Free Table for Two by Alexis Lauren

shook her. "No!" He yelled. "It's not your fault in any way. The doctor said that these things happen and you did nothing wrong. You've got to stop thinking that way. Do you hear me?"
    Bella looked up at him hesitantly. Seeing that he wasn't lying, and that he didn't blame her, she felt a little weight lifted off her shoulders. "I'm so sorry."
    "I know, me too." He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. He rocked her body with his as the tears kept coming from her eyes. "Me too."
    The shrill ringing of the phone woke them both from their slumber a couple of hours later. They both looked at each other and jumped apart as if they'd been burned. Bella picked up the phone that was on her nightstand next to her bed, and Parker got up and began collecting the movies that he had brought over.
    "Oh, hi Dylan. No, it's alright, we'd…I'd just fallen asleep." She spoke into the phone. After listening to the earpiece for a moment, her face grew rigid. "Yes, he's still here. He came over to help me through a difficult night, not that it's any of your business." She spat at him then sighed. "I'm not going to fight with you about this. If I want Parker here, then he'll be here. End of subject." She rubbed her forehead. "How did business go tonight?"
    After Parker had gathered his things, he motioned to her that he was leaving. Isabella held up her hand, stopping him, and told Dylan to hold on for a moment. She covered the phone with her hand, then asked, "You're leaving?"
    "Yeah, I have an early interview in the morning. Besides, I don't want to overstay my welcome. I remember what happened the last time." They both laughed. "I'll give you a call though, ok?"
    She nodded and began to put the phone up to her ear again as he turned to leave the room. "Parker, wait." She called out as she dropped the phone and crawled out of the bed. She shyly walked over to him and put her hand on his cheek. She looked into his eyes briefly before softly kissing his cheek. "Thank you for everything tonight."
    Parker pulled her in for a tight hug, one that was nearly bone crushing, but felt better than any other hug she had ever received. "My pleasure." He kissed the top of her head before letting her go and leaving her room. Only when she heard the door to the apartment close did she go back to her bed and pick up the phone again.
     
    *****
    A few days later, Isabella's body felt better from the D&C that she had when she was in the hospital, and she was ready to get back to work. She was tired of laying around in bed, with nothing to do but think about what happened.
    As she approached her restaurant, she was surprised to see that her workers weren't milling around in front, waiting for her to open the doors. She was sure that she had told Dylan that she'd be back that day, and hoped that he hadn't gotten everything done before she got there.
    The front door was still locked when she pulled on it, making her fear that, instead of starting before she got there, everyone was late. She dug her keys out and opened the door, muttering to herself about slackers as she turned on the lights. To her surprise, all of her staff jumped out and blew on noise makers, cheering for her return. A big banner hung behind them, 'Welcome Back Boss' painted on it.
    Isabella smiled at the craziness of her crew. "I knew you guys weren't lagging behind on your duties while I was gone."
    "Not a chance boss. Dylan kept us all in line." Marty, one of her waiters yelled to her.
    Bella looked around, past at all of the smiling faces coming to hug her. She took in all of the sights of her restaurant…The cream colored walls with Tiger Lily orange trimmed wainscot, the Tiger Lily orange table cloths, with brown cloth napkins, and the fresh Tiger Lily bouquet centerpieces at every table. Her eyes roamed over to the fireplace, and the table that she tried to stick Parker at. The thought made her smile. Everything within these walls made her smile. This was where she