Chapter 5
Almost a week later, I slowly walked down the stairs to the kitchen. Mom stood peeling potatoes starting to prepare the food for Thanksgiving dinner. She kept to herself and never talked about what happen. The bruises were healing along with the rest of everything else. Walking over as I draped an arm over her shoulders, “Morning mom.” I kissed her cheek gently. She stopped what she was doing and looked to me with a glow to herself and a huge smile, “Morning Jess. Sleep well?” I nodded as I removed my arm from her shoulders, heading over to the frig for a bottle of water. “Yea I slept fine. Someone is mighty cheery this morning..” Evelyn just giggled as she continued to peel the potatoes. “Well things are great. Family is coming over, plus I have you and John home with me for the holidays. Why wouldn’t I be happy?” I closed the frig door and grabbed a potato peeler and started in on helping.
“I don’t know mom. Just thought I would ask. Just never seen you this happy in a long time.” Mom stopped and looked to me, “Hun you have nothing to worry about. Bruce and I are no more, for a while now actually...” I stopped what I was doing and looked to her, “Is there something your not telling me?” Evelyn giggled like a school girl as she went back to the potatoes. I cleaned my hands as I looked to her, “Mom... What’s got you all giddy?” She stopped as she wiped her hands on a towel, walked over to the frig, brought the turkey out and began to prepare it to get it into the oven. “Could you finish the potatoes for me Jess?” I nodded as I took over where she left off. “Sure, but are you going to tell me what’s going on?” She pulled out the roasting pan as she started getting things together to start in on the bird. “Well... I didn’t want to say anything but.. I’m dating someone else..”
I kept at what I was doing, trying to keep my cast clean. “That’s what’s different. And who’s the lucky man? Do I need to investigate him?” Evelyn sighed gently, “No Jess you don’t. You and Johnny know him already.” I stopped and looked to her, “Mom.. You didn’t...” Mom looked to me, “I didn’t what?” “Your dating one of the guys from John’s work?” Mom kept at preparing the bird as she washed her hands, once she was done. Wiping her hands off as she put the turkey into the oven to cook. “So what if I am..” I finished what I was doing, cleaned up my hands and looked to her. “You know how hard it is to be dating one of the guys in the business.” Mom lifted a brow, “I thought you would be happy for me Jessie. You out of all people..” I sighed as I leaned against the counter, “I’m happy for you mom. Really I am, don’t get me wrong. But I know how hard it is. It’s not easy trust me. I’m just worried about whoever it is, cheating on you while he’s on the road.” Evelyn looked to her daughter, placing a hand upon her shoulder. “I know it’s not going to be easy. But we’ve been dating for awhile now. We’ve worked out the details and such. Trust me he wouldn’t cheat on me. He’s very reliable.”
“He better be. You know how John is going to react to this.” Nodding her head gently, “I know Jessie. But he must also remember too, that I can’t be alone for the rest of my life either.” Nodding my head gently, “I know. But he just doesn’t want you to end up like me.” “I won’t. Trust me he’s better than Chris.” “Who’s better than Chris?” John questioned as he walked into the kitchen, approaching his mom. Kissing her cheek with a hug. Evelyn returned it as she looked to her son, “Just woman talk.” John shivered a bit, “Alright what’s this about? Chris’ name was mentioned.” I sighed, “Your paranoid bro. For one just talking about mom’s new boyfriend.” John lifted a brow, “A new boyfriend? Don’t tell me another Bruce..” Evelyn shook her head. “Nope someone a lot better than him. We’ve been going out for some time now. You two are being overly protective here. This is why we never wanted to tell you two, until a certain point.” John hopped up on the counter, sitting as he sighed, “Mom.. Jess and I are just looking out for you. We don’t need you hurt anymore that’s all.” Evelyn smiled gently to John, “I know hun. But you’ve both have to trust me. Like I told Jessie. We’re working details out, so far it’s all going great. I’m happy, why can’t you except that?”
Sighing a bit, “Mom I told you I am happy for you. But you know why I question it..” I commented as John looked to his sister in puzzlement. “What are you talking about?” I looked to him, “I think mom should tell you.” John turned his attention to his mom, “What’s up mom?” Evelyn walked over and stood before her son, “Well I wanted to wait until later on to tell you. But I’m dating someone from your work place Johnny.” John lifted a brow to this new information, looking from his mom to his sister. “Who?” I shrugged, “I never got that far before you walked in. That’s when you heard the comment about Chris. I didn’t want mom to end up like me.” John nods his head gently, “That’s why I’m questioning as to whom. I wanna make sure this guy is trust worthy.” Evelyn sighed as she looked to her kids, “Now before you two blow a fuse here. I want you two to both know, he won’t cheat on me. He makes me happy and I feel safe around him. But let me tell you before you question anymore.” John and Jess looked to their mother, “Who is it mom?” We asked in unison. “Let me give you a hint.. He’s here to spend the holidays with us.”
Lifting a brow as I giggled, “Can’t be Skitters or Twist. They both have girlfriends.” John chuckled, “I couldn’t picture mom with either of them anyways.” Evelyn giggled, “Nothing again either of them guys, but I consider them more my sons than that way.” John and I were both in thought, “Don’t tell me David..” John commented. Sighing as I smacked his shoulder, “John, it’s not David... Anyways, him and I are kind of seeing one another.” John looked to me in shock, “What?!? When did this happen?” He questioned. I rolled my eyes, “What.. I have a right to see anybody I want. Him and I have been friends for a long time. He asked me out and I said yes. But we are taking it slow. Chill out bro. Don’t you dare go and give him the third degree. Nobody doesn’t know.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” John asked. “This is why I didn’t.. Cause look at yourself. Your flipping out.” John ran a hand over his face, “I have a right too Jessie. Remember what happen with CJ?” I rolled my eyes once again, “How did I know that would come up... Dave isn’t Chris. Trust me on that one..”
John hopped off the counter, looking to his sister. “How do you know that?” “Johnathan.. Don’t talk to your sister that way. I like David. I think he’s a nice gentleman. I think he’s good for Jessie. A lot better than that Chris guy.” John sighs as he places his hands upon my shoulders, “You and I are going to talk about this later.” Lowering his hands from my shoulders as he looks to his mother, “And who are you dating from the company?” Evelyn sighed as she didn’t want the same reaction her daughter got about dating Dave. “I’ll tell you later. Right now I’ve got a lot to do. Why don’t you go and clean off the table in the garage and get it in here along with the chairs. A lot of family coming here to eat this afternoon.”
John sighed as he turned walked over to the door, slipped on his sneakers and headed out to the garage. I leaned against the counter, “I was gonna tell him and you about us. But Dave wanted to wait. Cause he knew how John was gonna be. Dave was gonna speak to John himself about dating me. He knows how overly protective he can be.” Evelyn placed a hand upon my shoulder, “I’m happy for you hun. Like I said to John is all true about David. I think he’s good for you. Just hope the two of you work out.” I smiled gently to my mom, “Me too mom, cause I really do like him. Trust me I always have, but I didn’t want to screw up the friendship we have.” Evelyn nods her head, “I understand that hun. It looks like you and Dave have everything under control.” Nodding my head gently, “Except John..” Giggling gently as she gave her daughter’s shoulder a squeeze. “He’ll get use to it. You know how he is with us, ever since your dad died when you two were kids.” Nodding my head gently, “I know and I don’t blame him. This isn’t going to be a Chris situation. Dave promised me that.” Evelyn nodded her head, “Good. Now let’s get the rest of this dinner together, so the only thing I have to do is cook it all.” Nodding as we got going on the rest of the dinner.
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