Chapter 14

Once AJ and Grace returned home, they walked into the house filled with the aroma of Josephine's cooking. AJ was pretty sure that he smelled her strawberry/rhubarb pie baking, but after she had scolded him for spoiling the surprise of the chicken and dumplings, he knew he had better not say anything out loud. While AJ went to look for his mother, Grace went to her room to freshen up. A few minutes later Adele walked through the door, and seeing AJ she asked, "Where's Grace? Is she in her room?"

"Yes, she went up there a little while ago, but should be back down soon."

"I think I'll go on up and see her for a minute," replied Adele. Quickly leaving the kitchen, Adele went upstairs and knocked on Grace's door.

Josephine came in to check on dinner and asked, "Are you two finally back?"

"Yes, mom, but you and I need to have a talk," AJ told her.

"What kind of talk do we need to have, son?"

"Remember 'the talk' you had with Adele when she started dating boys?"

"Yes, but I thought your father had the same talk with you many years ago, son?" she asked confused.

"Mom, it's not me that needs that talk. It's Grace. I touched her shoulder today in the car, and she pulled away from me, saying that her father told her things like that led to making babies."

"Albert Jethro! Are you sure it was only her shoulder that you were touching?" she asked.

"Yes, mom, I was driving. Do you think I would grope her in the front seat of a car, in broad daylight, while we're driving down a busy city street?" he questioned incredulously. He hung his head and shook it sadly, "Mom, I thought you knew you had raised me better than that. Maybe you aren't the one to have this talk with Grace after all," he slowly turned to leave the room.

"Get back in here, AJ! I just wanted to be sure your hand hadn't done something inappropriate. I'd be glad to have that talk with Grace tonight before we go to bed. I don't know why her father has led her to believe such a lie."

"Because I'm pretty sure that he wants to keep her as his meal ticket for the rest of his life. And if she never let's a man kiss her, she'll never fall in love and leave him."

"Oh, that's such a shame that a father would treat his own child that way. To be twenty and never have been kissed, the poor girl has missed so much." Looking at her son, Josephine noticed his blush and how he was suddenly avoiding her eyes, she asked indigently, "So you have done more than touched her shoulder!?"

"I hadn't until that point, mother, but when she said that, and I pulled the car over. A song came on the radio, and one thing lead to another, and I kissed her."

"Did she enjoy the kiss, son?" asked Josephine."

"She seemed to, mom," replied AJ. "I didn't do anything inappropriate, I just kissed her.

"Well then, I guess there is no harm done," replied Josephine. "You just be careful and behave yourself around that girl."

"Yes, Ma'am, you know I will."

"I know, son, but a little reminder doesn't hurt. Now I have to check on dinner or it will end up not worth eating."

"Mom?" asked AJ.

"Yes, Son."

"You know how terrible upset I was when Marcella divorced me…"

"Yes, son I do."

With a sigh, his eyes met hers, and there was an almost confused look on his face when he told her, "Suddenly, I'm not so upset.

"How long have you felt this way?" Josephine asked.

"Two or three days," he replied.

"That's how long you have known Grace," she smiled at him tenderly.

"Yes, it is. Why do you say that?"

"It sounds like you are falling in love with Grace."

With a stunned look on his face he said, "I think you're right."

To be continued…..