Jessica panicked for a split second before acting nonchalant. “No, sir. Must be the neighbors across the street.” She turned and rubbed her nose with Jo-Jo making the toddler giggle.
Mrs. Southers eyed the platter of half-eaten food with distaste. “We had supper earlier, but I told the girls they could have dessert at home if they behaved in the car. What in the world did you eat?”
Jessica ignored her mother’s inquisition and turned her attention to her oldest. “Did you behave?” she asked.
“Yes, Mama. Can we have dessert?Please?” Jennifer begged.
“Yes, ma’am. Let me finish talking with Grandma, and then I’ll get you some cookies. Why don’t you let Granddaddy get the TV on and settle down with your sisters.”
“Okay.”
Jessica watched her oldest skip happily into the living space with her sisters eagerly following. Her father started to power on the elaborate entertainment system for the girls. Turning toward her mother, she noticed the scowl in an instant.
“What?” she innocently asked.
“When are you going to start caring a little more about your appearance, Jessica Lynn?”
“Mama…”
“I did not raise my only daughter to dress in shorts and tee-shirts every single day. And look at your nails.” Mrs. Southers grabbed her daughter’s free hand and clucked her tongue. “When is the last time you got a manicure, Jessica? I think it’s time for you to move on from your wallowing and get back to living.”
Jessica couldn’t help but smirk, her mother having no idea just how much living she’d been up to that afternoon with Tim.
“It’s not funny, Jessica. You’ve had a pity-party long enough. You have impressionable daughters looking up to you. Don’t you want to set a good example?”
Biting her lower lip, she mumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Southers palmed Jessica’s cheek. “Alright then. Pull yourself together, now. And for god’s sake, get your hair and nails done. You’re a fright!”
*
Tim stood behind the master suite door that was cracked so he could hear the conversation in the living area. He found it hard to believe how submissive and compliant Jessica was around her folks, the proper use of “ma’am” and “sir” something he wasn’t used to. Their southern accents were thick and Jessica’s mother’s judgmental attitude, concerning. Thankfully, the Southers didn’t stay long, and he exhaled a sigh of relief as he peered through the plantation shutters and watched them drive off in their fancy Cadillac in the rain.
He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for the all clear. When Jessica entered the bedroom, his heart thumped with gladness.
“Hey,” she said, breathlessly, closing the door behind her.
“Hey.” He stood and went to her, opening his arms wide. Her tanned skin was warm to the touch as he inhaled her familiar scent and kissed the top of her golden head. “Is it all clear?”
“Yes. Sorry about that. I got the girls situated in front of the television with their cookies. We have a couple of minutes before they get wind that you’re here and then all hell is gonna break loose.”
Tim chuckled staring down into Jessica’s face. He loved the way her freckles splayed across her cute little nose when she wasn’t wearing any makeup. He wanted to count and kiss those freckles, every single one of them. How he wished they could be alone again, lounging in the bed so he could do just that. But the reality was, she had children. Four of them. They would have to find a way to navigate simple, quiet moments alone moving forward.
Her neck tilted back as she looked up at him. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“Then I won’t,” he replied matter-of-factly, running the pad of his thumb across her delicate cheek.
Her smile melted his core. “I guess we have to face the peanut gallery at some point. You ready?” She smoothed the whiskers closest to his lips, her fingertips tracing the outline of his mouth.
“Mmmm.” He leaned down and kissed her firmly. “Let’s do it.”
When they entered the living space hand in hand, the little girls squealed with delight. “Tim!” they screamed in unison, scampering to be near him. He let go of Jessica’s hand and scooped up the first two, giving hearty shouts, greeting each little girl individually. Baby Jo-Jo was so excited, she flailed her chubby arms and bounced on her bottom, shrieking with delight.
“You have a fan club,” Jessica joked as if taking it all in.
He chuckled, taking the girls back to their seats. “What are you watching?” He snatched a cookie off a plate on the ottoman and tossed it in his mouth.
“Puppy Dog Pals. Wanna watch with us?” Jennifer encouraged, her big blue eyes bright.
