Janet tells Diego about having to move to Texas, and about her deep, dark secret. He tells her it’s all right, and will all work out.
He opened his mouth, tilting her head back so hers fell open. The kiss he gave her was beyond anything he’d given her before. His tongue dove into her mouth over and over as he clutched her hair. He held her close, his chest crushed against hers. Slowly, he came back to himself and ended their heated embrace.
“I should take you home,” he said, his voice husky. “Your folks are worried.”
“Five more minutes,” she begged. “Hold me, kiss me just five more minutes.”
“We need to go, or I’m gonna do something bad.” He tugged at the crotch of his jeans.
Diego drove her home and walked her up to the house. Her parents waited anxiously in the living room. Sookie was in her room with the door shut.
Her mother rushed her, hugging her tight. “Thank God, oh, thank God!”
“I’m okay, Mom. I was at the park.” Janet’s voice was muffled by her mother’s shoulder.
“Let’s all sit down and calm down,” Evander said.
Diego and Janet sat together on the love seat. Her parents sat opposite on the couch. Evander leaned forward, hands folded in his lap.
“You ran off before I could finish,” he said quietly. “I know this is a shock. I know it’s not easy to process. Mom and I talked this over, and we’ve got a way to make this work. At least I hope so. School hasn’t started back home yet, so we could get Sookie in at the start of the year, if we left by the end of the week.”
Janet started to speak, but he held up his hand. She closed her mouth, letting him finish.
“Your Aunt Martha and Uncle Buck have agreed to let you stay with them. You and Maddie are the same age, and seem to get along well….”
“I love Maddie, she’s like my sister!”
“Then it’s perfect. You can stay with them. If you get tired of them, you can stay with Bunny’s family, or Diego’s.”
“You’d let me stay in the same house with him?” Janet was shocked.
“Not alone,” her mother said with a laugh. “But his parents agree that it would be okay, once in a while, for you to sleep over with Ramona like you’ve done for years.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have to leave?” She was so happy, she wanted to dance.
“We can do this for the school year,” her father said. “By summer, you’d need to move to Texas permanently.”
“Daddy? Really?” She burst into tears. “I don’t want to leave!”
“Honey, you two might not even be together by summertime. You could finish your high school in Lubbock. Maybe even get into college there. It’s a good school.”
“We’ll be together,” Janet argued. “We’ll love one another forever!”
“Honey, I know you think that….”
Janet didn’t say all the things in her mind. There were too many emotions battling for dominance.
“We’re going to start packing things up and set about getting this house on the market. We’re going this weekend to find a bigger place and get Sookie registered in school.”
“I’m not going. I have to work this weekend.”
“I thought it would be nice to do as a family….” her father began.
“I’ve got to keep my job. I can’t miss the entire weekend. That’s when we get the most business.”
Evander silently agreed with an inclination of his head. “We’re leaving Thursday night.”
“You can have a couple friends over to keep you company,” her mother said, sniffling. “I’d like you to come with us, but—I can understand why you won’t.”
“Can I go now?” Janet asked.
“Dad made a nice dinner….”
“I’m not hungry,” she said. “Can I go?”
“Sure,” her father said. “I’ll save you a plate.”
Janet nodded, rising. Diego followed without saying a word to her parents. Her mother burst into tears as the door closed. Janet heard her father speaking quietly and calmly. She couldn’t hear his words, just his hushed tone.
“Where do you want to go?” Diego asked.
“Taco Village. I’m starving,” she replied.
“But you just said….”
“I lied,” she snapped. “I can’t eat his food.”
Diego simply nodded and drove to his aunt’s restaurant.
©2020 Dellani Oakes
Dellani Oakes 