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 Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:52 pm
Jett was always wary when his mother wanted alone time with his girlfriend, not necessarily because he expected anything bad was going to become of it but because he was a nosy b*****d. That two of the most important women in his life could bond while he wasn't there was a little bit odd, and while he should have been happy that they got along so well, he was just paranoid either was telling embarrassing stories about him to the other.
There was also the fact that Jett had given them almost no time alone together since the proposal just to make sure there were no awkward mother-daughter type conversations.
He knew he couldn't have prevented it forever, so when the time came that he was shooed out of the room with the excuse that they desperately needed milk and eggs for dinner, he finally trudged out.
Charmaine must have expected her son to have some excuse to sneak back into the house because she waited by the door until she heard him turn on his car and pull out of the driveway before rushing back to the living room and sitting on the couch across from Raven. She smiled uncertainly, hands on her knees, and smoothed out her skirt. Her eyes went to the engagement ring on the girl's finger and her eyes just lit up. "Oh, I'm just so happy for you two," she said for the umpteenth time. "I was young when I got engaged. I thought it was the happiest day of my life."
Except she wasn't wearing her engagement ring anymore, and her marriage had ended bitterly. "Then I thought having a son was actually the happiest day," she amended a few seconds later. "The day he told me he proposed to you, that's my new happiest day. Raven, you are just such an amazing young woman, and you make my son so happy. Now—I know I'm a broken record, you must be tired of me saying that, and I promise there is all a purpose to this. It's actually," she faltered, and seemed almost shy. Instead of looking Raven in the eye, she started twiddling a ring on her middle finger. It was shiny—new.
And she wasn't the sort of person to buy herself jewelry.
"I need your advice. I try not to keep secrets from Jett, but I just haven't really been able to open up to him about just one. You know how he is. He doesn't like change. And I'm worried about how to tell him. I've…"
She drew in a breath, and finally glanced up. "I've been seeing someone. For a few months now. A few business trips…weren't actually business trips. I just didn't know how to bring that sort of thing up with Jett. I've been dying to tell someone, but it's all been so hush hush. And that boy just wouldn't shoo. So—there, that's the big secret. Has Jett…suspected anything? …I want to come clean, I just. I don't know how. He's really a great guy—Ryan. Successful, sweet. Handsome. I just…I don't know how to bring it up. You know?" she asked hopefully.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 8:27 pm
To be honest, Raven wasn’t sure what to make of the fact she was now alone with Jett’s mother. The fact scared her quite a bit, to tell the full truth, and when the woman kept saying how happy she was that they were engaged, well, that did nothing to settle her nerves. Not one thing. As she watched the woman fiddle with the ring on her hand, Raven couldn’t help but do the same.
When Charmaine finally spilled the real reason that she wanted to talk to Raven, the real reason that she went on so many trips, the blonde looked up. “You have a boyfriend…? That…That’s wonderful! He—Jett will be so happy to hear it…why haven’t you told him? I’m sure he would have been relieved to know it. He always worries about you being lonely.”
She stopped for a moment, then shrugged. “That was always his reason for not proposing sooner, because he was afraid of leaving you alone.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 8:46 pm
For a brief second, Charmaine looked guilty. "Well, to be fair he didn't exactly tell me he was proposing until he'd given you the ring, so I suppose romantic secrets…run in the family. That silly boy. He's got himself a good girl, he shouldn't let something as silly as worrying about me hold him back." She sighed, but couldn't help but smile again when she thought of the girl's congratulations. "Though...I suppose I've kept this a secret for long enough. I mean, he might be more than a boyfriend soon. I can't tell but he's dropped some hints. I'm a little afraid to get my hopes up, but…"
But there was a glow on her face and a sparkle in her eye. "Maybe if I do tell him you two can get on with your life and he'll stop being such a mama's boy."
…Even though she loved it and was so happy to have a son that cared so much for her. "I suppose I've just waited so long that I feel guilty. I don't want Jett to get mad—not at me, not at Ryan. I'm afraid to introduce the two. It's a little like introducing your parents to your first boyfriend or something, I think? Except Jett is probably a little more judgmental than either of my parents ever were. I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan walked away with a death threat or two. "
She sighed again and resumed playing with her hair, curling a few loose strands around her finger and tugging lightly. "I am just trying to think of a way to break the news. I was hoping…do you have any tips? Should I just…come clean and talk about it, or surprise introduce them, or…grill him up a steak and butter him up first? Oh," she sighed once more, "I don't even know, all of this makes me feel so giddy…"
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:24 pm
Raven couldn’t stop from smiling. Jett’s mother’s joy was just a bit too contagious for her not to be at least a little excited for her. “Oh, I think he’ll be terrible to Ryan, at least at first. He won’t be happy, I don’t think…I mean. He’ll be happy for you, that’s for sure…but I don’t know how long it’ll take to convince him that Ryan isn’t just going to walk out…”
She gave a little shake of the head. If anything, wouldn’t this make Jett even more over protective? What a bother. And why was she telling her all of this. It wasn’t anything that she even wanted to hear…and she wasn’t sure what else to say. “But, I think steak sounds like a very good way to butter him up. Either steak or a big cheeseburger. He likes them both pretty well, you know.”
The blonde smiled again. “I’m so glad to hear that you’re happy…you really deserve to be, you know. You’ve raised a very fine son…”
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:39 pm
There was a bit of concern that passed across the older woman's face when Raven mentioned the idea of Ryan just walking out; she had handled it once before. She could do it again.
But things were going to be different this time.
"Raven, you are the absolute sweetest girl I've ever met. I just want to say thank you, so much. I don't know that I've ever seen Jett so happy. I suppose I don't have to worry about him now that he's got you looking after him." She drew in a breath and then seemed to relax. "And you're right. He'll probably pick on him. But at the end of the day, I'm a grown woman and Jett should respect whoever I decide to trust my heart to. Hopefully they can be civil," she said, scratching the back of her neck, suddenly. "…Maybe I just won't tell Jett and live the rest of my life having a secret affair." She laughed nervously, though it wasn't a thought she could seriously entertain. "I'll probably wind up telling him soon. Maybe…that's just a little bit of warning for you, then, in case he's suddenly all moody. If he does get upset…oh, please just put in a good word for me. I don't know that I could handle him being mad at me."
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:48 pm
“There’s no way that he would be mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong. If he gets mad it will just be because he doesn’t want you to get hurt. But there’s no way he’d be mad at you. And you can’t keep it a secret from him forever. That’s not fair…and if you don’t tell him, I’ll do it for you.” She laughed slightly, shaking her head.
“Well, fine, if he gets moody, you know I’ll just be moody right back at him, I can take care of myself as far as he’s concerned.” She reached out, taking Charmaine’s hand and squeezing it. “It’ll all work out, you’ll see. And I know once it gets through to him that you’re happy…he’ll be happier than anything. You really are…you’re everything to him, and your happiness is all he wants.”
She gave a little smile, then sighed. “So…just tell him. When he gets back I’ll leave…and you tell him…he needs to know. He really does.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:02 pm
"Me? Everything to him?" Charmaine laughed, squeezing the girl's hand. "He talks about you in his sleep. You don't know how many times I've found him on the couch, sleep talking to you. You know, I was worried that his father walking out on us was going to make it hard for him to stay in a relationship. I'm really glad you came along. I'm so happy that he's happy. Pluuus, it's nice to have another girl around the house."
She looked like she was about to say more until she thought she heard a car pulling into the driveway, so she leaned over and gave Raven a quick hug. "I'll save that news for a few more days, but I promise I'll tell him soon. You stay for dinner, I've got a roast in the oven! Which I should probably check on soon. Thank you for talking with me, dear. I just wish you two the best of luck. You'll let me know if there's ever anything you need to talk about too, won't you?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:09 pm
Raven gave a little smile, seeming very happy to hear the words. Sometimes it really seemed that Jett was too busy for her, too…distant. It was good to hear that he really loved her. Especially when it came from someone else.
Raven glanced up when she heard the car and nodded. “Okay, okay. Dinner sounds delicious. Thank you for talking to me as well…and of course I’ll come to you, I promise. Thank you for inviting me into your family…uh…mom?”
She gave a little laugh, finally dropping the woman’s hand and relaxing against the couch. Well. At least the awkward conversation was over now.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:26 pm
Charmaine smiled once more, obviously flattered by the title. "Of course, honey, it's been my pleasure," she said before bustling out of the room. Jett opened the door only a few seconds later, and it was obvious by the look on his face that he had been suspicious and curious as to what he'd find upon returning.
Nothing was almost disappointing. He shrugged to himself, waved to Raven, and then dropped off the groceries in the kitchen before returning to. He flopped down on the couch next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and kissing her on the cheek. "You two have fun while I was gone?" he asked, prying as nonchalantly as he could.
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:40 pm
Raven leaned into Jett’s embrace and shrugged. “Yeah. Tons of fun. We danced and made grapefruit cake and did all sorts of things.” She laughed. “No, you didn’t miss much. We talked about the engagement, and she invited me to dinner. You know. After showing me your baby pictures and telling me all of your silly little childhood secrets.”
She kissed Jett’s cheek and sighed. “I don’t know. Your mom is really nice. I feel really welcome in your family…and I’m really glad. Everything…everything just seems so good right now…Thank you, Jett.”
The blonde held Jett’s hand tightly, giving a little smile. “Love you…you dumb fiancé you.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:49 pm
His nose wrinkled at the mention of grapefruit cake, and in the second she mentioned baby pictures and childhood secrets he looked moderately perturbed. There were no handmade cards out, no photographs, none of his old toys…
He had been holding his breath even when Raven kissed his cheek, though only really relaxed when she took his hand. "Well, you know," he said, hoping to change the subject far away from anything embarrassing—just in case. "You deserve the best. I'm just going to make sure I give it to you. Mom loves you. I love you. Let's keep it this way forever."
Jett squeezed her hand for emphasis and just drew her closer.
Things like this, forever?
…As long as he was with her, he didn't care what the future held.
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