Monday
Sorry Sere that I’m late. I stopped to talk to Andrew thinking I had plenty of time. I guess I forgot to check my watch.”
“It’s ok Mina, I totally understand. I don’t have to be back at the store until three anyway.”
“The usual for you Miss. Serena?”
“Yes, Justin that sounds fine.”
“And for you Miss. Mina?”
“Whatever Serena order is fine.”
“I’ll be back shortly with your orders.”
“So have you and Andrew decided on a date yet?”
“Well, not really. It seems to all depend on you.”
“Me? Why?”
“I was hoping that my bestest friend would be able and willing to make my wedding dress for me. Please Serena, say you will design and make my wedding dress!?
“Mina, I’m sure that you have the top designers lined up with plans already made and waiting for your approval for your wedding.”
“That’s just it, when the “top designers make me dresses the dresses are theirs designed for whoever will pay the highest price. But when you design cloths for me they are for ME, not just anyone.”
Justin brought them a simple chicken salad and refilled their lemonades.
“Thank you Justin.” Serena said with a smile.
“I will check back to see how you are doing.” After saying that he left them.
“Mmm, I’m glad I went with you, this is good, but back to my wedding dress. Will you please help me out and say yes?”
Serena took a slow bite of her salad leaving Mina in suspense. She slowly chewed, by now Mina was at the edge of her chair. Serena finally swallowed then reached for her lemonade.
“Serena!”
After a drink, “I would love to, Mina.”
“Yeah!” Mina jumped up from her chair and hugged Serena. “I knew you would agree!”
“I assume you want me to start sketches soon, so write down some of you ideas on how you want your dress designed.”
“Sere, dear, there is one more thing, I would like to ask you, before I must go.”
“What would that be?”
“Please design the bridesmaid dresses? I just don’t trust anyone other than you to design everything.”
“What about the groom’s and groom’s men’s tuxedos, you want me to make new ones just for them?” Serena said with a laugh.
But Mina took her seriously, “Would you? I mean you will have to talk to Andrew about it, but it sounds like a good idea. How long will all this take?”
“It depends, I won’t even have a clue until the sketches on everything are done.”
“Thank you so much Sere, for agreeing to this. At least I know that everyone in the wedding will be dressed magnificently. It was good having lunch with you. I’ll call you in a day or two. Stop and see Andrew sometime.” Mina was gone hopping into her lovely mustang. Serena just laughed.
Monday Night
“Sere, please? The band just canceled and I don’t have any back up scheduled. I’ll pay you double?”
“Go up, Sis, I don’t mind. I love hearing you sing.”
“Keep your money Lita, I will sing. Just pick up the check tonight for us.”
“You got it.”
Serena stood up from her table and calmly walked up onto the small stage. She wore a light pink strapless dress. It showed off her young women curves just the right amount, so she still felt descent. Plus a long slit that went up to mid-thigh, showing off her long-leg.
“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. I am sorry to inform you that the band that was schedule for tonight had to cancel at the last minute. But I hope that you all will consider me a reasonable replacement.”
“Let us hear your angel voice.”
“Sing for us angel it has been to long.”
“Well I hope I can live up to your expectations.” Her opening notes started and she came in right on time and in tone.
“I wonder, I wonder
I wonder why each little bird
Has a someone
To sing to
A gay little love melody?”
~ At the bar ~ ‘Who is she? Do I know her? It can’t be...but it has to be!’
“I wonder, I wonder
If my heart keeps singing
Will my heart go winging
To someone
Who’ll find me
And bring back a love song to me?”
The song ended the customers erupted in applause and cheers. Serena just said thank you and blushed, she then continued on with her next song.
At the bar
“Ken who is that ‘Angel’ up on the stage?” Darien asked.
“Serena Jacobs and she is an angel in all ways.” answered the young man sitting next to him.
“And you would be?”
“Sammy Jacobs, her brother.”
“Serena would sing here when we first opened, for a little extra cash and a free meal.” Ken stated.
“Of course I would always feed Sere.” Lita said entering the conversation. “Nice to see you in town again Dare.”
“Finally become a doctor?” Ken asked his good friend.
“Yes, been a one for a year. Just got a job at the hospital here in town.”
“Wow! Will we be seeing you down at the arcade still?”
“As long as Andrew owns it you can find me there.” Darien swirled around his seat in order to look at Serena.
“How long are you home or Sammy?” Lita asked.
“Another day or two, I’m working at a camp this summer.”
“I thought Andrew had you convinced to work for him?” Sammy shocks his head no. “You will be back for the wedding, won’t you?”
“If Sere has anything to say about is, I will! How long will you keep her singing tonight?”
“Until she gets booed off stage.”
“What? Who would boo her off? She’s beautiful!” Darien wondered out loud.
“Just joking Dare, once Serena gets going she won’t stop.”
“I better be going. I have to meet Andrew early tomorrow.”
“Bye!” The three said.
‘I’m back love, I just hop I’m not to late.’ Darien thought stealing on last glance of Serena.
Tuesday
“Serena, dear, come over and tell me all about this grand idea you had.” Andrew said seeing the blonde that had just walked into the Arcade.
Today she was dressed in a simple baby pink sundress that swirled when she twirled. Of course it was a Serenity Original.
“I simply don’t know what you are talking about Andrew.”
“Dare listen to this, all Mina talks about last night was about her lunch date with Sere and this grand idea she had for me and my groom’s men. And now she doesn’t know what I’m talking about.”
“Andrew it was not my idea. I was simply making a joke and that bride of yours, dear cousin-to-be, thought it seriously would be a good idea.
“Sounds like your cousin, but she never did get around telling me what the idea is.”
“Along with designing her dress and the braid’s maid’s dresses, she wants me to design the guy’s tuxedos. They will of course be traditional, just new and Serenity Originals.”
“Serenity?” Darien asked.
“My designing name and store name!” Serena said noticing that there was a man sitting next to her at the counter.
“Nice name.” Darien said turning towards Serena. Andrew kind of slipped away.
“Darien!? It is really you?”
“Yes!” Serena leaped off her chair and went over and gave Darien a hug.
“How are you? Goodness it’s been six years since you left. Allot has happened. You will be here for the wedding won’t you?”
“Depends if you have to make everything I might be old and gray and unable to get up to go.” Darien said trying to make her smile.
“Wrong wedding. I didn’t have to deign anything for this one.” Serena said a little sad. Darien gave her a questioning look. “You did get the invitation, I sent you?” Serena looked over at Andrew who just shrugged his shoulders. That’s when Darien noticed the diamond on Serena’s left hand.
“When’s the wedding?”
“Two week’s! We must get together sometime.”
“Tonight! For dinner, I’ll cook.”
“Sounds traffic.”
“I’m in the same apartment. How about six thirty?”
“I’ll be there. It is so good to see you again, but now I must be going. Sammy will be wondering where I am.”
“See you tonight at six-thirty, don’t forget.”
“I won’t. Bye Andrew.” She left with the biggest smile on her face.
“You could have warned me that she is engaged.”
“Like anyone actually likes her fiancé. He wears a mask in front of Sere.”
“Well I have two weeks to make her change her mind about this guy.”
“Good Luck!”
“Thanks, I’m going to need it.”
Tuesday Night
At promptly at six-thirty Serena knocked on Darien’s door.”
“Hi Serena come in.”
“I didn’t know what you were making so I brought over my favorite wine.” Serena said with a smile.
“Moonlight Raspberry! Perfect, I didn’t think you a big drinker after the prom incident!”
“That was not my fault, it was yours for not warning me.”
**FLASHBACK**
“Darien, I can’t believe I’m actually at a Prom.”
“Serena, your here, and after your shock wears down you’ll have fun.”
“You better no leave me, after dragging me here.” Serena warned even though Darien didn’t really have to drag her to his prom.
“Why don’t I go get us so punch that will help your nerves.” Darien said while he was still shocked how beautiful Serena looked. ‘I’m sure glad I asked her to my Senior Prom. Like you would have asked anyone else except for the young woman that you love.’
**End FLASHBACK**
“Lucky for you my parents thought I was staying over at Mina’s after Prom.”
“A passed out girl in my bed, and you say lucky me?”
“It wasn’t the first time, and it most defiantly wasn’t the last. Anyway, you know I like this wine, because it isn’t that strong and takes more than a bottle to get anyone close to being drunk let alone passed out.”
“Yes I do. Why don’t we sit out on the balcony and eat?” Serena followed Darien out to the balcony were table for two was set. Darien ‘helped’ Serena be seated, then he poured the wine in two wineglasses. He then served a wonderful meal.
“You never lost your touch in the kitchen.”
“And for that I cam glad.”
“Mmm, this is good. I have a special surprise for you after we finish.”
“Serena, you know how much I hate surprises.”
“I know.” Serena said with a devilish look, while taking a drink of her wine.”
“Anyway, I can get it out of you?”
“Nope!”
They soon were finished with the meal. Grabbing their win glasses and the bottle they went back into the Living Room. Serena walked to the coffee table where she left her purse and another bad. She took out a tin.
“Now you better appreciate these, because you know I hate to share.” Serena opened the lid and Darien could see fresh double-chocolate-chip cookies. “No I did not make them. They’re from Lita.”
“Sere, you remembered?”
“Of course after trying so many times to make them for you I think I would remember your favorite kind of cookie.”
“And they go perfect with your favorite wine.”
“Cookies and wine? Only us only us would love such a combination.” Darien gave her a look that said ‘why no us?’ “I got something else. Are you up to a movie?”
“Of course.”
“Ok.” Serena took out a movie and put it in the VCR then went to sit on the couch next to Darien and eat cookies and drink wine.
“Got to watch previews.” Darien said.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Serena said smiling up at him.
As soon as they got a short way into the previews Darien realized what movie it was.
“Come on Sere haven’t we seen this movie enough times?”
“No, because nothing beats the first time...” she trailed off remembering.
**FLASHBACK**
“What movie did you pick?” Serena asked.
“James Bond, you said you wanted action and adventure.”
“Perfect I love these movies. Please don’t fast-forward through the beginning.”
“Preview Lover?” Serena shook her head yes. “I’m one, too. Maybe we should start a club.”
“I don’t think so, Dare. Now sit down and watch.” The two were seated next to each other watching the previews, but once the actual movie started, they realized it wasn’t a James Bond movie at all.
“ET?” Darien asked Serena started to laugh.
“You...didn’t...check...the...tape...inside...the...case!” Serena managed to get out through all of her laughter!
**END OF FLASHBACK**
Both Serena and Darien were in a fit of laughter over the memory. Once they settled down they watched the one movie they loved to watch together.
When the movie was over Serena got up to rewind the movie when her cell phone rang. She walked backed out to the balcony for the call. Darien got up to take the video out and turn off the VCR. Then Serena walked back into the Living Room with a troubled look.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She made a smile for him. “I should be going.”
“Sere, it’s not even ten yet.”
“Will you be at the arcade for lunch?”
“I can be.”
“I’ll see you then at twelve-thirty.” Serena kissed Darien lightly on the cheek then left him in wonderment.