Read Online The Morning After by Kendra Norman-Bellamy - Free Book Online
Authors: Kendra Norman-Bellamy
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ever known, and because of that, he made her want to be a better woman.
âThe dress,â Jennifer said, making her decision vocal.
From somewhere in the front of the house, Jerrod hollered, âMa, can Iâ?â
âNo.â She didnât see a need in letting him finish the request. Ever since turning fifteen six months ago, Jerrod, without a permit to legitimize or legalize his desires, had asked her at least one hundred times if he could drive her car. Jenniferâs intuition told her that sheâd just cut off request number one hundred one.
With her dress finally on, Jennifer slipped her feet into sandals that maximized the splendor of her fresh pedicure, and then paused to take a long look at herself in the full length mirror that was attached to the back of her bedroomâs door. Using her fingers as a makeshift comb, Jennifer gently raked through her hair to revitalize the curls that had been disturbed when she pulled her dress over her head. In her reflection, she spotted a flash from the birthstone ring that she always wore on her left hand. Hastily, Jennifer removed it from her finger and placed it in the jewelry box that sat on the edge of her dresser.
âYouâll feel naked, but only for a little while.â She spoke the words to her finger as though it were a person, and then giggled at her own silliness.
When T.K. was leaving Jenniferâs house on Friday night after sharing dinner with her and Jerrod, he whispered in her ear that he had a surprise for her and wanted to take both her and her son out to dinner on Sunday to present it.
âYou sure you want Jerrod there?â sheâd asked, her heart racing with anticipation.
âYes,â T.K. replied, still whispering and sending mounting chills down Jenniferâs back. âThis is big news and it involves him too.â
Even now, as Jennifer recounted the moment, she found it difficult not to jump up and down with excitement. This was a moment that sheâd dreamed about since she was a little girl, playing dress-up in her room to keep herself entertained while her parents had some petty, but loud disagreement somewhere down the hall. Jennifer would put on her best Sunday dressâthe one her grandmother had made for herâand stand in front of the mirror holding plastic flowers; pretending that she was about to walk down the aisle to marry the man who would rescue her from her horrendous existence. It had been a long wait, but she could feel it in her bones; her Prince Charming was about to make his majestic entrance. And even though sheâd risen from the life of poverty and abuse and made something of herself despite the statistics, Jennifer would still be ready to ride away into the sunset with T.K.
âMrs. T.K. Donaldson,â she whispered, rubbing her ring finger with gentle strokes. Jennifer used her fingers to silence the tears that screamed to be released from her eyes. She had to hold it together. When T.K. proposed to her today, she had to maintain a look of surprise. It wouldnât be right for T.K. to know that sheâd already figured out his plan. Men are so transparent. She grinned at her own thought.
âOkay. One last look and Iâve got to get out of here.â Jennifer wasnât totally satisfied with the image that stared back at her, but she was out of time. The church that T.K. attended was one of Atlantaâs most popular, and on Sunday mornings, prime seating disappeared quickly. The drive from Alpharetta to New Hope Church in Stone Mountain was thirty minutes. Unless they encountered very little traffic today, Jennifer feared that her indecisiveness had already guaranteed that she and her son wouldnât get the opportunity to sit anywhere near T.K.
âWeâre gonna be late, Ma,â Jerrod pointed out as soon as she rounded the corner from her bedroom to the living room where he waited. âWhy you didnât just let Coach pick us up
âThe dress,â Jennifer said, making her decision vocal.
From somewhere in the front of the house, Jerrod hollered, âMa, can Iâ?â
âNo.â She didnât see a need in letting him finish the request. Ever since turning fifteen six months ago, Jerrod, without a permit to legitimize or legalize his desires, had asked her at least one hundred times if he could drive her car. Jenniferâs intuition told her that sheâd just cut off request number one hundred one.
With her dress finally on, Jennifer slipped her feet into sandals that maximized the splendor of her fresh pedicure, and then paused to take a long look at herself in the full length mirror that was attached to the back of her bedroomâs door. Using her fingers as a makeshift comb, Jennifer gently raked through her hair to revitalize the curls that had been disturbed when she pulled her dress over her head. In her reflection, she spotted a flash from the birthstone ring that she always wore on her left hand. Hastily, Jennifer removed it from her finger and placed it in the jewelry box that sat on the edge of her dresser.
âYouâll feel naked, but only for a little while.â She spoke the words to her finger as though it were a person, and then giggled at her own silliness.
When T.K. was leaving Jenniferâs house on Friday night after sharing dinner with her and Jerrod, he whispered in her ear that he had a surprise for her and wanted to take both her and her son out to dinner on Sunday to present it.
âYou sure you want Jerrod there?â sheâd asked, her heart racing with anticipation.
âYes,â T.K. replied, still whispering and sending mounting chills down Jenniferâs back. âThis is big news and it involves him too.â
Even now, as Jennifer recounted the moment, she found it difficult not to jump up and down with excitement. This was a moment that sheâd dreamed about since she was a little girl, playing dress-up in her room to keep herself entertained while her parents had some petty, but loud disagreement somewhere down the hall. Jennifer would put on her best Sunday dressâthe one her grandmother had made for herâand stand in front of the mirror holding plastic flowers; pretending that she was about to walk down the aisle to marry the man who would rescue her from her horrendous existence. It had been a long wait, but she could feel it in her bones; her Prince Charming was about to make his majestic entrance. And even though sheâd risen from the life of poverty and abuse and made something of herself despite the statistics, Jennifer would still be ready to ride away into the sunset with T.K.
âMrs. T.K. Donaldson,â she whispered, rubbing her ring finger with gentle strokes. Jennifer used her fingers to silence the tears that screamed to be released from her eyes. She had to hold it together. When T.K. proposed to her today, she had to maintain a look of surprise. It wouldnât be right for T.K. to know that sheâd already figured out his plan. Men are so transparent. She grinned at her own thought.
âOkay. One last look and Iâve got to get out of here.â Jennifer wasnât totally satisfied with the image that stared back at her, but she was out of time. The church that T.K. attended was one of Atlantaâs most popular, and on Sunday mornings, prime seating disappeared quickly. The drive from Alpharetta to New Hope Church in Stone Mountain was thirty minutes. Unless they encountered very little traffic today, Jennifer feared that her indecisiveness had already guaranteed that she and her son wouldnât get the opportunity to sit anywhere near T.K.
âWeâre gonna be late, Ma,â Jerrod pointed out as soon as she rounded the corner from her bedroom to the living room where he waited. âWhy you didnât just let Coach pick us up
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