Page 17 of Treasured
I stopped eating and stared into my noodles. “That’s not good for you, Joseph.”
He swallowed and said, “I wouldn’t have this chance at work if not for family, and I won’t let anyone down.”
“You need to live too,” I whispered, and then we both ate.
We settled on my couch, which was the old couch he had been about to toss when he’d bought himself his penthouse and all new furniture. I’d refused to sponge off him, and I’d paid for my place, on my own.
After he cleaned the dishes, we watched a movie—some silly comedy—while my son snuggled with us.
When the movie ended, Joseph clicked the TV off and said, “You aren’t yourself tonight.”
I held my sleeping son a little closer and asked, “What do you mean?”
He grabbed a diaper for me to change the baby and said, “After a confrontation, you’re usually in need of calming down. I like this stronger sister.”
I laid my boy on the couch and switched out his diaper so he could sleep longer with a clean bottom. “I have a son who needs me. He’s why I left, and he’s why I’ll be okay.”
He took the diaper and tossed it away for me. When he returned and I had fixed my son’s snaps at the bottom of his outfit, Joseph said, “Or it’s the new guy you’re making moon eyes over.”
I tidied up the living room and put the toys away while my son snoozed on the couch and said, “Stop, or I won’t let you meet him.”
Joseph helped me with the toys. “You said yes, then.”
“I did.”
“I hope whoever he is is good enough for my little sister.”
“Get some sleep,” I told him, and Joseph went to the bedroom that I had for Bruce when he got bigger. However, I’d moved his crib into my room the week we moved in here and hadn’t moved him out yet. I laid my son down and got ready for bed.
Tomorrow’s silver lining was that Dwayne would be around. I probably should have said no to coffee, but seeing him again helped dispel the fears in my mind when I closed my eyes, and being near him again filled me with the strange sensation of my body warming. With him, I made a one-time exception to my life plan of celibacy.
Chapter Seven
Dwayne
Five thirty was taking forever. I watched the second hand on my watch, which never seemed to move fast enough, as I found us seats.
Every time someone stepped in the door or there was a jingle of a bell, my heart thumped, but so far, no Mary.
Time had arrived, and for the first time in years, I swallowed fear. I reminded myself she’d be here, and I tried to ignore how my skin was prickled.
Being shot at in the desert had made me laugh. Now, here I was, but this time when the door jingled, it took a second to see who’d come in as a green stroller scooted in first. My hair raised in anticipation. Then I stood up, when I saw her.
The blond angel who’d filled my dreams. She waved, and I pushed her seat back. As she came over, I bent down to see the sleeping boy, and I beamed up at his mother. “This must be Bruce.”
She sighed, took off her jacket, and said like she’d been in battle, “He was a little fussy before we left.”
I tapped the table like it was a piano and said, “Well, let me get you your coffee.”
She fixed her son’s straps in his stroller and called out, “I want tea—black, with milk, no sugar.”
I pushed my chair back and said, “Simple and easy.”
She shook her head and whispered, “I thought that’s what we were, but you surprised me.”
My ears buzzed. I pressed my hand to my heart and said, “I’ll be back with a witty reply for you so you’ll agree to a dinner date with me.”
Ordering drinks and a steamed milk in case her son wanted something was easy. Not many customers were in line, so I waited for the barista, and a minute later, I was returning with our drinks.
