Connie's Silver Shoes (The Candy Cane Girls Book 4)

by Bonnie Engstrom

Jake barked an announcement. Jaeda tried to reassure him, but the little dog stumbled up the pathway kicking pebbles and stones behind him. Peggy laughed and said, “So cute. He must love her, too.”

  Connie raised her arms up and giggled. She was attired in the wispy skirt she had worn the night they danced at the Pavilion. She teetered at the top of the pebbly path and reached down to pet the little dog behind his ears. She looked adorable, and Jaeda almost lost it. She was carrying her fancy silver shoes dangling from a hand. He raced up to meet her to guide her down. Instead, he scooped her up and carried her. Jake nipped at his heels as the sentry. Jaeda hadn’t realized the dog cared so much for Connie. Was he hoping she would be his new mother?

  Peggy laughed loudly, even clapped her hands and hooted, then brought her camera up to her face and started clicking. When he gently placed Connie down on the sand, he noticed Peggy’s eyes were misty. That, and her warm embrace of Connie, sealed the deal for him. He might even share about the modeling part.

  ~

  Connie collapsed on her bed. The photo occasion was even more draining than the actual proposal. Well, maybe not, but it was challenging. Maybe it was all the questions Peggy had asked. She was an outstanding photographer and wanted to understand her subjects. But, Connie had been reluctant to share about Jaeda’s modeling. He had, too. Still, Peggy somehow sensed the omission. Finally, Connie whispered in her ear and explained. Peggy nodded, said “I understand. Trust, girl.” Peggy would write the engagement notice to be put in the local papers, but she would send it to Connie first for editing and affirmation.

  So, what was troubling her? Was she still hung up on the color of skin thing? Was Jaeda? She hadn’t heard back from Sandra. That worried her. Sisters were supposed to support each other, weren’t they?

  ~

  Jaeda called his mom. Emailing or texting wasn’t her thing at her age. Not that she was that old, but she was from a different era. He had tried before and had gotten no response. Sissy told him to forget it, just call. He held his breath waiting for Mom to pick up the phone. Instead, he got Dad.

  “Hey, Son! What’s up? Tell all.” Dad was so upfront, really did want Jaeda to tell all. So, grabbing the proverbial bull by the long horns, he did.

  “You are? You really are?” Dad sounded excited. “’bout time, boy. We want more grandchildren.” His laughter was warm, so Jaeda jumped in.

  “You remember Connie the girl I brought to New York for E-Ma’s funeral?”

  “Sure do. Stunner. Pretty girl, very gracious.” Dad paused and cleared his throat. “She the one?”

  “Yes.” That was the simple direct answer. Then, “You okay with that?”

  “Why? ‘Cause she’s white?” Dad was always direct. Jaeda liked that.

  “Son, I don’t care if she’s purple as long as you love her, and she loves you.”

  Jaeda almost dropped the phone he was so relieved. “But, Dad, what about the others? What about Mom?” He had to ask, he had to know.

  “Sniff and boodle. Who cares as long as you both love each other.” Dad’s funny ancient expression caught Jaeda in a laughing fit, almost. He swallowed his mirth and loved his dad more for it.

  “Dad,” he was reluctant to ask, but had to know. “Have there been any mixed marriages before, in our family?” He rubbed his nose and waited for the reply.

  “Mmm. Seems to me a few. Long ago. Oh, maybe Aunt Sophie? Gotta ask your mother.”

  Jaeda waited. Dad had put the phone down. Now, he would be interrogated by Mom. Could he handle that? He prayed.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “She said what?” Connie held the phone closer to her ear even though it was on speaker. She wanted to hear his words loud.

  “She sends her blessing. Dad does, too. In spades.” Oops, maybe an inappropriate analogy. He grinned to himself and took a deep cleansing breath. “They love you. You made a great impression at E-Ma’s funeral. They don’t care if you are purple or white.”

  “Oh, Jaeda, I am so happy. For us.” She shifted position on the bed, crossed her ankles and wiggled her toes. Time for a pedi. The sparkling stuff was wearing off, and she was tired of blue. She would call Tammy tomorrow.

  “Jae?” She had started calling him by that nickname, and he didn’t seem to object.

  “Mmm?” They were on Facetime on their phones, and she saw him pinch the bridge of his nose. Cute gesture. “What, my funny Connie?”

  “Peggy called. She is sending me several, actually about twenty, photos in my email for us to choose from. I want you to help decide.”

  “Okay. Is the Jakester in them?”

  She laughed. “Of course. And he will probably steal the show.”

  ~

  They decided to meet for lunch. They had never done that before. Connie wondered why. It had always been coffee at Starbucks. Since they both loved sushi, they met at Kitayama

  not too far from Fashion Island where the bank was. Connie loved to sit at the sushi bar, because she loved watching the sushi chefs prepare the delicacies, but Jaeda asked for one of the small, intimate tables tucked in the back. Better, she agreed, to hold hands and snuggle. They placed their order for sashimi, and while waiting for their soup, Connie brought up her email with all the engagement photos. Just as she thought, Jaeda picked the one where Jake looked the cutest. “But, I look so windblown!”

  “You look adorable. As usual,” he grinned.

  “But, my hair!”

  “I love it that way. So free and natural. Keona always had those kinky, tight curls.” He pinched his nose.

  Aw, oh. She was being compared to his ex, his black ex, yet. She twisted in her seat and tried to look him formidably in his dark brown eyes, but his lids were lowered, and there was a faint blush on his cheeks above the recent Hawaii Five-O stubble that she decided she loved.

  “Sorry. Bad comment.” Jaeda slid out of the booth, grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. “Let’s get out of here,” he said firmly. He left the rest of his salmon sashimi sitting lonely on his plate.

  ~

  Little Corona Beach looked the same, abandoned. No surfers because it was not a surfing beach. She guessed the waves weren’t high enough, or something about the tide she didn’t understand. Beautiful shells still littered the sand begging to be picked up and saved. But, she couldn’t since the beach was a protected environment. A lone seal sat out on a piece of jetsam an howled. Should she feel sorry for him or happy he had found some private time? Not many gulls dove on the beach tonight. Since so few families picnicked in this area, there were seldom leftovers. Big Corona Beach had the most trash from all the parties and cookouts and kids’ sports teams’ getogethers. But, Little Corona was almost private, secluded. Just for her and Jaeda.

  They had parked his car up on Poppy Street and scrambled their way down the path past the four huge houses, the ones no one ever seemed to live in or stand out on a balcony to watch the beauty of the waves and the sunset. He held her silver sandals dangling from his hand.

  This time it was just the two of them. No photographer, no cute little dog. Just them. Jaeda drew her into his arms, and she snuggled resting her chin on his heartbeat. She lifted her face to question him.

  “It is right, Funny Connie, it is right,” he said. He tilted her chin to kiss it delicately, then without warning, he placed his full lips on hers and gave her the kiss of a lifetime.

  ~

  Connie would never forget that kiss. Her knees still felt wobbly, even though she was lying sprawled on her bed. She had never been kissed so passionately before, especially by a male model. She giggled at that thought, then got so hysterical with laughter she had to hold her tummy. She mustn’t tell Jaeda that she had categorized him as male model, not banker. But, that is actually how their relationship that developed into romance began. She had memory flashes of him standing on the pedestal draped in plaid with Jake under his arm. He had looked pretty silly. Even Doreen was holding her laughter at bay; she could tell by the smirk on her fac
e and her quivering lips.

  Jaeda had been a good sport, mostly because he was trying to make up for the financial mistake when he had helped her with her budget from the Memory Men windfall. He stood for numerous fittings, even being poked with pins by Alice, and all for free. As a result, Connie was able to tell Doug, her then boss, she would not need, nor accept, the latest male model he had reserved for her. Jaeda was volunteering she told him.

  Doug had asked some inappropriate questions. “He gay? What’s his deal? Wants free publicity? Sex?” She was tempted to slap him, then decided he wasn’t worth the effort to raise her hand. She had handed him her resignation from Nature’s Bounty, turned on her silver heels and walked out. Fortunately, her contract stated she could use the same room for fittings for another six months. Perfect. By then she will have moved into her new studio.

  ~

  Jaeda smacked himself hard. His face stung, but he didn’t care. He looked in the mirror. Yep, a big handprint on his brown skin. Would he ever learn? Why had he even mentioned Keona’s name? She was so in the past, but she was, unfortunately, part of it. For six years.

  He was stewing, pacing from one end of his living room to the other. Then to the kitchen and opening the fridge to find it empty. At least of anything edible. He was about to call Connie to go even to McDonald’s for a burger when his cell chimed. Gotta get rid of the drum beats. He didn’t pay attention to the caller ID and picked it up with “Hi, Con.”

  “Who is Con?” the belligerent voice on the other end asked.

  “Oh, Keona.”

  “That’s me.”

  “What do you want?” He was tempted to hang up, but she hadn’t called in five months. Maybe there was something wrong with one of her parents, both of whom he really liked.

  “Changed my mind. I want to get back together.” Her voice was raspy, but she sounded resolute and a little tipsy. “Just get rid of the stupid dog.”

  “Who left the light one?” He almost spit it out. It was an old saying they’d had to bring arguments or difficult situations to the forefront, out in the open. She was asking for permission to bring up old wounds. He would not give it.

  “Goodbye, Keona! It is over. Forever.”

  “Not so fast, Sexy Jae-Jae. I am outside and will not leave.”

  He was pretty sure he had never gotten the key back from her, and he had foolishly never changed the locks. He slapped himself again, this time on his head.

  “Do not come into this house. I mean it.”

  “Already here, darlin’, already here.”

  He spun from the kitchen. She was leaning provocatively on the sideboard, like a hussy, or a call girl. Like a woman trying to entice him with sex.

  “Wow,” she said. “You still got it Mr. Sexy Man.” She wiggled her body and taking short, deliberate steps in her platform high heels, she crept toward him. “You know you can’t resist me,” she said. “And what we had. Fantastic!” She drew the word out seductively – watching his face the whole time.

  Jaeda needed strength. He prayed for it, then called Connie. “Please come right over, please,” he pleaded.

  ~

  Connie threw her phone down in haste, then thinking more clearly stuffed it into her purse. Jaeda’s voice echoed in her ears as she raced to her little car and gunned the engine. He sounded desperate, yet she didn’t know why. She knew if he had been confronted by a robber he would never call her and ask her to come. He would never put her in danger. But, why had he called and practically shouted, pleading in desperation?

  She zoomed up into his driveway, jerked her car into park and jumped out grapping her bag. That’s when she noticed the Jag next to hers in the double driveway. It was silver, sleek and still purring from the intense summer heat. Her mind did tailspins until she remembered the one conversation they’d had about his ex. “Very controlling. Doesn’t give up, not easily.” She also remembered Keona had a luxury sport car.

  Connie made a decision, one that would change everything, she hoped, then she prayed. She almost kicked in the front door, then realized it was half open. She was on a roll to save her man.

  She entered shouting, “I have a gun, and I am not afraid to use it.” Jaeda looked at her, confusion on his face, then he broke into a wide smile.

  “Connie,” he said calmly, “meet Keona.”

  The other woman sidled up to him and threw her arms around him in a demonstration of possession. How could he be so calm? Or, was this other woman in a control mode that she had learned in six years? Had she literally mesmerized him? Was she evil?

  Connie patted her purse. “Gun.” Jaeda looked cockeyed at her. Then she saw the wicked sparks in Keona’s eyes. She pulled out her pistol and aimed it.

  ~

  Little Jake was anchored at Jaeda’s feet, his tiny canine body wiggling, but not with pleasure. His sharp, staccato barks made Connie realize he was in defensive mode. Jaeda tried to bend down to pick up the little dog, but the woman clinging to his arm stopped him.

  “Leave the stupid mutt alone,” she said, her voice laced with nasty. Her face screwed up. Her eyes were bare slits and her mouth contorted. Without warning she kicked hard at the little dog sending him across the room. He lay on his side whimpering, his almond eyes pleading to Jaeda.

  That did it for Connie. She loved Jake, knew how much Jaeda loved him, and she couldn’t stand cruelty. She clicked the trigger on her gun and fired.

  The sultry woman’s eyes got huge. Connie hoped she was frightened. No, scared to death. Because that’s what Connie wanted for her. Death.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Jaeda laid a cool cloth on her forehead. She reached for it and flung it off. Why had she fainted? She remembered pulling the trigger and the little gun with the pink handle vibrating in her hand. Then, all was lost.

  “What happened? Did I kill her?”

  Jaeda laughed. “No. But you scared the poop out of her. Literally.”

  Lying on his sofa, she turned her head and noticed him wiping up a dark spot on his carpet. How could that be? His carpet was brown, yet a yukky spot was there. She felt terrible, but at the same time gleeful. “Really? She really had an accident? Because of me?”

  This time he laughed so loud she almost had to hold her ears. “Keona,” he said, rather matter of factly, “always had some incontinence problems. I had to clean up a few times. Actually, many.” He grinned at Connie and placed the cool cloth on her forehead again.

  ~

  “I can’t believe I did that, actually fired my gun.” She grinned at Jaeda. “Did I?”

  He nodded. “Yes, you fired. Bad aim, though. Fortunately.”

  “Where, what did I hit? Or, did I hit?”

  He sighed and took her hand. “You hit my fifty-four inch TV. Smashed it to oblivion.”

  “Oh. Bad move. So sorry. I will replace.” That was all she could say when her voice and energy gave out. Then, she fell into a deep sleep dreaming about holding the little pink-handled revolver and pressing the trigger and smacking that horrible woman in the face.

  “You are a slut,” a voice said. “No, you are the slut,” another other voice said. “He’s mine, always will be,” the first voice shouted. “No, he’s mine now,” the other voice responded.

  Connie rubbed her eyes with a damp hand and moved her head back and forth on the sofa pillow. What had happened here in Jaeda’s living room? She tried to remember, but it was fuzzy.

  Jaeda was holding her hand. He was crouched on the carpet next to the sofa. His eyes held, what? Concern?

  Her first waking thought was for the dog. “Jake?”

  “He is fine,” Jaeda said as he lifted the little dog up to her. Jake wiggled and leaned toward her whining and sticking out his tiny tongue licking. He wanted to kiss her!

  “But, she was so mean to him,” she said. “Kicking him viciously. I can’t even imagine doing that. I couldn’t, ever.

  “Is he hurt?” Connie worried about Jake being kicked hard, so hard he ended up a
cross the room. After all, he was a little dog, not bigger than her purse. She reached for the dog and cuddled him close to her chest where he snuggled. “You all right, Jakester?” she asked as the tiny tongue explored her chin. She laughed at the tickling sensation and snuggled him closer. She had found a new friend, hopefully for life.

  “So,” she was reluctant to ask, but had to know. “What exactly happened? Like, where is she now? Where did she go?” Connie struggled with the questions, but she had to know, and felt like she deserved the answers. Apparently, Jaeda agreed.

  “After her ‘accident’, you get my drift I’m sure, she swore at both of us and high-tailed it out of here. Last I heard was the loud sound of her car engine.” He turned to Connie and grinned.

  But, she wasn’t convinced. Women like Keona didn’t just disappear into the fog. They filtered through it and wispy-like found their way back again and again. They were enigmas who didn’t take no for answers, who never left their prey alone. Ever.

  ~

  Connie needed her sisters, her Candy Cane sisters. She figured out a way to make a group call, at least to those in the states. Maybe with Cindy’s new phone that had a California prefix, she could be included. She dialed.

  Hearing several voices at once was confusing. Finally getting it straight, and shouting instructions, they understood. It was as if they were sitting down together to share and pray.

  Connie took charge since she was the initiator of the call. She explained what had taken place at Jaeda’s and their relationship. She heard lots of “Oos and Awes.”

  Finally, Cindy, the strong one, said, “Let us pray.”

  “Dear Heavenly Father,” she said. “Thank You for your strength and love, and thank You for not having any discernment about color or ethnicity or any physical differences between us. Thank you for giving us Adam and Eve. We have no idea what color they were because you never shared that with us. So, Father, please bless Connie and Jaeda, keep them safe from all harm, and bring them complete happiness. In Your Holy Name. Amen.”