ENCHANTED LOVE - SEASON 7 EPISODE 39

Carlson was amazed to see the delectable spread at the dinner table. “Are these all prepared by our son?”

Carlson asked in amazement. Anthony had never made any food at home before. Carlson couldn’t believe his son had become such a wonderful cook.

“Of course he made all of these,” Laura said with a smile as she arranged a plate for Carlson. Carlson took his seat at the dining table and looked forward to the breakfast eagerly.

“Good morning, dad,” Anthony greeted Carlson. As soon as he saw his father coming to the dining table, he took the plates from Laura and asked her to take a seat. He cooked the food and wanted to serve his parents in his own hands. He put bowls and chopsticks in front of his parents and said, “The breakfast is ready. Let’s have it now!”

Carlson felt pleased. He had a large bowl of porridge and many fried dumplings. It was a common breakfast, but he felt it extremely yummy. It had been ages since they had sat together for a meal with their son.

“How does it taste, Dad?” Anthony asked Carlson. Anthony was a little nervous because he cooked for his parents for the first time. Both his parents were engrossed in their respective bowls.

Carlson nodded his head and said, “Very good.”

Then he took some soybean milk and said, “I’m full now. And it’s time to go to work. Anthony, come with me.”

“Okay.” Anthony nodded and rose from his seat. He then turned to his mother and said, “Mom, I’ll be back soon.”

As they walked towards the gate of their house, Carlson said to Anthony, “Now that you have learnt your mother’s disease, I hope you can show her some more concern. Don’t irritate her again, okay?”

“Don’t worry, dad. I won’t do that,” Anthony spoke in an apologetic manner. Then he promised, “What happened yesterday was just an accident because I didn’t know mom’s condition at that time. I promise I won’t annoy her any more. You can go to work without any worries. I am here to take care of her.”

“Your mom is going to have lunch with Jasmine today. You’d better go with her to make sure she does not fall ill.”

Carlson shared some words of advice with Anthony. Anthony had been away from them for the last three years. And now that he was back, his parents left no stone unturned to bond with him.

Anthony nodded dutifully and said, “Okay dad, I will.” Carlson gave a smile to Anthony and patted his back before getting on to the car.

After seeing Carlson off, Anthony went back to the house. Laura was still at the dining table relishing her breakfast. She smiled as she saw Anthony coming back and said to Anthony, “You have grown up to be a real man. I am really happy to have you back with us.”

Anthony smiled at Laura lovingly and said, “Mom, I will make breakfast for you every day as long as I’m home.”

“Good boy,” Laura said with a contented smile on her face. Having Anthony back after so many years was perhaps the most blissful thing that had happened to them lately. As Anthony started to pour a glass of milk to her, she asked, “Did your father ask you not to annoy me just now?”

Anthony looked up at Laura in a completely astonished look as he was not expecting her to bring up the topic at this moment. Immediately, Anthony apologized to Laura, “I’m sorry mom. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have made you angry.”

Anthony lowered his eyes feeling guilty to have agitated Laura. He felt extremely regretful once he thought about what happened yesterday.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. It was just because of my hypertension.” Laura smiled lovingly at her son and added, “You don’t have to blame yourself for that.”

Laura could see the guilty look on her son’s face. She didn’t want him to worry about her. She tried to relieve him as she said, “It’s just a common disease and will be controlled easily. As a doctor, I think you should know it isn’t a big deal.”

Anthony had the same worry-mixed-with-guilt look on his face. His face remained tensed even after Laura tried to assure him about her medical condition. Then he spoke with a frown on his face, “I was a doctor and I know hypertension seems to be safe usually. But it could be fatal when the patient falls ill. Anyway, you should get regular check up done in the hospital.”

“I know it. Your father can take care of me. Don’t worry,” Laura said with a smile.

Then she cast a glance at Anthony and said, “All I wish is that I could see you happy. I would have been happier if you didn’t quit the job as a doctor.”

Her words made Anthony uncomfortable. Anthony arched his brow as he looked down at his bowl. “Why do you repeat that?” he asked.

Three years back Anthony left everything behind and went abroad including his flourishing career as a doctor. It was like a heavy block in Laura’s heart. But Anthony didn’t want to hear or discuss about that.

She heaved a sigh and said to Anthony, “Fine. I won’t talk about it if you don’t want to hear. Have you finished eating? I’m going to clean the table if you have finished.” She rose from her chair and started to arrange the plates and bowls.
“Let me help you,” Anthony offered. Anthony stood up promptly and was going to pick up the bowls and chopsticks from the table. But Laura stopped him and took the bowls from his hands. “We are going to have lunch outside with Jasmine, so you should go, take a bath and change your clothes now. Don’t let your clothes be spoilt with oil and dirt.”

Three years back Anthony left everything behind and went abroad including his flourishing career as a doctor. It was like a heavy block in Laura’s heart. But Anthony didn’t want to hear or discuss about that.

She heaved a sigh and said to Anthony, “Fine. I won’t talk about it if you don’t want to hear. Have you finished eating? I’m going to clean the table if you have finished.” She rose from her chair and started to arrange the plates and bowls.
“Let me help you,” Anthony offered. Anthony stood up promptly and was going to pick up the bowls and chopsticks from the table. But Laura stopped him and took the bowls from his hands. “We are going to have lunch outside with Jasmine, so you should go, take a bath and change your clothes now. Don’t let your clothes be spoilt with oil and dirt.”

“Don’t worry. I will take bath after cleaning the table,” Anthony insisted. But Laura didn’t agree, she ordered, “Go away. I can handle this by myself.”

Anthony had to obey her. He went to take a bath. When it was about noon, Laura knocked the door of Anthony’s bedroom and said, “Are you ready, Anthony? It’s time for us to go out.”

“I’m ready, mom,” Anthony answered promptly. As he opened the door, Laura was taken aback by the way he was dressed. He wore a casual T-shirt and a jeans. He looked very informal. Laura glanced at him from head to toe and a frown settled on her face. She asked, “Why have you worn such clothes?”

“What’s wrong with them?” Anthony looked back at himself and exclaimed feeling bewildered. Anthony asked, “Is there anything wrong with my clothes?” “They are too causal,” Laura answered with an irked look on her face. Then she urged, “Change to some formal clothes.”
“Why?” Anthony looked at his mom looking puzzled and asked, “It is just an usual lunch, right? Why should I wear formal clothes?”

He wanted to wear clothes that made him feel comfortable. After all, why did he need to wear formal clothes when he was going out for lunch with his own mother?

“You won’t understand.” Laura took a deep sigh and insisted, “You don’t need to know why. Just change your clothes as I said.”

Anthony felt weird but got changed according to Laura’s wish as he did not want to get into an argument or create any kind of stress for his mother. The next moment he showed up in a suit.

Laura nodded her head and exclaimed, “Ah! That’s like my son. See how dapper you look in a suit!”

Anthony arched his brow to see his mother’s face glow in excitement. He instinctively felt something was wrong. “Is it just an usual meal?” he asked his mom as they walked out of their house and approached the car.

“Of course,” Laura said with a cheerful smile. “Jasmine and her family have stayed abroad for the last two years ago. They have just come back recently because their daughter will work in this city. I haven’t seen them for so long. And they have been very eager about this appointment with us. So I think you’d better dress up formally to show your respect.”

Then she tidied Anthony’s tie and said, “Let’s go now. They must have been waiting for us.”

Even after living in France for several years, Jasmine still found her heart’s content in Chinese food. So they booked a private room in a Chinese restaurant for the lunch.

Jasmine and Vince Sun had already been waiting for them as Anthony and Laura opened the door of the room. As soon as the two ladies met, Laura embraced her friend with joy and said, “Long time no see, Jasmine! You still look so beautiful!”

“Thank you, Laura. I’m flattered.” Jasmine returned with a smile, “You look the same as before. Time left no sign on your face!”

“How could it be possible.” Laura smiled and said, “I have spent so much energy on my son. I feel that I’m really getting old.”