Chapter 51 Reject but Accept
JESSICA
"Hey, guys," Lydia said as I looked at Kendra.
Her smile fell into that unpleasant look.
"Hey," Michael said, making him look at him momentarily.
"Sorry to interrupt you both. Michael, right?" Lydia asked.
"Yeah."
"Jessica would like to give you a taste of her carrot cake," Lydia said, making me look at her.
I heard a scoff from Kendra.
"Right, Jess?" Lydia asked.
"Uh..."
"Can't she speak for herself?" Kendra asked, making me look at her.
She raised her brows.
I opened my mouth to speak but...
"Well," Lydia spoke up. "She...."
"We are in the middle of a conversation." Kendra retorted.
Lydia gave me a look.
"So come back later. As I was saying, Michael, you....."
"Actually, I would love to taste the carrot cake." Michael retorted, looking at me with a smile.
My heart fluttered as I smiled slightly.
Kendra scoffed.
"Good. Take him, Jess." Lydia said, taking the flowers and bag from my hand.
Michael reached out his hand to me and I took his hand.
"Sorry, Kenzy, but we can talk some other time," Michael said as we headed towards the table.
"Yeah, whatever." I heard Kendra say.
"There isn't any carrot cake, is there?" Michael asked, making me look at him.
He is looking at me.
Oh boy.
"Um...."
He chuckled. "I am glad you came to take me away. That was hot."
My cheeks heated up as I lowered my gaze.
He chuckled again.
I smiled.
"Sweetie...." Mom's voice came, taking our attention. She is walking towards us with a smile.
"And her handsome boyfriend." She said.
"Mom...."
"Hush, honey. I said what I said." She said, smiling at Michael.
"Your cakes are delicious, Mrs Samuels," Michael said.
"Thank you, dear. And call me mom. I mean you are my daughter's boyfriend." Mom said, caressing my hair.
I heaved a sigh, lowering my gaze.
This is really embarrassing.
"Well, Mom. I am glad you see me worthy of dating your lovely daughter." He said, making me look at him.
He moved his eyes to me and smiled at me.
"Aw. See, sweetie?" Mom asked. "He is such a gentleman."
I kept staring at him.
He smiled again.
I smiled too.
This party is going well.
Ish.
Thanks to Mom, Alex, and Lydia.
I don't know what Michael must be thinking right now.
Geez.
NIGHT HOURS........
"I packed three different cake flavors and a bottle of wine for you, dear." Mom said to Michael who is seated in his car and ready to drive away.
"Wow."
"Yeah." She said, handing over the box in her hands to him.
"Thank you, mom." He said, taking the box and placing it on the passenger's seat.
"No thank you for coming. Drive safely." Mom said, moving away from his car.
"I will," he said, moving his eyes to me.
I walked closer to his car, still holding his gaze.
"I will see you tomorrow night?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
He smiled.
"Thank you for the flowers," I said.
"You are welcome," he said, staring at me in that sweet way.
I smiled shyly, lowering my gaze.
"See you later," he said, making me look at him.
I twirled his wheel with one hand and
I waved slightly at him.
"Bye, mom," he said.
"Bye, dear," Mom said from behind me and he drove away, heading for the gate.
I walked towards Mom.
"He is a nice boy, sweetie," she said, caressing my hair. "I like him."
I heaved a sigh.
"He will make a perfect boyfriend," she said, winking at me.
"Gosh, Mom, stop saying that!"
"Why not?"
"We are just colleagues."
"So what? Colleagues do fall in love, date, and get married, don't they?"
I let out a frustrated sigh, lowering my gaze and closing my eyes momentarily.
"And he is a doctor," she added.
I looked at her.
"Do you know what that means?"
I shook my head tiredly.
"My beautiful and smart nurse daughter is getting married to a handsome medical doctor."
I closed my eyes.
"Oh, my friends are going to be so jealous of me."
"Mom, please!"
She chuckled, taking my arm and turning towards the still ongoing party.
But we stopped in our tracks the minute we saw Uncle Brad and everyone he came with approaching.
"Carmen, Jessica." Uncle called. "We will be taking our leave now."
"Oh." Mom said.
Uncle moved his eyes to me.
I smiled.
So did he.
"Thank you for today. We had a great time." He said, looking between my mom and me.
"You are welcome." Mom said.
"Thank you for the gift, uncle."
"Nah. It's nothing. You deserve more." He said, walking towards me and wrapping me in a hug.
I felt that warm safety and comfort that a father gives his child.
Like always.
"Keep making us proud, okay?"
"I will."
"Good girl." He said, kissing my hair and releasing me.
"Bye, Carmen." He said.
"Bye." Mom said as he walked past with his guards following him behind.
Kendra stared at me as she approached.
I opened my mouth to speak but she averted her eyes as she walked past.
I hummed internally.
"See you later, little sis," Alex said, taking my attention.
I smiled. "I am not little anymore, Alex."
He reached for my hair and ruffled it.
"Hey!" I grabbed his hand, making him withdraw his hand and chuckle
So did mom.
"Bye. Bye, Aunt Carmen," he said, walking past us.
"Bye, sweetie." Mom said as we stared at them getting into the cars.
"He is a good kid." Mom said. "Unlike the other one."
Kendra.
I know.
Mom doesn't like her.
We watched as they got into the car, making me recall earlier today.
"Mom," I called, looking at her.
"Yeah?" She answered while staring at them.
"You and Uncle Brad seem to have been arguing about something earlier."
She looked at me.
"We were?"
I nodded. "I kinda saw you both."
"Oh," she said, looking away. Like she doesn't want to talk about it.
"Was it about dad?"
She looked at me.
I stared at her.
"Yes, sweetie. I needed your uncle to help me talk to him. I don't like how your dad has been acting lately. It is becoming annoying."
I lowered my gaze.
"And you know he is closer to Brad than he is to Xavier."
My heart picked up.
"He will speak to your dad well."
Uncle Xavier didn't come.
It is late and my party is about to end.
My heart clenched.
"Speaking of Xavier," she spoke up..
I gulped, looking at her.
"He didn't come. Didn't you invite him?"
I opened my mouth to speak but....
"Or is he still on his way?" She asked.
I shrugged. "Maybe."
She huffed. "He is a workaholic as much as he is a player," she said, shaking her head and looking away.
I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"Player?"
She looked at me.
I stared at her, waiting for her to clarify.
"Never mind, sweetie. Let's go and round things up. Your dad and brother will soon be here and my friends are not ready to leave except I force them." she said, walking ahead.
I followed her behind as Uncle Xavier filled my thoughts again.
He really didn't show up.
I guess he was dead serious.
I shook my head, preventing myself from shedding a tear.
Maybe he is really busy and....
Gosh, Jessica. Just forget it.
NEXT DAY........
DINING TABLE.....
It is a new day, a beautiful Sunday and we got back from church half an hour ago.
I am currently seated on my seat at the dining table with my family.
Today's sermon was about family and togetherness. I enjoyed every bit of the sermon.
Father Paul gave it today. I love the way he gives sermons. He tells stories that are funny and educational.
It was a good sermon.
I am happy I have a beautiful family.
Last night was tiring. We had to clean and wash everything so we would be able to go to church early today.
Lydia gave us a helping hand and we did everything faster. Mom had to drop her off and tugged my brother in.
I made peace with the Lord last night. I believe he has forgiven me for my unholy thoughts.
The kiss with someone I call uncle which I didn't initiate but I can't stop thinking about it.
Neither can I stop wanting it to happen again.
That's still a sin.
But I believe the lord has forgiven me and I am not going to let myself think about it.
He is going to help me stop.
By his grace.
"Mom, more water," David spoke up from where he was seated right opposite me.
Mom poured him some water in his glass. He picked it up and took a gulp.
"There is an event tonight," Dad spoke up, taking our attention.
He is scrolling through his phone while eating.
"An event?" Mom asked.
He nodded without taking his eyes off his phone. I returned my gaze to my meal.
"What event could that be?" Mom asked.
I looked at him.
He put down his phone and looked at Mom.
"Kendra is having a dance show at their studio."
Mom scoffed.
"She is the star of the studio so she will be performing specially. We are all going." He said.
"What do you mean we are all going? To a dance show?"
"That's what I said."
"Leo...."
"Jessica," Dad retorted, catching me off guard.
"Ye... yes, dad?"
"Get yourself and David ready once it is time," he said, returning his gaze to his phone.
"Leo, you can't just say we are going to a dance show all of a sudden." Mom said.
Oh, God.
I have a dinner date with Michael tonight.
"I said we are going," Dad said, making me wrestle with my thoughts.
Should I tell him or not?
"Our daughter and I had a long day yesterday. We need to rest." Mom said.
"I don't care," Dad said.
Mom scoffed in disbelief.
"That party was unnecessary but you chose to do it after I told you not to," Dad said, making me more nervous.
I can't tell him.
"It is celebrating our daughter's success, Leo."
"Whatever. We all are going." he persisted.
"Jessica has an early morning shift tomorrow." Mom said, making me look at Dad momentarily.
He is staring at her nonchalantly.
"What do you want her to do?"
"She can adjust, can't she?" Dad asked.
Mom scoffed. "Seriously?"
"Can't you adjust, Jessica?" He asked, making me look at him.
"Yes, Dad."
"Good. After all, she came for your unnecessary 'congratulatory party'." he air quoted. "It is the least you can do. Support her."
I nodded slightly, lowering my gaze.
He pushed his seat and got to his feet.
"Get some rest now. We leave in a few hours." He said, walking away.
I heard a tired sigh from Mom.
Now I have to find a good excuse to give to Michael.
God, he is going to be unhappy.
I am turning him down again.
HOURS LATER
AT THE STUDIO.....
Dressed in a pink A-line print dress, I am seated next to David in the theater filled with people and a group of people in different colors are performing on the stage.
I guess it is not yet time for Kendra.
Mom told me I can leave after her performance.
But I want to stay till the end.
I have to stay. I don't want to upset Dad.
Plus, he is right. Kendra came to my party yesterday. Being here to support her is the right thing to do.
After David's mom. Next to Mom is Dad. The seats in front of us are occupied by Alex, Aunt Valentina, and Uncle Brad.
We are all here to cheer Kendra on.
I haven't seen her dance in a long time. I am kinda excited to see the magic she will do tonight.
She is a really good dancer.
The studio made her their star.
That tells us she is perfect.
My phone vibrated again, making my heart react as I picked it up from my lap.
Michael sent another text.
I told him I was down with a little fever thanks to yesterday's stress. I won't be able to make it tonight.
Maybe some other time.
His first text spelled disappointment.
This second one is filled with prescriptions for medication to take.
He is so nice.
My heart tightened slightly.
God, I feel more than terrible for turning him down again.
I am sorry, Michael. I need to support my family right now.
I promise to make it up to him.
I sent a thank-you and apology text.
Again.
I relaxed in my seat as everyone clapped while the dancers left the stage.
The theater is very huge and beautiful.
Kendra is really a big deal here.
I bet she is about to.....
"Over here, Xavier." Uncle Brad whispered aloud, making me freeze as I stared at him waving his hand at someone.
My heart picked up at the sight of Uncle Xavier approaching.
He is smiling at Uncle Brad as he gets closer.
"Xavier," Dad called, giving him a handshake. "Late maniac."
"Shut up." Uncle Xavier said, making Uncle Brad chuckle as Uncle Xavier greeted Mom, didn't even look my way before sitting next to Uncle Brad and staring at the stage with a lot of interest.
My heart tightened as I stared at him.
He......he came for this.
He came for Kendra's show.
But he......he didn't come for my....
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer interrupted my thoughts.
"The star of this great establishment, Kenzy!"