The Other Side of Perfect
By: Victoria Peters
***
Table Of Contents
Chapter 1 – The shift of disaster
Chapter 2 – Night on the town
Chapter 3 – Mason Wilson
Chapter 4 – It's a date!
Chapter 5 – Day at the zoo
Chapter 6 – 6-month anniversary
Chapter 7 – Stroll down the aisle
Chapter 8 – Tempers flare
Chapter 9 – A knock at the door
Chapter 10 – 4 years later
Chapter 11 – Safe house
Chapter 12 – Drive on!
Chapter 13 – Embracing the future
© 2012 Victoria Peters - All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
*This is a 2-part series. The series fits [not so neatly] into the Romance category, with a slight crossover into the Thriller realm as well.
ONE
Jennifer Edwards placed the carton of eggs into the paper sack as the voice over loud speaker announced “Clean up in aisle three! Jennifer, bring the mop...”
Jennifer sighed as she concluded the sale on her register.
“Rough day?” the customer asked.
“It’s fine, just part of the norm around this place” she said.
The customer picked up the sack and walked out the door. Jennifer went to the cleaning closet and grabbed the mop and bucket.
“Jennifer, the floors are waiting!” the voice uttered sarcastically.
“What am I, super woman?” she huffed under her breath.
As she turned the corner to aisle three, the manager, Rick Richmond, stood ‘cockily’ over three broken bottles of pickled herring.
‘Yuck!’ she groaned as her stomach churned. The odor and site of the tiny fish was overwhelming. ‘Shit! My life sucks!’ she thought to herself.
“Took you long enough!” Rick scolded.
“I was finishing with your customer, Rick!” she snapped.
“Watch your tone, young lady, and just do your job!” he demanded.
“I always do” she replied. ‘And yours, and Martha’s and pretty much the whole store’s’ she mumbled under her breath.
Jennifer had not had the best start in life by most standards; she was a single mother of one, deserted by an invisible dad, and little to no financial stability to speak of. Despite her lack of education, she was a bright girl with a beautiful aura about her. Visually, she was stunning. Even when she was up to her elbows in spilled herring, her beauty was evident to those around her.
The long dark hair and super, bright brown eyes were elegantly framed upon her sweet Latin-American face. The face of an angel, a model, and... hell, she looked like a movie star, but she was as far from the glamorous life as anybody could possibly be.
With her asymmetrically shaped face, including high cheek bones, dainty chin, the tiny dimple on her right cheek, fashionably perfect lips and the perfectly framed brow line, it was rare when she wasn’t noticed by the male customers or staff members. Despite her appeal, Rick never found it hard to insult her.
She’d have quit eons ago, but she needed the money for her and her daughter. It wasn’t just her anymore, and she'd be damned if she would do anything to make her daughter's life anything less than perfect.
Jennifer began to clean up the mess. But as she bent down, her delicate bottom caught the attention of a couple of guys nearby. They paused and gawked like ravenous wolves, desperate for a ‘meeting’ with the she-wolf.
“Would you look at that ‘bootilicious’ babe!” one of the guys said.
“Ooh, Damn Hot! I could definitely go for a piece of that! Mmm!” his friend replied.
She heard them initially, but tried to ignore their calls. But, their persistent howls and comments irked her on this particular day. She stood firmly and turned to face the drooling dogs. Without a word, she flashed them a look of utter disgust.
“Wow, sugar! Don’t be glaring like that baby, you’re stunning. We Homo Sapiens can’t help ourselves. You’re simply fine and mmm, mmm good, girl!” said one of the guys.
“Even with the tiny fish stinking up the joint.” said the other.
“Look guys” she said. “I’m busy here.”
“Oh sugar, we don’t mean no harm.”
“Please, let me finish my job in peace.”
Distracted by the advances of the two men, she barely noticed her manager wandering down the aisle toward her. Without paying attention to the dangers around him, his face nose-deep into his clipboard, Rick failed to see the WET FLOOR sign and immediately fumbled over it.
Before Jennifer could offer a warning, Rick flew into the air and his feet hit the bucket, knocking it over. The water splashed everywhere, covering everything within a four foot radius, including the male harassers. Rick landed firmly upon his plump ass with a thud and a drenched splat. Jennifer stood frozen in shock, and the surrounding store came to an immediate stand-still. With Rick resting on his pride, nobody uttered a word.
His pride was wounded and his face was turning a beet red. It always did when he was pissed about something. He wasn’t about to let this one go, either...
Paul, the store kiss-ass, hurried to Rick’s side and aided him to his feet. The staff giggled, once they realized Rick wasn’t seriously injured in the clumsy fall. The sight was incredible. Rick easily weighed 350 lbs and poor, kiss-ass Paul weighed less than 150. Still, he worked eagerly to aid Rick in his time of woe and humiliation.
“You okay, boss?” asked Paul.
“Oh Paul, thank you, thank you.” Rick fumbled and staggered to his feet, then proudly attempted to straighten up. Jennifer stood in horror.
“Oh, Rick! Are you okay?” She asked with as much concern as she could muster.
“You stupid girl!” he shouted.
“I…” she began to sputter.
“You’re fi...!”
Rick was about to shout ‘You’re fired’, but Kyra, one of the store’s clerks, immediately interjected and interrupted the process.
“Fire Jennifer?” Kyra asked. “Why, she’s the glue that holds this dump together, and you know it!”
“Look what she...” he growled.
“You sent her to clean up this aisle. You knew it was being cleaned. You knew it would be wet. You weren’t even watching where you were going...” Kyra argued.
“Fine. Fine, whatever!” Rick scowled. “Just finish cleaning this mess and stop messing with the male customers or your job will be history. Got it, sugar?”
“Got it.” Jennifer’s big eyes were misty with tears she fought to hold back. It had been a bad, bad day.
“Oh, Kyra...” she sighed, her hands trembling.
“Girl, you need some fun. Let me take you out after our shift” Kyra said. “You deserve it!”
Jennifer, mortified and tired, nodded. “I don’t know. I’m tired.”
“Come on, you know you need it.”
“Yeah, I do. Thanks Kyra, I think I'll take you up on that!”
TWO
With the 'shift of disaster' finally over, Jennifer gathered her things and looked at Kyra with weary eyes. “I don’t know how I even made it through this shift! What the fuck? I think every dumb-ass and moronic idiot in the state of Alabama came through here tonight.”
“I hear that!” Kyra said. “Oh girl, we deserve a good night out.
Besides, we’re off tomorrow. Best time to get totally smashed.” Kyra said excitedly.
“Let me drive you home, so you can get dolled up and I will pick you up at 7, okay? We’re gonna have a sensational time and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll find someone to take home, huh? Get laid…” Kyra winked, but Kyra was anything but subtle most of the time.
“Kyra!”
“You know you’re a hot sista, don’t ya?”
“Look at me! I’m a mess!”
“You’ll shine like a new penny when you’re all cleaned up. I know we’ll have a blast!” Trust me…”
“Alright Kyra, let’s do this thing.” Jennifer wearily pushed herself into the passenger side of Kyra’s bug and bumbled through her memories of the disastrous day.
“Whoa, what a day! This night had better be an improvement, or I may just lose it all together…”
“Well, we can’t have that now, can we?”
“Hell no, we cannot!”
“Then, fun it is!”
Jennifer was grateful for Kyra’s eager optimism. She needed it. Kyra was the only friend she had these days, it seemed. The only friend who still gave her the time of day, anyway. The girls in her neighborhood, back home in Greensboro, ridiculed her when she got pregnant at seventeen.
The whole community turned their back on her. ‘Slut. Whore. Tramp!’ these were all terms she heard repeatedly, until she finally got up the nerve to leave the town altogether. Her baby’s daddy accused her of being with many other men and assumed no responsibility for the child’s existence. Why, as the minister’s son he was an absolute ‘angel’ in everyone’s eyes. He’d been crushed to learn what a 'tramp' he’d been dating, even if it was just a convenient thing to concoct so he didn't have to live up to any of his obligations.
Jennifer was ostricized by anyone who believed the minister’s son was ‘perfect’, but Jennifer knew his other side and it was anything BUT perfect. Still, she pressed on. She had a life growing inside of her and she needed to focus on a future for her and her unborn child.
It wasn’t easy moving from the only place she’d ever known, but starting new is what she needed to do. So, on her own, she moved to Tuscaloosa to begin a life for her and her little girl.
***
Kyra dropped Jennifer off at the apartment and agreed to pick her up at seven. That gave her just over an hour to get ready for a night on the town. As she approached the entrance, Willy-B sat upon the step waiting for her to let him in.
Willy-B, her Maine Coon cat, sat big as life with her mangled present in front of him.
“Hey Willy-B” she said entering the apartment. “What’s that you got for me?” Jennifer bent over to get a better look at the four legged critter he’d brought. “Oh Willy-B…ugh!” her stomach churned. The bloody mess was anything but pleasant, but Willy-B sat so proudly with his housewarming present she could only smile.
“Thanks Willy-B!” she gulped as she opened the door to let him inside. Then hoping he wouldn’t see her, she picked up the carcass with a napkin and tossed it into the trash-can nearby.
“MEOW” he replied. “With his fluffy tail whirling proudly, he made his way to apartment 3. Entering the apartment, she smiled as the tiny brown-eyed toddler looked up.
“Mommy!” she gleamed.
“Chelsea!” Jennifer replied, as she scooped the gleeful child into her arms. “Oh, is it good to see you!” Her day was in full recovery now. Holding her lovely toddler made the horrors of the day vanish almost entirely.
“Love you, mama!” she said with her tiny lips kissing Jennifer’s face.
“I love you too, sweetie.”
As the two embraced, Helga, the retired Ukrainian from apartment 6, entered the room.
“Have a nice day, Miss?” she asked.
“I did Helga.” Jennifer adored Helga, she’d been a Godsend. Though she wasn’t family, she’d become an honorary mother and grandmother almost immediately and she was ever so grateful. Jennifer didn't have the heart to tell Helga about the day she'd just endured, so she simply glossed over it.
“Helga, can I ask a favor of you?”
“Certainly dear…”
“I’d like to go out for a while tonight, but I’d understand if you can’t, I mean it’s not…”
“Dear, dear, dear…of course! Go! You deserve a good night out. Why, you don't do nothin' but work and be da mama for this girl... and this cat! You'll do good to have a night out on the town.”
“Are you sure? I will pay you extra…”
“Oh dear, no pay tonight. You just go and be happy for once.”
Jennifer was thrilled. It’d been ages since she’d had a good 'night out’. She hadn’t complained, she loved spending time with Chelsea, but the nights had been lonely. It did seem like her life was going nowhere, but being her mother was a gift and she wouldn't change that for the world.
***
Chelsea played happily with her Play-Doh, while Helga made dinner for her and the child. Helga was a fantastic cook and ensured a healthy world for the child.
*Buzz…*
The buzzer of the apartment resounded impatiently. Quickly, Jennifer ran to the speaker and pressed the button. “Kyra?”
“Yep.”
“Come on up, I’m almost ready.”
Jennifer pressed the release button to buzz Kyra in. As she reached the top of the stairs, the door opened. Jennifer looked amazing.
“Oh girl, you are one hot mama! Look at you!” Kyra stated boldly. “Watch out dance floor, this girl’s gonna set you on fire!”
“Oh Kyra, stop. I’m blushing” Jennifer said.
“She's right you know,” Helga interrupted. “You look stunning, dear. The men will eat you up!”
“Huh, last thing I want is another complicated man in my life!”
“Well, you deserve to be happy dear and Chelsea deserves a father.”
“I appreciate your concern, but really, we’re fine.”
“Regardless dear, you look great” Helga affirmed.
“I dunno.”
Jennifer wore a stunning red dress, that perfectly framed her hourglass body. The hem was just above the knees, elongating her silky legs. Her waist was sweetly framed and the cleavage was perfectly pert. Her hair was silky and smooth, highlighting her tastefully decorated face. The ensemble was completed with black stilettos and her petite purse.
“Seriously girl, you got it goin’ on!”
“You think so?” Jennifer asked.
“No dame, I KNOW so!”
“Thanks.”
Jennifer finished primping herself, grabbed her purse, kissed Chelsea goodnight and then the two girls left for their special night out. “See ya Chelsea, be good for Helga. See you Willy-B” she said. “Don’t wait up for me.”
She and Kyra giggled lightly as the door shut behind them, and they hurriedly made their way out of the building for a night of drinking and dancing.
THREE
The two women walked into the bar and immediately raised the brows of several men. Jennifer was sizzling and Kyra held her own equally. She was small, but packed a punch. Her package was perfectly designed; warm brown hair with blonde highlights, big blue eyes, and fantastic figure. She was sweet and alluring and the men noticed.
As they approached the bar, the girls immediately noticed the deliciously tasty 'package' serving the guests. He was hot with two well-formed biceps, perfect pecks peeking slightly beneath his shirt, and the ass of a god! Jennifer and Kyra both gawked for a moment, trying to contain their feminine lusts.
“Hello, ladies.” His warm, masculine voice, sent chills down their spines.
Kyra, charmed in the moment, quickly glanced at his left hand.
‘Hmm, no ring!‘ she thought to herself.
“Can I get you ladies a drink?” he asked.
“Yes please” Kyra said boldly. “I’ll have a tequila…”
“Whatever you got chilled on tap will be fine. ” said Jennifer.
“Ri
ght away.”
As he prepared their drinks, Kyra elbowed Jennifer. “Are you getting a taste of this perfection, sweetie?”
Jennifer nodded shyly.
“Sweeeeeet!” Kyra says in a defined whisper.
“Shush...” Jennifer whispered. “Don’t get too crazy.”
“What?” Kyra scoffed. “He’s single, I’m single...” she said.
The sexy bartender served the ladies their drinks, and then suddenly got a great look at the beautiful Latin goddess. He smiled warmly as he handed Jennifer her draft beer. For a moment of singular serenity, their eyes locked.
After a breathless moment, “My name’s Mason. What’s yours?” he asked warmly.
“I’m Jennifer” she nervously replied.
“Pleasure to meet you Jennifer” he said. He handed her the drink, placing it upon a napkin. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Hmm…bet you say that to all the girls” she winked.
“No actually, I don’t” he said back. “Normally, I'm too busy to talk to the ladies. But a beauty like you? I’m making an exception.”
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