Dos
"Mom she's Josh mom. She's..."
"Carmilla Karnstein"
Well shit. She remembers you. That's a good thing, no? Like, she even remember your full name. So...
"Well, at least you could make it to this appointment"
Yeah. Nope. Not good at all.
"You two know each other?"
Your son asks and you can see the curiosity in Jane's face too. That should be inherited from Laura's.
Laura Hollis who's in front of you eighteen years later and she's looking just as breathtaking as her college version. Also equally annoyingly stubborn.
"Calm down, Cupcake. We're here for our children not for our date"
Ok. Wrong thing to say. Apparently common sense is not your forte.
Laura's eyes widen as much as they can. Same reaction has Jane. Your son shakes his head and brings one of her hands to rub his temple while his eyes are shut close. You can see the vein in his forehead just about explode.
"You two dated?"
Of course, Jane is the one who dares to speak. Laura cheeks paint in red and your confidence returns as her annoyed look switch to ashamed and she looks to floor. She looks so beautiful all flustered. You remember how she used to be. The way her nose cringed when she were bothered. How hot she looked when she bited her bottom lip when she were shy. Or how georgeous she could be even when she were screaming at you because you didn't do your chores from the chore wheel. That shiver only Laura Hollis can give you travels all your dorsal spine.
"We didn't... We weren't... She's didn't..."
Babbler. Wonderful. You're sure you must look like and idiot watching Laura like she's the most lovely things in the whole world but you find even more appealing the fact Laura still has that insufferable oddity.
"Your table is ready. Please, follow me"
The hostess interrupts Laura's babbling and your not so sure if you feel relived or mad because you wanted to know what she would say about your relantionship.
Well, kinda.
You always had a crush on her. The day you discovered she was your roommate you were determined to make her remember you forever. Even is that meaned annoyed her with all your guts so she could at least looked at you. So that was the plan. Apparently now, the plan worked out because it seems she remembers you and really really hates you. Good one, Carmilla.
Saying the antarctic scientists interacts whit a human more in a year that you do is a very truthful stamen. But you're sure the shaking hands and the wrecked race your heart is having have less to do with social nervousness and more to the fact that Jane made you seat next to Laura so she could seat next to Josh. The waitress take your drinks orders and backs with lemonades to the Hollis? girls, water for Josh and red wine for you.
And as cold as the antarctic pole is is the nuisance at your table. Well, obviously your son and his girlfriend seems oblivious about it. You were witness how the second Jane took Joshua's hands, he just melted in it and stopped worrying for the previous outburst.
"So, how's that you have a daughter from Jane's age?"
Ok, now Laura looks like she wants to kill you, chop your hot body in tiny little pieces and give them to the sharks as dinner. Wrong thing to ask, it seems.
"Mom"
Josh just sighs and hide his face in his hands.
Gosh. You're a dimwit for this boy. You can't see him sad or mad at you. He's your life. So, you do what your life with a son made you do.
"I'm sorry"
You mumble. And you can see Laura's face softs a little but become confused about those words coming out from you.
You think she'd never hear you saying that.
"It's OK. I didn't know I was pregnant when... you know, we were at college. Long story and I don't wanna talk about. So, I prefer order if that satisfied your curiosity"
"Uhm. Sure"
You call the waitress to come to the table and you must killed hundreds of people on your past life because instead you can see a very familiar face getting close.
The stupid things you do for your son, sometimes have its painful ways to return to you. Joshua wanted impress Jane's mom so you had to ask for a favour to one of your regular... Ahm... Lets say 'influencial buddies'. She's the owner of the most luxury and ludicrous restaurant in the city. Having a reservation in three days is nearly impossible. 'Nearly' meaning you had to put all your efforts in bed.
"Hey, you! Hi, Josh"
"Uhm. Hello"
Your son doesn't know who she is. But plays dumb to not bother the other persons at the table. You know he's not blind, he should know who she's as soon as he can see the way Elsie's fucking you with her eyes. Well, everyone at the table can see it. If not, everyone at the restaurant.
You never mix these paths. Sex were just sex. Nothing to do with your son. But of course, you couldn't shut up about Joshua getting a scholarship for Silas University. You're sure that's how Elsie tied knots about you having a son and his name in the reservation.
"Elsie, this is Josh girlfriend Jane and her mother, Laura. Elsie is a very old friend of the family. I didn't know you would be here"
You lie with a monotonous tone. Smooth, Karnstein, smooth. You bring your wine cup to your lips.
"Of course not. You rushed out from my apartment so fast that morning I think you almost forgot your panties in my bedroom's floor"
You make everything is in you to not split the wine at the table but you have to gulp the thick drink. Laura's not that lucky she has to take her napkin so she can't embarrassed herself. Josh just close his eyes. Jane definitely looks impress but somehow find the whole situation funny. What's she smiling at?
"I'm kidding. You don't have to look all sick about it. I hope you all have a wonderful night here at The Lustig. I have to go now but please feel free to order anything you want. A friend of Carmilla's is a friend of mine"
Geez. You didn't know Elsie could be that polite.
"Of course, Carmilla you can always 'pay me' later"
Oh, there it is. The Elsie you know. Shit.
----
"Well that was a kick"
Your son doesn't seems please at your stamen. After a very awkward meal the two of you make your way home. While Jane and Laura goes to hers.
You had to admit Jane was really your saver. She were talking the most of the time and you're so grateful for that. The funny thing is that you craved listen more from Laura's life. Just to hear her voice. Fuck. You're such a sap when it comes to Laura Hollis.
"Oh, come on, Josh! It wasn't that bad!"
"Uh-uh. I don't know what I enjoyed the most, mom. Your awkward dialogues with Laura. The appellant show of your 'friend'. Or the bad flirty lines you gave Laura the whole night"
"Bad flirty lines? What are you talking about?"
"'I think you had a very juicy breast there'"
Oh, God!
"I... Uhm... I was talking about her dish. She ordered chicken breast"
"Sure, mom"
"There wasn't a flirt. I mean it would be an amazing flirty line but it was not meant to be"
"It was the worst"
You laugh. And Josh glares at you.
"OK, look. Laura and I maybe have our little story and perhaps she even hates me but that has nothing to do with you or Jane. I believe she really loves you. Laura even gave you a big hug when she said goodbye. We could be civilized people. You two are our children. We wouldn't do anything to stop your happiness. So, forget about today and be happy with Jane"
Josh doesn't look very convinced about it.
And you can't see your son defeated. Ugh. Lame.
"OK. Come on. Give me Laura's address"
"What for? So you can kill her in person?"
"Ha-ha. I don't want to kill Laura. I... I'm going to do the right thing here, Ok?"
Joshua grins at you and you do the same. You'd do everything for your, not so, little boy.
And maybe even for your own sake.
---
Laura's at her house typing like crazy. She has a deadline to this evening and yet she had to deal with the insufferable mother of her daughter's boyfriend.
Not only that. Mother who turns out be her ex-roommate whom she secretly have a crush. Had. She had a crush. She hated Carmilla when she stood up her. After two weeks almost begging her go out with her. Laura always thought that were the biggest prank Carmilla could make. She was so hurt. Her heart was so brake.
And now it turns she has to coexist with the near presence of Carmilla Karnstein.
She would be lying if she doesn't admits she was curios about her suddenly disappearing and now she was there with a son. Josh always said her real parents die in a car accident and her 'mom' were actually her aunt but he loved her like a true mom.
Could be that the reason? Shut up, Laura! Stop! No she's not going to go there. She was a liar. She still is. She had this harem of 'study buddies' and now seems the same. That woman at the restaurant. So, no. She can't.
Laura type the rest of her article. Then opens a new Internet tab: "Joshua Luce car accident". She's about to read the results when her doorbell rings.
She walks and opens the doors to be greeting for a enormous and beautiful flower bouquet.
She smiles. Jane's so lucky. Josh's always doing sweet things like this. It's a mystery how he could be raised for the infuriating Carmilla Karnstein.
In a blink Jane's is next to her. She heard the doorbell too.
"Laura Hollis?"
"Uhm. Yeah"
Why Josh put the flowers at her name? Maybe it should be a surprise for Jane.
She signs the tablet and thanks the young men to turn around and see her daughter with a wonderful smile. She's so happy for her.
"What?"
She asks when a mischievous grin plays in her daughter's face.
"Do you have a secret admirer and you didn't even tell me?!"
"What?!!! I thought Josh..."
"This is not for me. Here says 'Miss Laura Hollis'"
No. That should be a mistake. She walks to open the little white envelope signed with a beautiful delicate handwriting.
Please, say yes and have dinner with me tomorrow night.
Carmilla.