Page 67 of Challenged By You
“And you think those are faults?” His voice is so mild, I relax.
“It was, as you witnessed, criminal expecting those emotions from my mother even though I have hope that might be changing. And I guess I learned a similar lesson the hard way when I accepted a man into my life with the same traits. Cinderella doesn’t always leave the kitchen,” I laugh.
“Whether she leaves it or not should be her damn choice.” I rear back at the ferociousness in Jonas’s voice. “What you said is you want is a healthy relationship that won’t harm your children. That’s would be every parent’s wish in a perfect world. Tragically, we don’t live in one of those.”
“It doesn’t sound like you mind my list,” I whisper breathlessly.
Jonas shakes his head. “Life isn’t a fairy tale, Trina. People aren’t perfect, places aren’t either, but you don’t have to have your guard up constantly to protect yourself against both. Something is always going to happen to make you feel just as happy as you do right now. And someone will try to hurt you. That’s life.”
“Well, life sucks,” I grumble automatically, but my mind is turning his words over and over in my head.
“It can,” he agrees. “Or you could find yourself in the middle of being frustrated over having to do something like apologizing and find yourself confronting the most intriguing challenge of your life.”
I suck in so much air, it’s a wonder I don’t uproot the nearby trees.
“Take a chance on this, Trina. Take a chance on me,” he urges, his fingers sliding from my hand to cup my jaw.
As he leans forward to touch his lips to mine, it’s equal parts terror and bliss exploding through me. If it was just me alone, I’d worry less about the way his kiss makes my whole body quiver. But as the approach of my shrieking children grab my attention, I jerk away trembling.
“I don’t know how we got so off course. You were telling me there was something missing with your sandwich?” My voice is shaky to my own ears.
“Hmm. Yes. You used creamy peanut butter,” Jonas complains. Pointing to his shirt where a glob of jelly fell, he announces, “I bet chunky would have caught the grape jelly.”
I open my mouth, and what comes out shocks us both. “You’re a weirdough.” Then I slap my hand over my mouth as his lips curve.
The next thing you know, he’s tackling me to the blanket tickling me. “Give me another,” he demands.
“I…can’t. They’re outrageous.” Besides, I’m laughing too hard to think clearly.
Annie and Chris come racing over to see what has me shrieking. “Tickle Mama?” Annie asks curiously.
Chris doesn’t wait. His little hands go straight for my ribs, and I screech again.
“That’s it, buddy. Don’t give her any mercy,” Jonas encourages.
“Okay, Nono,” Chris agrees. Seconds later, he reaches over and tickles his sister, who takes shelter in my arms.
“Mama! Help me!”
Rolling over, I cover my little girl as Chris and Jonas tickle me mercilessly. I manage to gasp out, “This isa saltwith a deadly weapon!”
Jonas roars, his whole body shaking. “Okay, buddy.” He carefully plucks Chris’s diabolical fingers away. “Your mom said the magic words.”
Chris looks confused, until he realizes he’s in Jonas’s arms. Settling back, he beams.
Just then, a couple strolls by. “Just think, honey. That could be us in a few more years,” I hear the woman say to her adoring husband.
“It certainly could,” he agrees.
I hope not, I think to myself as I roll off my daughter.I hope your every wish comes true and you aren’t living day to day wondering what happened to your dreams.
Recognizing the drowsy look on my son’s face, I push myself to my feet and dust off my jeans. “It’s been an amazing afternoon, but we need to get home if you want yummies for dinner.”
And even though it’s the right thing to do, I hate the sadness that appears in all three sets of eyes when I make my proclamation.
Chapter 25
Trina
