Page 22 of Accidental Attraction

My whole shift, my mind was elsewhere. I felt like a teenager all over again. I felt like I had when I went on my very first date back in high school. It was a great feeling. I’d missed it. Not that I didn’t like spending all my time with my daughter, this was just a whole different feeling. When my work shift finally ended, I drove to pick Jenna up. Since I promised her ice cream earlier in the morning, that was all she talked about when I picked her up.

When we sat in a booth eating ice cream cones, I stared at my daughter. She looked just like me when I was little. Blonde hair, bright green eyes, and a wide, toothy grin. I was thankful she looked like me instead of her father, not that the father wasn’t ugly or anything. It just made me feel better, knowing that she looked like me. She talked about some kids in her class while licking her cone. She got the stuff all over her face, but I smiled at the sight. It was moments like these I loved being a mother, just staring at her and listening to her talking, even though she mispronounced some of the words.

Once we both finished our cones, we got in the car and drove home. It was four in the afternoon, and I had yet to hear from Martin. Just as we walked inside the apartment, my phone buzzed. Feeling giddy with excitement, I opened it up to see a text from him. I grinned and read it.

Martin: Hey, does six o’clock work for you?

Karen: Yeah, it does.

Martin: Okay, I will pick you up around then. What is your address?

I hesitated for a second, not really wanting him to see where I lived, but I pushed aside my embarrassment and sent him my address. With only two hours until he picked me up, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to start getting ready now.

“Hey, baby, why don’t you watch some TV? I am going to go shower,” I said, grabbing the remote and turning it on the Disney channel.

“Yay!” she yelled, running over to the couch and climbing on it. Placing the remote back by the TV, I placed a kiss on her head before heading to the bathroom.

Taking a shower took me longer than I thought it would because I had to shave, and I wanted to make sure my skin was soft and smooth. I stepped out of the shower and put a towel around my body and head before going to my little closet. I didn’t have too many fancy outfits. Most of the things I wore were old jeans and t-shirts. Looking in the back of my closet, I saw a few dresses I still had from my partying days. After I had Jenna I lost a ton of weight, and I thought I could probably wear one of them tonight. I grabbed the three dresses I still had and placed them on my bed before starting on blow drying my hair in front of the mirror beside the bed. While I was finishing drying my hair, Jenna walked in.

“Mommy, what are you doing?” she asked, jumping on the bed and looking at me.

“I am doing my hair, baby. Would you like to watch?” She gave me a nod, and I started doing my hair, telling Jenna what I was doing. She seemed fascinated, her eyes wide as she took everything in. Once my hair was curled and framing my face, I grabbed some makeup. I hadn’t really worn any in a long time, but I did not want to go out with Martin looking like a zombie.

“Twis one,” Jenna said suddenly, grabbing a tub of lipstick from the counter. I took it from her and popped open the lid, showing her the red color.

“This one?” She nodded. Smiling, I put it on before showing her my lips. Once she saw it she nodded, grinning and showing me her two front teeth. “Since you are so great at helping me with my makeup, why don’t you help me with an outfit?” I said.

I held them up one at a time and watched Jenna’s face. She was definitely my daughter, as she picked out a cute simple strapless black dress. It was longer than the other two, and after trying it on, I knew it was perfect for tonight. It showed enough skin to be sexy, but not too much. With my blonde hair curled to my shoulders and my makeup done, I slid on a pair of heels I hadn’t worn in five years.

“How do I look, baby?” I asked, twirling around.

“Mommy, you wook pwetty,” Jenna said. Grabbing her, I lifted her into my arms and turned around in a circle. Jenna giggled and smiled as she looked at me. A knock on the door stopped me, and I set Jenna down. I ran a hand down my dress and headed for the door, thinking it was Martin. Hesitantly opening the door, I let out a breath of relief when I saw Mary standing there.

“Whoa, Ms. Howard, you look hot!” Mary said, looking at me and walking inside.

“Thank you.”

“Mary!” Jenna screamed, running toward her. Laughing, Mary lifted her up and kissed her cheek. Seeing as it was five minutes to six, I grabbed everything I needed and put it in my purse.

“I am sorry for making you babysit on a Friday, Mary,” I said, reaching for my cell phone.

“It is no problem, Ms. Howard.” I hated when she called me that. It made me feel so old. But no matter how many times I told her to call me Karen, she wouldn’t. “You deserve to go on a date and let loose.” I smiled at her, and my phone buzzed in my hand. With a text from Martin saying he was here, my heart rate started to pick up. For some reason I didn’t want him coming up here and seeing Jenna.

“I have to go. I will be back before midnight. Thank you so much, Mary,” I said, making sure I had everything. Going over to Jenna, who was in Mary’s arms, I leaned down. “Be good for Mary, okay, Jenna? I will be home soon. I love you.” I gave her a kiss and one last thankful smile I left. As I made my way downstairs, I felt bad for leaving my daughter, but I pushed it away. Mary was right. I needed a night out. I reached the lobby just as Martin was walking in.

“Karen! I was coming up to get you,” he said, clearly surprised to see me down here.

“I, uh, just couldn’t wait,” I said lamely. Yeah, that totally didn’t make me sound desperate. Martin just grinned at me.

“I have the perfect placed picked out.” When he held his arm out for me, I grabbed it and let him lead me outside and to a very nice-looking Mercedes. I slid into the passenger’s side, and I felt excitement bubbling up in my chest. I knew this was going to be a great night.

The next five months went by quickly. I was happier than I had been in a long time. Martin made me feel so special and safe. We got along great, and we understood one another. After our first date, my life had become happier and less dull. The only bad part about it was that Martin still did not know about Jenna. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him on our first date, and now, five months later, I still couldn’t. Jenna was still a mystery, and I knew it was wrong, but I liked it that way. I did not want Martin to get scared off by knowing I had a daughter.

I tried to split my time equally between them, but I spent more time with Martin than Jenna. Mary babysat almost every night and on the weekends. She didn’t complain since I paid her well for it and she was saving up for college, but I knew I couldn’t keep asking her to babysit for me. She was going to graduate high school in a few months, leaving me without a babysitter. Jenna, being a smart five year old, kept asking me where I was going. I just told her it was for work. I felt terrible leaving her most nights, but for once in five years I was feeling free and loved by someone. I did not want to give that up just yet.

We had been together for five months when Martin proposed to me. We both knew it was sudden, but it felt right. We connected in some way neither of us could deny. I loved him, and he loved me. It seemed I was finally getting everything I wanted. I had met the right guy who treated me like a princess. It didn’t matter that he had money; I only cared that he loved me. The moment I said, “Yes,” I had a huge decision to make. Did I finally tell him about Jenna? Did I call it off? What should I do about my daughter?

The whole next week following the engagement I told Martin I had a few things to do before moving in with him. All week I was stressed out, trying to figure out what to do. I knew I couldn’t let Martin get away, and if I told him about Jenna he probably would run for the hills. What twenty-seven year old wanted to adopt a daughter? I could not ask him to be her father, especially after all this time. By the end of the week I had my decision, and I was convinced it was for the best. I settled everything with my apartment, telling the landlord I was leaving by the end of the week. I quit both of my jobs, which Martin fully supported.

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