Unbroken Promises

by Dianne Stevens

  Then she turned back to Trish. “Trish, Cody told me you’ve never been married. If that time ever comes, would you like me to make you a virginal white wedding dress, hmmm?” Beth asked in her innocently false voice. Then she put her finger on her chin as if she were thinking.

  “You know there were also a couple of other unusual names for material that I noticed [Which Beth was making up]. One was called ‘hot momma red’ and the other was named ‘sleazy black.’

  Maybe one of those would be more appropriate for you. I’m sure either would look lovely,” Beth batted her eyelashes and smiled sweetly.

  “Elizabeth, finish your dinner,” Jordon stated sternly.

  Beth didn’t have to look up to know Trish was shooting daggers in her direction.

  Trish leaned over on Jesse and draped her arm over his shoulder. Trish did her little cackle that Beth remembered so well, “Who knows, Beth? I may ask you to make me a wedding dress after all,” she said smugly.

  “Oh, sure, just let me know ahead of time. By the way, Trish, do you have a husband in mind? Has someone proposed to you?”

  Trish laughed again. “Yes and no. Yes, I definitely have someone in mind, but no he hasn’t proposed…yet.” Trish said all this looking at Jesse, but she turned her attention back to Beth.

  “Beth, you are so very young to have a wedding dress already made. Do you even have a boyfriend? Surely you’re not engaged, are you?”

  Beth looked at Trish with her own smug smile. “No and no…No, I don’t have a boyfriend and no I’m not engaged…but that doesn’t matter because I’ve known who I was going to marry ever since I was eight years old.” At the moment Beth was willing to stop the jabs.

  Beth looked at Susan. “I’m suddenly very tired. May I please be excused?” Susan nodded a definite yes.

  Beth stood up to go; but, before she could leave, Trish stopped her and had to ask. “Beth, I’m so curious. Who is this phantom husband?”

  Beth stepped around the edge of the table and leaned over a few inches in front of Trish’s face. “Why, Trish, I’m going to marry Jesse. You see, you may have him now, but you won’t have him long,” Beth said this in a slow, factual manner.

  “You don’t know what you talking about, little girl,” Trish hissed.

  Beth laughed, “Trish, surely you don’t think Jesse would marry a worn out, old raggedy hag like you when he could have a raving beauty like me.” Beth really did not feel that way about herself but she thought it sounded good to say.

  “Oh my lord,” Susan whispered.

  Cody’s mouth dropped open, and Jesse put his head in his hands and groaned.

  Jordon was furious; he shot out of his chair and pulled Beth in front of him. “Beth, I want you to apologize to Trish. She is a guest of Jesse’s and a guest in this house. You have been rude to her ever since you walked in. Apologize now!” Jordon overheard Beth’s words to Trish when she first walked in and thought Beth sounded rude. He knew she was spitefully trying to hurt the young woman’s feelings. He’d let it go the first time, but she was old enough not to be so petty. Besides, he thought it was high time she gave up this infatuation with Jesse and started dating young respectable boys her own age.

  Jordon sure did not want her going back into that little partying stage she went through. That almost killed him.

  “No sir,” Beth said in a solid voice.

  Jordon knew he was firm but thought he was always fair. However, he never tolerated disrespect in any form. He was mad but also hurt because Beth was openly disobeying him.

  “Beth, apologize,” Jordon repeated.

  “No sir, I will not,” Beth said unyieldingly. Beth had her hand so tightly fisted that, unknowingly, her sharp fingernails were digging deep into her palm. She knew she was upsetting Jordon, and that was not her intention. She loved him too much to disrespect him on purpose, but she would die before she apologized to that witch.

  “Beth, dammit, apologize,” Jordon shouted.

  Beth raised her head, looked directly into his eyes, and shook her head, “NEVER.” Beth lifted her hand to brush away some hair that had fallen in her eyes. As she did, her damaged palm smeared bright red blood all on the side of her face.

  Susan and Jesse both jumped up at the same time. Susan put her hand on Jordon’s arm, and Jesse threw both hands in the air.

  “Stop it! For Christ’s sake, just stop it! We’re leaving.” After saying that, Jesse literally jerked the smug Trish out of the chair and practically drug her out the door and over to her car.

  At first, Trish thought Jesse was protecting her by getting her away from the brat’s tongue; but, when she looked at his face and saw the hate in his eyes, she was stunned.

  “You get your wicked scrawny ass in that car and don’t you ever come back.”

  “Jesse, why are you so mad at me? I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me who was wrong but that conceited snob,” Trish whined.

  Jesse was barely holding himself in control. “Lady, I’ve never hit a woman in my life; but, if you don’t get out of my sight, you will be the first.” Jesse was so shook up he went back inside and poured himself a large glass of whiskey to help settle his nerves.

  After Jordon sat back down in his chair, he rubbed his hands down his face and then cupped one hand over his chin, his elbow resting on the table. The whole episode disturbed him. He didn’t ever remember Beth defying him, especially so openly. And with her being so strong in her refusal that she ruined her own palms, it just wasn’t like her. With a sigh, Jordon massaged his eyes. Something was going on and when things settled down a little, he would find out what it was.

  Susan had her hand on his shoulders. With wide eyes, she was looking from one to the other not knowing what to do.

  Cody jumped up, ran and got a rag, and was trying to wipe the blood off of Beth’s face.

  Beth took the rag from Cody. “Thank you,” she told him sweetly.

  Then she walked over to Jordon and kissed him on the head. “I love you, Daddy. I’ll see y’all in the morning,” she said before she turned and went into her bedroom.

  After she left, tears came to Jordon’s eyes. Susan held him as tears rolled down her own cheeks. Jesse walked in and handed Jordon a glass of whiskey, which he sat back and drank.

  All four of them wore the same lost expression. After a while, Jordon blew out a deep breath through pursed lips then stood up as to go to Beth’s room.

  Susan placed her hand and his arm. “Wait for me; I’ll be back in a minute.” She went upstairs and got some ointment and bandages. When she returned she grabbed Jordon’s hand.

  “Now, let’s go see what that was all about.”

  They knocked on the door and Beth told them to come in. She knew they would be coming.

  She had already cleaned up and was in bed. Susan sat on one side and Jordon sat on the other.

  Susan took her hands and put the ointment on each palm where she had clawed herself. Then she gently wrapped them with gauze. Beth scooted up against the headboard, took one hand of Susan’s and one of Jordon’s, and held them.

  “I know you want an explanation of why I acted the way I did.”

  “Yes, Beth, please tell us what that was all about,” Susan said.

  “Daddy, do you remembered when I was about 10 and you found me at the pond crying?” Beth asked.

  When Jordon nodded, she continued.

  “You asked if I wanted to talk about it and I said ‘no’. You then picked me up and carried me to the swing and held me.”

  “I remember, baby,” was all Jordon was able to say because he was still so upset.

  “You know how, on special occasions, we sometimes bring each other breakfast in bed.

  Well, when Jesse turned 18, I decided to surprise him by serving him breakfast in bed. I had gotten up early, cooked for him, and made coffee. I know I should have knocked on his door, but I didn’t because I wanted it to be a surprise. So I opened it quietly and walked on in. When I was halfway between t
he door and the bed, I saw Trish duck down under the covers. I didn’t know what to do then. I stood in the middle of the room with a tray of food in my hands looking like an idiot.

  “I decided to brave it on through. I walked over and placed the tray on the table. I was so embarrassed and nervous that I shook and stuttered horribly. I told Jesse ‘Happy Birthday’ and that I brought him breakfast. Then I turned to leave. Before I left, I asked Jesse if his friend would like something to eat or a cup of coffee.” Beth paused a minute reliving her memories.

  “After Jesse told me no, that he would share, I left. Before I had a chance to shut the door, Trish started laughing at me and mocking the way I stuttered. I was so humiliated I wanted to die.”

  When Beth finished she looked at each of them. “I know y’all probably don’t understand why I made such a big deal out of it after all these years because I don’t understand it myself.

  You know, I guess part of the reason it hurt so bad was because it was done in front of Jesse. It’s kinda’ funny now since I’m older; but, for years when I would have a nightmare, I would hear Trish’s cackling laugh.”

  Beth looked again at Susan and Jordon and smiled timidly. “So now you know my silly childhood horror story. But you know what? I feel as if a weight has been lifted. I can’t honestly say if it is from confronting Trish or telling you both my story.”

  “We’re glad you told us, baby. We just wish you would have told us years ago,” Susan said.

  “I know this obsession I have with Jesse is driving everyone crazy, me included. I realize you both want me to date respectable young men my own age. In a way, I would like to do that, too. I don’t particularly like being 18 and never having gone on a date. I hate the fact all my friends have boyfriends and go out while I stay home alone because of my own choosing. Every guy who has asked me out, I compare them to Jesse, and they always come up short. When I go back to school, I’m going to do my best to at least find boy/friends to go do things with.

  Jordon leaned over and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry baby.”

  “It’s okay, daddy,” Beth said hugging him back.

  “Just make sure he’s respectable and no going out partying,” Susan said, referring to the last statement Beth made, and then they all laughed.

  “I’ll try, my dear,” Beth teased.

  Jesse had been listening outside the door. It tore him up to know how much Beth suffered because of him. Part of him wanted her to find someone to have fun with; but, if he was honest with himself, a larger part did not. He would also have to admit that he always took pleasure in her adoration of him. But he knew he was being selfish.

  Here she was, not enjoying any of her teenage years because she loved him and he was out having a good time just about every weekend. He had to let her go; it was as simple as that.

  Beth was miserable, and it was entirely his fault. Therefore, he decided that he would do his best to push her away; and, like Susan and Jordon, he would encourage her to see other guys.

  When Jordon and Susan stepped out of the door and saw Jesse pacing, they both tore into him.

  “Don’t you ever bring that woman back into this house again. If you weren’t 25, I’d beat you for bringing her into your apartment and bed all those years ago. There’s no telling what all you did behind my back. I can tell now I was way too slack on you,” Jordon fumed.

  “Not only don’t bring her back into this house but don’t even bring that evil woman on this property,” Susan added. “And I agree with Jordon, he was too lenient with you, Jesse Bately.”

  “You both are absolutely right, and I already told Trish I wouldn’t see her anymore,” Jesse said.

  Beth stayed home the whole summer. Nothing was ever mentioned about the dinner incident with Trish; for that, Beth was grateful. Jesse did speak to her a little about the subject Susan and Jordon had already spoken to her about. Jesse told her he agreed with them that she needed to socialize when she got back to school. He told her that was what being young was all about—not staying shut up inside some building doing schoolwork day in and day out. She should get out, meet new friends, and start living the life a teenager should; and, if she happened to meet a nice young man, she should go out to eat with him or to a movie.

  Jesse left a few days later saying he wanted to stay at their lake cabin and do a little fishing, but Beth felt it was really because of her. She didn’t think he left because he was mad at her or anything. She suspected it was his way to ease any tension that had built up. He came back every four or five days, though, stay a couple of nights, get more supplies and would leave again.

  Cody went with him a few times but she knew it was out of the question for her to be able to go, although she would have loved to. She always loved it when they all went to the lake for a few days.

  Beth was outside washing her car when Jesse and a male friend of his pulled up in Jesse’s truck. Jesse jumped out, left the motor running, and ran into the house. Beth figured he had forgotten something because he hadn’t been gone long. After Jesse went inside, she walked over to the truck. As Beth got closer, a tall, tanned, good-lookin’, dark headed man stepped out. He smiled a beautiful smile.

  Beth held out her hand “Hello, I’m Elizabeth Barrow, but everyone calls me Beth. I’m not used to Jesse bringing home a male friend. Up until now he has only brought women home,” Beth said with laughter in her voice.

  Laughing, the man shook Beth’s hand, “Ma chérie, hello, I’m Beaux. What a pleasant surprise to meet such a beautiful lady. I’ve heard about you for years but until now, I’ve never had de opportunity to meet you. Now I know why Jesse has never axed me over. If I had such a beautiful flower at home, I wouldn’t want to share its beauty either.”

  “Oh, please, Jesse still thinks of me as a runty kid. I doubt he’ll ever see me any other way.”

  “Mais, non, chérie, I beg to differ; I have known Jesse since I moved here from Lafayette and we were both 12. I have always wondered why Jesse, like myself,” Beaux gave a devastating smile and wiggled his eyebrows, “being such a good-looking man, chose de women he chose.

  You see, Jesse could have had any woman…but he chose women anyone could have…now, since meeting you, de puzzle has been solved.”

  Beth was doing her best to keep up with what he was saying, but along with his confusing speech, Beaux had a strong Cajun accent, “Beaux, what are you talking about?” she finally asked.

  “Jesse was merely waiting for his own flower to bloom…for you, ma petite, to grow from a child to a woman.”

  Beth didn’t know this man from Adam, but she was suddenly hugging him and crying on his shoulder. “Do you really think so? It seems I’ve loved him forever.”

  “Mais, yes, shâ,” Beaux said as he gently rubbed her back.

  Jesse ran back out then and stopped dead in his tracks. “Good lord, Beaux, I can’t leave you alone for 10 minutes and you’re already trying to seduce my niece. Go finish washing your car, Beth, you’re gonna have spots all over it,” Jesse said, clearly irritated. “Beaux, get your coonass back in the truck and let’s go!”

  Beaux winked at Beth before she walked away, and she winked back.

  “Niece, is it? Then, since she is related to you, you shouldn’t mind your best friend axin her out, no?”

  “You know we’re not related, and no, you cannot ask her out,” Jesse snapped. “And you can lay off that thick Cajun drawl that always has the women beggin’.

  Beaux burst out laughing and hit Jesse on the back. “Jus’ testin’ a theory, bon ami, jus’ testin’

  a theory.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Beth returned to Austin for her first semester of college. Beth’s position at school was unusual because she had taken so many extra courses and was only a few hours away from being a sophomore. It was kind of funny that she had graduated from high school the same year Jesse graduated from college. “Doctor Bately, what a cool sound.” Upon returning to school, Beth decided to lighten
her load and socialize a little. She had recently met a young man she liked to do stuff with. She thought he was handsome, but her friends called him drop dead gorgeous.

  She had met Clay Parish in her first hour class. Actually, Clay was the cousin Cody’s friends told him about. In a roundabout way, Clay was the reason she heard of the music school in the first place.

  The teacher had placed them together to sing a duet. Everyone said that they harmonized beautifully together. They had gotten together after that and practiced. Then one thing led to another until they were singing at weddings to make a little extra money. They were both having a blast. It seemed they were singing every week at some function.

  Beth considered Clay a good friend. The friendship worked out well between them. Clay told Beth it was fun having a girl/friend for a change. He was tired of always having to be on guard with girls wanting more out of a relationship than he was ready for. He wasn’t ready for anything serious and it always made him nervous when he felt the women he dated becoming too clingy.

  Beth and Clay went out to eat often. They even went dancing a few times. They danced very well together.

  She and Clay became very close and they talked about everything. For the short time they had been friends, she felt closer to him than she did most of her girlfriends.

  Beth planned to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday and asked Clay if he wanted to go with her. Mutual friends of theirs were getting married and asked them to sing at the wedding.

  Since the wedding was not even an hour away from her house, Beth wanted Clay to come home with her so they could practice. She also wanted to introduce him to her family.

  Jordon, Susan, and Jesse were all sitting in the living room when Beth called. Susan was the one who answered the phone.

  “Would it be okay if I brought a friend home for a few days?”

  “Sure, honey, that will be fine. What’s her name?” Susan asked.

  “Well, it isn’t a ‘she’ but a ‘he,’ and his name is Clay Parish. We promised to sing at a friend’s wedding and it’s not far from where we live. I wanted him to stay so we could practice before the wedding.”