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*** If you are under the age of 18 or are not of legal age in your jurisdiction, please exit this story immediately ***
Author's note: Thanks to all for your kind words regarding the continuation of the Silver series; your comments were greatly appreciated! And so we continue with the romantic series with Silver 12 as Marlene and Michael continue their lives together.
As I have always stated before, your comments are so very much appreciated! Please take the time to vote, leave me your thoughts, positive criticisms, and wishes for future stories in the series! Private emails are also very much welcomed! I would love to hear privately from my readers about their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions for future stories!
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"Hi Mom... No, everything is alright... No Mom, I'm fine... Yes, I'm sure; I just wanted to see if you would like to go out to dinner tonight... Yes, with me... No, just you and me... No, it's just that we haven't had much time to sit down alone and talk... Mom, no, I promise, everything is fine... OK, I'll see you tonight!"
Shaking her head in amusement, Marlene placed the phone back into the cradle of the receiver, slightly easing the leather chair back from her walnut desk and without notice, rocked back and forth. Her engagement to Michael, his accident, wedding plans, and work had all but occupied her time. She and her mom hadn't had much of a chance to relax and have a nice mother, daughter conversation. Chewing on the cap of her pen, Marlene drifted back in time; a time when the relationship with her mom was strained to say the least. "Rebel should have been my name," she whispered to herself, thinking back to her adolescent years when the sudden death of her father and younger brother, accompanied with her mother's deep depression which had followed, drained her of all emotion.
The buzz of her phone made her jerk upwards in her seat, "Hey, Marjie, what's up?"
"A Mrs. Tomlinson to see you?" Marjie replied.
"Yes, please send her in."
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"Hey Mom, I'm home, are you ready?"
"Almost Honey, I'm back here trying to clasp this darn necklace," Mrs. Cassidy exclaimed from her bedroom.
"Here, let me help you out," Marlene said in a tender voice as she entered her mom's room.
"Thanks, Honey, these old fingers just don't want to do what I tell them anymore."
"That's OK, Mom, I have the same problem if that makes you feel any better!"
After clasping her mom's necklace and adjusting her collar, Marlene changed into her more comfortable jeans, sweater, and stylish heels before touching up her makeup and grabbing her handbag.
"Ready Mom?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," her mom laughed, shrugging her shoulders to adjust the wool coat she had chosen to wear.
"You look great, Mom; I only hope I look as good as you when I'm your age!"
"Oh Marlene, thank you Honey; I'm sure you'll look much better than this," she sighed as she fastened the last of her buttons.
"Where to?" Marlene asked her mom as she placed the SUV into reverse.
"Oh, Marlene, I don't know, that's up to you, Honey."
"OK, I know a nice Italian place..." Marlene said in a dreamy voice.
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The two women were guided through the small restaurant and seated at a secluded table. "Good evening ladies, my name is John and I'll be serving you tonight."
The two women looked toward the elderly waiter as he stood before them, Marlene with a bright smile on her face; "How are you, John?" she asked.
"You look vaguely familiar," the waiter whispered, "Yes, I remember, you were here with the blind, I'm so sorry, the visually impaired gentleman, right?"
"You're correct," Marlene answered with a broad smile, "I'm Marlene, and this is my Mom, Joan."
"Yes, Marlene," the waiter stated, "And your friend, Michael, right?"
"Yes, John, Michael..." she replied, her face glowing at the mention of his name.
"And your Michael; is he well?" John politely inquired.
"Quite well, and as mischeivous as ever," Marlene giggled, recalling how they had laughed the night away at the restaurant as Michael became a bit giddy from the wine.
"He has a gift," John smiled, "A very special gift."
"A special gift?" Mrs. Cassidy interjected.
"Yes, I'm so sorry, Joan, please accept my apology, it is a pleasure to meet you. You are as beautiful as your daughter. I didn't mean to leave you out of the conversation."
"Oh please... Thank you, John... No need for apologies, but you were saying?" Mrs. Cassidy continued in a flustered voice.
"Joan, look at your daughter's face, her eyes... Look how her skin glows and those beautiful green eyes sparkle at the very mention of his name. He is special to her. He lives within her; in her heart, in her very soul," the waiter whispered as if he were looking through them.
Marlene's mom reached across the table, taking her daughter's soft, delicate hand into her own, "He saved my baby, John..."
"Indeed," the waiter commented as he gazed down at Marlene.
"Um, may we have two glasses of wine?" Marlene asked in a slightly uncomfortable voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've gone off on one of my rambles; what may I get the two of you?" the apologetic waiter asked.
"Mom?" Marlene inquired.
"I think I'll have a glass of chardonnay."
"I'll have the same," Marlene answered as she looked up to John.
"Very well, I'll be back with your drinks in a moment," the waiter kindly replied, turning away after excusing himself.
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Continuing to grasp her mother's hand as she sipped the chilled wine, Marlene asked her mom if they could talk about some things.
"Sure, Marlene, but before you ask, he absolutely adores you!"