Chapter 8
Chapter
8
"What do you think?"
Zuri wandered around the large space,
taking in the clean lines and the glossy board floors.
"I always like the open concept,"
she murmured. Walking into the kitchen area, she admired the circular
island, running a hand over the glossy marble. "Kitchen is big."
She gave her friend a teasing look. "Too bad you're not going to
utilize the space."
"I just might."
"You hate the kitchen."
"I think I am going to spend some time
whipping up meals."
Zuri turned fully around. "What's
going on with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"There's something I cannot put my
finger on."
"I am just relieved that I get a
second chance to start my life over again. Let's go check out the
bedrooms." Jazmine breezed past her and went up the stairs with
Zuri trailing behind her. The realtor had given them the key and
rushed off to another appointment.
"Oh!" Jazmine rushed into the
large empty space in delight. "Just look at the view!"
"Of the harbor." Zuri sighed.
"And a window seat." She sat on the padded cushion and
gazed out at the passing boats and trees with their leaves blowing in
the wind. "You could sit here and have a meal or just do some
thinking. Honey, I love it. How many bedrooms?"
"Two with two baths, a laundry room
and a balcony." She pressed a hand to her chest. "I am
sold."
"Of course you are." She caught
her friend's hand and tugged her down. "Let's sit for a while.
Pity we did not think to bring a bottle of bubbly."
"Next time." Jazmine sighed as
she stared out at the view. Her life was coming together.
A blush stained her cheeks as she thought
of the man who had suddenly and unexpectedly dropped into her life.
Zach made her feel cherished and cared for. She was still tentative
about entering fully, but she loved what he made her feel.
Her skin heated up and her heart felt as if
it was bursting out of her chest as she thought of what he had done
to her last night. Soon she would have her own place, so he could
come and be with her without fear of being discovered.
Shaking her head, she leaned on the glass
and took in some more of the view.
*****
"This is becoming a habit," Zach
muttered as soon as Jason walked in. "Zuri, what is he doing
here again?"
"He wants to take me out for ice
cream." She sent her brother an impish smile. "And I am
letting him."
"He's fourteen," Zach snapped.
"I said ice cream honey, not
marriage." She patted his arm. "You worry too much."
"His dad--"
"Is warming up to him. I like him and
I don't see why we can't hang out."
He glared at her. "He's fourteen."
Leaning sideways, she kissed his cheek. "I
won't be long. I have a deposit to take to the bank after I leave the
park. And I need to stop and pick up some supplies while I am out."
"Zuri--"
"He needs a friend."
"Let him find one in his age group."
Putting down the glass, he gripped her arm. "This is crazy. You
cannot be his mother."
Her eyes flashed. "I never said
anything like that. I am not even thinking it."
"Aren't you?"
"Let go."
He released her with a sigh. "Christ,
you're aggravating."
"I could say the same about you."
She glanced at Jazmine as she came around. "Don't let him bite
your head off," she muttered, before sailing away to greet the
eager Jason.
"She's going to get herself in
trouble." Zach watched as she linked her hand through the boy's
arm. "And she won't listen to me."
"That's because you're bullying her."
Jazmine touched his arm lightly and felt the familiar tingle.
"I am doing no such thing." His
expression softened as he stared at her. "When are you moving
in?"
"In a week. I signed the lease and Zoo
and I are going to hunt around antique stores for original pieces."
"Do you have the keys?"
"Yep." Her eyes glowed. "Want
to swing by tonight? I could tell Zoo that I am going to spend the
night there and you come over whenever you can."
"I might knock off early." He
wanted to touch her so badly. "Bring some dinner and leave Zuri
in charge. It would serve her right," he added darkly.
"Don't be too hard on her." She
touched him again and found that she could not stop. Shoving her
hands in the pockets of her denims, she bit her lip. "I'll just
go and help out in the kitchen."
"I do not want to keep us a secret any
longer." His voice was low with frustration.
"I'm not ready."
Sighing softly, he nodded and watched her
walk away.
*****
"I would like it if you would come for
dinner."
"Double chocolate chip. My favorite."
He watched her lick ice cream off the cone
and had to look away as his teenage heart went into overdrive. He had
a crush on her and knew it was inappropriate but could not help it.
She was so beautiful, he thought wistfully.
"Will you come?" They were
sitting in the park on one of the benches facing the duck pond.
"No."
His brow pleated. "Why not?"
"Because I am guessing your dad did
not sanction the invitation." She licked ice cream off her
fingers. "And I get indigestion when I am having a meal in a
hostile environment." She grinned at him.
"He's not there most of the time,"
he muttered with a shrug.
She eyed him for a second, loving the way
the breeze teased his hair, sending the thick strands falling over
his forehead. Zach accused her of pretending to be his mother and he
was not far off. She wondered with a pang, what woman in her right
mind could leave her child behind.
"Does he know where you are now? For
that matter, is your grandmother aware that you're not home?"
"I told her I was coming to see you."
"And she allowed that?" She gave
him a suspicious look.
He moved one shoulder restlessly and
avoided her eyes as he feigned a sudden interest in the ducks bobbing
away in the water. "She's visiting a sick friend."
"Jason--"
"I wanted to see you!" he burst
out. "My dad is never there, and I feel like I'm in a prison. I
really like you. You don't treat me like a kid. You listen when I
talk, and you care." He dumped the half-eaten ice cream into a
trash can nearby and wiped his fingers with the napkin, before
getting rid of it.
He looked at her, his eyes bright with
unshed tears. "I don't know what to do. I feel so alone all the
time."
She softened, seeing the vulnerability in
his young face. "Hey, it's okay. I get it, I really do. But you
have to understand, it's not safe for you to be out here alone,
especially if your dad doesn't know."
He nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah, I
know. It's just... sometimes I can't stand being at home. It's so
empty."
She reached out and gently touched his arm.
"Why don't we make a deal? When you feel like this, you come to
my place, and we'll hang out. But you have to promise me you'll let
someone know where you are."
His face lit up with a tentative smile.
"You mean it?"
"Of course. But only if you promise."
"I promise," he said eagerly.
"Good, let's take a walk. I'm afraid I
will have to walk off those extra pounds I just put on." She
rose and waited for him to do the same.
"You're beautiful," he blurted
out, a flush staining his cheeks as she glanced at him.
Her eyes danced merrily. Taking his hand,
she tucked it through her arm as they strolled along the beaten path
where several avid joggers were rushing by. It was a clear, crisp
afternoon with the sky a brilliant blue and a few puffy clouds
dotting the surface. The scent of flowers blooming and the hint of
rain made her steps light.
"Thank you." She squeezed his
hand lightly. "I lost my mother when I was born. She died giving
birth to my brother and me." Veering off the path, she led them
into the vegetated area where the trickle of water could be heard.
"That sucks," he murmured. "You
and your brother are twins. That's so cool. I wished I had a brother
or a sister." His wistful tone had her staring at him. "It
must be so nice to have someone to talk to."
"It is," she mused. "We
fight a lot, but we're very close. We get on each other's nerves, but
it does not last long." Letting go of his hand, she perched on
the edge of the stone wall and watched the trickle of water flowing
from the fountain.
"We used to come here every Saturday,"
she recalled, a whimsical smile touching her lips. His eyes touched
on her face, and he watched spellbound as the play of expression
transformed it even more. She was the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen, and he felt his heart doing a slow dive. He did not care
if he got into trouble every day of the week as long as he could come
and see her.
Unaware of the tumult she was causing the
teenager, Zuri trailed her fingers in the clear water, her mind
drifting to the past.
"Our dad would give us money to buy
ice cream and hot dogs." She laughed breathlessly, eyes
twinkling. "I used to play on Zach's emotions and had him buying
the biggest wiener for me." She shook her head. "He was
always trying to make up for the fact that we did not have a mother."
His touch on her arm had her looking at
him.
"Did the kids at school tease you?"
"Is that what's happening? Are they
being mean because it's only your dad and grandmother?"
He shrugged and looked away. "They ask
about my mom, and I don't know what to say. It's not like she and my
dad were married and are now divorced. A lot of them come from homes
with only one parent. With the other parent living somewhere else or
married to other people. There's even a girl with two moms and a boy
with two dads." He shrugged again. "I'm different. My mom
did not want me and my dad--" his glance slid to her face,
before gazing into the water. "He's never there. Grandmother
says he had a hard time when he was growing up. That my granddad was
mean. I guess I cannot blame him for treating me that way."
Zuri wanted to say that it was no excuse,
but she wisely kept her opinion to herself.
Taking his hand in hers, she linked their
fingers and felt the familiar surge of affection. Who would have
thought that she would feel this way for a boy she just met? She
would love to hold him in her arms and comfort him. Tell him that it
was their loss for not wanting to spend time with him and that his
mother was an uber bitch for leaving him.
"Do you believe that some things are
beyond our control?"
He looked at her puzzled. "I suppose."
"And that there are things we can take
control of?"
"I guess."
"We were different. Zach and I were
different. We did not have a mom. She died and it was tragic. But
that did not stop kids from saying things, making hurtful remarks.
One girl spread the rumor that our mom was unhappy so she had chosen
death instead of staying with us. I bloodied her mouth for saying
something like that." She shook her head as she looked at him.
"I would not recommend doing the same. I am sure that fancy prep
school you attend has a zero tolerance on physical violence."
She grinned when he smiled. "My point is life sucks. People are
cruel and it does not have an age limit. You will have problems
whether you're fourteen or forty. The trick is not to let it get to
you. Your mom left, so the hell what? She was not woman enough to
face being a mother. Your dad--" Her voice petered off and she
realized that she had to tread carefully. "He'll come around.
Just concentrate on you. Concentrate on being the person you were
meant to be. Stop worrying about other people and their behavior or
attitude. There will come a time in your life when you're going to
look back and wonder what the fuss was all about." She squeezed
his hand. "And you have me as a friend."
His fingers clung to hers and for a minute,
he did not say anything.
She sensed his vulnerability and wanted to
offer him more comfort. But sometimes words were not enough. Actions
and presence could speak louder than a thousand reassurances.
"And you have me as a friend,"
Zuri reiterated softly, squeezing his hand once more before letting
go.
The boy's gaze met hers, full of gratitude
and a spark of hope. "Thanks, Zuri. That means a lot."
"You're welcome." She glanced at
her watch in surprise to see that the time had flown by so quickly.
"Well kid, is your limo picking you
up?"
He nodded.
"Want to make the call? I have to go
to the bank and run some errands. I'll wait for the car to get here."
Leaning over, he surprised her by throwing
his arms around her and holding on. Closing her eyes, she returned
his embrace and stroked his back. The yearning for a child was so
keen that she could feel it in her womb. Swallowing the painful lump,
she eased him away and did her best to mask the longing on her face.
"Come on, let's get out of here."
*****
His father was waiting for him when he got
home. He had been in such a good mood and reluctant to part ways with
Zuri. But with her assurances and the conversation with her had
bolstered his spirits considerably.
And had him smiling all the way home. He
would find ways to see her. He loved talking to her. Shying away from
the idea that he was somewhat in love with her, he also wished she
was his mother. It sounded confusing and gross, he decided.
When the door swung open, instead of one of
the maids, his father stood there, an ominous expression on his face.
Jack saw the shock first and then the fear
on his son's face.
"Close the doors," he said
mildly, his face expressionless. "Want to tell me where the hell
you were and why you missed band practice?" He held up a hand
when the boy opened his mouth. The guilt at being busted was pouring
off him in waves. "Before you say you were at school, please
know that the principal called to inquire if your bout of stomachache
was dealt with and if you were okay to attend classes tomorrow."
Propping a shoulder against the wall, he eyed the boy negligently and
could almost admire his ingenuity. If it had not been for the fact
that his mother had called frantically, demanding that he find out if
he was in some ER being attended to.
The call had come while he was in the
middle of a very important meeting.
"I went to the park."
Jack's brows shot up. If his son had said
he had gone to Vegas to gamble, he would not have been more
surprised. "The park?"
"Yes." Jason shoved his book bag
over his shoulder and jammed his hands into the pockets of his khaki
uniform pants. "With Zuri." He bit his lip as his father's
expression became one of icy displeasure.
"And Zuri is--"
"The lady at the bar."
"I thought so." Straightening,
Jack strode towards the wide foyer and jerked open the closet doors.
"Go to your room and wait there for me."
"Where are you going?"
Jack simply raked him with a cold look.
"I'm going to have a conversation with this woman."
"Dad, please!" Jason put aside
his fear long enough to race after him and grabbed his arm. "It's
not her fault. She did not know I had something at school. I just
wanted to talk." He rushed on. "I bought us both ice
cream."
Jack's brow lifted cynically. "She
allowed a teenager to buy her ice cream? What's next? Jewelry? Has
she asked you for money?"
The shocked look on his son's face gave him
the answer. "She would never do anything like that. I like her!"
"Of course you do." Peeling the
hand off his arm, he turned towards the door. "Go to your damn
room. And if you think of sneaking out again, think carefully on it,"
he added before slamming out of the house.
Racing for the house phone, Jason quickly
dialed the number of the bar.
"Bennett's this is Zach."
"Zach." His heart was pounding
inside his chest and making him ill. "It's Jason."
"Who?"
"Jason Hadley. May I speak to Zuri?"
"She's busy."
"Please! I have to talk to her."
There was a pause for several minutes
during which he thought he was going to faint with worry. Then her
beautiful voice came over the line. "Jason, is something wrong?"
"My dad. He's on his way there."
"Where?"
He almost stamped his foot in frustration.
"To the bar. He was here waiting for me when I got home, and I
told him we were at the park. He was pissed."
"I see."
"I am so sorry."
"Don't worry about it. I can handle
myself. Take care."
He hung up the phone and stood there in the
hallway, vibrating with temper and fear.
*****
"What is it?" Zach demanded as
soon as she hung up. He could tell by the expression on her face that
something was up.
"We're going to be having a very
unpleasant visitor."
He gave her a narrowed gaze as he set aside
the pint he had been building. It was almost five and the evening
crowd was pouring in.
"Who?"
"Jack Hadley." She was on her way
out - pushing at the swinging doors.
"Why?"
"It seems he's none too pleased that I
was with his son. Send him back to the office, will you?" She
uttered breezily. "I am certain we would not want the entire bar
to hear this confrontation."
"Wait a damn minute," he hissed
as she was already turning the corner.
"Zach--" he paused long enough to
touch a hand to Jazmine's arm and shook his head.
"I am not going to kill her just yet,"
he muttered grimly as he went after his sister.
He found her calm as you please, seated
behind the desk and filing invoices. "I think we should source a
cheaper market for the napkins. Tommy's is robbing us blind. Oh, and
I was thinking that we could add a full meal on Wednesdays. Those
tourists from Texas suggested it and I think it's a good idea."
"What are you doing?" he
glowered.
"Why, I am doing paperwork of course.
What does it look like?"
"Don't mess with me Zoo. Why the hell
is Jack Hadley on his way here?"
"To warn me to stay away from his son,
no doubt." She waved a negligent hand and continued with her
work.
"I warned you about getting involved
with that kid, didn't I?"
"You sure did. Send him back when he
arrives."
"I am coming back with him." He
passed a hand over his face. "Christ Zoo! Are you intent on
giving me migraines? What the hell is it with this kid that has you
so reckless?"
"I like him." Pushing the papers
away, she angled her chin. "He's begging to be loved, and no one
is listening."
"Except you."
"So?"
"It's not your bloody problem!"
"I made it mine!" she shouted
back.
They glared at each other for a minute
before the sound of footsteps approaching had them both stirring.
"Just letting you know that you can be
heard in the bar and the music is playing." Jazmine glanced from
one to the other. "And Jack Hadley is here. I did not want to
send him back without letting you know."
Folding his arms across his chest, Zach
took a stand. "Would you mind sending him around?"
"Zoo?" She looked at her friend
for confirmation.
"I would rather handle this alone,"
she murmured.
"Not a chance in hell." His
expression was resolute. "Send him around Jazmine."