The Christmas Promise

by Sean D. Young

  In the afterglow of their passionate lovemaking, they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Jennifer was the first to awaken, finding herself tangled in the bed sheets with Simeon. When she tried to sit up, she discovered two things; she was naked in bed with her neighbor and she had a splitting headache.

  Last night she was moaning with passion; now, this morning, she wanted to disappear as embarrassment washed over her. Hair disheveled, her eyes were fixed on the ceiling as she was too ashamed to look at the man who she’d just spent the night with—a man she hardly knew.

  She’d come to his villa to have a nice quiet evening together. They started drinking and dancing, then somehow, with the way their bodies touched, his lips caressing her ear, one thing led to another, resulting in hot, steamy sex and the situation they had this morning.

  Frowning, she finally looked over at Simeon again, who was sleeping soundly, and thought back to her drinking the rum punch and starting to talk about Roderick. That was mistake number one. Mistake number two was stepping into Simeon’s arms, swaying to the music while rubbing up against him. She didn’t even remember which was first, the drinking or the dancing, but what she did remember was his smoking-hot body rubbing against hers.

  Simeon traveled a lot for his job, so she definitely had to go and get tested for STDs when she got home. With his constant travel she wondered if he made it a habit of sleeping with women he’d just met.

  Having unprotected sex was bad, but with a total stranger? Jenn, what have you done, girl? At twenty-six years old she’d never in her life slept with someone without using protection, not even Roderick. That was a plus since he was poking somebody else too.

  “So, you’re regretting what happened last night,” Simeon said.

  Jennifer hadn’t realized that he had awakened. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but they needed to get some things out in the open. “Let me just say,” she started before he placed his finger over her lips.

  “Shh, you don’t have to say it. This was my fault. I should have been more careful and responsible to protect you,” Simeon said.

  “I can’t let you shoulder all the blame in this. I’m a grown woman and have never in my life slept with a man without using a condom.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I want you to know that I’ve been in a couple of relationships and none of them resulted in pregnancy.”

  Gee, thanks, Jennifer thought to herself. His declaration did little to diminish the sinking feeling she had. Her sister Patrice ran the family business at Good Scents Aromatherapy and Day Spa, so she wanted to join the ranks of the rest of the McClendons with her own business. Babies weren’t a part of the five-year plan.

  What’s worse, she wanted to be sure she didn’t have any diseases. A possible pregnancy wasn’t as bad as contracting something she couldn’t get rid of.

  “I’m not worried so much about pregnancy, but to have a disease that penicillin can’t cure is not what I want to experience,” Jennifer said.

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about any of it. You’re safe. I’m clean. I don’t have any diseases. I get checked every year for HIV.”

  “Me, too,” she said, trying to untangle herself from the crumpled bedding before she realized that her clothing was at the doorway.

  Simeon touched her shoulder. “Listen, Jennifer, don’t worry so much. I want us to keep in touch and maybe hang out once we get home.”

  “That would be nice.” Jennifer didn’t know if she should believe him or if he was only saying it because she looked uncomfortable at the time.

  She finally got herself free and went to pick up her clothes.

  “Do you have to leave so soon?” Simeon asked.

  “Yes, I need to get ready to catch my flight.”

  Simeon got up, picked up his shorts and went to find a piece of paper and a pen. By the time he wrote down his information, Jennifer had slipped on her dress.

  He opened his arms, requesting Jennifer to walk into them. He held her close and then stepped back. “I want you to call me even if you’re not pregnant. But if you are, I want you to know that I will do everything I have to for my child,” he said before they shared a sensual kiss.

  He walked Jennifer to the door where they said their last goodbyes.

  Chapter Six

  A month later, Simeon stood at the carousel in baggage claim as the rack went round and round. Every few minutes, he’d check his watch because he hated to be late. He spotted a black piece of luggage and quickly grabbed it before it disappeared down the conveyer belt.

  Rushing to the counter at the rental car agency, he was tired from the travel and exhausted from running. He thought he’d gotten used to traveling and being out of the country, but it had taken a toll on him already.

  After he returned to Chicago, he had every intention to contact Jennifer, but he was put on another network assignment. It was the very project he wanted to take care of before he went on vacation, but was told could be handled without him. The network crashed, causing their client to lose data as well as money. Simeon’s supervisor asked him to see if he could fix the problem remotely or they were going to lose the account, which was worth five percent of his company’s overall revenue.

  At first, Simeon was disappointed about not being able to see Jennifer, but because of his work schedule maybe it was a blessing in disguise. He didn’t want to be one of those boyfriends that made plans and always canceled them because of work.

  Once he and his team worked feverishly to get the accounting firm’s network back up and running smoothly, they moved up his departure to Brazil. The project would take about four months to complete and he would have to work onsite at the client’s location. He would be assisting them in creating various software products from embedded firmware to cloud and mobility solutions for servicers, printers, storage and servers.

  This, once again, caused him to put the job in front of his personal life. He had spoken to Jennifer a couple of times over the phone before she departed the island, but was hoping to see her when he returned. He had been waiting for her to call to let him know whether or not she was pregnant. Simeon had never been that careless, but didn’t regret making love to Jennifer one bit.

  After she left Anguilla, he’d felt so lonely that he spent most of his time lounging by the pool, reading the book they’d started.

  Heading to the counter, he handed the young lady his identification and credit card. He signed the computer-generated contract and waited for the staff to bring his rental car around.

  The pulsation coming from his hip surprised him. He removed his cell phone from the belt clip and saw Jennifer was calling. Immediately, that put a smile on his face. Swiping the screen, he answered. “Hey love, I was just thinking about you,” he said cheerfully.

  “I was thinking about you too.”

  “I can’t wait until I get back so we can at least go to a movie or something.”

  “That sounds cool. I’d love to see you, Simeon. But I’m calling you with some news.”

  “Okay, what is it?”

  “Well, I just wanted you to know everything is cool.”

  Simeon’s eyes widened. “So, you’re not pregnant?” he guessed, not really knowing how he felt about it, but with his current work schedule he couldn’t be anyone’s father. He was never home.

  “Nope, not pregnant. So you won’t be giving out any pink or blue cigars.”

  He could hear her chuckling and was just about to comment on her announcement when a compact-sized Toyota Corolla stopped in front of him.

  “Love, my car is here, so I’ll call you soon.”

  “You’ve already made it to Brazil?”

  “Yes, they moved up my date. I’m putting my luggage in the car as we speak and I’m on my way to my apartment. I should be here for about four months.”

  “Stay safe and I’ll lo
ok forward to your call,” Jennifer replied.

  Simeon pressed the button to end the call before shoving his hand in his pocket so that he could give the young gentleman a tip for assisting him.

  Sliding into the car, he programmed the GPS with the address to the extended-stay facility and started the engine.

  The tracking device estimated that the facility was thirty minutes away, so he found a smooth jazz radio station on the satellite radio. Adjusting his seat to accommodate his more than six-foot height, he checked his side and rearview mirrors before pulling out of the agency parking lot.

  Once he got to the highway, he noticed how fast the other people were driving, so he accelerated to keep up with traffic. Some of the cars changed lanes frequently, at times driving too closely behind the car in front of them. Simeon frowned at first at the seemingly reckless behavior, but he adjusted his driving methods to a more defensive style, preparing himself to be ready to stop on a dime. He’d have to use this way of driving on the Dan Ryan in Chicago because everybody seemed to be in a hurry to go nowhere.

  Simeon allowed the mellow music to help keep the edge off. He was already a bit worn out from the flight and wanted to arrive at his hotel so he could relax before briefing himself on the project he was to lead the next morning.

  What the music did was trigger a memory of his time with Jennifer in Anguilla. Billy Ocean’s “Caribbean Queen” created a happy memory, especially the way they danced together during the last night of the vacation. It was a sensual dance that led to the joining of their bodies as one. It had been the most explosive sexual encounter he’d ever had and one that was unlikely to fade in his memory for some time to come.

  The car in front of him stopped suddenly, jerking him out of his daydream. The traffic had stopped for a red light, so he casually looked around the area. The light changed and he removed his foot from the brake to the accelerator. Then his cell phone rang and he thought it might be Jennifer calling him back, so he tried to grab it.

  The traffic headed around a winding road, so he needed to pay attention. As soon as the road straightened, he tried to pick up the phone again, but a motorcyclist blew past out of nowhere, darting in front of Simeon’s car. He dropped the phone, tapped the brakes and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, jerking it to the right to avoid hitting the young man who didn’t even have on a helmet. It all happened so fast that Simeon’s heart pounded in his chest. The cyclist had come out of nowhere and then Simeon noticed that when the oncoming traffic slowed, the guy darted out once again trying to get ahead of the car in front of him.

  Marveling at the reckless and inconsiderate decisions the cyclist was making, Simeon slowed his vehicle down. Another car started doing the same bob and weave motions, jumping into the other lane, trying to pass Simeon. Unfortunately an eighteen-wheel fuel tanker was coming toward him at a high speed.

  The car was forced to move back over, but there wasn’t enough room and Simeon quickly hit the brakes as hard as he could. He jerked the wheel to the right, trying to avoid the car about to hit him, but it caused him to hit the guardrail. His heart thumped rapidly in his ears as he swerved in the other direction. His car accelerated, so he tapped the brakes again, but he couldn’t stop the vehicle. It began to fishtail almost instantly, nearly missing another car. He swerved back to the left and slammed on the brakes again, the tires squealing as he slammed into the side of the fuel tanker. The tanker dragged the car for several yards before the driver was able to stop.

  Simeon could hear the metal crumpling around him, his body jerking violently, the airbag detonating, smacking him in the face and causing excruciating pain. For a frightening second, he felt like his heart stopped as pressure clamped down on his chest and he couldn’t move or think. He was bleeding, but didn’t know the source, so he prayed to God that he wouldn’t die. Suddenly, motionless and trapped inside the vehicle with clouds of thick smoke surrounding him, air punched from his lungs in a painful rush as tingles spread up the back of his neck. It was getting warmer and warmer by the second, baking his skin. His vision faded with each passing minute. His head pounded and suddenly everything went black.

  Edward and Barbara Baker rushed into Hospital Samaritano in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to find out what happened to their son. Scared and confused, the sixty-year-old mother of three couldn’t stop the tears from flowing as she anxiously awaited an opportunity to see him.

  Since receiving word three days ago from their oldest son Charlie that he’d been contacted by Simeon’s employer about him being involved in a near-fatal accident two days prior, she had been beside herself with worry.

  Finally, they had arrived at the American consulate in Rio and were brought to the hospital where Simeon was being treated. She had been assured that he was still alive, but even that news didn’t diminish the heartbreak she felt not knowing what she was going to see when she walked into his hospital room.

  There were so many details about the accident that were vague and Barbara needed clarity, but no one had any answers. She would wait until after she saw her son before making sure she got those answers.

  They’d been waiting for the doctor to allow them to see Simeon, when Barbara noticed a police officer talking to the receptionist. She wondered if he had any information and watched him closely. He turned in their direction as the woman behind the desk pointed at them. Barbara sat up straight in her chair and poked Edward, who had nodded off, in the side when she saw the officer walk toward them.

  Both Edward and Charlie stood.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Baker?” the tall man inquired.

  “Yes,” Edward responded. “I’m Edward Baker and this is my wife, Barbara,” he said, turning toward his wife.

  The officer extended his hand to Edward. “I’m Lieutenant Roberto Diaz and I’m completing my investigation into your son’s accident.”

  “Investigation?” Barbara asked, feeling more confident the man could answer her questions.

  “No need to worry, Mrs. Baker, your son has been cleared of any charges.”

  “Can you tell us what happened?” Edward asked.

  “Please have a seat,” Charlie offered. “If you could tell us what you know, we would really appreciate it.”

  Everyone took a seat with Officer Diaz sitting in the middle. “There was a collision between two cars and a fuel tanker truck. Simeon’s car hit the side of the truck and was wedged underneath. The driver of the other vehicle, who they believe caused the accident, was pronounced dead at the scene.”

  Edward dropped his head, shaking it slowly, while Barbara said a prayer of thanks for her son’s life being spared and for the healing of the deceased person’s family after such a tragic loss.

  “Were there any other injuries?” Charlie asked.

  “The driver of the truck wasn’t physically injured but was visibly shaken once he saw the crumpled piece of metal wedged underneath his truck with Simeon still inside.”

  Tears streamed down Barbara’s face as she listened to the officer recount the accident.

  “Some of the other drivers were able to stop and call for help from their cell phones. The truck driver and several others tried to get Simeon out of the car, who at this point, was unconscious, but there wasn’t anything they could do,” Lieutenant Diaz said.

  “It sounds like it was a horrific scene,” Edward said.

  “We were lucky that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Everyone in that area had to be careful since the tanker was carrying 8,000 gallons of fuel and there was spillage on the roadway.”

  “How long did it take for the EMS to come and help my boy?” Barbara asked.

  “From the eyewitness accounts, firefighters, HAZMAT and the paramedics were on the scene right before I showed up, attempting to save Simeon’s life and cleaning up the hazardous chemicals.”

  “I’m so grateful that they finally got Simeon out,” Barbara s
aid. “He’s lucky to be alive.”

  “In the space of a heartbeat, firefighters worked feverishly to free him from the wreckage using the Jaws of Life. I watched as the paramedics carefully placed a brace around his neck before transferring him to a long backboard, then onto a stretcher,” the officer said.

  Barbara was grateful to receive the information the officer gave them, but she still needed to know one important thing. “What took you guys so long to get in touch with us?”

  “We had trouble identifying your son because there had been fire damage to the car and his belongings were destroyed. So, we had to find what we could from the wreckage and discovered his name through the car rental agency. In turn, we followed up with the American consulate who subsequently got in touch with his company through his work visa.”

  After hearing the horrific details of what her son had been involved in, Barbara was ready to see him.

  Edward stood to his feet. “I can’t thank you enough for giving us the details, Officer Diaz.”

  “If you want a copy of the police report, you can come down to the office in the morning. The paperwork should be processed by then,” the policeman said, standing.

  Barbara shook his hand first, followed by Edward and Charlie.

  Officer Diaz put his police cap on his head and tipped his hat toward Barbara before leaving the room.

  Even after the visit from the officer, Barbara, Edward and Charlie were still sitting restlessly in the waiting area for the physician of record to address them. Each time someone in a lab coat came past the space, she’d stand up in anticipation of them coming in to speak with them. When they didn’t, a little piece of her heart would break all over again. She just wanted to see her son.

  Dropping her hands in her lap, head bowed, she prayed for someone to come soon with information about Simeon’s condition and then take her to him.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Baker,” she heard a voice call out. Wiping her eyes as she lifted her head, Barbara saw a short, bald-headed man standing in the middle of the room. He was scanning the room.