Fresh Temptation

great. Don’t have much time though. I just stepped out of a meeting to take your call .” Her voice became slightly louder. “ Any chance you want your old job back? ”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me. I just started a brand new job today.”
    “ Oh, shoot! I thought you were a sure thing. ”
    “What happened? I thought the company was on its way out.”
    “ Apparently not. We were acquired by Emilieu Global .”
    “No!” Cara walked to her chair and sat down.
    “ Yes. There were rumors for a long time but it just became official today. They work very fast. They already had new operating budgets waiting when they met with senior level management today. They added fifty new positions to the headcount with more on the way. I was so hoping to bring you back .”
    Cara whined to herself and pressed her palm against her forehead. “I can’t believe this. Of course it would happen the day I start a new job.”
    “ I’m sure you can still quit the new job. ”
    The logical side of Cara told her to take the job in Chicago. She and Isaac were stable there. And she loved working with Justine. But when she thought about Victor, her answer was clear. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. If this had happened a week ago or even a few days ago, I’d probably already be packing boxes. I have to stay here. I need to see what develops.”
    With a dramatic sigh, Justine said, “ Fine. But if you change your mind in the next…I don’t know…couple weeks? Month? You let me know. ”
    “I will.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Cara opened the front door on Friday evening and entered the house with a sigh of relief. Her feet hurt and she was dying to slip out of her body shaper and into some comfy sweatpants. “I’m home!”
    Isaac ran to her from the kitchen. “Mommy Mommy Mommy!”
    She picked him up and gave him a kiss. “Were you a good boy for Grandma today?”
    He gave her a mischievous grin and said, “Yes,” then threw his face against her neck.
    Cara had a feeling he was lying, but she was quickly distracted by rich aromas wafting from the kitchen. She gently lowered Isaac to the floor and he ran off to the living room. “Mom, what are you making?”
    Patty’s eyes brightened when she saw her daughter appear. She reached for a potholder and opened the oven. “Nothing much. Lasagna. Garlic bread.”
    A glance around the room piqued Cara’s curiosity. On the kitchen counter, she saw some of her mother’s recipes that were only used for holidays and special occasions. Homemade garlic bread, Grandma Sylvia’s special red sauce, among others.
    When Patty saw Cara touch the recipes, she snatched them from her hand. “I need those.”
    “What’s going on? Is it someone’s birthday I don’t know about?”
    “No.” Patty smiled. “We’re…um…just celebrating your first week at your new job.”
    “Oh.” Cara returned her smile. “That’s sweet. I hadn’t thought of that. Is Marcy coming over?”
    “No.”
    “Well, I’ll invite her. I don’t think she’s working tonight.”
    “No!”
    “Why not?”
    “Just…no. Not tonight. Trust me.”
    Cara shook her head and turned to leave the kitchen. “Fine, whatever. I’m too tired to argue. I’m gonna go get comfortable.”
    “Don’t get too comfortable. Wear something decent.”
    Cara spun around to face her. She knew that tone in her meddling mother’s voice. “Okay. You’re up to something. What is it?”
    Patty shrugged and focused her attention on a mixing bowl on the counter. “Nothing.”
    “You’re lying. What’s going on? Did you invite someone over?” Cara raised her eyebrows. “Is it Stanley, that guy you met in the park a few weeks ago who you don’t think I know about?”
    Patty’s lips pursed as a pink hue flooded her cheeks. She whisked the ingredients in the bowl. “That was nothing.”
    “Oh, come on, mom. You’re a hot grandma.” Cara was glad she talked Patty into dyeing her hair recently. The new dark brown color covered Patty’s gray and made her look ten years younger, by Cara’s estimation.
    “Go keep your son occupied while I finish up in here, okay? I’ve had to fight him away from the fridge all afternoon since he saw me put the cake in there.”
    Cara groaned. “What the heck, Mom? I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
    Patty let the whisk drop to the bowl. “Fine.” She looked in her daughter’s eyes. “Your boss is joining us for dinner.”
    “What?” Cara gasped. “No! You