Chapter two

Elana sits patiently at the table in the restaurant with Liam that looked around then back at her. She's wearing a yellow dress and her hair is tied behind her head. She's nervous. What if she sees them as good people and let her son go only to realize afterward that it was a bad idea. Elana always expects the worst but never talks about it.

"Is both his mother and father coming?" She asks and picks up the menu looking at it. It's just to get distracted from her thoughts. Why does the mindset have to be so toxic?

"No. Only his father. He has no mother," Liam replied and stood up looking out. "They're here. I'll go fetch them."

"Okay," she replies and drops the menu. She rests her face on her hand and just stares down at the table. Her palms feel sweaty and her stomach all rolled up into a ball.

Liam gives his mother a worried look before he ran out. He knows his mother is paranoid and scared, but didn't realize it's that bad.

When Liam cake outside, he greeted both men with the hand. Jordan is in awe of this young man's posture. It's not that he's judging the women race, he's just not used to seeing a boy so well mannered that's raised by a single mother.

"My mom is already inside," Liam says to them on their way back into the restaurant. Jordan is wearing a nice tuxedo to look impressive. Appearances tell a story that the inside can't.

They enter the door and look around. There are quite a few people, but not too many. Jordan froze when he saw this beautiful woman sitting at the table all by herself dreaming away. Elana is biting nervously on her thumbnail trying to fathom out whether it's the right time to run out or if it's a new opportunity to meet people and make friends.

Joe looks at his dad and hit Liam with his elbow to get his attention. Liam looks at Jordan and just smile. The look in the eyes of this grownup is similar to those of a child that opens Christmas presents hoping he'll get the bicycle he's been admiring since his birthday.

"Shall we go?" He asks. Jordan immediately snaps out of it and nod. He looks around for the table and follows the boys only to end up at who he was staring at.

"Mom, this is Joe's dad," Liam introduced them. Elana stands up and gives him a big smile holding her hand to him. "This is my mother."

"Jordan," he smiles nicely at her.

"Elana," she replies and takes her seat with them. She looks at her son and just smiles at him. Her gaze goes down to her lap to Jordan that seems to be anxious.

"You don't look like a mother," Jordan said giving her an odd look.

"No," she giggles and puts her arm around Liam that smiled at her. She kisses the side of his head and sits back folding her arms in front of her chest. "So, I heard about the camp,"

"Yes. We do it every year. This time we decided to take someone with us," he says carving his eyes deep into hers. She nods her head slowly and gives Liam a smile that took her hand. He wants to assure his mother that he'll be fine.

"Mom, it's only a weekend," Liam chortle at his mother.

"I know," she nods and gives a heavy sighed. The look in his eyes hasn't changed any from the little three years old he was. "I'm just not used to having you away from home. I guess I'll have to let you go since you're leaving next year anyway."

"You won't be alone," Liam smile at his mother. She nods and looks at Joe.

"So, any plans for next year?" She asks smiling at him. He looks at his dad then back at her.

"College," he replies. She nods her head impressed with a smile and looks at Jordan that gave her an odd look. He is wondering. But why? Is it her eyes, voice, or attitude perhaps?

"Is there anything I can add for this camp?" She asks him. Her chest grows large with the amount of air she takes in. She throws her arms behind her head and stretches back.

"No," he shakes his head. "But a tent, blankets, a pillow, and some accessories will be necessary."

"Of course," she pulls her shoulders up with a giggle. "Those are the usual important things"

"And you."

She looks terrified at him that realized what he said when it was too late. Did he just make a complete fool of himself? Why would she even think about going with them? She's a woman and would hate getting her feet in the mud, smell like river water, and go a day without bathing.

Liam and Joe start to laugh. Jordan turns red in his face looking down embarrassed. He feels foolish for speaking without paying attention to his audience.

"What about me?" She asks giving him a strange look. He looks at her then at the two boys that stood up. Maybe if they give him a chance to ask her on his own he would stop making a fool f himself. It's not his fault that she has him speechless. There's a little bit of hope that's starting to burn inside of him that he might just stand a chance to fall in love again. He knows it's too early to feel this way, but he never felt like this before. No one ever imagined Jordan falling for another woman, nevermind at first sight.

"We'll be back," Liam smile at them. Joe gives his dad a big smile before they walked off. Elana bites her lip with a blush on her face and sits forward.

"That was weird," she giggles softly looking at Jordan that found it hard to get his eyes off her. She stops laughing and put her hands on her cheeks. "What's the matter? Is there something on my face?"

"No," he shakes his head and just gives her a little smile. "I'm just...admiring to you."

"Me?" She asks and sits forward. "Why?"

"You're beautiful," he laughs nervously. She gives him a big smile and looks down. "Will you come with us please?"

"It's a man-thing," she replies and looks at him again. There's a stirring in her heart that wants her to go, but she knows where her place is. "I'll only be in the way. You and the boys should enjoy it."

"I won't unless you come."

She takes a deep breath and let it out again. His demanding personality thrills her. That's a type of feeling she likes more than any other.

"I don't have a tent," she replies and rests her chin on her fist that's held up by her arm.

"Mine is big enough," he replies. She gives him an odd look. It's a first red alert to her and her nature to react towards that will eventually go off in her before her mind can be changed.

"You won't get me in your bed, Jordan," she said straightforward. "I've been taken advantage of before, never again."

"I don't want you in my bed," he immediately replies with a strict look on his face. He feels judged by the way she took his words. Does he look like that kind of man that only wants a bit of fun? "I just...want you with me....and the boys. You'll enjoy it."

She sighs in relief and nods. Thankfully, her paranoia got the first thing that could've ruined it for them out of the way.

"If you're like one of those women who hates nature, gets scared of breaking a nail, or can't stand walking barefoot in the dirt, sacrifice those phobias and join us."

He looks serious. Well, if he wasn't she'd probably think he was only joking.

She throws her head back laughing. Her hair shaking when she shook her head. She sits up straight and smiles at him.

"Unfortunately for you sir, I'm not a drama queen. So I would love to join you on this camp," she finally surrenders with a big smile. "If it's not going to ruin it for the boys. I don't want my son to feel embarrassed or that I'm trying to push myself in where I don't belong."

"The boys will be busy on their own this weekend," he replies and sits forward feeling so close to her suddenly. "And I will get to know my new lady friend better."

"Lady friend," she laughs and nods her head slowly. He smiles at her and spends a period just admiring her face. He barely knows her. Honestly, he knows nothing about her. Maybe that's why there's something like perfect timing. They'll eventually get to know each other better, fall in love and then when they admit is, realize that they've been through enough heartache to know that this time is real. No, apart from being a single mother, there's no way on earth that Elana will give so much of herself so willingly and early to a man again. She's got her boundaries, reasons, and stories and that's enough for her now. If he ruins it for her, it'll only end up in chaos.