Helllloo my handsome fellow romantics!

How are you doing this week?

I was seriously under the weather these last days and am relieved to be breathing (somewhat) freely again today.

I just recorded Part 39! My voice isn’t back to normal yet, but I don’t think it will be for at least another 4 to 5 days.

Instead of postponing next week’s episode, I decided to just accept the hoarseness and give it my all. You have been warned 😉

Today, though, you can enjoy this hoarseness-free script excerpt of Part 39 of The Diva Story!

Sigrid

“Why does every store have a coffee corner all of a sudden?” Lucile asked.

“It’s not a coffee corner, it’s a chocolate corner,” Hannah said, smiling at the young girl behind the counter.

“Okay, but why is it in our store?”

“Because that’s what people want these days.” Hannah draped her coat over the back of a chair. “People can buy anything they want online. They want to experience things when they go out.”

Lucile took another look around the brand new chocolate corner of the NYC Leroy store. “At least it is nicely decorated.”

Hannah grinned. “The European theme always works.”

Lucile pursed her lips.

“Hate it that much?” Hannah asked.

“No, honey. It’s fine. I’m happy you are doing new things. That’s what the next generation is supposed to do after all.”

“Thanks,” Hannah beamed. “This is a try-out. If it goes well, we’ll roll out chocolate corners in every flagship store.”

Lucile nodded pensively. “So, things are going well?”

“Yes!” Hannah shuffled in her seat. “Although I have been a bit distracted lately,” she admitted.

Lucile met her gaze. “How so?”

“After the thing with the chocolate fountain, I kinda lost it,” Hannah said quietly.

Her mother nodded slowly. It made Hannah uncomfortable, but she had to get this off her chest.

“When I got back to work, I just wasn’t the same. I guess I wasn’t as committed.”

“Because of Mildred?” Lucile asked.

Hannah chuckled nervously. “You don’t miss much, do you?”

Lucile smiled. “I’m your mother. Mothers notice these kind of things.”

“I’m sorry, mom,” Hannah said.

“Why do you say that?”

“I’m sorry I let you down.”

“Honey, you haven’t.”

“I have. I let everyone down.”

“You’re still growing into your new role.”

“Maybe. But I bet you never messed up like that.”

“Oh, but I have. I most definitely have.” Lucile fidgeted with one of her golden bracelets.

Hannah studied her mother’s face. Lucile’s brow was knitted together, making the many lines that had formed over the years stand out even more than usual.

“After your father died, I was absent for a long time.”

Hannah reached for her mother’s hand. “Mom, that’s not the same.”

Lucile covered Hannah’s hand with her own. “It is, honey. See, I came back after a while and sorted things out. Picked up my life.” Lucile squeezed Hannah’s hand. “*You* didn’t come back, though.”

Hannah shut her eyes.

“All you did was work. Apart from the business, you didn’t seem to care about a thing,” Lucile said softly.

Hannah clenched her jaw.

“You kept everything and everyone at a distance,” Lucile continued.

“Okay, you’ve made your point,” Hannah croaked. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep the tears at bay.

“You know it is true. You had so many friends when you were younger. Now it’s just you and that cat.”

Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Mom, seriously, I get what you mean, okay? And it’s Charles. Not ‘that cat’.”

Lucile raised her hands. “Alright.” She sat back and sighed.

Hannah took in a deep breath to recompose herself. “I do care about something, or someone, now,” she said.

Lucile smiled. “I know.”

Hannah ran a hand through her hair. “I know I need to keep it together. For myself and the business. And for Milly.”

Hannah glanced at her phone on the table. She hadn’t heard from Milly all day. She knew her own behaviour was probably to blame for that.

“What is it?” Lucile asked.

Hannah blushed. “I had a fight with Milly last night. I almost told her about Christine but then I just…” She shrugged. “Did what I always do. Put up a wall.”

Lucile thought for a second. “Then you need to talk to Milly.“ She tapped the menu on the table. “But let’s have one of those hot chocolates first.”

That’s it! Time to sip some tea until the full episode is released on Saturday 😉 Watch out for that flu! It’s nasty this year…