Free Waiting for Mr. Darcy by Chamein Canton

“Here, take this home with you. Maybe Sally would like to try your Mom’s jambalaya, too.”
    â€œThanks, Mr. H.” He kissed his mom again. “Remember to take it easy.”
    â€œI will.”
    Kurt walked out with Harrison.
    Alicia turned to Lauren. “Don’t forget to call me. I want to hear all the details, unless of course you’re otherwise occupied.” She had a glint in her eye.
    â€œA dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste, Alicia,” she said drolly.
    â€œBut it’s mine to waste. Have a good time.”
    â€œThanks.” She kissed her on the cheek and headed out.
    She met up with Harrison and Kurt in the driveway.
    â€œYou have a good time tonight, Lauren. I’ll keep working on her majesty in there.” He kissed her and hugged Kurt before he went back inside.
    Kurt opened Lauren’s car door. “Here you go, Auntie.”
    She mussed up his hair. “You’re still such a good boy,” she said as she got into the car.
    He closed her door. “Thanks. Maybe you can help with my mom, too. It kills me to think of her alone.”
    â€œI’ll do my best. You know how stubborn she is. However, I can promise you that Gabby and I will tag-team her.”
    â€œThanks, Auntie. Have a good time tonight. Drive safe.”
    â€œI will.” She put the car in gear.
    * * *
    Gabby sat at her kitchen table going through photos she’d taken of the artists she and Nigel had seen earlier in the day. She couldn’t help but smile when she came across a photo of her and Nigel one of the artists had taken for them. “He is cute,” she said softly.
    â€œDo you need something, Ms. Blanchard?” Rosie, Gabby’s petite brunette maid, entered the room.
    â€œNo, Rosie. I’m fine.”
    â€œVery good, ma’am.”
    The phone rang. Rosie answered and handed it to her. “Hello?”
    â€œHey there. You’ve been awfully quiet today. How’s it going?” Alicia lay back on her bed.
    â€œHey, Alicia, I’m good.”
    â€œDid you find the next big thing in art?”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that, though I did see some good stuff.”
    Her happy tone made Alicia smile. “I can hear you grinning. What’s up?”
    â€œHow can you hear someone grin?” she asked, incredulous.
    â€œIt’s just the way you sound. You always have that little lilt in your voice when you smile.”
    â€œWe have known each other a long time, haven’t we?”
    â€œYes. Now spill the beans.”
    â€œI ran into Nigel in the park.”
    â€œIt must have been kismet at work. I mean, what are the chances you’d run into him in Central Park? That is where you were, right?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œWe spent the morning and some of the afternoon together, talking, looking at artists…”
    â€œDid you have lunch?”
    â€œNot exactly. We had a couple of ice cream sundaes.”
    â€œSounds sweet. No pun intended.”
    â€œWe had fun and the time flew by.”
    â€œIt always does when you’re having fun, my dear. So how did you leave things?”
    â€œWe’re having dinner tomorrow night.”
    â€œFantastic,” she exclaimed. “Hmm, there must be something in the air this summer.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI take it you haven’t spoken to Lauren.”
    â€œNo. What’s going on? Did she and Ken get back together?”
    â€œHardly. He served her with divorce papers.”
    â€œWhat? How is she?”
    â€œShe’s fine. In fact, I’d venture to say she’s as right as rain.”
    â€œAm I missing something?”
    â€œShe met someone who took her mind off Ken Jones.”
    â€œWho did she meet?”
    â€œRandy Rivera.”
    â€œHe’s the chef owner of Ricardo’s, isn’t he?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWow. Tell me more.”
    â€œI’ve already told