When they’d finished the meal Sylvie gathered up the dishes and placed them in the sink. She began to rinse them off when Roman got up. “I’ll do it.”
“Roman, you’re a guest. Sit down and relax. Chat with Serena.” Sylvie continued to rinse the dishes.
By this time Roman was almost by Sylvie’s side. “You’re being too good to me, Sylvie. I never get a chance to do household chores so give me this one opportunity. I like being domesticated from time to time.”
Sylvie laughed and stepped aside. “Okay, if that’s what you want. Who am I to fight a man who wants to do housework?”
Roman rinsed the food from the dishes and set them in the dishwashing machine and turned it on. While he was drying his hands Serena went to the counter for the cake and rested it on the table. “Time for the birthday girl to have some cake.”
Sylvie was beaming, obviously pleased with the attention. Serena got a knife and handed it to her. “Cut the cake while I take a picture.” She pulled out her cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans and held it up. “Go ahead.”
Sylvie stuck the knife in the middle of the cake and then slowly pressed down, cutting a huge slice which she laid on the plate. “Roman, you get the first bite.”
“No way,” he said with a chuckle. “You’re the birthday girl.”
“No, you’re the guest. You go first.”
“If you guys are going to fight about it I’ll go first.” Serena reached out to take the plate but her grandmother pulled it back.
“Oh, no, you don’t. It’s my birthday and I’ll go first.”
Roman laughed. “That’s what I thought.”
Roman and Serena sat down with Sylvie and they all munched on the cake.
“Mmm, this is good.” Sylvie said, obviously enjoying herself.
“Sorry I didn’t get to put icing on it, Grandma. We couldn’t figure out that part, not so quickly anyway.”
“We? Did you help her make this, Roman?”
Roman nodded. “I couldn’t let her do it all by herself.”
“I was wondering about that. When my Serena told me she was going to bake me a cake I was doubtful. I never knew of that girl ever going into a kitchen to make anything. But she came through. With your help, of course.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get you the usual from Michael’s Bakery this year,” Serena said. “I know you love their cakes but…I just wanted to do something different.”
“Child, are you apologizing for making me a cake? You’d better not, because I love it. Who cares about Michael’s cake when I can get one from the hands of my own granddaughter? And you too, Roman.” She beamed at him. “It’s delicious.”
“Now, for your present,” Serena said and got up. She hurried out of the kitchen.
Roman was left in the kitchen with Sylvie. She had just popped the last bit of her cake into her mouth and was smiling at him with knowing eyes. “So what do you think of my Serena?”
Taken aback by the directness of the question Roman did not answer right away. Then he spoke. “She’s an admirable young woman. Despite her lack of experience she has an eye for beauty and I can see her doing very well in marketing. I’m sure her father will have a great asset when she joins the company.”
Sylvie laughed. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I can see that you like her very much.”
The comment almost floored Roman. Was it so obvious?
“Here it is.” Serena came back just in time, the wrapped gift in her hand. Gently, she laid the large flat rectangle on the table. “Time to open your gift.”
Sylvie stared at it eagerly. “I think I know what it is. It’s shaped like…it’s the picture I saw at the Royal Ontario Museum. The one that featured the skyline. I know that’s it. You saw me admiring it and you got it, didn’t you?”
Serena shook her head. “I’m sorry but that’s not what it is. I hope you still like this one, though.”
Sylvie chuckled. “I’m sure I will.” She slid her finger under the paper at the back and quickly peeled off the tape then she slid the frame out of the wrapping. What came out of the package was the gold-framed charcoal portrait of Sylvie and a handsome man smiling down at her. Sylvie’s eyes widened in surprise and then her lips trembled and tears filled her eyes. “Oh Serena, it’s beautiful.”
“Grandma, you’re crying. Are you sure you like it?”
“I love it, I absolutely love it. You captured the moment beautifully.” Sylvie gently caressed the face of the man with her weathered hands. Then she put her fingers to her lips. “This was a moment I will always remember. And now you’ve captured it for me with your own hands. Thank you.”
“I…I couldn’t think of what to give you and I couldn’t buy you a nice gift like I usually do so I thought maybe this would be a good substitute.”
“This is the best gift you could have ever given me. I don’t need perfume or expensive jewelry. I want memories. I want something that’s from you. You’ve given me both with this gift.” She laid the portrait gently back down on the table then got up and opened her arms. Serena stepped right into them and, with tears in their eyes, the two women embraced.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Serena sighed as she slid out of Roman’s car. She felt happy, even contented. She’d had a wonderful evening with her grandmother and with Roman there it had been even more fun. They’d ended up playing board games with Sylvie and when Roman started having a winning streak Sylvie and Serena had had to gang up on him to beat him. Serena could not tell when she’d had so much simple, satisfying fun.
It was almost nine o’clock but she didn’t want her day with Roman to end. As he took her hand to help her out of the car she looked up at him. Then she smiled hesitantly. “Would you like to come up for a drink?”