The Rennillia Series: Volumes 1-5

by M. Sembera

  “Why are looking like that?” I asked, laughing a little at the face he was making.

  Continuing to squint, he replied, “My eye was hurting so I took my contacts out.”

  Stepping around to the coffee table, I saw a pair of thick black framed glasses setting in front of him.

  “Have you been sleeping in your contacts?” I questioned.

  He nodded as I flipped the light on.

  Taking a closer look, I fussed, “Your eye’s all red.”

  Nodding, he grabbed his glasses saying, “I know,” as he put them on.

  Instantly laughing, “Those are some big ole birth-control glasses,”

  I sat down on the other end of the couch.

  Giving me a look, he teased back, “Okay fro-mama.”

  Sticking my hand in my hair, I remembered I fell asleep with my hair still wet. Sure I looked like I had a giant lion’s mane; I stuck my tongue out at him. He started laughing at me and as I laughed with him, I imagined between my hair and his glasses we were quite a sight.

  Our laughter subsided and even though his glasses were pretty goofy, he actually looked cute with them on. In fact, the more I looked at him, the more I thought about him saying he was chubby and wore glasses as a kid. The more I thought about him as a kid, the cuter he seemed.

  With a thoughtful smile, I shared, “Even though you can probably see the future, I think you look kinda cute with ‘em on.”

  “I always liked your fro-mama hair,” he shared.

  Refusing to believe him, I stated, “No you don’t,” thinking he was just trying to say something nice back.

  Appearing offended, he argued, “How are you gonna tell me what I like?”

  Rolling my eyes, I stated, “No one likes my hair.”

  He assured “I do,” as he shook his head and questioned, “How can anyone not like it? It’s all wild and... That’s like one of my favorite things about you.”

  Shrugging, I admitted, “Your smile is my favorite.”

  With a slight smile, Jackson asked, “You’ve seen me in my underwear and my smile is your favorite thing about me?”

  As I laughed, I teased, “Well, now there’s the glasses.”

  Shaking his head at me he got up and walked to the downstairs bathroom.

  Waiting for Jackson to come back, I smiled to myself thinking of how much I enjoyed spending time with him. Talking to Jackson always made me feel better but I was starting to feel bad. With an extremely guilty conscience, I knew even though I hadn’t done anything, this was wrong. I was good managing our friendship and my feelings on a regular basis but times like these gave me an odd feeling. The feeling had nothing to do with sex, it was more like smiles and kisses and fingers barely brushing together anticipating holding hands. For me, that was worse. So when he came out, I smiled and told him goodnight before I went back to bed.

  Chapter 14

  Awakened by the phone ringing, I was surprised that it stopped after only two rings. I laid there waiting for it to ring again when it didn’t, I walked to the bathroom and after pulling up my hair and brushing my teeth, I headed to Sophia’s room. She was just waking up. I changed her and started to bring her downstairs. At the top of the stairs I had to sit down. Feeling like the room was spinning; I knew I was going to be sick.

  I hollered, “Jacks!” knowing there was no way I was going to make it down.

  Quickly up the stairs and in front of me he asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “Take her, I’m gonna be sick,” I stressed, holding Sophia out to him.

  The second he took her, I jumped up and dashed to my bathroom.

  Unsure of how long I was sick in the bathroom, I finally stood up, brushed my teeth again and slowly walked back to the stairs. Holding on to the banister, I made my way down but only able to make it as far as the couch, I had to sit down.

  Walking up to the couch, Jackson asked, “Do you need something?”

  Shaking my head, I said, “Get Sophia’s cereal out of the cabinet it’s the yellow one, then put a scoop of her formula in in the short pink…” before Jackson stopped me saying, “I know what to do, I watch you getting her stuff ready ever morning. I was asking what you needed.”

  “Just to lay here,” I moaned curling up on the couch, as he disappeared into the kitchen with Sophia.

  I could hear him talking to her as I fell back asleep.

  Still queasy when I woke up, I sat up a little trying to listen for them. I heard the back door open and close, then nothing. Jackson walked through the living room holding my sleeping Sophia and headed straight upstairs. Minutes later, he came back down and walked back to the kitchen. I gave a weak smile, noticing he was still wearing his glasses. I heard the back door open and shut again and then one more time before it sounded like bags rustling on the table.

  As Jackson walked to the couch, I questioned, “Did you go somewhere?”

  “Yea, me and Sophia went to get some stuff from The Store,” he shared, heading back to the kitchen.

  Confused, I asked, “You took her to The Store by yourself?”

  “Yea,” he answered again as he turned back toward the couch.

  Baffled, I stared at him as he explained, “I didn’t wanna wake you so I just took her with me. She was good, I checked with my mom and everything I got is okay, just in case.”

  Even more confused now, I sat up a little more questioning, “What did you get and just in case what?”

  “I picked up some stuff to make you feel better,” he answered, before uncomfortably saying, “And you know just in case you’re…you know.”

  Giving him a strange look, I said, “No, I don’t know.”

  Jackson walked around the coffee table and sat down on the other end of the couch, informing, “In case you’re …pregnant,” in a low tone.

  Starting to laugh, I shared, “I’m not but thank you.”

  “How do you know you’re not,” he questioned.

  With a soft smile, I shared, “I just do, I’m not,” not wanting to shared Hert’s personal business with him.

  “Well, I got ginger ale and mint tea and…” he started before I stopped him, saying, “Can you get me some ginger ale then.”

  Nodding, he hopped up and walked to the kitchen.

  It did not take him long to return with a glass of ginger ale in hand. As he gave it to me, I sat up a little more and motioned for him to sit back down. I took a tiny sip and set it on the coffee table before curling back up in my blanket. Suddenly, I remembered the phone ringing.

  “Did Hert call this morning?” I asked.

  With a deep breath, Jackson answered, “Yea, he’s gonna call you tonight.”

  Closing my eyes, I questioned, “Is something wrong?”

  After a long pause, he replied, “He wants to talk to you about Thursday.”

  With a heavy sigh, I griped, “Guess we won’t be celebrating our anniversary.”

  There was another pause before Jackson informed, “I’m not sure about the celebrating but he wants you to go see him.”

  What a pleasant surprise. I was sure Hert was going to come up with some stupid excuse not to see me. Maybe he thought about what was best for everyone and decided he didn’t want to be without me. Thoughts of our anniversary and Hert coming back home swirled in my head as I fell back asleep.

  Jackson patted my shoulder. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw him handing me the phone.

  Still half asleep, I took the phone, saying, “Hello.”

  Hert’s voice was low as he asked, “Are you sick?”

  “No, I just didn’t feel good today but I think I’m better now,” I answered, not wanting him to back out on Thursday.

  “Did Mrs. Thomas come over?” he questioned.

  There was a smile to my voice as I said, “Nope, Jackson had Sophia all day, he even took her to The Store.”

  Sounding pleasantly surprised, Hert laughed a little, saying, “Well, what do ya know,” before he asked, “Can you meet me Thursday?”

/>   I blurted, “Yes!”

  “I will call Thursday morning and tell you what time the driver will pick you up,” he informed.

  Happy I was really going to see him; I cheered, “Okay,” before he repeated, “Okay,” and hung up.

  It took me a minute to realize he didn’t say I love you and he didn’t say it the last time we talked either.

  Feeling considerably better than this morning, I sat up. As my stomach started to growl, I stood up. Slowly, I made my way upstairs. I brushed my teeth and washed my face before I walked back downstairs. When I made it to the bottom, Jackson was standing in the living room with an unhappy expression.

  “What are you doing?” he fussed.

  With a light smile, I said, “I’m going to fix something to eat.”

  Still fussing, he informed, “Nu-uh, you’re going to sit back down and if you’re hungry, I’ll make you some soup.”

  Shaking my head, I argued, “I can make myself something to eat Jacks.”

  “You’ve been cooking and stuff since I got here, just let me fix you some soup,” he pressed.

  Nodding, I walked back to the couch, agreeing to let him make my dinner. I looked at the clock and sighed knowing I had slept the entire day away. Not only that, I was sure Sophia was already in bed since it was past eleven.

  Jackson walked back in, saying, “Be careful it’s hot,” as he handed me a bowl.

  Taking my bowl of soup, I asked, “Sophia’s in bed?”

  Nodding with a smile, he said, “Yea, I fed her dinner and I even changed her, thank you very much.” When I shook my head starting to laugh, he added, “I didn’t give her a bath though.”

  “That’s okay, thank you so much for doing all that,” I appreciated.

  With an accomplished air about him, Jackson sat down on the couch with me.

  I started off taking small sips of my soup. When I knew it would stay down, I gobbled down a large spoonful of it. Feeling even better after eating, I set my bowl down and turned to Jackson.

  “How is your eye?” I asked.

  Shrugging, he replied, “It still kinda hurts but it think it’s better. Pulling his glasses down to rub it, he laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t show up for the event looking all dorky.”

  Defending his appearance, I assured, “There not dorky, there cute.”

  Making a face, he said, “Yea, that’s why I was popular with the ladies before basketball and contacts.”

  Recalling, chubby smart kid with glasses, I said, “I bet you were just adorable back then.”

  “You know that’s what Jeff Norman used to say every time he beat me up,” he sarcastically stated.

  Sitting up tall, I stated, “Well, that kid was a stupid jerk and if I knew you back then, I would have beat him up.”

  Laughing at me, Jackson replied, “That’s alright he got his payback.” As I gave him a curious look, he shared, “I slept with every girlfriend he had from about the ninth grade until he moved away.”

  “Ewe Jacks!” I blurted before saying, “You are truly disturbed.”

  Shaking his head with a smile, he asked, “Why ewe? You say that damn near every time I mention being with a girl. What is ewe about that?”

  “It’s not but doing it with that many people is,” I clarified.

  Slightly scowling, he asked, “So you think I’m gross?”

  Starting to feel bad, I corrected, “No, you’re not but you have been with a lot of girls and that kinda is.”

  “Why?” he questioned before he asked, “Is that why you didn’t want to?”

  I sat there staring at him.

  I felt like he was putting me on the spot. Over the years, our not sleeping together when we were together, had come up from time to time. Each time, the question had been posed in a different way and fluffed off by both of us in conversation. Even though, I explained why I felt the way I did about having sex while we were together, I knew it bothered him that I was the only girl he took out and not to bed. Shaking my head, I took a breath and decided to once and for all, clear the air and resolve the subject.

  With a heavy sigh, I asked, “Do you really want to know why I never slept with you?”

  My question seemed to catch him off guard and it took him a few minutes to say, “Yes.”

  Leaning back against the couch, I shared, “I was scared.” With an apologetic smile and a shrug, I explained, “I liked you so much and at the time I was afraid that if we did and then broke up, I would lose you.” Shaking my head, I added, “I can’t imagine…”

  Placing his hand on my shoulder, Jackson assured, “Yea, me either.”

  Smiling at him, I leaned closer placing my head on his shoulder. Leaning his head against mine, we sat there silent.

  For a brief moment, I wondered what he was thinking. Then, decided it was best that I didn’t know, just in case it was inappropriate or worse sentimental. I thought about moving a few times but couldn’t bring myself to actually do it.

  “I should probably go to bed,” I offered.

  He replied, “You probably should.”

  “Would a hug be out of line?” I questioned.

  I heard him sigh before, saying, “If you have to ask then, yes.”

  With a slight laugh I stood up. Jackson stood up too.

  Smiling, I asked, “Hand shake then?” as I held my hand out to him.

  Smiling his smile he took my hand and shook it before jerking me forward and hugging me tight.

  Chapter 15

  Full of energy after sleeping the previous day away and going to bed directly after Jackson hugged me, I skipped down the stairs. It was far too early to be up and around but I was wide awake, even though it was only a little after five. Mentally making a to-do list, I thought I would call Amila around nine then start designing my centerpiece. I walked to the kitchen and pulled a box of cereal from the cabinet. Standing at the counter, I ate my cereal. Suddenly, I was struck with a brilliant idea.

  Dashing from the kitchen to the living room, I ran right into Jackson.

  “Are we back to that?” he laughed as blurted, “Sorry,” and rushed around him and up the stairs.

  In my room, I made a little list of things I needed for the centerpiece. Folding the paper in a little square, I slid it in my pocket and headed back downstairs.

  Pouring himself a bowl of cereal, Jackson said, “Morning.”

  With a sly smile, I teased, “I know something you don’t know.”

  Raising an eyebrow, he disagreed, “Impossible, I know everything.”

  “You don’t know this,” I confirmed, smiling wide.

  With a smirk, he asked, “Is it Ball related?”

  “Maybe,” I chirped, before asking, “What’s on your agenda today?”

  As he shook his head at me, I asked, “How would you like to get outta the house today?”

  Appearing surprised but happy, Jackson agreed.

  Planning a long day out, I packed Sophia’s diaper bag after she was up and fed. No one answered when I called Amila’s house so that was off the list for today. As we headed out the door, Mrs. Thomas called inviting us over for the day so Sophia could play with Gus’s little girl again. After explaining to her the plans we already had, Mrs. Thomas offered for us to drop Sophia with her while Jackson and I ran errands. Happily agreeing, I decided even though Amila’s was out, I could make another stop that wouldn’t be possible if Sophia was with us. We arrived and after visiting for a few minutes, Jackson and I headed into town.

  Driving toward The Store, Jackson asked, “Do you want to have lunch out somewhere?”

  Instantly laughing, I said, “I don’t know, you haven’t gone out with any waitresses lately have you?”

  Laughing a little, he replied, “Aren’t you funny.”

  Nodding, I confirmed, “Yes, I am,” before taking a breath and informing, “Hey, I need to make a stop before we get to The Store.”

  “Okay, where to?” he asked.

  I got a nervous feeling as I said
, “Diavolo.”

  Without a second thought, he stated, “Nope.”

  I knew Jacks wouldn’t be happy about my stopping by to see HIM but I was not going to take no for an answer.

  As we continued in route to The Store, I tried to think of ways to reason with him. Asking Jackson to take me to Diavolo was the safest way to get a message to Salvador. It was not a place I liked to go, even when I was with HIM. It was a place unpleasant people went to find things. Basically, if someone needed something and wasn’t particularly concerned about it being legal, they would go to Diavolo and place a request. HE ran it from a little building behind a store front. Unnoticeable from the street, you almost had to know you were going there to find it.

  I started to try but before I could say a word, Jackson blurted, “No! Hell no!”

  “Please,” I begged, saying, “I need to set up a meeting with Salvador and it’s the only way I know how without Hert finding out.”

  Shaking his head, Jackson said, “No.”

  “No?” I questioned before asking, “Can’t you just trust me?”

  “Trust has nothing to do with this,” Jackson replied.

  “Yes it does. Can’t you trust me that I know what I’m doing?” I asked before explaining, “HE’ll be there, I’ll go in and tell HIM I need to meet with HIS uncle and then I’ll get back in the car.”

  Pulling off the road and into a little parking lot, Jackson parked the car and turned to me, advising, “It won’t be that simple and Hert finding out isn’t what I’m worried about. That is the last thing that I’m concerned with.”

  Smiling at him, I said, “Come on, fifteen minutes and if I’m not out you can go in swingin’.”

  With a serious look, he stated, “I don’t find that funny.”

  Just as serious, I informed, “I wasn’t trying to be but how about this? I am going. Now, I can either go with you waiting for me to come out safe and sound or I can go by myself and who knows what would happen.”

  Shaking his head, this time in frustration, Jackson pulled out of the parking lot and back onto the road.

  Since he did not say another word, I wasn’t sure if he was going to take me or not. Relieved but a little nervous at the same time, I watched Jackson continue to shake his head at me as he made the turn to Diavolo. Still sure this was the only way, I hoped between knowing HE was obedient to HIS uncle and Jackson waiting outside for me, would be enough to get me through having a conversation with HIM. Jackson parked right in front of a little china shop. He didn’t say anything but did give me an ‘I am so not happy with you’ glare as I got out of the car. Walking through a narrow pathway between two of the shops, I shook my hands and took a deep breath, getting all my little nervous gestures out of the way beforehand.