by Ashley Nemer
“Can’t blame me for trying can you?”
“Course I can. I’ll see you at seven tonight. And I won’t be alone.”
I hung the phone up before waiting to hear what he had to say to that and quickly sent Jessie a text telling him what just happened and where and when to meet me. Hopefully tonight would end it. I was pretty sure however the only way for this to really end would be for me to give him back the ring.
Work sucked all the extra energy out of my brain by the time I left for the day. There was loan issue after loan issue and there is only so many times you can give the news that someone’s credit wasn’t good enough to qualify them for the small business loan they desperately needed in order to keep their businesses afloat. Certain days I hated my job, which was why I was glad I only delivered news on Wednesday that would upset me. It was something that my mentor taught me, that way at least you had high odds that the other four days of the week wouldn’t destroy your desires for the job.
My phone started vibrating in my pocket and when I pulled it out I saw that Jessie had sent me a text.
Jessie: Running late, see you at your place in 10
Me: NP see you soon, late myself
Jessie: Glad I’m not alone :)
Me: Back at ya :p
Life with Jessie was way better than life with Albert. After spending all this time getting to know Jessie again and rekindling some of the same feelings we had as kids, I can’t even remember what it was about Albert that made me so happy. Why had I stayed with him for so long?
I drove the short distance to my apartment listening to 106.9, the local 70’s and 80’s station. Pat Benatar blared through the speakers and I was doing a little dance in my seat. Good music was the cure for anything that ailed you and by the time I walked into my apartment I was smiling. She convinced me to put my bad day full of disappointing news aside and move on.
It was in this moment of thought that it hit me … the ring. What good was it doing in my apartment? It would be a constant reminder of the bad, the hateful and sickening feelings that stem from me whenever Albert is in my mind. My iPad was sitting on the coffee table and I opened it up and pulled up Word Processor. I started typing out a letter.
To Whom It May Concern:
I hereby acknowledge that Merewyn Smith returned the engagement ring that I presented her and she no longer owes me anything. I hereby drop all charges.
Sincerely,
Albert Tully
I looked over the short letter and picked up my phone to text Jessie and decided to call him instead.
“Hey Merewyn I’ll be there in like five.”
“Jessie, you’re a notary right? I think I heard a rumor you can get your pet checked out and your papers notarized at your vet clinic.”
A laugh came through the other end of the phone, “That’s right it is called a twofer, get it, two and fur.”
I smiled but I failed to laugh at his attempt at humor. It was best not to encourage it.
“Why you need a notary?”
“I do, can you bring your stuff tonight please?”
“Sure thing let me grab it while I am still in the apartment and I’ll be right over”
“Perfect. Thanks Jessie see you soon.”
After clicking my phone off I printed out the word document and looked over it one more time. I don't need Albert. Nothing will make me go back to him and I could care less about my cousin so there was really no reason to keep the ring. Everyone seemed to be right after all, and I would just have to get over that feeling of dread when I heard I told you so from everyone.
I walked to the bedroom and removed the ring from the jewelry box that I was keeping it in. I looked over it once more before slipping it into my pocket. This ends tonight I thought to myself. I walked into the bathroom and ran a quick brush through my hair, touched up my makeup and then I quickly changed shirts. I was going to get this over with as fast as possible and then maybe Jessie and I could go out for some sushi to celebrate my freedom from the ex.
There was a light knock on the door so I raced into the living room, grabbed my purse a pen and the paper and then opened the front door to see Jessie standing on the other side.
“Aren’t you cute tonight?” He said with a huge grin on his face.
“Sure am, come on let’s go we are already late.”
“I’ll drive that way you can tell me why you needed my notary set.”
On the way to Starbucks I filled him in on the revelation that I had and what I was going to do tonight. Jessie called his father and informed him of my idea and got his blessing, but he did warn Albert would still have to be the one to drop the charges with the police, but that the signed document would go a long way to ensuring I would stay free.
“There is his car,” I pointed to it in the parking lot. “Let’s get this over with.”
I took a deep breath and moved from the vehicle into the parking lot and over to the front door. When I pulled it open I instantly saw that Beth was sitting with Albert right near the front of the entrance. I knew that I had mentally already said she could have him but seeing them together face to face was a bit harder than I had expected it to be.
Albert stood from his chair and looked down at the table and then back up at me. His face noticeably changed as Jessie walked in behind me. Good, let him be uncomfortable now too.
“Merewyn, please sit.” Albert said to me pointing to the spare chair at the table.
I wasn’t sure what exactly I expected but I was taking my time moving towards them, slowly breathing in and out.
“Albert.” I said and nodded my head as I took the seat. Jessie was standing behind me; I could feel his presence giving me strength.
“Thank you for meeting me.” Albert said and then he looked at Beth who gave him a nod and then he continued speaking. “I know that this is my entire fault, and I had no reason to blame you. Beth and my mother talked to me for a long time about my actions and they have helped me see the errors in my way.”
The tone of his voice sounded resentful almost like he was being forced to say all of this. I didn’t care, it didn’t matter to me one way or another.
“Okay.” I said simply.
I watched Beth lean down and pull up a Victoria Secret bag and place it on the table. “Here this is for you Merewyn.” She pushed the bag towards me.
My head started shaking no, “I don’t want anything from you, cousin.” I let the last word sound a bit more harsh than it needed to be but there was no reason I needed to be nice to the woman who ruined my relationship.
“Take it M.” Albert said, “It is the money I owe you. All of it. Take it. I am sorry.”
A gasp escaped my mouth and I looked up at Jessie for support. He placed his hands on my shoulders and I leaned over and pulled the bag towards me. I had never seen so many hundred dollar bills stacked in a row. I wasn’t stupid enough to count it while I was sitting there but I also was smart enough to hang onto the bag and not let it go.
“Thank you Albert, I” there was a moment where I couldn’t speak, I was suddenly feeling emotional. “I am really grateful for this.”
“I never should have taken it and I certainly never should have slept with Beth.”
“He didn't tell me you two were engaged, he told me he was dumping you.” Beth interjected.
I looked over at her and then at him, I could see what she was saying was the truth. “But you still slept with him, even if it had been true, he and I were a couple. I don't know if I can forgive you for that one anytime soon Beth.”
She nodded her head in understanding, “I know, but I just wanted you to hear it from me, that I am sorry.”
“Duly noted.” I fidgeted in my seat and then handed Albert the paper I had come into the Starbucks with. “Here, I need you to sign this. I printed it out at home and Jessie is going to notarized it so it is all legal.” I watched as Albert quickly read the few lines on the paper.
“You haven’t given me the ring thou
gh. I can’t sign this.” He said and pushed the paper back towards me.
I reached my hand into my pocket and pulled out the ring one last time. I placed it on top of the paper and slid both items back towards him. Jessie reached around and presented Albert with a pen and he looked at us both in wonder. “Really you came here planning on giving me the ring back even not knowing about the money?”
My head nodded in return, “Yes because it is the right thing to do.”
Albert gave one acknowledging head bob and then picked up the pen Jessie had extended towards him and signed his name on the paper. Jessie walked around the table and pulled out his notary stamp and booklet and then began doing his portion of the nights activities.
Five minutes later Beth and Albert were walking out of the coffee house and Jessie and I were sitting at the table looking at the seven thousand dollars in the ladies panties bag.
“Tonight really went different than expected didn’t it?” I say jokingly to Jessie.
“Sure did, almost feels like we need to go out and celebrate big time.”
“And this is why I know I love you, you can read my thoughts. Come on, dinners on me I suddenly fell into some extra cash.”
We left Starbucks and stopped back at my house. I removed three hundred from the bag and then placed it safely in my closet away from anyone who might look for some extra money lying around. While I was trying to hide the money Jessie scanned a copy of the document on his phone and sent it to his dad.
That part of my life was now officially over and I could start moving on. What a great feeling.
“M you ready to go; I’m thinking sushi!”
“Stop with the mind reading!” I yell out to him as I walk out of my room with a huge smile on my face.
“Or you know we could just stay in.” He said grinning at me looking me up and down like a piece of meat.
“No way we’re going out come on cowboy you better bring your appetite.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jessie woke up the next morning in Merweyn’s apartment and couldn’t help smiling. It was the first time in a long time that life felt perfect. A big part of him really missed his old job and his mentor, but his new adventure was becoming increasingly more fun. Last night after he and Merewyn left her ex for what they both hoped was forever they enjoyed the perfect night. The sushi restaurant they found hit the spot and then they went out to the bar. There was nothing like a good game or two of pool to really solidify a relationship.
That’s what they were, officially. A relationship.
His new friend Jean, the bar tending waitress, came out and asked Merewyn what her intentions were with him and he about spit his beer everywhere. He remembered he couldn’t breathe as he waited for Merewyn to respond to Jean.
The moment he heard her say “He’s my boyfriend what do you think my intentions are,” made Jessie’s head spin with joy. He was getting a chance to fix all the wrongs they made as kids, and he was certain to not take her for granted this time. Nothing was going to come in the way of what they had.
Except for work.
He looked at the clock on her wall and saw he had an appointment at the clinic in fifteen minutes. He wouldn’t even have time for breakfast. This is why people, no; responsible adults didn’t go to clubs during the work week. Jessie leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips.
“Good morning beautiful, I gotta go, sick puppy calls.”
Merewyn wrapped her arms around him and mumbled into his mouth as she returned his kiss something that sounded like don't go.
“I have to M, seriously don’t want to, but I do have a clinic to run.”
“They can wait I need you one more time.”
“Oh you’re killing me.” He said to her as he felt his lower half start to stir with her encouraging touches. “If I didn’t have an appointment I would stay but it is with your mom’s friend I personally told your mom I would help the sick puppy.”
“I moved out, my mom isn’t supposed to come up in bed anymore.” She teased at him.
“Never again, now I will see you later. Call me when you know what you want to go do tonight.”
Walking away from her lying in the bed was hard for Jessie but he still had a reputation to build in town. Just because he grew up here, that wasn’t going to guarantee him any customers. Only quality care for their pets would do that. That meant he had to actually show up on time.
Lucky for him he kept a spare shirt in his car. Usually it was in case one of the animals got sick on him but it would also work to keep his staff from knowing he didn’t make it home to change clothes last night.
On his way to work he hit every red light, which only consisted of three, but that caused him to be six minutes late. Luckily his staff had covered for him and had already started to prep the patient and her owner.
“Thanks Carrie I owe you.” He said to his assistant as she held out his lab coat for him to slip on before walking into the patient’s room. When he pushed open the door he saw the cutest little Chihuahua sitting on this elderly woman’s lap. She, the owner, looked like she had been up all night crying and just a total mess. The puppy on the other hand looked like he was ready to run right out of her lap and eat anything in sight.
“Good morning Ms. Conners my name is Dr. Jessie, what’s going on with little Panda Bear today?”
Panda Bear, what a crazy name for a tiny puppy but who was he to judge what people called their pets.
“Oh doctor I don’t know what to do, he keeps peeing everywhere I never can get him to go outside.”
“Hm well that is a problem, why don’t you let me take a look at him.” Jessie watched her stand up and place the puppy on the exam table. “He is also chewing anything and everything in sight. It is just horrible. He has eaten three of my arthritic soled shoes in a week! Do you know how expensive those are?”
Part of him wanted to laugh when he heard her talk, he was pretty sure he already knew the diagnosis before he did the exam. “No ma’am I don’t but I can’t imagine they are cheap.”
“No sir they certainly aren’t.” She said with a huff and a sigh. “Can you fix him?” Her eyes were pleading with him for good news.
News that he didn’t think she was going to like. “I can’t promise miracles Ms. Conners but let me finish my exam.” Jessie was gentle with Panda Bear as he first realized it was a male puppy. One that was very much large and in charge in his own little mind.
Ms. Conners looked over his shoulder with eager eyes awaiting anything that showed she was going to have relief casted down on her in any moment. When he placed Panda Bear on the floor he walked over and pulled the chair around and sat down so he could look at Ms. Conners eye to eye.
“Ma’am, Panda Bear is about nine months old, right?” He asked confirming what he already read on the puppies chart.
“Yes doctor about that. Why?”
Jessie nodded and continued, “Well I have two suggestions. The first isn’t a necessity but I do think it is something you should consider if you are not planning on breeding little Panda Bear.”
“You want me to clip him don’t you?” She said with a sad tone. That caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected a nice elderly woman to speak so casually about that.
Jessie nodded his head and continued, “It is something we do suggest in general to animals that aren’t being used for pure bread breeding. It would also calm down his need to mark his territory as much.” Jessie turned around and looked at some of the pamphlet on the wall and reached over to retrieve one. “This will tell you more about the process.”
He watched her take the reading material from his hand and place it into her purse, “And second,” she asked.
“Second I suggest you get this little guy as much exercise as you can manage. The more you tire him out the easier your world will be.”
“Dr. Jessie I am seventy three years old how do you expect me to do that?”
A smile passed his lips, he couldn’t help it. “Th
at’s easy, you could walk him around the block, you could play catch in your living room with him, and you could even hire some teen in the neighborhood to take him running. Carrie can get you the name of a great pet walking service we sometimes use here at the clinic if you would like. But this little guy is just going to get worse before he gets better if you don’t do something. And the more he is walked or ran the better his behavior will be. Think of it like this he is a toddler and they are on the go constantly, unless they are asleep. Same concept. Wear him out.”
“I don’t know if I like this advice doc,” she said in a soft voice, “maybe I shouldn’t have gotten the dog.”
Jessie didn’t like discouraging the elderly from pets because it was a proven fact that pets helped extend quality of life, but he also didn’t want to lie to the woman. “Nonsense you are just going to have to adjust your perspective that’s all. I’ll tell you what I will do to prove to you this will work. Carrie will set up the dog walking service for one week to come to your house free of charge, the clinic will pick up the tab. If little Panda Bear’s behavior improves you can decide if you want to keep the service or not, if it doesn’t improve it didn’t cost you a thing. What do you say?”
“I can’t believe you would do that for me?” She said with a smile across her face.
“Yes ma’am I will. So is it a deal?” He reached his hand out towards her to shake it and she only hesitated for a brief second before extending her arm out and taking his hand.
“Deal.”
“Great, I’ll go let Carrie know and she will check you out. Have a great day Ms. Conners and why don’t you bring him back at his 12 month mark for his next round of shots that will be due.”
“Yes sir I will, thank you again Dr. Jessie.”
“My pleasure.” Jessie walked out of the exam room and went into his office and sat at his desk. He typed out a quick message on his laptop and sent it to Carrie who quickly responded saying she would handle all the details and he went onto his next task at hand.