Compassion

by Neal, Xavier

  The four of us exit my parents’ house for the SUV parked beside the side walk.

  No, I didn't buy it for him. He continued to refuse my help. He's so damn stubborn. He wanted to save for a down payment and make the car payment and try to reimburse me for all the money I shelled out before he got a job. I agreed he should use the money he was earning to pay for his own car but begged for him to let me help with the down payment. He yet again refused. I may have lost the battle, but I won the war. We took my parents with us to look at cars and SUVs and when it came time to give the down payment, my mother matched what he'd saved. It was her way of showing how proud she was he had made it that far. Almost like a peace offering. After that moment everything began to smooth over. Family dinners became less awkward and more frequent. They even came over for a meal Archer cooked. Things aren't perfect, but they're the best they've been in a long time.

  Once we're all piled in the black vehicle, he drives us across town to the swanky hotel it's being hosted in. My eyes glance at the dog tags that dangle from the mirror and I smile sweetly to myself.

  After a conversation with Dr. Jenny he agreed to her suggestion of letting his past and present find a way to co-exist. He hung his tags in the car. She also suggested trying a creative outlet to express some of the harder emotions. One day while I was working on my book, he came in and tried to write a poem about some of the pain he was still dealing with. It ended up just making him severely frustrated and we agreed he could keep working on his 'creativity' with remodels. You should see our backyard now...

  The car ride is filled mainly with football arguments between my two favorite men with the occasional side comment from my mom. After turning the car over to the valet, Archer takes our coats to check them while my dad wanders away towards a man carrying some sort of shrimp appetizer.

  My mother loops her arm through mine. “You know Jaye, I was thinking, maybe this year for Christmas dinner, you help cook.”

  Surprised by the suggestion, my jaw hits the ground. “Is someone sick? Or dying?”

  She giggles as we make our way to the bar. “No. No. I know you used to want that...back when....well. And I know Caroline didn't like sharing that responsibility any more than I did, but, I think it might be a good idea this year.”

  I order two glasses of champagne and quietly ask, “You think they'll be okay meeting Archer?”

  “They'll be fine,” she brushes off the idea. “They never wanted you to waste your life mourning after their son. Hell, you're like a daughter to them, the same way Chris was like a son to us. They just want you happy and Archer...Archer makes you happy.”

  My mom takes the drinks at the same time I pay the bartender. Unable to help myself I gush, “He really does...”

  “And I think that's what scares me,” she says in a hushed tone. I drop the change from the bill into the tip jar, take my drink she offers, and lift my eyebrows. “Honey, I know Chris wasn't right for you. He was...a good guy. Very business driven. Very single track minded. You were always more an accessory to him than a part of his life. But he was good to you and what more does a mother want than to know her daughter is taken care of?” We continue our walk towards the area where everyone seems to be mingling. “And I know, we didn't raise you to be anything less than independent, but your father took care of me. Not financially, no, but was always there. He always did everything he had to do to make sure I was taken care of. I wanted that for you. Chris came from a wonderful family, he was basically the son I never had, he was so well off, you got along great, I just assumed the rest of the pieces would fall into place. That you would learn to love him.”

  “I did love him,” I object. “I loved every day we were together and many after.”

  “Yes.” She nods. “You just weren't in love with him.”

  Hearing her say the very thing I concluded months ago out loud shoves the wine glass to my lips.

  “And you never would've been. You would've never been truly happy,” my mom confesses. “And I think knowing that and ignoring that made me livid. Not with you, but with myself for not...just encouraging you to do whatever it was going to take to make you happy even if that meant not marrying him. Not having kids with him. A future...a future with someone else.”

  The revelation hits me like a sucker punch just as my eyes land on Archer who is calmly searching for me. Seeing him in a suit and tie causes the muscles he loves to wear out to ache for his touch.

  I kid you not, right before we left to pick my parents up. Fancy clothes sex? A lot of fun.

  My bottom lip slips between my teeth.

  “He's a good man,” she whispers in my ear. “I know that now.”

  Seconds later Archer is front of us with a wide grin. “There you ladies are.”

  “And here I go,” my mother declares. “I have to find Charles who is probably sucking back shrimp drenched in cocktail sauce.”

  Shaking her head she exits leaving the two of us alone. Sweetly he says, “She worries too much.”

  I slide a hand down his chest. “I think she just has a mother's know best policy she's not willing to shake just yet.”

  He chuckles and slides his hands around my waist. “Does she know best about me?”

  Playfully I nod. “She's come around.”

  Archer’s lips land next to my ear. “I can't wait to make you come again...”

  I swat at his chest while my face heats.

  Gosh, how bad am I blushing?

  “Jaye?” The sound of my boss' voice has me peering around Archer's frame. “Hey!”

  “Hey!” I greet her as Archer slides out of the way and tucks me into his side. “Archer this is my boss, Presley Morrison. Presley this is my boyfriend, Archer Cox.”

  “Pleasure to meet you.” They shake before she makes her own introduction. “Jaye Jenkins and Archer Cox, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Ryder Collins.”

  Very attractive. Less dreamy than blue eyed, innocent Merrick, but he totally has that tall, brooding, tortured soul thing some chicks...like me, think is amazing. I have my tortured soul except I like to think I've helped free it some.

  I extend my hand to shake his at the same time Presley says, “Jaye is our school's librarian and the one who helped me pick and coordinate this event.”

  “That's amazing,” he replies, a smirk finding its way onto his face. “I think you picked a great cause. There are many people who struggle with stability in life. For them, places like shelters are often miracles enclosed in four walls.”

  “A little compassion can go a long way,” Archer adds with a tug into him.

  Is that an eyes off my girl tug? Ryder's engaged to my boss! What? Jealousy sex is hot too? Really?

  “Agreed.” Ryder nods at him before looking down at his wife to be. “I couldn't have said it better myself.”

  Presley peers at him with a gleam in her eyes I know all too well. She pecks a kiss on his lips before turning back towards me. The second she lifts her glass I follow suit. “Here's to hoping people learn to show a little more compassion.”

  “Here. Here.” We clink while the men simply watch.

  I can't think of a better thing for people to show more of. Can you?

  THANK YOU!!!

  Crazy Lady- Thank you for teaching me how important it is to have compassion.

  Her Husband- Thank you for the time we spend together.

  The Law Student- Thank you for being a great big sister.

  The Lumberjack- Thank you for always having my back.

  Sissy B- Thank you for your compassion towards my family.

  Throwback- Thank you for all you do that people and that they don't.

  Katniss- Thank you for all your compassion towards me.

  The Real Life Erin- Thank you for being you.

  The PAs- Left and Right brain, this is gonna be a great year thanks to y'all!

  Boss Lady- You are wonderful and never doubt this is where you belong.

  The Editor- You do remarkable wor
k and thanks for teaching me so much along the way.

  Genie- You are so full of life the world is lucky to have you.

  Dallas Angie- For all you've done for me, for all you continue to do, and for your never ending energy you pour at me, I can't thank you enough. You are truly a one in a million woman.

  Florida Sophie- Thank you for the research, the early ready and letting me Auntie to a ninja....lol

  My Italian Based Military Dictionary- Lol, you know who you are. Thank you for all the knowledge you give me. (Yours hubs too haha)

  Dream Team- Thank you for sticking by me through it all!

  ARC Team- You rock and never stop!

  Bloggers- For every word you spread, event you host and help you give, thank you!

  Authors- Thank you for inspiring, leading the way, and lending a hand.

  Readers- You....you're still with me and there are no words for how grateful I am to always have you in my court or shall I say in my books, lol.

  A special thank you to the military men and women for all you do, all you sacrifice and for us.

  Until next time....

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