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“The lasagna is for dinner. I’ll make lunch right away.”
They sipped their hot drink while she prepared an elaborate salad and added cold chicken, green apples, croutons, and home-made dressing. “I forgot to bring a dessert.”
“We’ll go get something at the bakery. It’s not far.”
Time flew by in Royce’s company. He thanked her for lunch and then drove her to the nearby bakery his family had patronized for years. They bought cake for tonight’s dessert and the next day’s and ordered gelato to eat right away.
“You haven’t seen the pub room,” he declared when they returned home.
“Where is that? I thought you showed me the whole house.”
“In the basement. Come on.”
He led her down the hallway and opened a door.
“I thought that was the door to a coat closet.
He chuckled. “The next one is.”
He switched on the lights and moved down the steps. The first thing she noticed was the huge TV screen affixed to the red brick wall and the two comfortable leather sofas. One corner, with a treadmill and stationary bicycle, served as an exercise center, while the opposite wall, with its floor-to-ceiling book cases, represented the reading corner.
This was a dream-come true recreation room that doubled as a bar and entertainment center.
Standing with his back to the mirrored wall boasting innumerable shelves of fancy bottles, glasses, and knick-knacks collected from all over the world, Royce busied himself pouring drinks at the sink and picking up ice cubes from a small fridge concealed in-between the liquor cabinets.
“We entertained our friends here. Dad couldn’t hear any noise from his office when he was working late, and Mom was reassured we wouldn’t mess up the house.”
“Were you allowed to bring girls here?”
“Oh yes. Stephanie always had her group of friends watching movies or exercising. In high school, I had my music band practice here. I played the guitar. My friends Glen, Carter, and Chris played piano, drums, and saxophone.”
Susan had trouble closing her sagging jaw. “I never knew you had a band.”
He snorted. “Dad did his best to disband us when we discussed touring the states and making a living off our music. We had some memorable arguments in this room. Some louder than the drum and saxophone together.”
“I can imagine, especially after hearing about your wild adventures in Asian countries. What about Matt?”
Royce shrugged. “Matt was the bookish one who studied all the time and made our parents proud. The poor guy called himself a nerd and said he was doing his best to prevent me from giving Dad a heart attack.” He handed her a drink. “Here’s some Bailey’s Irish Cream.”
“Thanks.” She accepted the glass. “You ended up reforming, and your dad never had a heart attack.”
“But my mom died too young.”
She realized he missed his mother more than he’d ever admitted.
“To us, babe. To our happy times together.”
“To us, Royce. I’ve never been as happy as I am in this house.”
He grinned. “Would you like to play pool or ping pong?”
She surveyed the room but didn’t see the tables.
“They’re in the playroom, next door.”
“This basement is huge.”
She followed him into another room containing a ping pong table, a pool table, and two benches. Posters of various actors and soccer and tennis champions decorated the walls.
