Chapter 35 Birthday Dinner
Birthday Dinner
Renée
Jonah wouldn’t tell me where he was taking us for my birthday dinner tonight, just that we needed to dress nice. Yes, we. He made it very clear Amber and my girls were to come. My heart softened at that.
But now I’m face-to-face with a valet who’s opening my car door on the curb of a swanky restaurant, and I tense. Jonah’s wearing a fitted sweater polo and slacks, and his hair has been professionally trimmed—thank God. He swings open the back door to assist the valet, then takes my hand.
My heel clicks on the pavement when I step out. “This is where we’re having dinner?”
“Wow.” Lo marvels at the building’s facade, all glittering lights and crawling ivy. “So pretty.”
It’s been more than a week since she started talking again, but I’m no less amazed and proud of my little girl. Every word, no matter how small, is a gift.
Jonah places my hand in the crook of his elbow and leads us to the front door.
“Don’t you think,” I whisper, “this is a little too fancy for a seven and ten-year-old?”
“Don’t worry. The girls and I have been practicing this week.”
“Is that what all those tea parties were about?” I ask. I thought it was a little strange that the girls were suddenly interested in tea parties again, seeing as they haven’t hauled out the plastic set in years.
He hums his confirmation as we walk through the massive door.
Crystal chandeliers hang from a tray ceiling, and sleek wood panel accents and mossy green decor give the space a modern glow.
There’s a muffled cacophony of conversation, low instrumental music, and the clang of a busy kitchen.
A bus boy changes a white table linen as another quickly sets it with dinnerware and a new candle.
Everything is warm, intimate, and lively all at once.
“Reservation for Wilde, party of five,” Jonah says to the hostess—wait, no. She is most definitely a ma?tre d'.
“Right this way,” she says with a smile.
“Think they’re hiring?” Amber mutters to me, taking in the beauty. “I bet the tips are amazing.”
We’re seated at a round table in the center of the dining room, and Amber stores a few gifts under the table. As soon as our water glasses are filled, Lo’s spills. Jonah’s up with his cloth napkin before me—already dabbing at her skirt.
Heat floods her face and her eyes start to well. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Jonah says with a shrug. “You got this. You did so good when we practiced.”
My heart pitter-patters listening to them—at the genuine way he speaks to and cares for my kids.
Jonah sits back down next to me and takes my hand under the table before giving it a squeeze. He throws me a look, silently asking if we’re still sticking to the plan we made yesterday. I swallow and prepare for what life holds on the other side.
“Do you think they have ribs?” Amber asks, scanning the menu.
“Because I brought my own barbeque sauce just in case. Last time I had ribs I was under the heavy influence of the Devil’s lettuce and thought I was eating my own ribs.
Freaked me out so much I could never touch them again.
But I think I’m ready for a little experiment tonight. ”
“Does the Devil eat salad?” Delta asks.
Amber looks up from her menu. “What? No—I mean yes!” She turns her attention back to the menu. “Oooh, they have table-side caesar salad. Let’s get that.”
“Ladies, get whatever you want tonight,” Jonah says. “It’s my treat.”
Loretta beams. “Do they have shrimps?”
Delta opens her menu with gusto. “I hope so!”
The girls regale us of their buffet experience at the bluegrass festival as if we weren’t there gawking at how much shrimp two girls could put away. Through the story and placing our order with the server, Jonah strokes his fingers between mine, waiting for the right moment.
After our drinks are delivered, I take the opening. “Girls, I have something important I want to talk to you about.”
“Are we finally getting a hot tub?” Amber asks. “Cuz I got a guy.”
“No,” I reply incredulously, then mutter, “I’m trying to tell them the thing we talked about earlier...”
“That you and Jonah are boyfriend and girlfriend?” Delta asks, and sips her ten-cherry Shirley Temple. Lo doesn't blink an eye either.
I stiffen and Jonah chuckles. “How did you know about that?” I ask them.
“Because we’re very smart.”
“That you are,” Jonah laughs.
“And he buys you flowers,” Lo adds. “That’s something boyfriends and girlfriends do.”
“Guess we weren’t as sneaky as we thought we were,” Jonah says under his breath.
Throughout the entire evening, Jonah keeps at least one point of contact on me.
A hand on my thigh, an arm around my shoulder, a fingertip grazing the back of my neck.
And it’s so, so hard to concentrate when he does.
I want to be alone and have my way with him, but I’m not sure how to mix our sex life with real life.
I mean, what am I supposed to say? Sorry girls, Mommy can’t have movie night with you, I’m sleeping over at Jonah’s tonight.
Ughh, that feels hideous to even think about.
At the same time, I’m not sure if I’m ready to invite him into my home. He would be the first man in our house since Greg died. But you know what, I’ve taken a lot of big steps lately, I think I’m allowed to have a little grace with myself. Rome wasn’t built in a day and all.
I need a night with him though. Several. Weeks. Months. Whatever I can get—I’m ravenous for this man. I mull over the logistics while eating some of the best pasta I’ve ever had.
When the last of the dinner plates are cleared away, Jonah and Amber pull out several gifts from under the table.
Happy tears free fall when I open the handmade jewelry from my daughters featuring clover charms. Jonah scoots his chair even closer—his arm around me—and smiles when I roll on the stretchy bracelet, necklace, and ring.
Amber gives me a bar of my favorite gourmet chocolate with a gift card secretly taped to the bottom—a gift card for a high-end sex toy shop we’ve been known to frequent.
While the girls discuss their preferences for milk versus dark chocolate, Amber and I share a knowing look, and I slip the card into Jonah’s pocket.
Then it’s his turn to place a large box in front of me.
He smiles adorably, knowingly—like whatever it is, he knows I’m going to love it.
He can’t fight the blush coloring his face.
I pull the ribbon and open the lid to find a hard leather case.
I instantly know what it is and my fingers are flying to unlock it.
“Jonah,” I whisper, mesmerized by the glossy eight-string mahogany mandolin before me. I take it out and run my fingers over the mother of pearl trim and floral designs. “This is gorgeous.”
Amber lets a surprised cuss slip out, and the girls are rounding the table for me so they can get a better look.
“I know you said yours was somewhere, but you didn’t know where,” he explains, his fingers gently circling the back of my neck. “Thought maybe you’d like to start fresh.”
I look at him—sincerity and a little sheepishness wrapped up in a man who only has eyes for me. A man who once pushed my buttons and now pushes me to let down my walls. “I do want a fresh start. Thank you.”
Delta reaches forward and strums the instrument so loud everyone in the restaurant turns their head.
Jonah winces and silences the sound before tucking it away in the case.
“Okay, let’s play with that later.” He laughs nervously, and shoos them to their seats.
“Now I have one more present, but I couldn’t wrap it,” he says to the table.
“But for the whole weekend, starting tomorrow when you guys get home from school”—he pauses for dramatic effect—“we’re all going to Pennsylvania’s crown jewel: Paradise Jungle Indoor Waterpark! ”
Both girls gasp and jump and squeal until I feel every eyeball staring at us. Amber whoops and leans over to high-five Jonah. “Told you,” she says.
“You knew about this?” I giggle.
“Well yeah. I had to make sure we didn’t have any plans. I got Marie to cover my shifts this weekend in exchange for me doing all her side work next week.”
“Oh my God. Jonah, that’s really sweet of you to book this. But... can I talk to you in private for a second?”
“Of course.” He pulls out my chair before we make our way back to the entryway. “What’s going on?” he asks.
Like magnets, my hands snake around his back and I pull him in. “I love my presents.”
A proud smile splits his face and he flips my hair behind my shoulder. “Good.”
“But I was kind of hoping... this weekend...” He raises his eyebrows and waits for me. “That we could have a sleepover at your place.”
His grin drops like a lead balloon and his pupils blow. “You want to come over?”
I lean in as close as possible and whisper, my tone low and seductive, “I want to come over... and over, and over.”
His fingers dig in to where they’re placed on my shoulders and he closes his eyes. A deep breath. Then another. “Are you serious?”
“I am. Why don’t we send the girls and Amber to the waterpark this weekend, and we can stay at your place where I can tie you up and have my way with you for thirty-six hours.”
His features twist up in a mix of emotions I can’t quite figure out.
“I want that so bad,” he mutters. “But... Paradise Jungle,” he whines.
I laugh. “Bet you never thought you’d have to choose between sex or waterslides, did you?”