Page 26 of Seasoned
“They’re great. Junior is loving his photography work, and Karen found a part-time job to help supplement the income she lost when her temp assignment ended.” Karen was an actress, currently in New York trying to find work in the theater.
“It must be so tough being in a new city, trying to make ends meet.”
“But she also has Hector and Adelaide to fall back on,” Renee reminded Jackie.
Jackie laughed. “True. Wish you guys were my parents. My parents soundly discouraged me from starting my own business, which in fact forced me to want to do it even more.”
“We can always trust you to do the exact opposite of what you’re told,” Adelaide said.
They laughed and kept up the pace. As they passed by one of Adelaide’s neighbors working in the yard, they all waved at him. He was one of their favorite parts of the neighborhood when they went on their walks. In the summertime, he was always outside working in the yard, shirtless. Today was no different. Holding clippers, with bulging muscles and a slim waist, he trimmed the hedges in front of his house with his dark brown skin glistening with sweat.
“God broke the mold when he made that man,” Jackie murmured.
“Amen,” Adelaide and Renee said at the same time.
Once again, the ladies cracked up.
“What’s the latest on the adoption?” Adelaide asked, directing the question to Jackie.
“Still going through the assessment process. They told me it could take up to six months, but I thought that was a conservative estimate. Seems like it really will be the full six months.”
“What happens after that?” Renee asked.
“Then I get to choose my kid.” Jackie grinned. “I’m annoyed by this whole process, but I know it’ll be worth it once I find my child. I just feel weird about going online and looking through the photos—as if they’re in a catalog.”
“I understand your discomfort, but I think it would be harder on the kids if you had people coming in and looking them over like cattle.”
“Good point,” Jackie said.
They moved into single file to accommodate one of the residents walking her dog. Another resident that knew Adelaide honked at them, and she waved in return.
Back in formation, Renee said, “I have some news about me and Clive.”
“With that wide grin on your face, it must be really good,” Jackie said.
Feeling a surge of exuberance, Renee pumped her arms harder. “He asked me to spend Fourth of July with him. Oh, and we’ve been sleeping together.”
Adelaide stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and Jackie followed suit. Renee swung around and looked at them.
“Way to bury the lede. We’ve been walking for almost twenty minutes, and you’re only now telling us that you’ll be spending the holiday with your new lover man?” Adelaide asked.
Pumping her arms, Jackie walked in place. “Let’s keep moving, ladies. Remember, walk and talk.”
She took off and her friends fell into step beside her.
“Details,” Adelaide said.
“Where do I begin? We hardly have anything in common. I mean, he’s blue-collar and a former athlete—exactly the kind of man I’ve avoided all my life. Look at who my husbands were. Yet…I really like him. And he’s such a gentleman. He opens doors and insists on paying for dinner when we go out. A lot of men don’t do that anymore, especially when they find out you have your own money.” Not to mention he didn’t judge when he found out that she had been married three times.
“True.” Jackie nodded.
“I really couldn’t stand the man before, but now I’m sleeping with him—literally sleeping with the enemy. Can you believe it? I don’t know how that happened.”
“Girl, you are way too old for that. You know how it happened,” Jackie said dryly.
“Thank you for your commentary,” Renee said.
“I’m just saying, that didn’t take long.”
