Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Ash was a flirt through and through and Van thought that if she ignored him long enough he'd get the hint that she wasn't interested but the guy was persistent. Many people had approached her and even tried to be friends when she arrived in Roseville, small towns were often like that everyone is in everybody's business. The first few weeks she had unwanted visitors who were curious about her after having heard she was from Manhattan they wanted to hear about the big city and were fascinated by it but Van wasn't interested. She was too heartbroken and down spirited to entertain anyone but Ash had remained consistent.

Even now he was sitted in one of the tables pretending to be reading a magazine when Van got to him.

"What can I get you?"

He put the magazine down and stared up at her in surprise.

"You're not throwing a fit that I've been here every day for the past seven days?"

"You're a paying customer so who am I to stop you from coming in?"

He smirked. "Is that all there is to it or you finally can't resist my charm?"

"I haven't got all day order something or get out I've got customers who could use that table."

"So fiesty." He said under his breath.

"Please wait here while I tell the boss you're here." Van nodded at the maid. Her eyes darted back and forth the room in awe. She’d been in a mansion just like this one before, the Diamond Villa , now her friend Rella is married to the Diamond heir. This one is just as grand and opulent and Van couldn’t help but soak in everything around her. Everything reminded of the people she left behind and Van wished she could be with them again if only things were different.

"Doña Corazon would like you to go upstairs to her bedroom." the maid announced a few minutes later. Van smiled and thanked her as they climbed the grand stairs.

Van had never been here before but as soon as she heard that the woman wasn't feeling well Van had felt the immense urge to see her and had brought a warm batch of buns. Doña Corazon had always loved her pastries. The first few weeks that Van had been in Roseville were bearable partly because Doña Corazon had kept her company, actually they kept each other company as the older woman said Van reminded her so much of her own daughter while Van simply enjoyed her motherly company. The woman had been warm and patient, didn't demand things from Van she was just there, a constant presence that soothe Van and made her comfortable.

They arrived at a double oak door and the maid made two short raps on the sturdy wood and then eased the door open. "You may go in." the maid told her and Van gave a startled look as if to ask if that was okay but when the maid stood there saying nothing Van exhaled a shaky breath and walked in. The door closed behind her with a soft click.

The bedroom was spacious with large windows open to allow air and sunlight in. Doña Corazon was being helped to sit up by another maid when Van approached the bed.

"So good of you to come Vanessa dear." even though she looked pale, Van could see that it was nothing serious and Doña Corazon's eyes twinkled with pure mirth and then before she could stop herself Van threw her arms around the woman.

"When I heard you were ill I had to come see you."

"I am so glad your grandfather agreed to let you come here, I was so scared he wouldn’t see reason, Felix has always been a hard and stubborn man." Doña Corazon explained.

Van pulled back and regarded the woman curiously. What is she talking about? Surely her illness isn't that serious to make her think Van was someone else.

"Um, I brought your favourite cinnamon buns." Van made a feeble attempt to lighten the moment but the older woman looked so enraptured by Van’s face like she couldn't believe she was real, then her wrinkled hand reached up and touched Van’s cheek lightly.

"God has given me a second chance and I don't plan on wasting it." She said with conviction that only made Van more confused. "I always knew there was something about you..." She trailed off, her voice shook and so did her hand on Van’s face. "I've always said you look like her but I never imagined..."

Van gulped shakily and pulled back slightly not knowing what was going on or what she ought to do in a situation like this.

"You're my granddaughter after all!"