Love At Last

CAYDEN’S RETURN

*NEW YORK CITY*

That morning at the office, I got invited to my boss’ office; guess he wanted to praise me for a job well done.

*knock knock*, I knocked on the door to his office and walked in. “Good day sir,” I greeted my boss who seemed to be working on his desktop, humbly.

“Mr. Cayden,” he called out, still fixated on what he was doing.

“Yes sir.”

“Please sit,” he beckoned me to sit down and I did.

“You sent for me sir,” I said, making him suspend what he was doing and focused on me.

“I did.” He immediately stretched forth his hand, asking for a handshake; turned out I was right. I shook his hand and felt so good with myself.

“Whatever you did to pull the whole thing off, I want to sincerely thank you for that.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“No problems sir. I didn’t want to split my job.” We both laughed.

“What you did went a long way to get us back on track. Thank you very much,” he expressed his gratitude heartily.

“No problems at all, sir.”

“I shouldn’t bother asking about the lady right?” he teased and made me chuckle.

“Mmhh,” he cleared his throat. “A new project is underway and I’d like you to be a part of it,” he said.

“Okay sir,” I replied humbly.

“We’re looking forward to opening a new branch in a small state, we’d like you to personally oversee the selection process,” he stated.

“Okay sir.”

“Your job will be to check out a couple of states we put together and give us feedback on which one you deem fit to be a new location of this great empire,” he explained further.

“The pleasure’s all mine, sir.” He turned back to his desktop and clacked his keyboard a couple of times. “Check your email, I just sent you the list of states you’d be visiting.”

“Okay sir.” I did as I was told and discovered that the first state on the list was Nedford – the state Lily resided. On making the little discovery, I could feel excitement welling up in me; I was going back to Lily! I felt so happy that I didn’t know when I smiled broadly while looking up the list.

“Are you that excited?” my boss asked and called me back to my senses. “Of course sir!” I concurred firmly. It was easier to just blend in than to ‘stand out’ by telling him I was thinking of something else. “This is a wonderful project sir…,” I added, “and the states you selected are also good.” I didn’t even see any other state on the list except Nedford. After I saw the first state on the list, I was too pre-occupied with feelings of excitement and thrill to look further.

I had my boss nod repeatedly as he told me I was to get going the very next day; I couldn’t be happier.

It was the day I was supposed to travel back to Nedford. I visited department stores and purchased appreciation gifts for Lily. I was so excited to share the good news of everything falling into place due to her benevolence, with her. I’d already booked my flight tickets so all that was left to do was to go to the airport. I had two boxes packed – one contained my clothes and the other smaller one contained gifts I got for Lily and Jacek; I hoped she won’t reject my ‘token’ of appreciation.

Moments later, I got on the plane and made my way back to Nedford. Brimming with excitement and joy, I went over to Lily’s with my box of gifts.

On getting to Lily’s I met Mrs. Annie – Lily’s granny.

“Good day madam,” I greeted politely. She looked at me with surprise written all over her face. She must have wondered if I decided to move in with them, owing to the box I had in hand. “Oh this?” I asked on noticing how she kept staring at the box without saying anything. “I got these for Lily,” I said referring to the contents of the box.

“All these?!” she exclaimed.

“Yes ma,” I chuckled.

“Please come in,” she invited me in and I accepted the invitation.

“Uncle,” Jacek ran towards me and dived into my arms.

“Hello there big boy,” I cuddled the little one I hadn’t seen in forever in my arms. “How’ve you been Jacek?” I asked jovially.

“I’ve been good uncle, I missed you,” he said all smiley.

“I missed you too big boy. Look here…,” I pointed the box of gifts, “I got you lots of gifts. Later, your nana is going to give you all of it,” I said.

“You got me gifts?” he asked.

“Yes big boy!” I affirmed.

“Thank you so much uncle,” he expressed his gratitude.

“You’re very much welcome,” I replied. The little one ran back inside with so much excitement in him.

“You came to see my granddaughter?” she asked.

“Yes ma.”

“She’s not in at the moment.”

“I can see that.”

“She’s at a picnic.”

“Picnic?” I asked. ‘Why would she be at a picnic? Was she picnicking with some other guy?’ I thought and felt a little bit upset.

“That’s the venue for the third phase of the competition,” nana clarified and I let out a deep sigh of relief. “This phase involves the first outdoor baking contest,” she explained further.

“Can you please tell me where?” I asked politely.

“You want to go over there?” she asked me. “Yes please,” I replied almost at once.

Mrs. Annie gave me the address of the picnic and I rushed down there to see Lily for myself.

On getting there, I stood with the audience as I scanned through in search of Lily. I finally caught sight of her wearing an apron with a labeling – ‘016’ – written boldly on it. I assumed she was contestant number sixteen. The view I saw was rather satisfying and fulfilling. I watched her knead her dough with so much determination. Seeing how beautifully and meticulously she worked made me feel so alive; I wished the scene would not end.