The Christmas Promise

by Sean D. Young

  He pulled his chair closer, so close that his knee touched the side of hers underneath the table. He leaned near her. “I know that, Jennifer, and I don’t casually sleep with just any woman either.”

  They stared at each other for several seconds before they both burst into laughter. Jennifer shook her head. “Listen to us, after all these years, still trying to explain why we acted irresponsibly.”

  Just then, the server came back with their meals, placing the dishes in front of Jennifer and then Simeon. Once she walked away, Simeon said, “I guess there was no excuse. It’s done and been over with.”

  Jennifer nodded. “When you have sex with someone, you can’t take it back like you can a bad piece of beef you bought at the supermarket.”

  She found it odd that even when she gave him a segue he hadn’t mentioned Mariah. Why wouldn’t he want to get to know her? She couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She picked up her fork and picked out the roasted chicken in her salad.

  They ate quietly at first, then Simeon spoke up.

  “Jennifer, will you give me your cell phone number, so that I can keep in contact with you?” Simeon asked.

  “You contacted me fine at the shop today, didn’t you?” Jennifer asked in response, putting down her fork. Lacing her fingers together, Jennifer put her hands up to her face, then dropped them. “Listen, Simeon, I spend a lot of time at the salon, so that’s the best place to reach me.”

  She didn’t want to agree so quickly because having her cell number would give him twenty-four-seven access to her. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to forget about what happened between them and pick up where they left off without an explanation.

  What if she gave it to him and he dropped off the face of the earth once again? She didn’t know if she could handle that type of rejection once more.

  Simeon pulled out a silver case and opened it, retrieving a white linen card with embossed letters on it. “Here, I wanted to give you my business card. If you ever need to get in touch with me, you have my information.”

  Jennifer accepted the card and placed it next to her plate as she continued to eat as much as she could of her dish. The meal was so plentiful they didn’t order dessert. Jennifer was ready to leave, but kept thinking about whether or not she should give him her number. She pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down her cell number and handed it to him.

  “Thanks for inviting me, Simeon,” she said, handing him the slip of paper. “Here is my cell if you can’t reach me at the salon,” she said. Sliding his business card off the table, she stood. She couldn’t help but be disappointed because she still didn’t get any closer to an explanation for his absence.

  “I’m glad you came,” he said, holding up the piece of white paper she’d given him. “Thanks for the number.” He stood as well.

  Simeon came around to her side of the table to help her with her coat. They walked out of the building together, saying their goodbyes in the parking lot.

  “Why don’t I walk you to your car,” Simeon suggested.

  “I think I’ll be okay,” Jennifer said, pulling her hood forward on her head. “I’m right here,” she pointed to her minivan, which was a few feet away.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow then,” Simeon said, turning to walk away.

  Walking to her car, Jennifer glanced at the card that Simeon had given to her once again and those hurtful memories came flooding back. She’d needed him two years ago, but he hadn’t been there for her. He didn’t even have the decency to respond, even to say, “I don’t want any part of this situation. I don’t want to be a father,” so why should she need him now? The hard part was over because being pregnant with twins without any support from the father was no easy task, but she was making it. If he called her, fine, but she wouldn’t be calling him anytime soon. She didn’t need that kind of distraction. She also didn’t want to risk the chance of having a weak moment and contacting him. Sure that she didn’t need his information, Jennifer tore the card up into little white squares and dropped them into her purse.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Jenn!” Mimi called out.

  Jennifer had just turned the dryer off and checked Tasha Moore’s hair to be sure it wasn’t too dry. She liked to have some dampness because it helped add body to the hair when she used the blow dryer. She had just given the nineteen-year-old college student a short pixie haircut.

  Jennifer had thought about doing something similar for herself since she’d had the twins so she wouldn’t have to worry about curling or flat-ironing it. Most times now, she just put it into a ponytail. She wished she could just get up in the morning, run her fingers through her hair and go.

  Rubbing her hands through Tasha’s hair in a circular motion, Jennifer patted her shoulder. “You can sit in my chair, Tasha.”

  Jennifer went over to the reception desk and whispered to Mimi, “Do you know who it is?”

  Mimi shook her head from left to right. “No, but I must say he’s got a very sexy voice.”

  Jennifer looked down at the red light blinking on the first line, trying to decide whether or not she wanted to talk to Simeon.

  Quickly lifting the receiver from the base, she pressed the button. “This is Jennifer.”

  “Hey, Jenn. I was wondering if you’d like to go out after work.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “But, I want to pick you up instead. Meeting up takes the fun out of dating,” Simeon said.

  “I hadn’t realized that we were dating, Simeon,” Jennifer blurted out, before she knew what she was saying. She looked directly into Mimi’s eyes that were as big as saucers. Everyone in the shop was going to know that she had a date. “We’ve only had one dinner, so I wouldn’t call it dating.”

  “I want to go out on a real date with you, Jennifer McClendon.”

  Hearing the way he said her full name caused those familiar nervous knots to reappear. She wished she knew what he was after. Why would he want to continue to ask her out, but never say a word about Mariah? None of it made any sense to her, but maybe this time, she would force herself to ask the questions she’d been holding back. She needed to know if there was a chance for them, all of them, once and for all.

  “Sure, Simeon. Do you have a piece of paper? I’ll give you my address.”

  Jennifer gave him her address and hoped she wouldn’t regret it. “I hate to cut this conversation short, but I have to get back to my client.”

  “I don’t want to keep you. I’m looking forward to this evening,” Simeon said.

  As soon as Jennifer was able to take a break, she contacted Faith and asked her to watch the twins for the night, but didn’t say why. She never tried to take advantage of her family when it came to babysitting, so as not to wear out their welcome. But it seemed she’d been going out more and more since Simeon had returned to her life.

  Jennifer finished her clients, placed orders with several distributors, who came into the salon to sell hair care products they kept in the shop’s inventory, and soon she was on her way out.

  Once she picked up the kids and got home, she searched for something to wear. She knew she had to be sensible since it was freezing outside, though she had no idea where they were going.

  Standing in the middle of the floor in her closet, she made three selections of a pair of slacks and a blouse, a jumpsuit and a dress. With the full-length mirror in the corner, she stood in front of it holding up each outfit to make up her mind. Since she had his attention, she decided that tonight she’d knock Simeon’s socks off. She wore the black jumpsuit with a wide belt that hit all the right places, a heavy necklace and earrings. She added her knotted gold bangle and black high-heel boots.

  Jennifer had already put the twins down, so when the doorbell chimed, she rushed to their rooms and peeked inside to see if it had awakened them. She’d forgotten to tell Faith to call her when she was pulli
ng up to the apartment complex.

  Jennifer’s smile turned into a frown when she looked through the peephole to see Faith and their sister Patrice. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Patrice to know what was going on with her, but Patrice had a reputation of being a mood killer, speaking negatively about situations that she didn’t have all the facts on. Jennifer was already conflicted about Simeon, so she only wanted to talk to Faith. But now she didn’t have time to worry about that because Simeon would be there to pick her up in the next thirty minutes, so she’d just have to deal with Patrice being there.

  Jennifer opened the door before they could knock.

  “What’s up, homie?” Jennifer said, holding the door open for her sisters.

  “What up?” Patrice said, walking in behind Faith.

  “Patrice, I’m surprised that you came to help Faith babysit.”

  “I haven’t seen my babies in two weeks. I was over at Faith’s when she told me she was coming over here so you could go out,” Patrice said, removing her coat. She dropped it on the sofa and walked down the hall toward the children’s room. “Where are my babies?”

  Jennifer immediately ran behind her, putting her finger against her lips. “Can you keep it down? I don’t want them to wake up before I leave. I’ll never get out of here.”

  They peaked inside the room at the sleeping babies and Jennifer pulled the door shut. “Let’s go into my room,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Jennifer loved her bedroom because it was so roomy. She had a king-sized bed, an armoire, dresser with a huge mirror, a chaise lounge and two bachelor’s chests, with space to spare.

  Faith and Patrice sat on the bed while Jennifer removed her jewelry from the box. “My children’s father has resurfaced. I’m going out with him again tonight.” She didn’t see a need in beating around the bush. It felt better coming straight out with the facts since she and Faith had talked about Simeon the other day.

  “What do you mean you’re going out with him again?” Patrice asked, looking between Jennifer and Faith.

  Jennifer came over and sat on the bed. “Yes, he came by the shop last week, then asked me out last Friday and then again today.”

  Jennifer knew that Patrice was shocked, judging by her facial expression. “Treecie, I know that this is a shock, but it is what it is.”

  Throwing her right leg over her left, Patrice leaned back on the bed. “What does this mean? Do you think this is serious? What’s going on between the two of you?”

  “Right now, I don’t know.”

  “Do you want it to be?” Patrice asked.

  Jennifer hunched her shoulders. “I don’t know, Treecie. I’m so confused.”

  “I think you should give him a chance,” Faith said simply.

  “I am giving him a chance, but he still hasn’t said anything about where he’s been all this time.”

  “Why didn’t you just ask him?” Patrice said.

  “I thought that was the reason he came looking for me, to tell me where he’s been for the last three years. He’s coming over to pick me up tonight and I don’t want him to see the kids.”

  “You’re gonna hide them?” Faith asked.

  Jennifer frowned because she hated that her sister always had a comeback. “I’m not hiding them. I told him about them before they were born and he wasn’t interested, so I feel he has no right after all this time.”

  “I don’t understand you, Jenn. Yes, that man does have a right, he’s their father,” Patrice insisted. “Since you’ve been seeing him has he asked about them?” Patrice continued.

  Jennifer released a sigh of frustration because she didn’t want to fight with her sisters about her life. “No, and I didn’t say anything either because I thought maybe he would reject them or say that they weren’t his,” Jennifer answered. The thought of his possible rejection hurt worse than her sisters could ever imagine. She needed to be responsible for the emotional welfare of herself and her children. If her sisters didn’t understand, she had no idea how to make them.

  “Faith, do you mind taking them to your apartment? I’ll be by to get them as soon as he brings me back.”

  Both her sisters just stared at her. “I know, I know it’s getting late, but please, will you do this for me?”

  Faith nodded and Patrice rolled her eyes.

  Jennifer accepted the fact that her sisters didn’t agree with her actions, but it was her life to run the way she saw fit.

  Wringing her hands together as she waited for Simeon to arrive, Jennifer reflected on the choices she’d made the past week. She hoped going out with Simeon was the right decision for her and her children. Not wanting to feel the sting of rejection again, she needed to be cautious and somewhat guarded. She didn’t want to cause herself unnecessary heartache. At this point, she just couldn’t get a real sense of what he wanted from her, but if he’d ask her, she could tell him what she desperately needed—for him to be a father to their children.

  The buzzing sound from the intercom letting her know that she had a visitor startled her so much that she jumped up from the sofa. She was relieved that the children had already left with her sisters. She pressed the buzzer, allowing him to enter the building. With the door open she could hear his footsteps coming down the hall. She hoped that tonight all would be revealed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Simeon had many questions that he wanted answers for, but he didn’t know how to start the conversation with Jennifer to get them. He needed the courage to find out what he might not want to know—that Jennifer was happy and in love with someone else. He really wanted to hear that she was a single woman.

  Simeon glanced over at her looking pensively out the car window at the passing scenery. If he didn’t say something soon, he’d miss his opportunity to get her to open up to him.

  “Jenn, I really need to talk to you,” he said, glancing from her to the road and back again.

  “I was just thinking the same thing,” she responded.

  Keeping an eye on the road, he took a deep breath, trying to formulate the words. “Where do I start?” he asked.

  “Why not start at the beginning, Simeon,” she replied.

  “I don’t want to disrupt your life, Jenn,” Simeon said, staring at her.

  “What do you mean?”

  He knew he needed to spend more time watching the road than on her, but he couldn’t help himself. “I need to know what’s going on in your life before I jump into it with all my drama.”

  “You are not making sense, Simeon,” Jennifer said.

  “Did you get back together with that guy you’d broken up with before we met?” He really wanted to know.

  “Hell no. Not ever,” she responded.

  His eyes dropped to her mouth. Even when she pouted, she was beautiful. “Are you married?” He sighed, anticipating the answer to that question.

  “I’m not married, Simeon,” Jennifer snapped.

  “Are you with the father of your children?”

  Jennifer’s eyes widened before she answered. “I can’t believe you asked me that.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to know if I don’t ask?” Simeon threw back harshly.

  “You know damn well that Mariah is your kid,” Jennifer blurted out loudly.

  Simeon threw on the brakes and swerved to the right without looking. Luckily no one was coming in the right lane, so he pulled the car into a nearby shopping mall parking lot. Letting the car roll to a halt in the first empty space he could find, he couldn’t stop his heart from hammering in his chest.

  Simeon stopped because he didn’t think he heard her correctly and he wanted to see the words come out of her mouth. Leaning on the steering wheel, he rested his forehead against it. “What did you just say, Jenn?”

  “You heard me Simeon, you are not deaf. Yes, Mariah is your child.”
>
  Continuing to use the steering wheel as his crutch, he turned his head in her direction and their eyes locked. He shook his head as a frown of disbelief and uncertainty flickered across his face.

  How could that beautiful little girl be his when he hadn’t been with this woman since she left Shoal Bay? Maybe Jennifer wanted it to be his child, but clearly that little girl was not his.

  Silence filled the cabin of his late model car as they both sat staring at one another—one wanting to say something, the other in shock.

  “But you called me right when I was getting my bags after landing in Rio. You told me that everything was cool. You weren’t pregnant.”

  Pushing down on the button to release her seat belt, Jennifer sat up straight. “Well, I was wrong. I was pregnant.”

  Simeon opened his mouth to jump in, but Jennifer cut him off with a finger.

  “And don’t say I didn’t tell you.”

  “But you didn’t, Jenn.”

  “The hell I didn’t. I called you, sent you text messages and emails. They all went unanswered.” She pulled on the door handle, so she could get out, but it was locked. “Unlock this door.”

  Simeon reached out to her, but she jerked away. “Open the door now, Simeon.”

  “But, but we’re not…” His words died off because she jumped out of the car, running toward the mall entrance.

  Anger and bitterness threatened to choke Jennifer as she walked away from Simeon’s car. She had never felt so much resentment toward another human being in her life. She couldn’t stay in the car a minute longer or she would have probably beat the hell out of him with her purse.

  She was angry with him for abandoning her and the babies and was livid because he returned, barged his way back into her life, causing her to care again. He didn’t have to pretend and she wished that he would just be honest with her. His pretending that he didn’t know had played out and she didn’t want to hear any excuses that he had about being absent from his children’s lives.

  She dug down in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She didn’t want to call Faith because she was watching the children. Renee had gone to a holiday marketing event. The only person left was Patrice. Oh how she hated to have to call Patrice because she would ask a hundred questions before she would even agree to help. But she had no other choice because she was never getting back into Simeon’s car. Ever.