11
Julianna
Iwoke up on Sunday, smiling ear to ear. Even though I told myself not to expect too much with Jake, just knowing that I would be seeing him soon made me so excited. I even bought Caley and I new outfits for our brunch date.
After giving her a quick bath, I put on her sundress and then slid into mine. It wasn’t nearly as sexy as what I wore on my first date with Jake if you could even call our wild fling a date. It was really just two friends who ran into each other, had a lot to drink, and then slept together.
It wouldn’t be a one-night stand if he asked you out for brunch.Jake made it very clear that he wanted to see more of me. So…
I sat down at my vanity and applied some lip gloss.
“Mommy, can I put on some lip gloss, too?” I turned around and smiled at Caley.
Even though she was just seven-years-old, I could already see the young woman in her blossoming. Thinking back, I realized I wasn’t into makeup and clothes at her age. Times had changed, at least for some, but not as far as I was concerned.
“Maybe in a few years, Sweetie. You’re much too young for lip gloss right now.”
“I’m not that little, Mommy.” She laid on her stomach and started to flip through one of my fashion magazines. “And, I really like Jake.”
“He’s a nice guy, isn’t he?” I tried to make light of the situation, not knowing if Caley understood that Jake could fulfill a more full-time role than her father was choosing to do. “And I like that you like one of my long-time friends.”
“He’s not just a friend, Mommy.” She continued to flip through the fashion magazine without looking up. “I’m not stupid, duh.”
Both of us started to giggle.
“Well, I never said you were stupid. Nor would I ever. What do you think he is, Caley?”
“I think he’s someone like Daddy, except he wouldn’t hurt you like Daddy did. I don’t think? He seems nicer… a little bit.”
It felt as though the wind had been knocked out of my chest. How did Caley know, at just seven-years-old, that her father had broken my heart? Did she hear one of our phone conversations?
“How do you know that Daddy hurt me?”
Caley shrugged and sat back on her knees to look at me. “Jake makes you happy, and I like it when you’re happy. You’re never happy with Daddy. Like when he calls. He always puts you in a bad mood.”
I didn’t know how to respond, but I definitely wasn’t going to tell her that her father had cheated on me. I wasn’t ready to have that conversation with her yet.
“Your daddy loves you, Caley.”
She went to my nightstand and picked up another fashion magazine. “Then how come he doesn’t play with me like Jake did?”
I turned around and quickly dabbed at the tears forming in my eyes. I refused to ruin my makeup over that guy, especially right before going out on a date with Jake. “He’s just always working, Sweetie. I promise you that he loves you so, so much, okay?”
I still hadn’t turned around to face her. The next thing I knew, Caley was behind me with her arms wrapped around me as far as they would go. “You and Jake are funny together. You should go out with him.”
I placed my hand on top of hers, and we sat there for a few moments, listening to the birds, making the moment last.
* * *
The park wasfull of people who also were making the most out of such a beautiful day. After we agreed to do brunch, Jake had texted me saying he’d bring the food if I could bring the chairs and a blanket. Caley saw him standing at a grill, and she ran toward him, leaping into his arms as he scooped her up.
“The food smells great." My stomach growled a little too loudly, causing Caley and Jake to burst out laughing. “Whatever. A woman needs to eat, doesn’t she?”
“I hope you ladies like barbecue chicken. I got the recipe for the sauce on one of my business trips to Nashville, Tennessee. It actually won a competition during Memphis in May.”
“Do you go to a lot of different places?” Caley looked up at him as he placed her on the ground.
“Sometimes I have to travel, yes. And if you like barbecue, then you would love the competitions down south, young lady. That’s where a bunch of people try to win prizes for cooking the best food.”
