HER ONLY EXCEPTION

Chapter 7- EVEN AT DINNER

Saturday Morning

Andrea woke up to sunlight streaming through her bedroom window and the sound of her phone buzzing on the nightstand.

She reached for it, squinting at the screen.

Mindy: Morning! Picking you up in an hour. Grandma's expecting us at noon. Don't be late!

Andrea groaned as she sat up, Henry’s whisper still echoing in her mind. I want you. She shoved the covers aside. “Stop thinking about that arrogant man.”

A few minutes later, she pulled on dark jeans and a soft beige sweater, tying her hair into a simple ponytail. By the time Mindy knocked on her door forty-five minutes later, Andrea was ready.

"Morning, sunshine," Mindy said cheerfully, handing Andrea a coffee cup "You look like you didn't sleep."

"You always know exactly what I need." She muttered, taking the coffee.

Mindy grinned. "That's why you love me. Come on, let's go before your grandma thinks we forgot about her."

The drive to Grandma's house took about forty minutes. Mindy drove while Andrea stared out the window watching the city give way to quieter suburbs, small houses with front yards and kids playing on sidewalks.

“You okay?” Mindy asked after a while.

Andrea kept her eyes on the window. “Yeah, just tired.”

Mindy hummed softly. “You’ve been quiet all morning.”

Andrea hesitated. “It’s nothing. Work stuff.”

“Uh-huh.” Mindy didn’t sound convinced but turned the music up anyway.

Grandma's house was exactly how Andrea remembered it; small, pale yellow, and quietly welcoming, with white shutters and flowers blooming beneath the front window.

They knocked once before pushing the door open. "Grandma?"

"In here, sweetheart!"

They found her in the kitchen wearing an apron dusted with flour and her silver hair pinned back. Her face brightened instantly. “There you are, my babies.” She pulled them into a hug before studying Andrea. “You’re too thin. Are you eating?”

Of course I’m eating, Grandma.”

“Not enough.” She studied Andrea’s face. “You look tired.”

“I’ve been working a lot.”

"Hmm." Grandma's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything else. Instead, she turned to Mindy "and you, darling. Always looking so beautiful. How's the fashion world treating you?"

"Can't complain," Mindy said, grinning. "Ugh…something smells amazing."

"Beef stew," Grandma said proudly. "Andrea's favorite. Come, sit. I'll make tea."

They settled in the living room while Grandma Gladys disappeared into the kitchen. Andrea sank into the worn couch, her gaze drifting to the mantel where old photos sat frozen in time, her mother smiling with baby Andrea in her arms, fragments of a life that once felt whole.

Grandma returned a few minutes later with a tray holding three teacups and a plate of cookies.

"So," she said, settling into her chair across from Andrea. "Tell me how's life treating you in chicago."

Andrea smiled. "It's exhausting but its actually a very nice place, you should visit there more often."

"Me? I'm done with Chicago, I love my peace here."

They all burst into loud laughter. "Now," Grandma said, standing. "I need your help in the kitchen, the stew needs stirring and I want to make fresh bread."

Andrea stood. "I'll help."

Mindy stretched out on the couch. "Mmm…I'll just supervise from here."

Grandma swatted at her playfully. "Lazy girl."

Mindy chuckled "Mmm, that's why you love me."

In the kitchen, Grandma handed Andrea an apron and pointed to the pot on the stove. "Stir that every few minutes. Don't let it stick." Andrea tied the apron and picked up the wooden spoon, stirring slowly while Grandma moved around the kitchen with practiced ease.

"You know," Grandma said after a moment, "I was going through some old things last week and found your mother's recipe book."

Andrea's hand stilled on the spoon, her face lightning up, "You did?"

Grandma nodded and pulled a small, worn notebook from the counter. The cover was faded blue, edges softened by time. Andrea took it carefully, her fingers tracing the handwriting on the first page.

Margaret Collins. Her mother’s name.

"She wrote everything down," Grandma said softly. "...every recipe she tried and a little note about what worked and what didn't."

Andrea opened the book slowly. The pages were filled with her mother's handwriting; neat but rushed, like she'd been writing while cooking. “Your mother really loved cooking," Grandma continued, her voice thick with memory. "Even when she was exhausted from work, she'd do well to come home and make something saying it helped her relax."

Andrea found herself laughing, for years, talking about her mother meant tears. But now the memories felt warm instead of heavy. "Yeah, I remember."

She flipped through the pages until she found it. Beef Stew Recipe. Andrea’s favorite. Notes filled the margins.

Add extra carrots. Chop onions small. Let it simmer.

Don’t forget the secret ingredient… love.

Andrea's eyes burned.

"She made this for you every time you had a bad day," Grandma said quietly. "Do you remember?"

Andrea nodded, not trusting her voice. "Your mother was so proud of you, sweetheart." Grandma's hand rested gently on Andrea's shoulder. "even when things were hard, even when your father left and she had to do it all on her own. She never stopped believing in you."

Andrea blinked rapidly, trying to hold back tears. "I miss her so much."

"I know." Grandma squeezed her shoulder. "So do I."

They stood there for a moment in silence. Then Grandma cleared her throat and gently took the recipe book back. "Margaret wouldn't want us grieving while cooking. She'd always say the kitchen is like an art center, everything needs to feel alive and real. “The ingredients can sense how you feel while cooking. Cook with love."

Andrea wiped her eyes quickly and chuckled "Yeah. I know right."

"Come on," Grandma said, her voice warm again. "Let's finish this stew. I want it to taste exactly like hers."

By the time dinner was ready, the kitchen smelled incredible. Mindy helped set the table and they all sat down with steaming bowls of stew and thick slices of fresh bread.

"Mmm…this is amazing," Mindy said after taking a bite. "Seriously, Grandma. You should open a restaurant."

Grandma laughed. "At my age? I'd rather just cook for the people I love." Andrea smiled as the tension in her chest eased. They talked about simple things, work, the garden, the weather.

Then, halfway through the meal, Grandma set down her spoon and looked at Andrea. "So," she said casually, "how's that young man you brought home last Christmas? Caleb?"

Andrea's fork froze halfway to her mouth. Mindy glanced at her sharply but said nothing.

“He’s fine,” Andrea said, setting her fork down. “We’re… good.”

“Just good?”

Andrea forced a smile. “Work’s been busy for both of us.”

Grandma studied her for a moment before nodding. “As long as you’re happy.”

“I am.”

Grandma didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. Instead, she picked up her spoon and went back to her stew. Andrea let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

After dinner, Andrea and Grandma washed the dishes while Mindy dried and put them away.

You’ve been quiet tonight,” Grandma said softly as they washed dishes.

“I’m just tired,” Andrea replied. “The job’s… a lot.”

“Is it the job, or something else?”

Andrea hesitated. “My boss gave me two weeks to finish a project I barely understand.”

" That's not fair," Grandma's eyes widened

"No." Andrea sighed. "He's just difficult to work with." refusing to admit why "He's too arrogant and controlling, thinks he can do whatever he wants because he's the CEO"

"Does he treat you badly?"

Andrea thought about the elevator, Henry's hand on her waist and voice in her ear. "No…not really, he's just complicated," Andrea said finally.

Grandma exchanged surprise glaces with Mindy before setting down the dish she'd been washing and turned to face Andrea fully. "Sweetheart," she said gently. "If something's wrong, you know you can tell me, Right."

Andrea shook her head quickly. "Nothing's wrong. I promise. It's just work stress."

Grandma looked at her for a moment with concerned eyes, then nodded. "Alright. But if you need to talk, I'm here. Always."

"I know." Andrea hugged her. "Thank you, Grandma."

A few minutes later, Grandma excused herself to go to the bathroom, leaving Andrea and Mindy alone in the kitchen.

Mindy turned to hrer with her arms crossed. “Okay. What happened?”

Andrea sighed. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”

“Nope.”

She lowered her voice. “Something happened at work yesterday.”

“What is that?”

“I got stuck in an elevator… with my boss.”

Mindy blinked. “That already sounds like a nightmare.”

Andrea hesitated. “It got worse. He cornered me, saying he wants me and some crazy stuff."

"Oh my God. Andrea, don't tell me…"

"I slapped him," Andrea said quickly. "and told him to stay away from me."

Mindy stared at her shocked, "You slapped your boss?"

"Yeah."

"Your billionaire CEO boss. Holy shit." Mindy laughed "What did he do?"

"Nothing. He just threatened to fire me if I don't finish my project on time."

Mindy shook her head. "What an asshole."

"I know right."

"But you handled it right," Mindy said firmly. "You stood up for yourself and that's what matters."

Andrea nodded slowly. "Yeah. I guess."

"Don't overthink it," Mindy added. "Focus on your work, keep your head down and if he tries anything silly again, you slap him harder."

Andrea laughed despite everything. "I will."

Later, her thoughts drifted back to Henry. Monday was coming, and she had to face the man she’d slapped.

“What if he really fires me this time?”