“Zoey, in due time Jordan will adjust. Trust me. My mom remarried when I was ten and I got used to the idea very quickly. She was in control of her life.”
I scoffed. “I’m very much in control of my life, Bernard. I just want to make good choices. My parents made good choices, and I have no other choice but to make good ones, too. So, this is something that I have to do gradually, move into and give him time to move into. Let’s just call this a commitment ring, because that’s what I’m feeling is taking place.”
Bernard rolled his eyes. “Zoey, I’ll wait, but please don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. I have a reputation to uphold. I don’t want to just date or hang out forever. You know I’ve wanted you for years now. I don’t want to wait much longer.”
So, now I had this band on my finger, feeling heavy and itchy through my determination. I heard an indistinct bell ringing in the apartment. I thought I was home alone, but maybe Eligia didn’t go visit family after all. I left from my bed, tucked into my slippers and headed out toward the front of the apartment. I heard sounds…laughter and clatter coming from the kitchen. I walked in and gasped.
Jordan was there just as giddy as always when with his best friend. His father. Stenton and Jordan yelled, “Happy Mother’s Day,” almost sending me from my house shoes.
“Holy mother of Joseph!” I yelped.
Then the pair burst into a Happy Mother’s Day rendition of Happy Birthday as they danced around the island in chef hats and aprons, looking like polar twins. They laughed themselves silly with their individual dances, melting my heart.
I glanced to the island and saw a setting for one of pancakes and bacon. Then to my right was a table full of gifts wrapped in festive bags and tissue paper. Jordan nearly tackled me to the floor in a bear hug.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy!” He squeezed my thighs. “I love you more than the moon.”
I wrapped my arms around him, returning the energy-exchanging hug. I relished it. Jordan had left just last night. Stenton typically kept him on Mother’s Day, giving me the day alone to do what I wanted, which usually included something lavish that he expensed. This was nice. When Jordan left my fold, Stenton stepped up and grabbed me in his big arms, affording me a waft of his delicious scent that included Bergamot.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Zo!” his baritone vocals poured over my now delicate frame. Stenton still had the ability to elicit a sensual response from my body.
My eyes closed on contact and I once again experienced the zapping of rare pleasure coursing through my entire frame. My heart rate tripled, my breasts felt heavy and my nipples tingled similarly to when I was nursing Jordan and it was past feeding time. It was that wow factor that I’d always collided with when in his proximity.
I let go first.
“Thanks, Stenton,” I breathed, nervously wrapping my housecoat around me. “Thanks for this surprise.” For the first time in months, my smile for Stenton was genuine and inspired.
Then the record scratched. “What’s that?” Stenton asked wearing an obligatory smile, presumably for the sake of Jordan.
I followed his line of sight to my left finger where I was twisting the band on my ring finger. The thing itched even more now since he drew attention to it.
“Oh!” I screeched then glanced over to Jordan who was busy going into the refrigerator grabbing a juice box, something he wasn’t allowed to do at home. “Just a gift from Bernard.” I fixed my voice to sound unalarmed.
“Oh, yeah?” Stenton narrowed his brows, sporting a charming smile. Why was this? Was it for the sake of Jordan or because he was truly indifferent? “Is there anything I should know?”