Page 2 of Facing the Pain

“Be there at four and come hungry. I’ll cook us all dinner.” That had Jake smiling.

“My lady knows how to cook; I’ll be incredibly lucky if you become my girlfriend. I never get full, ever.” Jake stood up. “I’m going to go back over by the guys, so if your brothers or uncles drive by again, you won’t be in trouble. No need to peeve somebody before I meet your dad.” I didn’t even ask him how he knew I was being watched. I was sure the guys filled him in on the motorcycles driving by every day. I looked over at all the guys and they seem curious but were keeping their distance. My mind was made up. If I didn’t want to be the only girl that was never asked out in high school, then it was time to handle my family. This was a fantastic opportunity. I wanted to spend time with Jake and get to know him, and maybe we would be just friends with each other. Don’t worry, I was a teenage girl trying to find a way to approach my dad. All I wanted to do was have Jake give me my first kiss. When he kissed my hand, that was the first time someone had kissed it. I knew I had that starry-eyed look. Jake walked back over to the rest of the guys and I turned and looked at Brindle.

“If you don’t talk your dad into letting him come by your house after the show he just put on for everyone, every girl is going to be after him and that includes me.” I look at Brindle with hard eyes. “I’m sorry, Charlie, but that guy is so hot.” I wanted to be mad at my best friend, but I couldn’t be. Jake was hot. I tried to put Jake out of my head and concentrate on what I was going to say to my dad. I didn’t even have the good sense to get Jake’s phone number or give him mine, but I had Ms. May’s home number.

It wasn’t long before Brindle’s mom told us it was time to load up. I stood and gathered my things. I waved at Jake and he waved back. Brindle’s mom walked up close to me and talked only loud enough for me to hear. “You better be having a talk with your dad tonight. I let that boy talk to you today because I thought you deserved it, but I won’t do it again without your dad’s permission. I’m not a strict parent, but I know the consequences of crossing Tracker.” I looked at the woman.

“Yes, ma’am. I planned on it.” She nodded her head at me.

“Good girl.” She walked ahead of me and Brindle caught up to us. We walked together without words. The ride home was loud with the Brindle, Lindsey, and Katelyn. I kept quiet, and I was glad when I was the first one to get dropped off. I knew as soon as I entered the house that I was alone—no motorcycles outside and no noise at all.

I had put chicken in the crock pot to cook while I was gone. I washed my hands and stirred the chicken. It smelled and looked done, so I turned the heat off. I ran up the stairs and took a quick shower and changed into my normal cut-offs and tank top. I dried my hair with a towel and combed through it. I put it in a loose ponytail to keep it out of my face. I went back downstairs and took the ingredients out to make enchiladas. I put the enchiladas together and put them in the oven. I looked at the clock. I needed to hurry. I took the vegetables out to make a salad and cut everything up and put it all in the bowl. I had already emptied the dishwasher before I left this morning and I had managed to get the laundry done too. I cleaned the prep area in the kitchen and filled the dishwasher again and turned it on. We still had the rest of the cake I made from last night for dessert. I set the table and was putting the glasses out for the sweet tea I had made this morning when I heard the motorcycles in the driveway. The timer went off on the oven and I took the enchiladas out of the oven and placed them on the stove top. I also got the salad out of the fridge. I was trying to figure out how to get to the subject of Jake, but when I turned and saw my dad’s face when he walked in the door, I knew that he knew. He was swollen up and looked like some big bull. I could almost see the steam coming out of his ears like on the morning cartoons. All my brothers had similar looks. I hadn’t figured they would be this upset.

“You have something you need to speak to me about Charlize Victoria Sweets?” He pulled out my full name that he never used unless I was in deep doodoo. I knew it was time to be honest.

“Yes, sir, I do. I was going to wait until we were eating so we could all hear it at once, but I’m ready.” Dad looked around the kitchen and his eyes lit up on one of his favorite meals.

“Were you trying to butter me up by feeding me one of my favorite meals, little girl?” Dad asked me with annoyance in his voice.

“I put the chicken on to cook before I even left here today, so no, I wasn’t. I was trying to say thank you for letting me go to the lake with my friends.” That took some of his steam away.

“You deserve a little freedom, but you see where it got us?” I was getting fed up with being treated like I committed some ultimate sin when all I did was have a talk with Jake.

“Dad, I get your upset, but can we sit down and eat and talk while we do.” My brothers had remained quiet. I watched them turn to go upstairs. I guessed to get cleaned up.

“Alright, little girl, but you better be ready to talk when I get back. Go ahead and put some food on our plates to save time. I want this settled.” Dad went up the stairs. I did as I was told and set each plate back where it goes. I opened the fridge and got out each bottle of dressing for the salad. Everyone can put their own on. Quinton was the first down the stairs. I looked at him and he looked at me.

“Why can’t you just not grow up? This is going to kill all of us. Dad is having an extremely tough time with it. Ms. May brought her grandson to meet Dad. I thought he was having a damn heart attack when Jake told him he wanted to court you. Not date, but court. You better pick your words carefully with Dad, and Rance isn’t far behind him.” That’s when we heard the other brothers coming down the stairs with Dad right behind them. I filled each tea glass, and I sat in my spot. Dad took his first bite, and I knew it was time.

“This boy named Jake came over and introduced himself to me today. He asked me if what all the other boys told him about my dad and brothers was true. I told him that it was all true. I thought he would get up and leave. He didn’t. I asked him what his angle was, and he told me anyone worth having is worth what you need to go through to get them or close to that. I don’t remember every word.” That was a fib, but I didn’t want my dad to know how Jake had impressed me today. “He also asked to meet you as well as any of my other family that is needed because that was the right thing to do. He said he had no bad intentions, so he had nothing to be frightened of.” I waited for a minute, but for once, no one had anything to say, so I went on. “He also said his dad taught him to treat every woman as he would have them treat his older sister or his mom.”

“He said all that?” Tobie asked.

“Yes, then he asked me out on a date for dinner or a movie and I told him I couldn’t date until I was fifteen. He wanted to meet all of you to get permission to visit me over here until I turn fifteen. He wants us to know each other as friends and to see if I might want to date him. If not, then we’d just be good friends.” I stopped.

“Did he creep you out when he said all of this?” Yance asked me.

“No, why would he? He was being nice. He even said if we needed to be chaperoned after we could date, he understood and was alright with it,” I told them.

“Is he soft in the head?” Rance asked.

“How old is he? He told me earlier, but I wasn’t hearing at the time,” Dad asked.

“He’s sixteen, and he said he would be seventeen soon. He’s starting his junior year.” I stopped talking and took a drink of tea.

“He’s two years older and two grades ahead of you. Down the road, those two years won’t seem like anything, but right now they mean a lot.” I know I shouldn’t have, but I interrupted Dad.

“Dad, do you trust me? You’ve taught me everything I have learned in life. You, my four brothers and the rest of the family have taught me what I need to know to survive in life. I know right from wrong. I know what you expect of me. I can defend myself when it’s needed. So, what is causing you to question the way you brought me up? I tell you and my brothers everything. I was going to tell you all of this, but Jake beat me to it. Doesn’t that say something about his character, too? That he wanted to face you before I did. Wasn’t he trying to protect me from a difficult conversation with you? What is it that’s really bothering you?” I laid it all out. My dad looked at me.

“I hate that my Charlie Red is growing up and one day, some man is going to take her away from us. This family that loves you.” I had tears in my eyes and so did Dad.

“Daddy, this is just another step in my growing up. I’ll always be your Charlie, I promise. No man could ever love me like my daddy and brothers.” I looked around at my brothers and they all seemed a little glassy-eyed. Dad wiped his eyes.

“You’re right, little girl. We’re always your family. Jake was more of a man coming to me himself than a lot of grown-ass men. Jake can come to dinner tomorrow night and he can visit you three nights during the week and either Saturday or Sunday. He’s only allowed in the house if an adult, let me clarify, one of your brothers or myself are here. You must stay in the yard or front porch if not. After the four months are up, and you turn fifteen then you can go on a chaperoned or couples date and then three months after that, if there are no rules broken then you can go on a car date. That is written in stone, little girl. If this Jake isn’t the one you want to date, then I expect the same out of the next one. He has lifted the bar of standard. Except for the fact he wants to date my little girl, I think I could like him.” That’s praise coming from my dad.

“Thank you, Daddy, I will follow every rule.” The rules were laid out and I know this was hard on my dad. We did exactly what my dad said, Jake made sure of it.

Chapter Three

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