Read Online Jaded (The Butterfly Memoirs) by M. J. Kane - Free Book Online Page B

asleep on the sofa while watching T.V.” I paused at the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water before heading to the bathroom.
    “Did you eat?” he asked.
    “No. It’s a good thing you went out.” I ignored his sigh. “So, what did you think?”
    “About what?” Exasperation was in his voice.
    I could tell he wanted to question my diet, but I refused to have that conversation. After all, I was the parent.
    “About her.” I reached the bathroom and grabbed the medication on the counter.
    “She’s a different kind of woman, Mom.”
    I could hear the interest in his voice. “Different is what you need.” I swallowed the required allotment of pills and followed it with water. Unable to avoid the metallic taste in my mouth, I spread toothpaste on my toothbrush.
    “Why do you keep trying to set me up? It’s not going to work. Neither of us are looking for a relationship.”
    I shook my head. Young people. “So you say. I’m getting ready for bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Zachariah.”
    “Okay, get some rest. I love you, Mom.”
    “I love you, too.” I hung up the phone, brushed my teeth, swishing and scrubbing my way to a metallic free mouth. It didn’t helped much, but it was better than not brushing at all.
    After rinsing, I leaned on the counter and waited for the wave of nausea to pass. I hated this feeling. When the world stopped spinning, I went to my room, slipped into my pajamas, climbed into bed, and shut off the light.
    Yasmine and Zachariah.
    They didn’t know it, but the two of them needed each other. After spending three weeks with Yasmine, it was obvious she had a good heart. After all, what type of woman would take the time to check on me? Spend time with me? See me as a mentor? She didn’t know either one of us. Yet, she continued visiting several times a week.
    It amazed me how much we had in common. Her drive and determination reminded me of what it was like to be her age. She had a strong head on her shoulders and didn’t take crap from anyone, a quality I admired.
    Qualities like those were exactly what my son needed in his life. Melissa was a good person, despite the fact she turned tail and ran away at the first sign of a problem. I’m glad it happened before vows were exchanged. Zachariah was loyal to a fault. Even if their marriage made him unhappy, he’d never walk away. The last thing my son needed was to be stuck with a woman who took him for everything and left him when he needed her most.
    Marriage was a support system. My husband, Charles, and I taught Zachariah how to treat a woman. Always be a gentleman, put your wife’s needs before your own, and she would take care of you. When Charles was alive, we were proof of how to make a marriage work. Was it perfect? Of course not. No relationship, no matter how strong, was perfect.
    I ran my finger over the diamond studded gold band my husband gave me the day we were married. Even after his death, twenty-two years ago, I’d never taken it off. My goal before leaving this earth would be giving our rings to my son and the woman he loved.
    Our love ended in tragedy, but it was strong and true. I wanted the blessings we experienced to pass on to Zachariah and his bride. Knowing they wore our rings long after our deaths would be like an invisible blanket protecting and blessing their marriage.
    That would never have happened if he’d married Melissa.
    Yasmine on the other hand…
    During our time together, I ascertained there was a history of bad experiences in her life, and all of them dealt with men. Just as Zachariah needed a strong woman in his life, Yasmine needed a good listener, provider, lover, and a man who could show her the support and respect she deserved.
    They needed to stop ignoring the obvious attraction between them and accept the fact they needed each other. For richer or poorer, through sickness and health. Until death did they part.
    That would be my prayer tonight.
     
     

Chapter 10
     
    I adjusted my