice. “I will put a end to these nonsense. I know the reason why Maria hired you.”
“Now Lance you need get out of my restaurant. I will be seeing you to your car. James will you help me with that.” Thomas said.
“I certainly will. Bye Loren I will see you in a year.”
“I thought you was worth the lay, but you aren’t even worth that.” Lance said as he walked out with Thomas and James was behind him.
Robert was at the door and he heard everything and when Lance gave him smile he punched him right in the stomach. Thomas stayed out there while Lance was going to his car holding his stomach. Robert knew that Loren was looking the other way the whole time this thing was happening and didn’t even know he was in the restaurant. He looked through the glass windows and silently thought to himself that this is what Loren really needs in her life. He was angry at himself that he couldn’t be the man Loren needed. He should have been the one looking into his background. He should have been the one took his sorry behind out the door then taking his punch at the end. He told himself that she needed someone like Thomas. Why would she want a man who was in a marriage that he couldn’t even have his say one time? Why would she want him?
Loren was angry of Lance’s words, but she was also happy because she didn’t have deal with him anymore. She didn’t have to come to another job she didn’t want. Luckily for her she saw what Robert did. She was happy that Thomas told her about his marriage, but she didn’t like the way he did it. She loved that there was a mirror in what is now her restaurant and she saw Robert punching Lance. She knew at that moment that he could protect her in the way she liked. She would have like for him to not tell her about his marriage and just run him off.
Loren turned around and saw Robert standing right behind her. She immediately hugged Robert. All the time Thomas was watching from the outside of the restaurant. He couldn’t move to go inside. All he could do is watch. Robert slowly push Loren off him.
“To day was happy day until that happen. Seeing you makes all the difference. Thanks for punching him out for me.”
“I have been waiting over four years to say this to you I love you.”
“Good because….”
“Before you say anything let me talk. I fell in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you. I thought you were the most beautiful woman I seen in my life. I when you did date Thomas a while ago I was scared of losing you because you two look like the perfect couple. I am so angry at myself. You deserve a man who like that. A man who is willing to fight for you like that.”
“But, Robert…….”
“I am so sorry I couldn’t be the man for you that deserve. I guess the best man won. You should marry him and have babies with him. The perfect family because you only deserve the best. Forgive me for what I am about to do. I was going to wait to tell you this, but I am Chestnut Brown.”
Robert pulls her close and kissed her gently and deeper that it awaken a passion in her that she didn’t know exist. He let go of her and told her good-bye. She wanted more and left her there standing wanting more. Just more of everything, especially him. Thomas waited ten seconds before he came in. Loren was sitting down. She thought to herself that she changed her life and the man she did it for walk out her life. She was scared forever. Maybe she would give Thomas another try. Maybe just maybe he was the man that she needed to be with.
“I finally get it. I finally see why it didn’t work out between us because you are in love with Robert. You need a man that punches the guy. I should have done that when he started to say all of those ugly things about you, but I was afraid to. Loren. I love you and always will. Now you two are both single start dating.” Thomas said Loren.
“He told me good-bye.”
“I am hurting, but talking as a friend you two really are meant to be together. I would be jealous at your relationship and how you two have something we didn’t. The contract states that you are going to have a week off before the restaurant becomes yours entirely. I think we need a break from this day.”
“What if doesn’t come back?”
“He will and do you want to know how I know that?”
“How?”
“Because I did. Please take a week so I have enough time to myself that will help me cope with training you for six months.”
“Thanks, I will thank you.” Loren said before gathering her things.
Robert watched to see what was going to happen to Loren. He saw Loren and Thomas hugging and he knew that they were back together. He was going to tell Loren that he changed his mind, but not after that. He slightly smiled. He called Chris and Steve and told him that he would go to Chris’ friend cooking school in France. He told Steve that he would go on the trip with him.
Chapter Seventeen
Loren felt empty with a great sense of despair. She was so upset she felt like she lost her husband. She didn’t want to stay at home. Her home has too many memories. She remembered kissing Robert. She remembered how safe she felt with him around. For three days she didn’t eat or sleep. Mrs. Crawford, Loren’s mother started to worry. She knew that her daughter didn’t just fall into love with the first man she saw. And maybe it was because of the boy she wrote to when she was little.
She remembered Loren telling her that she found her husband. Every guy that she dated after the letters stop coming was nothing compared to him. There was one of there time that she seen her daughter like this is when Chestnut Brown. She almost didn’t speak to her best friend because of her daughter’s hurt. She had tried for three days to get her to eat and come out of the room. Loren didn’t want to do it. So, Mrs. Crawford had to try again.
“Loren, I brought you some soup and some soda. Can I come in?” Mrs. Crawford said as she opened the door to Loren’s old room.
“Why ask if you going to come in anyway?”
Loren’s hair was all over her head. Mrs. Crawford could tell that she didn’t take a bath for the three days either. She wanted to hug her daughter, but the smell was starting to get to her.
“Missy, you go in that bathroom and take a bath. I want you to get dress because we are going some where.”
“I don’t want to go any where.”
“Well, too bad it isn’t about what you want. You in my house and going to do what I say. Now get in that bathroom and take a bath. I don’t care how bad things get you always take care of yourself. I am not going to go through this again. You have hour and we are going to the movies.”
Loren knew her mother was serious. The only thought that kept going through her head was that he was Chestnut Brown. She played with the idea for a while at cabin, but she never thought that he really was him. No wonder why her heart beat like it did the first time she saw him in that class. She remembered looking at the boy in the picture that she got from him so long ago. She image what he would look like. She was in love with him the moment she saw him. Now Loren understood why it was that her longed for him. She knew what her mother was going to say look at the bright side of life.
Her mother was
true to her word and met her at the door exactly one hour. Loren had her glasses and her overalls. Her mother knew that if she asked her to change that she wouldn’t come out of her room. She knew her daughter hasn’t eaten in a couple of days so Mrs. Crawford decided to go out to eat before they went to the movies. She didn’t want to talk about what her daughter is going on. Loren didn’t have to say anything to her, but she knew it was about Robert.
At lunch Mrs. Crawford manages to get Loren to talk about some of the things that going on her life like taking over the restaurant. Loren talked about what she really wanted to do with her life.
“What stop you from doing what you really want to do?” Mrs. Crawford asked Loren during their lunch.
“I guess nothing.”
“Do you want to know what I like about God? God always builds the foundation before setting in place the plan. Look at one door being shut, but not locked as the opportunity to do what you want to do in life.”
“Do you really believe that or are you trying to make me feel better?”
“A little of both. Sugar, take this little time and figure out what you want out of life. Then write it down and make a plan.”
“Mom I just found out Robert was Chestnut Brown. He told me that I need someone better than him. He was part of my plan.”
“Now it makes sense, but sweetie let God worry about your love life. You worry about the plan. Let’s go see a movie something funny.”
Loren smiled she knew her mother was right. What really was stopping her, nothing. Absolutely nothing is stopping her from doing what she wanted to do. What took her so long to figure this out? She might not have the man of her dreams, but she have the one thing that she wanted her career. Yes, it is uncomfortable to work with an ex, but he knew the ropes. She was going to talk to Chris after she got a plan for her business and how to run it. Loren watch the movie good without thinking about a plan for her life. When her mother drove back to the house Loren made up the bed and clean up the room and gather her stuff and went to her own house.
Right before going into the house her heart tighten just a little, but she told herself that she would have go in to make the list. She put her things in her room. She got a notebook and started to list the things in her life she wanted to do. The first thing on her list is change how the sign was. With the contact she sign with Thomas it was it was to be Chris’ breakfast and lunch restaurant, but that would make her half owners with Chris. She wanted to know more about cooking than just what she had learn in those cooking classes her and Robert was in. She wanted to have nights off. She wanted to get off of work around three o’clock at least so she could do the things she wanted to do. At first she didn’t have any goals, but that one. Loren decided to call Thomas and ask him if he could stay another six months to help her learn all the things she needed to know with the restaurant business. Then she called Chris at the restaurant and hoped that Robert didn’t answer the telephone lucky for her he didn’t.
She wanted to know if he had any friends that had cooking schools that she could learn from for a month. Chris gave her two friends names, Linda and Glen. Linda work in France and Glen worked hundred miles away. She told Chris could he convince them to let her work with them at there restaurant. Chris told her that he would try to do.
Chris thought the idea that Loren had was a wonderful idea that he would let Robert do the same thing only if they agreed to it. Chris loved his friend and knew Robert had big plans for the restaurant, but whatever happened a couple days had him in a awful mood. Chris knew that they were sweet on each other. By Robert’s mood he needed to get away. Chris was a business man and didn’t want to change his mind about having Robert at the restaurant. What he really wanted is to have Loren and Robert run the restaurant that his former wife owned. Loren had signed the contracted. Chris knew it would take sometime before he could get another restaurant up in running.
Chris waited the next day to call his friends to his surprised they said yes. So Chris would send Loren to Glen and send Robert to France to learn under Linda. When he got the answer that he was looking for he was looking for. He called Loren right away. He told her that if she could start next week Glen would like that very much. Chris called Robert into his office and he told him that he would be going to France for more training. This ended up working for Robert because Steve asked him to go to France around the same area as Linda’s restaurant. He needed a break from his dreaming about Loren.
For the last three days Robert had been dreaming about Loren. He would dream about her cinnamon skin. He dreamed about taking his tongue and licking all over his body. He kept telling himself to stop it. He kept replaying the talk that him and Loren over and over in his head. She didn’t say anything when he told her that he loved her.
Loren told herself that she was crazy that she could feel him. She know that she was suppose to leave in two days, but she wanted to get it over with. She called Glen and told him that she would like to come a couple days early. She went into her bedroom, but her heart told her to wait until she was supposed to leave. Loren was tried of her heart making all the decisions for her this time she would be smart.
“What is going to do Loren come here and tell me he made a mistake. Yea right.” Loren said to herself as she packed
Robert heart ache with loneliness. He now realize that he made a big mistake. Why did he told her all the things he told her? He has to go back and tell he had made a grave mistake. He got into his car and he started to drive to her house. Oh, he wished that he still lived with Steve, but no he lived and his dream house. Something inside told him to hurry and get to her house.
Loren’s heart was urging her to stay one more hour. She thought she would this time listen to her heart. She waited a whole heart and again she felt bad. Why did she think he would come over her house and confess his love to her? An hour on the dot she went and put her stuff in her car and left.
Robert was so mad that it took himself so long to get her house. It was traffic on the highway. It took him an hour and five minutes. Robert didn’t know why, but he felt like he was too late and maybe this is what he needed to get over her. But it was the voice inside of his head that telling him that Loren was the one. He tried ringing the doorbell. Lucky for him he still had a key and he opened the door. He could tell that she went some where because her suitcase was gone from her bedroom. He could tell that some of her stuff was missing. He had to leave. Chris had him leaving tomorrow. Robert wanted to see her and now it is to late. He didn’t know what he was going to do. His life doesn’t make sense. Maybe just maybe this trip was something that he needed. He decided to go back home to pack.
Loren was ten minutes on the highway when she remembered that she forgot her cell phone and had go back to get it. She had left it on her bed. She went to her house and it felt like someone was at her house, but she told herself it was in her imagination. She continued on her destination. She arrived at Glen’s home in six hours. She counted herself lucky that she left when she did, but she couldn’t help having the feeling that she miss something. She told herself that this was all about her not Robert. She went up to a big pink brick house and rang the doorbell. When Loren heard the name Glen she thought it would be someone in their fifties, but he wasn’t. Glen was in his early thirties. She wondered why Chris would send her to him. Glen had sandy brown hair and green eyes. He looked like he could be a mix of lots of things. He had olive skin and full lips.
“Hello, I am Loren, Chris’s friend. Are you Glen?”
“Hello, Loren. Yes, I am Glen. I told him that I wanted you to stay at my house. I love to cook in the morning and all day really. Forgive come in.”
“You don’t look like I would picture you. I thought you would be an older guy. Chris must really trust you to send me to you.”
“Loren, I know that you think I would be a little older. Since you will living me a month. You can c
all me GP.”
“Ok, then you can call me LC. If you don’t mind I haven’t had anything for over six hours and I am hungry. Do you know a good place to eat? Then I go and unpack.”
“Yes, I know a wonderful place.”
“Great where is it?”
“It’s here. I told you I love to cook. If you could wait about ten minutes you would have some of the best cooking you would ever taste in your life.”
“You promise. While we are waiting on the food can you show me where I will be staying?” Loren said as she looked around his house.
What was she doing? Is she crazy? Did she lose her ever – loving mind? She couldn’t believe that she was going to stay at a stranger’s house. Not only that, she was going to stay at a cute stranger’s house. She hoped he was patient and kind. She found out he was an amazing cook. She had a feeling that they would become friends and good friends.
Meanwhile, Robert arrived in France a day later. He couldn’t understand going all this way just to learn how to cook a little better. His father already taught a lot of tricks of the trade. His instructor was a beauty black-haired beauty. She had forest green eyes. And she was beautiful. Robert was excited to be in her class until she introduces him to her husband who seems to always be around when he was learning how to do France cooking. He was hoping that he would have love affair, but end up feeling more a lone then he ever felt.
The first night for him was very difficult one, but he was happy that his friend, Steve came a long with him to France. If was for Steve being around him he would have been depress about Loren. Steve would take out to see the night life, but Robert wasn’t happy. He would go to learn and then go back to his room. When Linda’s husband felt like he could trust Robert then stop coming down in the kitchen when he was being taught which he liked very much.
“Many people come here to France and fall in love. You look like you fall in depression. I met my husband in the States. He was the best man at my sister’s wedding. It felt like love at first sight, but of course it took us forever to start dating. It always seem like God was putting ups together.” Linda said.
Chestnut Brown And Cinnamon Happiness Page 18