Jack & Diane

by Hampton, Lena

  “Of course you can. What’s wrong Di?”

  “I’ll explain why when I get there.”

  When she arrived at Jack’s a half hour later his mother answered the door and greeted her with a hug.

  “Jack said you didn’t have a good day and you look about ready to skin a cat. What happened? Do I need to go get my gun?”

  Diane chuckled. She was touched by the genuine concern in the other woman’s voice. Diane let tears of exasperation and weariness fall from her face.

  “No guns are necessary. The place to stay is more than enough. Just let me take my bags to the room.”

  “Nonsense. You leave that bag be and let that boy of mine carry it. You come have a seat and tell me what’s got you so bothered while I finish dinner.”

  “You need help with dinner.”

  “I never need help with cooking, but your help will get it done faster,” Rose said with a wink.

  Rose gave a quick demonstration on how to mash the potatoes. Diane was shocked when almost two sticks of butter (never margarine) and whole milk were added to the bowl of potatoes. She knew when she tasted them before that they were not diet food, but she did not know she should schedule an echocardiogram after eating them. Her mother’s mashed potatoes were straight from the box and not quite so flavorful, now she knew why.

  “Talk child. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “My roommate doesn’t like Jack and me dating.”

  “Does she like that doctor better? Did the boy part the Red Sea or something?”

  “No, but your son thinks he’s pretty close to walking on water.”

  “I am sure he does, but that would make me the Virgin Mary. My Pete can testify to the fact that this rose’s bud was picked a long time ago.”

  “Momma!” “Rose!” Jack and his father said simultaneously.

  “What?”

  “Everybody doesn’t need to know our business,” Pete said.

  “And I just don’t want to hear that stuff.” Jack added.

  “It’s not like I was talking about what we did last night. I am just stating the fact that I am no virgin.” Pete kissed Rose on her cheek and wrapped his arms around her waist. He whispered something in her ear that did the impossible and made her blush.

  Jack stooped down in front of Diane and looked into her eyes as if he could discern exactly what was wrong without any words. He did not know what was wrong, but he knew what to say to make it better.

  “I love you,” he said softly.

  Diane smiled and kissed him in response. She still wasn’t ready to say those words because they scared her.

  “Let me go clean up and we can go for a walk so you can tell me what’s wrong.”

  “You go clean up and but she’ll be talking right here about what’s wrong. I want to hear too.”

  “They could be clear across town and you’d hear what she said. You hear like a hawk.” Pete said.

  “It is eyes like a hawk and ears like a bat,” Momma corrected.

  Jack picked up Diane’s bag and headed upstairs.

  “She’s batty alright,” Pete said to Jack as he followed him up the stairs.

  “I heard that,” Rose called after them.

  “I’m sure you did.” Pete said chuckling.

  ♥♥♥

  “Where’s your father?” Rose asked a half hour later when Jack returned alone.

  “He’s lying down until dinner.”

  “How was he today?” she asked concerned.

  “He was good, slower than normal, but good.”

  “I wish he would just let you run the show.”

  “Momma, he’s afraid if he stops doing, he’ll stop being.”

  “I swear this boy’s been smarter since he’s known you Diane.”

  “Smart isn’t contagious Momma.”

  “Maybe stupid is because I can’t think of too many reasons she’s with the likes of you,” she said jokingly.

  “It’s your cooking Momma. He said I couldn’t have anymore if I wasn’t with him.”

  “Ladies, the love in the room is overwhelming.” Jack said sitting in the chair next to Diane. He’d changed from his work jeans and flannel to his good jeans and flannel. The difference between the two was the amount of wear and tear. He wore both well. Diane never thought she’d find snug fitting jeans sexy.

  “I’ve waited long enough, what’s going on with your roommate Diane?” Rose said turning her attention to the couple at the table.

  “She doesn’t think Jack and I should be dating.”

  Jack took her hands into his. “What she thinks doesn’t matter.”

  “It’s not just her. A classmate of mine had his own separate but equally stupid reasons for thinking we shouldn’t be together.”

  “What anybody besides you and me thinks doesn’t matter. You know that right?”

  She wanted to believe it, but shouldn’t couldn’t. “She came from so far out of left field.”

  Jack’s hands tightened around hers. “What are their reasons?”

  “Because they’re stupid and racist. She doesn’t like that I’m black and he didn’t like that you’re white. She was so aggressive about it that I don’t feel safe in that apartment.”

  His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched. “Did she touch you?”

  “No. The words got pretty intense but it didn’t escalate into a physical confrontation.”

  “You didn’t pack enough bags to stay for long,” Rose said.

  “Are you that afraid of her?” Jack asked.

  “I honestly don’t know if I should be or not. She didn’t threaten me or anything, but I saw a totally different person today, so I’m not certain of what she’s capable of.”

  “I don’t want you living with her anymore.” It was Rose who said this with a hint of venom in her voice.

  “It’ll be hard to find a place I can afford since I’ve already paid through the semester.”

  “Can you afford free? Because you’re staying here,” Rose said unwaveringly.

  “I can’t ask you to let me stay here.”

  “You’re not asking, we’re offering.” Jack said. “I’m with Momma. You can’t stay there.”

  “I know I can’t, but I don’t want to put you out. You all have enough going on, you don’t need to worry about me.”

  “You’re not putting us out. I’d be more worried about you if you weren’t here.”

  His smiled showed more than concern. “Just concern? No ulterior motives Jack?”

  “It’s 90% concern and 8% being able to see you every day.”

  “What about the other 2%?” He just smiled that crooked little smile that showed his dimple best.

  “So tell us what your roommate said?” Rose said not wanting to see her son make out with Diane in her kitchen.

  Diane retold the exchange she had with Megan. Though she was hesitant about telling the part about her being only a curiosity to Jack, but she said it in the end. She even told them about how easy she said Megan was and her run in with Andre after class.

  “I’m glad you didn’t just let her say that malarkey without getting in a couple of good ones yourself. Jack, go get your dad. Diane, you can set the table.” Rose gave the instructions, easily integrating Diane even more into the family dinner routine.

  They all sat around the table and ate dinner together, the conversation drifted away from the dramatic events of the day to their normal chatter . Everyone had their take on the situation. They laughed and talked and ate. Once again she was thinking how much different it was from her family dinners. One difference was there were no waiters or waitress, the main difference though was the ease with which everyone interacted. The only expectation they had of each other was the expectation of happiness.

  After dinner Diane helped Jack clean up the kitchen then he drove her out to “their spot”. They lay in the bed of his truck under a blanket, looking up at the stars, being in Jack’s arms made her forget the stress of the day.

  �
��Jack, Megan and Andre are not the only ones that feel that way,” she said breaking the silence.

  “I know, but it only matters what we think.”

  “I wish that were true, but we don’t live in a cocoon separated from everyone else. Is love enough to battle the stupidity of the world?”

  He sat up on his elbow and looked down at her. “For every one intolerant Megan in this world is five people that support us and another four people that don’t give a flying care. I can’t tell you how hard or easy it’ll be for us or that we won’t have folks trying to tear us apart just because of our differences in skin color. What I can tell you though, is that life is too short to live with the regret of not giving love and happiness a chance.”

  “Jack I’m afraid. I’m afraid of the difficulties. I’m most afraid of is I’ll lose lying in the arms of the man I love looking up at the stars with a belly full of his Momma’s cooking.”

  “The man you love?”

  As the realization sunk in that she’d finally said she loved him, his mouth covered her lips. She gave into her heart and let go of any thought other than the sensation of kissing his unshaven upper lip. It was rough and erotic against her skin as he kissed his way down her neck.

  ♥♥♥

  social network:

  Diane Clark’s status: What a day?! It’s unfortunate that people never cease to surprise me with their stupidity.

  Jack Sloan’s status: I’ll never get tired of hearing her say those words.

  Comments:

  Diane Clark: You’ll never get tired of your mother saying dinner’s ready?

  Chapter 9

  Diane was shocked to see her parents in her apartment when she opened the door early Sunday afternoon. Several emotions spun through her at once, but dread is what the wheel stopped on.

  “Mother, Daddy what are you doing here?” She did not know if it was out of shock or embarrassment that kept her from walking through the door and revealing Jack as well. It wasn’t shock, or embarrassment, it was protection that she felt. She wanted to protect her relationship from her Mother.

  “Diane! We’ve been worried sick,” her father said looking suddenly relieved.

  “Why?” Diane said giving her father a hug and a warm smile. “Hi, Daddy.”

  “Your phone is dead,” her mother said with an emotionless tone.

  “Yes it is,” Diane said reinforcing the statement unnecessarily. “I left my charger here. Our normal call is on Sunday so why are you alarmed that you drove all the way down here?”

  “When I could not reach you on your cell Thursday or Friday, I called the apartment. Your roommate said you had moved out. When there was still no word from you we thought maybe your roommate was not joking when she said you had moved in with some boy you just met. ”

  Jack gently pushed the door all the way open which prompted Diane to step forward. “I would be the boy she just met ma’am. Jack Sloan.”

  He extended his hand but Diane’s mother ignored it as though it was at best irrelevant or at worse contaminated with a drug resistant plague.

  Diane’s father came forward and firmly took Jack’s hand into his. “I’m Robert Clark, Diane’s father. This is her mother Catherine.”

  “Diane, what exactly is going on here?” Catherine moved the conversation forward, seeing no need for pleasant introductions.

  “Mother, this is Jack. Since Thanksgiving we have been…” Diane paused looking for the best word to describe her relationship with Jack.

  “Dating,” Jack provided. This was a different side of Diane. She was unsure of herself.

  “Thank you, Jack,” she said softly with an easy smile that contradicted the panic in her eyes.

  “Diane, how are you dating when you are engaged?”

  “Mother, I’m not engaged.”

  “Fine. You were engaged on Wednesday then dating on Thursday? Or were you dating before you abruptly called off the engagement? If so, I did not raise you like that.”

  Diane did not respond. It seemed that she was willing herself to stay where she was and not flee out of the door. Jack put a comforting hand of support on Diane’s mid back.

  “Ma’am, your daughter and I met when I stopped to help her after her car broke down the day before Thanksgiving.”

  “Jack is it?” Catherine said his name as though it was a bitter tea that had been steeped too long. “I am speaking to my daughter. If you would be so kind as to remove your hand from my daughter it would be appreciated.”

  Jack wasn’t quite certain why he felt the need to protect Diane from her own mother, but he did. Diane did not seem like the beautiful flower she normally was, but one that had been withered by harsh sunlight. Instead of removing his hand, he began to rub her back with his thumb. He was about to respond when Robert shot him a sympathetic look and a slight shake of his head to deter him from responding.

  “Sweetie, why don’t we all sit and you can tell us what’s going on,” Diane’s father said trying to bring the boiling tension to a simmer.

  Catherine sat first and motioned for her daughter to sit next to her. Hesitantly Diane took the seat next to her mother. Robert sat in the only remaining chair next to the end of the couch nearest Catherine and Jack sat on the arm of the couch next to Diane.

  “When did your car break down?” Robert asked Diane.

  “It broke down on the way home just before Thanksgiving.”

  “Why didn’t you call for help?” her father asked

  “My phone had died after talking to Mother and Dr. Insincere…Alan for almost two and a half hours straight.”

  “Are you saying this is somehow my fault?” Catherine said with her arms crossed and the same disapproving look on her face that she’d had since Jack and Diane had arrived.

  “I’m not saying that at all.” Diane said holding back the exasperation she felt from being heard in her voice. “I am simply answering Daddy’s question.”

  “After sitting on the side of the road with no one else in sight for about an hour, Jack pulled up and helped.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me your car needed to be repaired? I could have had it fixed by now.”

  “I fixed it, Sir. She had it back by the following Sunday.”

  “You are a mechanic?” Catherine asked saying the word mechanic as if it were a synonym for hooligan.

  “No ma’am. I’m a farmer.” Jack was finding it difficult to maintain the polite tone like his momma raised him. He did not want to make an enemy out of Diane’s mother even if every word coming out of her mouth sounded like they were coming from the mythological banshee.

  “Oh good Lord,” Catherine mumbled.

  “Sweetie, what did your roommate mean when she said you’d moved in with Jack?” Robert said getting the conversation back on course.

  “I haven’t moved in with Jack, yet. I did stay the last couple of nights at his house.”

  “Oh, good Lord in heaven,” Catherine said.

  “What do you mean by yet?” Robert asked and for the first time turned a less than amicable eye to Jack.

  “Just to clarify sir, she didn’t stay with me. She had her own room at my parent’s house out on the farm. Did her roommate also tell you that she’d made some racist comments that caused Di not to feel safe sleeping in the apartment?”

  “Her name is Diane, not Di,” Catherine said.

  Jack just stared at her. He could not seriously believe that what stood out in that question was his use of a shortened form of Diane’s name. He also found it rather sad that neither Robert nor Diane seemed to be phased by this.

  “What racist comments?” Robert asked staying the course of the conversation.

  “Thursday morning when I came back from Jack’s…”

  “Excuse me?” her father interrupted.

  “She’d come out to the farm for dinner with me and my family and fell asleep while studying afterwards,” Jack said. “Once again, she had her own room Sir.”

  “He didn’t think it
was safe for me to drive back sleepy,” Diane continued. “So, his Momma offered me one of their spare rooms,” she finished.

  “Oh, good Lord in heaven, have mercy on me,” Catherine said in response to her daughter’s use of the word Momma.

  “When I returned home the next morning, Megan expressed her disapproval of me dating someone that was white because being black makes me inferior.”

  “If she threatened you any harm we need to call the police.”

  “She didn’t threaten me, but the conversation got pretty heated and I just didn’t feel safe. I didn’t know what she was capable of because it was a whole different Megan.”

  “You should have called us instead of running to people you barely know. We are your parents,” Catherine said.

  “I didn’t want to worry you Mother.” Diane felt the statement was true enough to not be a lie. The first person she thought of calling was Jack. Contacting her parents was an afterthought.

  “I think leaving was the best thing to do Sweetie, but your Mother is right. You should have called us to let us know what was going on.”

  Diane looked nervously at Jack. “Since I hadn’t told you about Jack, I felt that was a too much to explain over the phone. I planned on telling you everything when I came home for Christmas next weekend.”

  Jack had assumed from her parents’ earlier statements that Diane hadn’t told them about him. Her confirmation of that fact had him unsettled. He wasn’t sure how he felt about being her secret.

  “Were you returning because you and Megan straightened things out?” her father asked.

  “No, Daddy. I haven’t spoken to her since Thursday. I don’t know what there is to straighten out. She believes that blacks are okay as long as they know their place and apparently I am out of my place. Jack’s family has offered me a room at the farm and I’ve accepted.”

  “That may be best since there’s only a week left before finals,” Robert agreed shocking everyone.

  “You cannot possibly be serious.” Catherine cut her husband a look that would kill if he’d not built up an immunity to it over the years.

  “We can find an apartment for next semester over winter break.”

  “Daddy, I checked and the lease can’t be broken without paying a steep penalty. If I moved into another place you’d practically be paying rent at two places and that seems excessive.”