Jake – Part III

When Jennifer got home from work the kids were all at the dining room table doing their homework. A smile crossed her face as she looked upon them. What a blessed woman she was to have such good kids. They looked up and saw their mother and came running towards her. All except Jake. He waited until his younger siblings were done with their hugs.

“Hi, ma. I started dinner. I put that chicken in the oven for you.”

Jennifer walked over to Jake and gave him a squeeze. “Jake, you’re just too good to me. Why don’t you all sit down, I have something to tell you.” They all sat and looked at her. She took a deep breath. She didn’t know how to put this in words. “Well, you all know Dr. Russ . . . well . . . you see, he’s my boss, but has also been my friend these past few years.” She looked at their blank faces and decided she should just come out with it. “Dr. Russ asked me to join him for dinner tonight. I accepted. He would like to get to know me on a more personal level.”

“Personal level? What does that mean?” asked Cindy.

“He wants mommy to be his girlfriend, stupid.” answered Jimmy.

“Jimmy, no name calling.”

“I’m sorry, Cindy.” Jimmy said sheepishly.

“Yes, Dr. Russ wants to start dating mommy. I don’t know where this will lead. Right now it’s just dinner. Are you all okay with that?”

“I like Dr. Russ. Does that mean you’re going to marry him?” Cindy said as Jimmy rolled his eyes.

“No, Cindy. It’s just dinner. I’m going to check on dinner for you guys. Who’s turn is it to set the table?”

With a total lack of enthusiasm, Jimmy answered, “My turn.”

Jennifer sat with the children as they ate and then went upstairs to change. The doorbell rang and she wasn’t quite ready so she yelled down the stairs, “Jake, get that please.”

Jake answered the door. There in front of him stood Dr. Russ. He had a big toothy grin and a large bouquet of red roses in his hand.

“Good evening, Jake.” Jake just looked at him without saying a word. “May I come in?” Jake wanted to slam the door in his face, but he fought the urge to do so. Jake motioned for him to enter. “I guess your mom’s not ready yet?” Still no words from Jake. “Do you mind if I sit down and wait?” Jake shrugged his shoulders.

“Why do you want to date my mom?” Jake asked almost accusingly.

“Well, Jake, I like her very much.”

Glaring, Jake said, “You better not hurt her or else you’ll answer to me! I’m the man of this house.”

“Jake, I like your mom very much. I had great respect for your father. I wouldn’t hurt her for anything in the world. I promise you.”

“I guess, we’ll see how it plays out.”

“Jake, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?”

“I’m sorry for disrespecting you. I should have asked your permission to date your mom. I mean you are the man of the house.”

Jake thought that over and liked the idea very much. “I guess it’s okay with me.”

“Thank you, Jake. I appreciate it. What time would you like me to have her home?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I don’t know. Mom doesn’t have a curfew.”

“Well, then I make sure it won’t be too late then.”

Jake, thought that maybe he was wrong about Dr. Russ. Maybe he deserved a fair shake, but he wasn’t about to make any hasty judgments.

I hope you all enjoyed my short story on Jake. It was fun to explore my creative juices on a story that had nothing to do with my current book.

© Nadine Zawacki 2008

Jake – Part II

As office manager for Dr. Russell Bennett, Jennifer had some flexibility with her schedule. When Hank died, he was one of her biggest supporters. He gave her all the time she needed to heal from her loss. His successful neurology practice was attractive enough for some women, but his deep blue eyes, crooked smile and kind heart put him in a different league. A league many women wanted to play in.

Unfortunately for them, Dr. Russ (as he was known by his patients), only had eyes for Jennifer. His attraction to her snuck up on him after her husband died. His compassion turned into something more. He admired her love for her children, even though life without their father was hard. Her dedication to her job made his office move smoothly in spite of her pain. It was the first time in his life his heart was pulled in that direction. Dr. Russ wanted to invite Jennifer out for dinner on many an occasion, but his position as her boss and his nerves always won out. There was a knock on his door that startled his thoughts.

The door opened and Jennifer stepped inside. “Good Morning Dr. B. Lena says your first patient is here. You don’t want to keep him waiting now, do you?” He guessed she was trying to keep him from running late. “Your last patient of the day cancelled. Do you want Lena to replace her or do you want to take off early?”

“Well . . . that depends.”

“Depends on what?” Jennifer asked.

“It depends on whether you would join me for dinner.” There he said it. He’s not sure where the courage came from, but the question was out there. He watched her carefully. She had a tough time looking at him. This couldn’t be good. Maybe he made a mistake. How can he swallow his words? What was taking her so long to answer.

Jennifer was stunned. Where did that come from? She was attracted to him, but didn’t want to go there because he was her boss. His kindness and understanding when Hank died made her life easier. Before she could process further she found herself saying, “That would be lovely.”

He sat up in his seat with the biggest smile she had ever seen on his face.

“Great! I’ll pick you up at six, if that’s a good time?”

“Yes, that would be fine.”

The rest of the day she couldn’t shake the smile on her face, especially when she heard him whistling. As day came to an end, she wondered how she was going to explain to the children her date. She hoped that Jake would understand. She was worried how he would take her dating.

Maybe this is not such a short story. Stay tuned for Part III.

© Nadine Zawacki 2008

Jake

Jennifer sat by the window that evening as the rain fell against the glass, her thoughts drifted in many directions. These past five years as a single mother had been challenging to say the least. Three children- two boys and a girl – were harder to handle alone than she had first thought. That rainy night Hank left to get milk for the kids was permanently engraved in her memory. It haunted her dreams. If she had just remembered to get the milk earlier, then maybe . . . No! She couldn’t continue to do that to herself. It’s not her fault that some crazy man decided to get behind the wheel after drinking. After five years, whenever it rained, she couldn’t help but relive that night again.

“Mommy, I can’t sleep.” Cindy said as she ran into the room and interrupted her thoughts. Cindy was only three when her Daddy died, so she doesn’t remember him as well as her brothers. Jimmy was eight and Jake was eleven.

“What’s the matter honey? Did you have a bad dream?”

“No, Mommy. I’m not tired. I think another story would make me sleepy.”

Jennifer didn’t have the strength to get up from her seat and read another story.

“I’ll read her a story, Ma.” Jennifer heard Jake say as he entered the room. “Come on Cindy, I’ll race you up to your room.” Giggles were heard as they ran up the stairs.

What wonderful timing that boy has. Jake had been such a comfort and help with his siblings since his father’s death. Jennifer was so grateful for the strength her eldest son possessed. She heard Jake’s voice as he read Cindy’s favorite princess story, complete with different voices for all the characters. What had she done in life to deserve such fine children?

It’s time to start living again. It’s not good for her children or herself to just survive the every day, especially Jake. He needed to be a teenager and she needed to be the adult.

She heard Jake’s footsteps on the stairs. “You’re a good kid, Jake.”

“No problem, Ma. I like reading to Cindy.” He said as he shrugged his shoulders. He bent over and kissed her on her cheek. Jennifer continued to stare out the window and made a promise to herself that tomorrow would be different.

Stay tuned for Part II

© Nadine Zawacki 2008

Yellow Roses

I received an email with this story about a woman who lost her husband. It inspired me. I decided to add my spin to it. I hope you enjoy my version.

Harriett pushed her empty grocery cart down the aisle. She had gone through half the store trying to make a decision as to what to buy. There was a time she enjoyed food shopping, but now it was just a chore. She stopped in front of the cereal shelf. “I guess there’s no reason for me not to get my favorite cereal with nuts and raisins.” For fifty years she purchased rice puffs because Harvey liked it. In the year since he’s been gone, it’s been the little things that she missed most. A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek at the thought of him. Her daughter wanted her to move in with her. She didn’t want to leave her home or sacrifice her independence. To be honest, she was afraid of giving up on living. One day she will see Harvey again and she has one question for him, “What was your rush? Couldn’t you just wait a little longer for me to go with you?”

She’s not certain how she got there, but she found herself standing in front of the meat section. Harvey was such a meat and potatoes kind of guy. It was so easy to please him in the kitchen. Harriett got lost in the memory of the first time she cooked him a meal. She bought a nice piece of steak. She wasn’t sure how to cook it, but was on the phone with her mother every step of the way. She baked a potato and boiled some carrots. Time stood still from the moment he picked up the fork and placed a piece of steak in his mouth. He savored the flavors and chewed slowly. He looked up at his young wife and said, “That is one of the finest steaks I’ve ever had. You can stay another week.” He winked and it made her smile. Throughout their married life whenever he enjoyed a meal he told her the same thing. For 53 years he’d say that to her, and every time it made her smile. What she wouldn’t give to hear him say it just once more.

She picked up a package of steak. It seemed like it was so much for just one person. She noticed a young mother with two small children by her side and a third one sitting in the cart. She held in her hands a package of steak. She started to put it down and then picked it up again. Harriett couldn’t help but notice her dilemma.

“What seems to be the trouble dear?”

Startled the woman looked sheepishly at Harriett not knowing what to think. “Well you see, my husband loved steak, but it seems like such a luxury. He’s had a rough week and I wanted to do something nice for him.”

Harriet asked, “I would love to purchase that package of steak for your family.”

The woman answered, “What a generous offer, but it’s really not necessary.”

“My husband died a year ago. He loved steaks. It would be my way of knowing that someone was enjoying steak for him.”

“Well that settles it. I will get them after all, but I can afford it. Thank you though for your kind offer.” When the young woman walked away, she took a second look at the older woman. The young woman got inspired by a still small voice. She knew it must be God talking to her.

Harriett asked the Lord how she would be able to live life alone. She missed Harvey so much that she thought her heart would explode. How will she carry on without him? With tears in her eyes she noticed the young mother coming towards her smiling. She tried to compose herself.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I was so moved by your kindness to me that when I went to pay for my items, I had extra money hidden in my pocket. It was the right price for these yellow roses. I would like you to have them.”

Harriett couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer. “Young lady you have no idea what you have done for me. My husband would buy me yellow roses all the time whenever he saw them. He told me that no matter how beautiful I thought they were, they paled in comparison to me. He was a big mush.”

The woman smiled. “My name is Lauren and I would be honored if you would join us for dinner.”

Harriett was beside herself. “Why that would be lovely. But only if I can bring over the dessert.”

Lauren handed her a card with the address. “See you at six.”

Harriett thanked the Lord in heart. She knew He had His hand in this. She looked at the flowers in her hands and peace started to fill her. She heard the Father say, “You are never alone.”

© Nadine Z. 2007

Up next: More questions answered.