Love Delivered (28 page)

She didn’t.

“Stenton, I don’t want to be intimate with you.”

It hadn’t exactly been on my radar either, these past few months of knowing her. Jenna was a good looking woman: in her mid-thirties, pecan skin with impressive legs, long thick hair, and a hard veneer in terms of presentation, but she’d never “caught” my attention as a woman to pursue, sexually or otherwise.

Her eyes squeezed shut. “That came out harsh…but true. I don’t want you to think I’m at all available for a romp around the bedroom. This is no disguise for me. My last relationship was horrible. It ended just as badly. He was…” Jenna hesitated. “…well, let’s just say he liked to count all my flaws and minimize my accomplishments when he wasn’t cheating on me with a friend, underneath my nose.”

I changed in stance, feeling like she’d hit me with some shit.

“Damn, Jenna. I’m sorry to hear that.” And I was.

“It’s okay. It was three years ago and I’m seeing a therapist. I’ve been learning a lot about myself. I’ve set boundaries in my life. So, when I say I want us to be friends, I mean just that. I don’t want you to expect anything outside of hanging out and chugging a few back,” she snickered, finally breaking from her previous stern position.

This was fine with me. I didn’t need to get involved with another woman. I had been so unsettled from Zoey and turned the fuck off by Erika that the thought of a relationship was a nightmare.

I held my hand out to her for a shake, agreeing to her friendship proposal to end our night. My car was waiting for me.

“To just being beer chugging buddies.”

A big ass smile crested Jenna’s face. It was one of pure of elation. Talk about layers. She’d just shown me she had a soft side with this exchange and that response.

And then there was my friend, Jenna.

~~~~~~~~~~

July 2011

~
Zoey
~

I walked out onto the balcony, feeling the fresh beach air push against my face. I smelled nature from the saltwater ocean, felt it from the sun glaring into my eyes and heard it from birds singing while soaring over the water.

We were in Rio de Janeiro, one of my grad school graduation gifts from Stenton. The others came two months ago when I graduated: jewelry and a new car. This was my dream. I was beside myself with glee. Jordan and I arrived last night, and after an early dinner, we found ourselves passed minutes after hitting the door of our villa. When I awoke this morning, like a kid on the morning of her birthday, I flew out of bed to dress and took in Brazilian nature. Jordan was far more slow paced, groggy in his exhaustion. As I hung over the railing of the wooden patio, I slowly and deeply inhaled the fresh air.

In my musing, I didn’t know how I ended up in such splendor. Wait…scratch that. I knew exactly how I did. Stenton. However, I didn’t quite get why I’d agreed to this trip.

“Mommy,” I heard that adorable little toddler tenor pour out from behind me.

I turned to him and saw Jordan at the doorway, holding out my cell phone to me. “Yes, baby?”

“The phone,” he informed, almost in a melancholy fashion with his eyes barely open against the bright sun and clouds.

He knew I preferred he didn’t answer my phone…an iPhone that was code protected. My child knew how to unlock my phone at three years old. Even though it was a hint of his aptitude, it somewhat annoyed me. That was because he’d only known how to do it because his father had taught him on his third birthday. One day when he was left alone with mine, Jordan attempted the same four numbers, and coincidentally unlocked my phone. The code was my two-digit birth month and his two-digit birth year. Ever since then I had no privacy.

“Who is it, JR?” I asked with a glower, one that had no effect on my child because his eyes were still closed.

He looked so much like his father, I couldn’t help but observe. Jordan had his father’s thick eyebrows, Stenton’s heart shaped lips, and his long lashes. And that particular morning, he wore Stenton’s tight morning face. Unlike his father, however, Jordan wasn’t a morning person.

“It’s my daddy,” he mumbled over a yawn. “I gotta pee, Mommy!” he shrieked, shaking the phone with urgency.

I leaped to grab the phone. “Go!” I nearly shouted, not understanding how he could hear my phone ring when we didn’t even share a room.

This must have meant that he tried to sneak into my bed to catch his last bit of sleep and found a ringing phone instead.
The little punk
.

“Hello,” I answered the phone.

“Good morning, Elizabeth,” Stenton sounded as though his mouth kissed the phone, his voice rumbled so fluidly.

“You know only my momma calls me that when she’s angry with me,” I feigned annoyance, my lips warming into a smirk.

“Well then, that’ll make two of us,” he stated emphatically. “You didn’t call last night to let me know you two had checked in.”

I rolled my eyes as my smile remained. Not even Stenton’s sudden bossiness could break my morning bliss.

“We were starving when the plane landed, and exhausted. We grabbed a bite and collapsed minutes after hitting the door. It’s no biggie. We’re here, alive,” I assured. “Plus, I know Srey told you. It was a long flight.”

“But I could have tucked him in. I’m sure he would have enjoyed that.”

I couldn’t help my snort. “Yeah, but I can’t decide who would’ve enjoyed it most—you or Jordan.”

Those two were like play fiends when together. They were addicted to each other. I’d never seen anything like it. Since I had no brothers, I couldn’t reference a father/son bond. These two topped the charts, I was sure.

“Okay, so I’ll see you tonight at dinner, right?”

“You mean you
all
will see us tonight at dinner,” I reminded him.

This was precisely the reason I couldn’t remember why I had agreed to this trip in the first place, but then again, I did. I was in Rio de Janeiro with my child. Who would turn down an opportunity like this?
Not I, for sure!

There was a tentative pause on the line before Stenton exhaled, “Yeah…us.”

“No sweat,” I chuckled. “We’ll see you there!”

“You guys are still sightseeing for much of the day?”

“Yeeeeah, boeeee! I got my Niko ready! We’re going in!” I exclaimed.

There was another pause.

“Stenton, you there?”

“Yeah. Just have a good time and bring my little knucklehead back in one piece.”

“I always do.” I couldn’t fight my face-splitting grin.

I was in Rio de Janeiro with my favorite little guy!

After that call, I skipped back into the house and got Jordan dressed and fed. We had room service and twenty-four hour concierge provision, which was great, because I didn’t have to cook. After eating, the car Srey arranged for us was waiting in the entry area of the resort. Jordan and I spent nearly the entire day exploring, including taking that cog-train to visit the Cristo Redentor and the Two Brothers Mountain.

I was in awe at the sight of the Cristo Redentor monument. It was absolutely breathtaking. It meant even more than it originally had before Stenton promised to bring me here, years ago when Jordan was four months old. This representation of Christ and Stenton’s passionate declaration to me all made true in this moment. I felt the warm tears fall onto my cheeks. A stranger asked if I wanted a picture taken. It could have been an act of mild flirtation, but I took the opportunity. I had Jordan stay in place near me while I stood on a barricade and paid homage to the Art Deco statue. It was a beautiful moment. The only thing that could have made it perfect was if he was here with us. 

We returned to our villa without much time to spare. I knew I was pushing it. Though he slept on our way back to the resort, Jordan hadn’t had an official nap. There was nothing I could do considering there was only forty-five minutes before we had to meet for dinner. I dressed Jordan and then I tossed on a long, fitted, white tank dress. Before JR could rest his little legs, I had him out the door and on our five-minute Copacabana Beach walk to the restaurant. I couldn’t help ogling the Sugarloaf Mountain in the distance. I was completely stoked. 

When we arrived, I gave the host our names. Immediately, we were escorted to the table where our company awaited us. I saw an expression on his face first. One that I didn’t know how to read. We were only five minutes behind, but for some reason I’d been able to sense Stenton’s angst. He stood from the table to receive us as soon as we entered his periphery. I saw without a doubt when Stenton’s jaw dropped as he gave me a once-over. I’d also caught how his mouth quickly shut. I had no idea how to read that. Stenton and I hadn’t been intimate in almost a year, before Erika’s faulty pregnancy scandal.

Trying to ignore that quick slip of mask Stenton gave, my eyes immediately went to the other table dwellers. Stenton grabbed a squealing Jordan when we reached the table.

“Daddy!” Jordan nearly leaped into his father’s waiting arms. “We made it!”

“JR, good to see you, man,” Stenton’s baritone couldn’t conceal his excitement.

Stenton’s long arm and sandalwood fragrance reached out to enfold me. I could still get lost in both. I tried not to let my hand linger too long around him even after he kissed the top of my head. I backed away to admire Jordan’s delight at being with his dad.

Then she stood.

“Jenna, this is Zoey, Jordan’s mother.” Stenton then turned to me. “Zo, this is my girlfriend, Jenna.”

I’d prepared myself for the title, so it didn’t sting as much hearing it expel from his lips, but I did feel a stab of pain from the mention. Nonetheless, pleasantries had to be paid.

“Jenna!” I greeted with an inviting smile—something else I’d prepared. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I didn’t want to say finally because that would have implied that I kept tabs on Stenton’s personal life, which I did, but no one needed to know that; not even him.

Her regard to me was as timid as her gaze. She, too, gave me an appreciative once-over. I could tell she had an impression of me. What it was, I didn’t exactly know. Jenna was older than me. In fact, she was older than Stenton. She was a mahogany-cased woman with long hair that she had scooped straight back, draping over her neck, reaching her scapula bones. Jenna was a few inches taller than my five-foot-five stature. She wore minimal makeup and quite honestly, she needed none. It was obvious that she had good skin care. I knew this from the next introduction.

“Maggie,” Stenton called out to the woman still seated at the table, fixedly observing me. “This is my son’s mother, Zoey. Zoey, Maggie is Jenna’s mother.”

I extended my hand to her as I corrected, “I’m
Jordan’s
mother, Zoey. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maggie.”

I didn’t relish the title of Stenton’s son’s mother. It wasn’t too dissimilar to Stenton’s
baby’s momma
.
Ilk!
That so wasn’t me. I caught the reception of my rebuke in Stenton’s eyes. But I ignored it by turning my attention back to Maggie. I knew Jenna couldn’t have inherited her flawless skin from her mother because her mother’s casing resembled that of a reptile. She had lumps and dents throughout her face and neck.

Hmmmm...

“Mrs. Brown,” the elder woman insisted.

“Pardon me?” I asked, noticing her looking me up and down, too. Only hers was set in a glower.

Maggie…or Mrs. Brown wasn’t easy on the eyes in the least bit. I’d immediately hoped with her spooky regard she wouldn’t be the cause of Jordan’s nightmares.

“My name is Mrs. Brown to you. Only friends can call me by my first name.”

“Mother!” Jenna hissed, appearing visibly embarrassed.

“That’s fine. I totally get it,” I put my hand up to assuage Jenna. “We are by no means friends, and that is perfectly understood by me,” I spoke directly to Maggie.

The table went silent. I noted Stenton’s jaw flexing. I didn’t want it to linger and start off an ugly meeting, so I added, “And this is my Jordan.” I gestured towards JR, who was resting comfortably in his dad’s arms. No matter the fact that he was almost school-aged, Stenton still held that boy.

Both women greeted Jordan. I was grateful that Maggie smiled kindly at my son. I didn’t want to have to cut her with my tongue. Jenna put more effort into her introduction; a little bit too much. She did way too much baby cooing to Jordan.

“Daddy, why is your friend talking like a baby? Is she two?” Jordan’s little face wrinkled bitterly. 

Jenna blushed, my heart went out to her. When I thought Stenton would admonish him for being flippant with his girlfriend, his amused eyes said otherwise.

“That’s because when a dude is as fly as you, all the ladies want to be at your level.”

“Yeeeeah, boeeeeee!” Jordan high-fived his Dad.

I heard Maggie gasp. I bit my lips together at that one. Jenna couldn’t shake her embarrassment. There was something off about her; I could feel vibes that were not clear at that time.

The waiter came over to take our order. Before I could ask Jordan what he preferred, Stenton had already begun calling out his order of mac and cheese with a side of broccoli. I smiled because Jordan kept his promise of having a vegetable tonight when I agreed to let him go without it during lunch. With that concession, I cautioned that I didn’t want to have to remind him tonight. Apparently, I didn’t have to. When the waiter left, all eyes went to Stenton and Jordan as they played across the table from me. Stenton sat in the center of the bench with Jenna to the right of him and Jordan to the left. Maggie sat at the head of the table to the left of me and I was across from Stenton.