Finally by Miranda P. Charles Page A

she answered, hiding her thrill.
    “Just a tad, huh?” Jeff repeated, his eyes narrowing. “I thought you said you’ll miss me a lot.”
    “Did I say a lot ?”
    “I thought you did. Unless, of course, that was just a product of my wishful thinking.”
    Sarah couldn’t help the big grin that split her face. “You want me to change my answer?”
    “That would be good.”
    “Well, my new one would depend on how much you say you missed me.”
    “If I say a lot , would you say more than a lot ?”
    “Um, do you guys want to be left alone?” Amanda interrupted.
    Jeff smiled lopsidedly, glancing up ahead. “I’d say yes, Amanda, but it’s not a good idea to be alone with Sarah right now. Maybe later, when no one apart from her best friends could witness how hot she’s feeling right this moment.”
    Sarah gasped out loud at Jeff’s cheeky comment. “Speak for yourself,” she chastised, knowing her grin betrayed the fact that she wasn’t the least bit annoyed.
    “They’re coming,” Rebecca murmured.
    Sarah turned her head to see who Rebecca meant and found Magda walking toward them with Zach, Olga and Marilyn.
    She swallowed her disappointment. Of course, those people—except for Zach—must not know. With Olga and Marilyn around, she and Jeff would need to be careful with their flirtations for Magda’s sake.
    “Hasn't this day turned out to be such a beautiful day?” Magda said as they joined them in the gazebo. “It would be nice to have lunch out here, don’t you think?”
    “Great idea, Gran,” Jeff said. “We can ask the staff to set up a table here for us.”
    “Yes! Is everyone okay with that?”
    Everyone nodded their head enthusiastically.
    “I’ll let the kitchen know,” Jeff said, standing up to go back inside.
    “Thank you, dear,” Magda said, before introducing Amanda to Olga and Marilyn.
    Sarah surreptitiously observed Marilyn as everyone made small talk. The woman was sitting next to Magda and was showing her some pictures from her phone. It was evident they were close. Did Magda see Marilyn as a granddaughter? Would Magda mind if Jeff preferred Sarah over Marilyn?
    Oh, stop it Sarah, she mentally berated herself. A few flirtatious lines from Jeff and she was already hoping for a blessing from his grandmother.
    She must remember that Jeff was just a big flirt. Their earlier exchange didn’t prove anything apart from confirming that their fling was still on. She shouldn’t jump to conclusions too quickly.
    Magda coughed, trying to clear her throat.
    “Sarah, could you make me another honey lemon tea? This tickle in my throat is starting to bother me again.”
    “Of course,” Sarah said. “Anything else you need while I’m in there?”
    “That’s all, dear. Thank you.”
    “Excuse me,” Marilyn said. “I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll walk back with you, Sarah.”
    Sarah glanced at Marilyn in surprise. The woman was actually paying attention to her! She didn’t have a choice but to fall in step with Marilyn as they made their way back into the hotel.
    “Sarah, I want to apologise to you for my snobbishness when we were on the cruise.”
    Sarah stared at Marilyn. She hadn’t expected this .
    “I was just angry and jealous because Jeff had ended our relationship, then started one with you. No one told me, but I guessed. It’s so easy to tell with Jeff. Just pay attention to whom he’s being flirty with and you’ll know who his current flame is. And he was really flirty with you during the last days of the cruise.”
    “I see. Are you, uh, okay now?”
    Marilyn smiled—a little sadly, Sarah thought.
    “Yeah, I’m okay,” Marilyn answered. “One thing my affair with Jeff taught me was to go for someone who’s relationship material next time. I don’t want to waste any more time and emotions on men who don’t want something more meaningful.”
    Sarah didn’t know what to say, so she just sent Marilyn a sympathetic smile.
    “Can I ask you something?”