FALLING: The Negative Ion Series (6 page)

“Well, you have now and like you said, something is better than nothing, right?”

“Yeah, right,” Jaxen sniffs. “Better than nothing.”

“I better go. I don’t know what time my father is coming tomorrow and I want to be awake and dressed when he gets here.”

“Okay. I’m looking forward to hearing from you tomorrow.”

“Me, too. Good night
, Jaxen.”

“Good night, baby.”

I end the call. Clutching my cell and with a huge smile on my face, I fall asleep immediately.

Chapter 6

Only 125 days left

Still in her robe, Mom knocked on my door, waking me, saying Daddy was here already. I jumped up, surprised it was already after 9. I dressed quickly and when I came downstairs, I saw him sitting in the living room, pensive and quiet but smiling big, like he got the best Christmas gift ever. I love seeing him this way.

He meant what he said about
maxing out his AmEx. He bought everything I so much as looked at. I have several outfits, professional and personal, a dozen pairs of shoes, jewelry, perfumes, make-up… the works! I’m not wearing any of it until I get to New York. As soon as I can, I’m packing it all up. There is so much new stuff, I don’t have to pack any of the stuff in my room. I think I’ll donate most of it to charity.

“Daddy! That was the corniest
one!” I say as I shake my head at my father’s latest bad joke. I don’t know why but he’s been more outgoing and happier than usual today.

Daddy walks
inside the house, carrying loads of shopping bags, as I hold the door open for him. “Come on, honey! It wasn’t that bad!” Daddy laughs as he puts the bags on the bed in the downstairs guest room. “Okay, maybe it was. I’ll be right back. I think this may take four or five more trips!”

I laugh again
then watch my father go back and forth four times. He really did buy me a lot of stuff.

“Thank you for
today and all of this, Daddy.” I kiss his cheek then sit on the bed and start going through my bounty. Daddy sits in a chair across from the bed and smiles at me.

“No thanks
needed, honey. I’m glad to do this for you. You’ve made me a very happy and proud man.”

“Thank you, Daddy.”
I blushed and smiled then heard Mom coming in the house.

“Oh my,”
Mom laughs, walking in the room in her captain’s uniform. I remember then an officer on her force died and today was his funeral, hence the uniform. She’s usually in street attire. I think that’s why she had the nightmare last night. “What is all of this? I’m not going to get a call that the mall was robbed, am I?”

“
No,” I laugh. “It’s my graduation present, Mom. Daddy took me shopping.”

“Yes, he did! Wow! Did you guys leave anything in the stores?”

Daddy clears his throat and Mom startles, looking further into the room.

“Oh! H
i, Sam. I didn’t see you there,” Mom says softly.

Daddy nods with a small smile.
“Shay. How are you?”

“About the s
ame as I was last night, Sam.”

“I remember you sayin
g you were tired. Are you still?”

“More
so. I barely got any rest last night after our daughter’s party. It was an exhaustive day and I was restless almost all night.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, Shay. If I’d been here, I’d have helped.”

“Don’t worry about it, Sam.
You live in New York so… I’ve had a bad day and I just want to go to bed and veg out.”

I quietly sigh and open a box with
a tennis bracelet in it. Five minutes tops is the longest they could go without fighting. I think this time was 37 seconds. I think I should intervene before the claws come out.

“Mom?”

“Yes, Itsy?”

“You had a nightmare last night.”

“Huh?” Mom frowns.

“Last night, as I was going to my room, I heard your grunting. You quieted fast so I kept going.”

Mom blinks then comes over and rubs my back. “I’m sorry, honey, but I was exhausted and I didn’t remember that I’d had one. I should be okay tonight.”

“You still have those nightmares,
Shay?” Dad asks, frowning hard.

“Yes
I do, Sam, but they are not as bad as they were when we were together. And not as frequent either. They usually appear when I’m tired or overly stressed.”

Daddy nods and looks away.

“So, honey,” Mom says as she picks up a work blouse. “Ooh, this is pretty. What do you want to do tonight?”

“I think I’ll call up a friend and go out. I’m ordering you to veg out.”

“Let’s not forget who the mother is here, young lady,” Mom laughs. “Besides, I only have you for a little while longer and I want to spend as much time as I can with you.”

I smirk.
“Mom, we have four months. One night isn’t going to kill you but your exhaustion will.”

“Are you sure, honey?”

“I am but I have a condition.”

Mom frowns. “What is it?”

“Daddy is leaving tomorrow and has asked me to go to lunch with him. I want you to come with us.”

“Oh, honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I think it is, Mom,” I plead then turn to my father. “Don’t you think so too, Daddy?”

Daddy frowns then
, giving me a resigned look, nods his head. “Yeah, Shauna, we should. No matter what, we share a daughter and we want her happy. Join us for lunch. I insist.”

Mom hesitates a minute then nods. “Okay,
lunch. Is one too late? I can’t get away from work until then.”

“One is fine
,” Daddy nods then stands next to me. “My flight isn’t until five. Plenty of time to eat, get to the airport and checked in. So Hampton Inn Restaurant at one?”

“Okay, it’s a date
,” Mom smiled. “I’ll meet you two there at one.”

“Great,” I grin.

“I have to go see Terri and Parker now, ladies. I will see you both tomorrow. Have fun tonight, honey,” Daddy smiles then kisses my temple.

“Thanks, Daddy. See you tomorrow.”

Daddy turns to Mom. “Shauna.”

“Sam,
” she murmurs as she pushes my hair behind my ear.

I watch Daddy leave and shake my head at my mother.

“What, honey?”

“Can
’t you at least try to be a little friendlier, Mom?”

She
snorts. “I’ve been plenty friendly with your father, honey.”

“Mom!”

“Fine,” Mom sighs. “I’ll do better when I see him again.”

“Thank you. It’s just an hour for lunch. You can do it.”

“Thanks for the pep talk, Itsy,” Mom drawls. “I’m going to go and have a nice hot bath. Where are you and Samantha headed tonight?”

“Um, well…”

Mom freezes at the door and turns to me. “Well, what?”

“
I’m sorta not meeting with Sammi,” I murmur, blushing fire. “I kinda have a date.”

“A date?” Mom grins. “With who?”

“Jaxen,” I whisper.

Mom pauses and widens her eyes.
“I’m sorry, did you say ‘
Jaxen’
?”

I nod.

“Samantha’s brother, Jaxen? That Jaxen?”

I nod again. Mom stares at me for what seemed like an eternity then sighing heavily, she says: “Okay. Have a good time.”

I frown. “That’s it?”

“That’s it
, what?”

“That’s all you’re going to say about me going on a date with
Jaxen?”

“What else can I say? You’re 22 years old and you make good decisions. Of course I’m worried and I always will
be, no matter who you date. But I have this guy’s home address and his parents’ numbers. If he fucks up, I’ll alert them, fuck up his driving record and arrest him.”

“You wouldn’t!”

“I certainly would. So tell him to tread lightly and wipe his feet before he comes in here.”

“I will, Captain Kessler,
” I giggle with a salute. “I love the furniture by the way. The house looks beautiful. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you yesterday, but we were so busy.”

My mother grinned big. “Do you really like my choices?”

“I do. When I buy a home, I’m so copying everything. I love the color of the couches on the Dapper Tan walls. Perfect match on the red wall. And that beautiful dining table and cabinet. Just wow.”

“
Thank you, honey. You know, everyone said they loved it but your opinion is the only one that mattered to me, even if you are leaving me in four months,” Mom sniffs. “Don’t mind me. I’m just really,
really
going to miss you.”

“
I’m going to miss you more, Mom,” I smile, trying not to cry. I really will miss her, more than she knows, I think as her arms hold me tight. After a few minutes, she releases me and smiles.

“I’m going to have that bath now. Shout when you’re leaving because I’m going to bed with 40 bucks worth of Chinese food and my remote control.”

“No Marvin tonight, Mom?”

Mom sighs. “No, honey. I meant to tell you sooner. Marvin and I are over.”

“
Over?” I frown. I thought wedding bells would be ringing with those two.

“Yeah. It’s not been going well
for a while and when I was made Captain a few months ago, it took him over the edge. He can’t handle that I’m his boss now and has been acting like a complete tool. We ended things permanently Monday night.”

“I’m sorry, Mom.”

“So am I but I’ll be okay,” Mom smiles again then leaves the room. I start to reconsider going out with Jaxen but I can tell she wants to be alone. I pick up my cell and text Jaxen.

Hi. Are you free tonight?

I set the phone down and pick up a box of shoes. Black pumps, perfect for work in Daddy’s law office. Parker will be working as a contract writer and researcher while studying for the bar exam in New York. I will be an intern. I’m taking a year off to work and I plan to go to law school next fall, hoping to get into Brown or Harvard. I can’t wait to start work, I think as my cell rings. Jaxen. I grin big as I answer.

“Hey.”

“If I weren’t, I’d make myself free for you, baby. What do you want to do?”

“I’m open. Where should I meet you?”

“No, I’m picking you up. I’ll borrow the old man’s car.”

I giggle. “Make sure you do your chores before you ask to borrow it.”

“I’ve done them already,” Jaxen laughs. “I wanted no bullshit in case I could see you.”

“Okay. What time are you picking me up?”

“I can be there at seven. Is that enough time?”

I glance at my watch. It’s just after five.
“Plenty. I already have my dress picked out.”

“Good. I’ll see you
at seven, baby.”

“Bye,
Jaxen.”

I end the call then run up
stairs. I hear the water running in Mom’s tub and, patiently as I can, I wait until it stops. I take my time as I shower, carefully shaving my legs and scrubbing my hair. Once done, I pull out a pink dress and cream flats and slip them on after I oil my body. When I’m done with my makeup and hair, I go downstairs and knock on Mom’s door. She calls for me to enter and I walk in to see her sitting Indian style in the middle of her bed, chewing on an egg roll while watching Magic Mike. I sit on the edge of the bed then scoot closer.

“
Don’t you look pretty,” Mom smiles then nods at the TV. “An officer said there was a plot line in this movie. I still can’t concentrate on it. Have you seen these men’s asses, honey? Ooh, what I could do to that Joe Manganiello!”

“Really, Mom?” I
groan then bite her egg roll.

“Yes, really! Look at him! I
’d straddle him and--”

“Mom, please
stop, I’m begging you! If you ever want to be a grandmother, stop right there! You’re about to put me off sex forever before I’ve even tried it!”

Mom frowns. “You’re still a virgin?”

“Yeah,” I blush.

“Wow. You did way better than me. I fell for the ‘
I love you, show me you love me’
line. He didn’t want me, just what I could give him. Then a few months later, there was your father. He wanted me but he couldn’t handle my career choice. Imagine that: a lawyer who didn’t want his girl to be a cop. Then I accidently got pregnant. I lost him eventually but at least I got you and you’ve turned out to be the best accomplishment of my life.”

I grin and put my head on her shoulder. “Thanks, Mom b
ut you deserve the credit. I have no choice but to be good since you carry a gun.”

Mom tapped my nose and laughed. “No,
I think you’re naturally good and a complete blessing.”

I smile again. “Mom, are you sure you want to be alone? I could call
Jaxen and cancel and we could veg out together right here.”

Mom leaned her head on mine
and patted my cheek. “It’s okay, honey. You need to enjoy your friends while you’re still here. I’ll be fine. You and I can do something together tomorrow and every day you have left here. Go have a good time with Jaxen.”

“Okay,” I
nod then stand when the bell rings. “That’s him. I’ll try to be home early.”

“No need, honey. I’ll probably
go straight to sleep after I gorge out.”