by his kiss. He withdrew and ended the sweetest kiss I had ever experienced. I relaxed back into the seat. I was not aware of meeting him halfway across the console of the car for the kiss, but I guess I had and it was well worth it.
I looked at him and he was smiling at me. I returned the smile, slowly shaking my head. “You are a smooth talker, Mr. Dawson,” I said.
“I think that is a firm yes. Dinner Saturday night then.” He smiled and put the car in drive. We drove back to my campus apartment.
Chapter 7
Present Day
“Hello, sleepyhead.” Jenna was gently shaking my shoulder to wake me up.
“Go away. It’s like 5 a.m. or something,” I muttered and opened one eyes to peek at her.
“Fine. I will take my coffee with me too,” she replied. That got my attention real fast.
“Coffee? I love, love, love you. You are my favorite sister.”
“I am your only sister, goofy.” She handed me the cup of coffee that I sipped on as if my life depended on it.
“Fresh ground, Guatemala blend, black with one Splenda, no cream,” I said, my eyes closed as I inhaled the aroma of the coffee.
“You are sick; you do know that, right? No one should know that much about something as insignificant as coffee,” Jenna said as she pulled out clothes from the walk-in closet for me to put on.
“Hey, don’t hate ’cause you can’t have any.” Since she was trying to get pregnant, Jenna has given up on most caffeine and alcohol as well. Which is why she was disgustingly sober today and I was sporting a dull headache.
“Oh, and take the ibuprofen on the nightstand,” she said. I must give it to her; Jenna always managed to look gorgeous. It seemed to come easy to her. She is perfectly made up and in a gorgeous summer pantsuit. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that made her look cool and sophisticated instead of drab and boring. I complimented her on all of the above and she smiled and blew me a kiss.
“It is well past noon. Mia and Veronica are down at the pool nursing a hangover. Aunt Suzette has had breakfast and about to have lunch, David is off golfing, and you need to get out of bed if you want to make it back to Houston today.” Jenna laid out all this information and left the room while I shuffled to the bathroom for a shower and changed into the summer dress she decided on for me to wear. I shook my head. Still such a mother hen. No wonder I love her.
I phoned Robert on my way downstairs.
“Hello, sweets,” he said. “Hope your day is going well. I’m almost back home. I just checked in with Greta, mother’s nurse. She said that mother did well with her new medication and the physical therapist is with her now. I will see you on Tuesday for dinner at 7 p.m., since mother canceled on us for Wednesday. We can go to Fish since you like sushi. I can have a steak or something else.” Yup. Thoughtful and accommodating. Such a sweet man.
“OK, Robert. Sounds good. Give my regards to your mother. I will head home shortly and will see you Tuesday evening.” The phone went dead as he ended the call.
“She lives,” Aunt Suzette said as she rose up to give me a kiss on the cheek. I pulled her into a tight hug.
“Good morning or afternoon, I think.” I gave her a kiss and let her go back to eating her lunch. Jenna’s housekeeper guided me around the counter to show me the spread of food she had prepared for lunch.
“Oh my gosh, Juana! This all looks amazing. I love your cooking. Are you feeding the Texas 1st Brigade, or what?” She laughed and shoved a plate in my hand. Not needing much encouragement with food, I dug into the scrumptious offering and sat at the table. Just then, Mia and Veronica made their way in, fresh from their shower.
“Hey, Juana… I think there is a conspiracy here. No one called us in for lunch,” said Veronica, as she piled food onto her plate, grinning at Juana.
“It’s Miss Jenna. Getting pregnant, she drives us all crazy around here,” Juana
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