Carole Page - Decidedly Married

“You look like you don’t feel good, Mom,” Katie was saying. “Did you call the doctor?”

“No. It’s just a cold. Nothing to worry about.” Julie could have added, I have worse things to fret over, Katie, like your father’s mysterious note from some hussy named Beth and this strange boy walking into my house with his hormones raging and his octopus arms hanging all over you!

Julie fixed her gaze expectantly on the young man until his face reddened and Katie said hastily, “Oh, I forgot. Mom, this is Jesse.”

“Jesse Dawson,” said the tall, broad-shouldered youth. He tentatively offered Julie his hand, then quickly withdrew it when she made no move to acknowledge the gesture. His tanned, chiseled features could have been carved from granite. His jaw was set like flint, as if daring anyone to mess with him. Dark brows crouched over his smoky gray eyes. Julie had sudden visions of smoldering anger and raw passion in his gaze, but whatever secrets lurked behind his eyes, Julie already knew she wanted Katie to have nothing to do with him

She turned to Katie and said, “Young lady, you know the rule. No boys in the house unless I’m here—or your dad.”

“You are here, Mom. Besides, it’s not what you think.”

“Isn’t it? But you brought Jesse here thinking I was still at work.”

Katie’s tone turned as icy as her eyes. “I swear it’s not like that, Mom. Jes just dropped me off so I could change. He’s taking me to youth group tonight, and I knew you wouldn’t want me wearing these torn jeans to church.”

“I wish you wouldn’t wear those raggedy jeans anywhere! They belong in the rag bag.”

“Everybody wears jeans like these,” Katie protested.

Julie folded her arms and rocked back slightly on her heels. “What are you two planning to do for the next few hours until youth group starts?”

Katie shrugged. “I don’t know. Just hang out. Grab a burger Why the third degree, Mom?”

Julie might have said, Because I’m already upset. I’m afraid your father has betrayed me, and I won’t risk losing you, too! Instead she ignored Katie’s question and addressed Jesse. “I don’t recall seeing you around church, Jesse. Are your parents members?”

“No, ma’am. My parents don’t go to church,” he drawled matter-of-factly. “They’re dead,”

Julie uncrossed her arms, feeling suddenly unnerved. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It happened a long time ago.”

Julie groped for words. “Then where do you—I mean, who do you—?”

“I live with my grandma and little brother. Right here in Long Beach. Just off Pine.”

Julie nodded stiffly. She knew the area. It was an old, deteriorating, gang-infested neighborhood of tiny rundown houses on postage-stamp-size lots—an area Michael warned her never to drive through alone, especially at night. God forbid that Katie would ever venture into such a neighborhood.

Katie pulled Jesse toward the door, as if to deliver him from Julie’s obvious interrogation. “Jes, I’m going to run to my room and change. You can wait out in the car if you want.”

He shrugged. “No, that’s okay. Go on. I’ll wait here.”

“Would you like a soft drink or something?” Julie asked offhandedly. She had to admit to a certain grudging admiration of the boy; he hadn’t turned tail and run.

Jesse shook his head. “No thanks. I’m not thirsty.” He rubbed his palms over the thighs of his jeans. Then, hooking his thumbs on his pockets, he looked around the house with a solemn curiosity. “Nice place,” he mumbled.

Following his gaze, Julie saw her home through his eyes—a bright, spacious two-story with expansive windows, thick carpets, an Italian marble fireplace and classic country French decor accented by lush, live plants and her own original oil paintings. Julie felt a rush of pride, recalling how hard she and Michael had worked to afford such an impressive home for themselves and Katie. But the feeling was followed by a prick of guilt. Jesse Dawson had never been able to live in such a house.

“Thank you.” Julie tightened the sash on her robe, sighed audibly and wondered what she and the boy could find to talk about now. “Are you still in school?” she inquired.

He lowered his gaze, jutting out his lower lip. “No, I quit last year.”

“You didn’t graduate?”

“Naw. I was a junior.”

“Really? But you had only one more year.” She knew she was prying, but it was for Katie’s sake. “Why didn’t you stay in school?”

Jesse shrugged “I had to work, bring in some dough.”

“You couldn’t wait until you finished your senior year?”

“Nope. We needed the money. Grams is too old to work. My brother, Scout, is too young”

“What do you do?” Julie asked, “I mean, where do you work?” What she really meant was, Who in their right mind would hire a high school dropout?

Jesse flashed a crooked grin. “I fix cars. I work at a little repair shop a couple of blocks from here. That’s where I met Katie. She brought her car in for a tune-up.”

Oh, no, a grease monkey! Julie murmured a vague reply but silently chalked up one more reason she wished Michael hadn’t given Katie a car on her sixteenth birthday. He was always spoiling her, showering her with everything her heart desired. She was his beautiful little princess who could do no wrong Why couldn’t he see that he was spoiling her, giving her too much too soon? Why did Julie always have to be the “bad guy,” pulling back the reins on Katie’s freedom?

“I’m ready!” It was Katie’s voice. She came striding down the stairs toward the foyer in a sleeveless denim top with a short plaid skirt. “Is this better, Mom?” she asked, twirling in a breezy pirouette that showed off her willowy body and long, shapely legs.

“The outfit is fine,” said Julie begrudgingly, “but I didn’t give you permission to spend the entire evening out with—with Jesse. We’ll have dinner first—”

“But it’s church, Mom. Pastor Russell is always telling us to invite people to church.”

“I don’t think he had dating in mind, Katie.”

“Please, Mom! We’ll get something to eat at a fast-food place and then go directly to church.”

Julie wanted to say no, but then she would have to contend with an angry, insufferable daughter all evening. And besides, Katie and the boy wouldn’t be alone; they’d be spending the evening with the youth group.

But another realization cast the deciding vote in Katie’s favor. Julie would need her privacy tonight, of all nights! Somehow she had to find the courage to face Michael and confront him about this mystery woman who wrote him on blue, perfumed stationery about a secret tryst, and signed it, “Love, Beth.”

Seeing the pout forming again on Katie’s lips, Julie said at last, “Go on, Katie. You and Jesse go get something to eat and go to church. But I want you home right after the meeting, you hear?”

“Thanks, Mom! You’re the greatest!”

But as the door slammed shut, Julie wondered if the few hours Katie was gone would give her enough time with Michael. What dark, ugly truths might she unearth with her probing? Had she already lost her happy home and just hadn’t realized it? Equally disturbing, what would her daughter find when she returned home tonight? Would Katie find her parents at war with each other, their marriage in shambles?

Michael phoned shortly after Katie left the house with Jesse. Julie was in the kitchen warming up a can of chicken noodle soup. She hated the stuff, except when she was sick. Grabbing the wall phone before its second ring, she spattered hot broth on her hand and uttered an exclamation of pain and frustration. But into the mouthpiece she delivered a surprisingly controlled and pleasant “Hello.”