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A week went past after the ball, Sean have been true with his silent promise of keeping her secret to himself. He didn't say a word even when he came three days ago for a visit. The boys were back as well including their father. The whole family have been busy decorating the house for the holidays, it was put on hold for at least a week since everybody was not present. It was a tradition that everyone should be here while decorating, so now the whole house including the garden is teeming with lights and decorative items for christmas. The store was also decorated accordingly with christmas songs blasting from the stereo that everyone coming can feel the holiday season in the atmosphere.

She was busy studying the audit report for the month when her phone rang, the caller ID shows only number.

"Hello."

"Good morning Claire." A woman's voice came into the speaker.

"Good morning. May I know who's on the line?" Claire ask for she cannot put a face behind the voice. She almost fell on the chair once the caller answered her question.

"I'm sorry, I should've introduced myself first. This is Helena, Lucas' grandmother. How are you Claire?"

"I-I am fine. T-thank you. How are you?" She stuttered her answer before she caught herself.

"I'm fine as well, thank you for asking. I know you are quite dumbfounded why I called." At her silence, Helena continued. "Are you free tomorrow at lunch?"

"I will be here at my shop tomorrow. May I know why you asked?" Claire asked without letting her nervousness show.

"I just want to invite you for lunch tomorrow. We didn't talked that much last week at the ball, that is why I want to spend some time with you. Considering you are already my granddaughter by marriage, I want to know you better." At Helena's explanation, she became more anxious. 'Will I say yes?' She asked herself but before she weighed the pros and cons of agreeing, Helena probed her for answer. "Claire, is it alright?"

With the question, she cannot refuse the invitation anymore without appearing as someone who avoids being at the same place with her. That avoidance may result with Helena becoming suspicious of the real relationship between her and Lucas.

"Yes, it's alright. At what time you want us to meet?"

"If it's alright with you, can we meet at 12noon? At an Italian restaurant in Time's Square? Considering you will have to travel to meet me." Helena asked with consideration that she instantly refute.

"No, it's okay, I can do the travel."

"Great! I'll do the appointment. See you tomorrow Claire."

"Sure. See you tomorrow. Bye." After the call ended, she immediately had second thoughts in conceding into Helena's invitation. She can just hope that nothing of import will happen tomorrow at lunch.

She is still pondering about tomorrow's luncheon when Bea came knocking that she immediately came into attention and asked.

"Yes Bea, what is it?"

"Nothing of consequence. There is just a man outside asking if he can work here at the shop." Bea's reply made her forehead creased into confusion.

"Did we advertise already that we are hiring? I know we didn't." At her question, Bea's supposed answer should've made everything clear but instead made it more puzzling.

"I already said that to him, but he is just inquiring if there will be a vacancy for someone like him."

"What do you mean someone like him." At her befuddlement, Bea supplied an answer that tugged at her heart.

"He is quite old actually, I think he is the same age as your father or maybe older." She thought for sometime if she will entertain him or not but her curiosity won over her cautiousness, so she told Bea to let the man in.

Her interest was piqued at the man's apperance. He is quite tall with a gaunt face, though he wore an old coat two sizes larger than him over a knitted shirt that have seen better days, she noticed that he is skinny, like he is not eating healthy or he skips meal. She gestured for the man to sit and offered him coffee and a bun that she always stock, which he instantly accepted.

"Good morning. May I know your name?" She started her questioning with a greeting.

"Good morning to you as well ma'am. My name is Thomas Davidson and I am sixty four years old." The old man answered politely.

"My staff told me that you wanted to apply as an employee here, but you should know that we are not hiring as of the moment since the expansion for our cafe is not yet complete, so I might decline your application...for now." She saw how the man looked dejected at what she said that she felt heartbroken especially at the old man's tale.

"You know ma'am, I needed a job for I don't have any means of earning money. I want a noble and honest work. I know you are not hiring yet, I just tried my luck, but I think I ran out of it." If it's possible to look more forlorn, the man's face clearly shows it.

"Do you have any family?" She asked and the answers coming from the man moved her.

He is a widower for forty years, him and his late wife sired three children, all have their own family now. What shattered her heart that she almost wept was what he answered when she asked why he is not living with any of them or asking for their help.

"I don't want to be a burden to them ma'am, it is enough for me that they have grown to be respected people of our society. Children must not felt responsible for their parents. They were not born to repay what a parent did or sacrificed for them, it's a parent's responsibility."

To pacify the old man, she retracted what she first said. "But maybe I can put you up as a utility man if you are up to it." The man smiled at her decision to give him work.

"Thank you very much ma'am, you will not regret hiring me. I will work very hard and be the best employee you'll ever have." He said and even shook her hand. She smiled at the man's joyful countenance.

"You may start tomorrow if it's okay with you." She said after the man thanked her profusely.

She discussed her rules and regulations to the old man and instructed him to come back tomorrow before eight o'clock to give him a tour.

After the man left, she again had a thorough deliberation with herself if she will continue meeting up with Helena and came up with a final decision of proceeding with it. 'There is no harm in doing it anyway.' She told herself. So here she is, travelling the distance from Millbrook to Time's Square for the luncheon where Helena extended an invitation to her.

She parked her car at the designated spot for customers and went inside, still hoping that Helena will call to cancel their appointment. But her hopes were crushed when the maitre 'd told her that Helena already arrived and is waiting for her at their table. Her nervousness and anxiety came back full force while she was ushered towards the old woman.

She was greeted by Helena and Anne, whom she doesn't know will be coming as well. She was once again caught off guard when Helena said that they are waiting for one more person before they can start their meal. Her silent question was answered when Helena suddenly beamed at someone. Her jaw dropped when she saw whom they are waiting.

"Lucas, I'm glad you can join us."

---

Helena greeted him with a kiss on his cheeks, he also did the same with his mother. He then turned to her who is sitting still and eyeing him in disbelief.

"Hello sweetheart." The he kissed her on the forehead that made her perplexed. She snapped out of her befuddled mind when she heard Helena's voice.

"Oh Claire, I forgot to inform you that your husband will be joining us today. It is alright, isn't it?" She can only nod as an answer to her question.

"Good. So we can start our lunch." She then gestured to one of the waiters to start serving the food. While the food are being laid, both she and Lucas turned to each other and exchanged polite greetings.

Superb Italian dishes were placed on their table: calamari, Porter house, chicken parmesan on linguine, shrimp scampi, four pasta special, spicy buffalo wings and tiramisu for dessert, there is also a basket full of complimentary bread. She cannot help but eat with gusto since they are her favorites.

---

Lucas cannot helped but smile at Claire's unguarded self. She just ate with ease even in front of his family. Though it looks like Helena's face gave nothing away, he can see from her relaxed expression and the glint on her eyes that she is beginning to like his wife. He just hopes that she will not interfere with their plan nor plot something that may hinder their agreement of processing the divorce, but most of all, for her not to have an idea that their relationship was a sham nor that it happened by accident due to his total avoidance of being married.

His attention was grabbed by the conversation between his grandmother and mother.

"Yes mother, it will be very nice indeed if Claire is already pregnant." His mother said, he consider himself lucky that he only almost spit his drink but not Claire, for she had a hacking cough. Embarassment added to her fits since most of the people near their table are already staring at them. He gave his family a reprimanding look at the same time assisting Claire into drinking her glass of water. Both his grandmother and mother only apologized to Claire but not really meant it that made his brows more furrowed.

---

After her bouts of coughing, Claire thanked Lucas, she cannot make herself to meet the stare that Helena and Anne are both giving her. She doesn't know what to say to their comment about her being pregnant. She refuse to look at Lucas as well, for she feels mortified with the thought of them doing the deed. Although she fell in love with him already, she still cannot imagine them at it. She felt her face went flushed at her line of thoughts that it made her more flustered.

---

Lucas saw the look of mortification on Claire's face that she became beet red. He is wondering what she is thinking at the moment or her thoughts about what his mother and grandmother are saying. The idea of them having a child doesn't bring ill feeling to him nor it made him cringe, but he felt rather happy with the thought, that warmth spread again at his chest like it always does everytime he is with Claire. He abolished the feelings that suddenly erupted within himself and instead focused on finishing his meal, not making another comment towards his family. He thought that the topic was already closed considering everybody at their table all fell silent, but his grandmother is not yet finished with them.

"Don't you think that it is already time for you both to start a family? You are already married for five years, though it started not so great, you now both have a chance to make it right." Helena said to them both that made them look at each other quizically.

"It looks like you both are afraid of living together and pop that bubbly feeling you both feel towards each other." Anne started and continued when she and Lucas both turned towards her. "It is just a matter of accepting your partner with all he or she has, the beauty and the flaws, the good and the bad and even their sins and imperfections."

---

At Anne's sudden comment, both Lucas' and Helena's face became crestfallen, Claire felt that all of them knows a secret that cannot be told to anyone, such as herself. Her focus was caught by Helena who beamed as if to quash the sudden solemn mood.

"So, what do you think of that idea Claire? I think your family will not hinder your union again, won't they?" Helena asked as if provoking them to refute what she said.

She looked at Lucas, who is also looking at her questioningly, as if allowing her to make the decision of negating the very idea of them living together and making the fake relationship true in every sense. She caught herself vividly imagining Lucas and her living at the same house and her being a housewife to him. She just found herself saying what she thought will not be her answer if only she was on her right mind. The answer that evoked different reactions from everyone sitting with her on that table: Helena beaming, Anne with misty eyes and Lucas with a shocked face and raised brow.

"No, I don't think my family will impede our union like before, and the idea is quite nice..I think."

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Oho! She agreed for she did not reject the idea! Oh my, what do you think will happen to this two if they are going to live with each other.

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