Jacqueline and Bradshaw: I Miss Having The Candy Hearts
Jacqueline sighed as she looked around the small establishment. She had a feeling this Valentine's Day was going to turn out like all the other... a huge bust. Cradling her chin in her opened hand, with her elbow on the table; Jacqueline, out of boredom began to tap her nails on the bar.
"Where are you Bradshaw?" she whispered as she looked at her watch on the other arm. He disappeared earlier that morning, with only a hand written note to show that she shouldn't worry about him.
She uncradled her chin, and with that hand she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small, handwritten note. "'Meet me at Bobby Ray's at seven.' Well, it's now a quarter 'til eight, you are officially late Bradshaw." Putting the note back in her pocket, Jacqueline decided to wait a bit more before leaving.
"Honey, are you okay?" a woman asked as she approached Jacqueline's table. She had on a pair of tight jeans with a small apron, white shirt with red and pink hearts all over it, and dark red hair. Her hair was up in a small beehive and had heart barrettes stuck in places everywhere.
The woman pulled a small notepad and pencil out of her apron as she looked Jacqueline up and down. She scribbled something down on the notepad.
"Have I seen you before?" Jacqueline asked. She had a feeling, that she had seen or known the waitress before.
The waitress flashed her, a big smile. "I don't know... I'm Stella." She put the notepad and pencil back in her apron, and held out her hand.
Jacqueline shook her hand. "You look familiar to me..."
Stella shrugged her shoulders. "I'll be back with your order." She turned around and walked off.
"But I didn't order anything!" Jacqueline yelled to her. When she didn't turn around, she figured Stella didn't hear her. "Great..."
"Would like to dance?" a voice asked from behind her.
Jacqueline turned to come face to face with a tall, thin handsome black man. Dressed like a cowboy, he tipped his white cowboy hat. "Um, no, I'm actually waiting for someone."
He flashed her a bright smile and sat down in the chair in front of her.
Wow, he's cute and everything... but he has some nerve sitting down, Jacqueline thought to herself. Crossing her arms, she looked around him hoping to see Bradshaw walk in. She exhaled noisily when he didn't.
His chuckling sounded deep and soulful. "My name is Richard... and you are?"
She rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Jacqueline." The last thing she wanted or needed was for some guy to try to pick her up.
"Hi," Richard said. His accent was heavily country, and Texan. "I've been watching you for a while..."
"Is that right...?" Jacqueline said in a boredom laced voice.
Stella made her way back to Jacqueline's table with a tray containing two beers and a bowl of pretzels. She set the items on the table. "It's on the house darling. Happy Valentine's Day." Looking at the handsome black man, Stella gave Jacqueline a wink and sauntered off to another table.
"Thanks," Jacqueline pushed her beer away and picked up a pretzel. She bit into it and grimaced at the staleness of it. Needing to wash it down, she picked up a beer mug and took a big gulp of it.
Richard took the other mug of beer, signaled for Jacqueline to hold onto hers, and lifted it in the air. "Here's to Valentine's Day... and to hoping I get lucky with you." He laughed heartily and took a sip his beer.
Jacqueline raised her eyebrow at that. Before she took another sip of her beer, she threw all of it on Richard. "Get the hell away from me," she growled.
Standing from the chair, he yelled, "You'll regret that!" Richard threw Jacqueline an evil look and left the bar.
"Ass..." A déjà vu feeling covered Jacqueline. "I swear something like this happened before." As she started to get impatient and madder by the minute, Jacqueline stood from her table in a huff. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Bradshaw walked in.
He rushed to her table and sat down; causing her to sit in the chair that she had just stood from. "I'm sorry I'm late, I got caught up in something..."
"What could you be possibly doing, Bradshaw... it's Valentine's Day," Jacqueline said. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. "This day is supposed to be perfect."
"It is..." Bradshaw said. He grinned.
"No it's not..." Jacqueline shook her head. "We're in a dingy country western bar. I just threw my beer on some guy who was going to try to get me into bed. The pretzels are too damn stale."
Bradshaw kept on grinning as Jacqueline continued to rant.
"All I wanted was some flowers, chocolates, or even those small candy hearts. I miss having the candy hearts. You cook dinner instead of me..." Jacqueline stopped, she was mad that Bradshaw just sat there smiling. "Bradshaw!"
He stood and took a hold of her hand as the notes to Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" came on the jukebox. Bradshaw led Jacqueline to the dance floor, and they swayed in each others arms as the Dolly began to sing.
Jacqueline melted into Bradshaw's arms as the words to the song wove an even stronger sense of love into her heart. "I love you, Bradshaw..." The déjà vu feeling returned again, and she smiled as she realized it wasn't déjà vu... it was a real memory recreated.
"I love you too Jackie," Bradshaw replied. He pushed some hair off her neck and placed little kisses on it.
She giggled in delight. "This is better than candy hearts."
"I'm glad you think so," he laughed.
As the song ended, a man who was standing behind Bradshaw grabbed his arm and swung him around to face him. "Your girl there is a real bitch."
"What did you say," Bradshaw growled real low. He stood in front of Jacqueline to protect her.
Looking to the side of him, Jacqueline rolled her eyes as she noticed that it was just Richard. She pushed Bradshaw to the side. "I'm so tired of you... You, Richard, are the biggest asshole I have even had the pleasure of knowing; now get your ass away from me and my husband!"
Richard laughed loudly and looked at Bradshaw. "Having your wife stick up for you?" He raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest arrogantly.
She couldn't take it anymore; Jacqueline balled up her hands and swung her fist aiming straight for his jaw. When she connected with it, she grinned evilly. With the same smirk, she slowly walked back to her table and picked up her empty beer mug.
Bradshaw laughed. "That's my wife," he said proudly. He hit Richard in his stomach and then kneed him in his groin.
She walked back to Richard, who was leaning over in pain from what Bradshaw did to him. Raising the mug over his head, Jacqueline smashed it on him.
The dropped to the ground and moaned in pain.
"Let's go," Jacqueline said as she smiled slyly to Bradshaw. She took his hand and walked out of the bar. "Thank you Bradshaw for a wonderful Valentine's Day..."
"You really liked it?" he asked as they walked to his truck in the parking lot. "You remember...?"
Jacqueline smiled as she let Bradshaw wrap his arms around her. "How could I forget our first date? Here... five years ago, on Valentine's Day... you being late, a waitress with a beehive, an annoying guy, me ranting and you smiling, the dance, and the bar fight... How could I forget that?"
"I love you baby," he mumbled.
She reached up and kissed him on the lips. "I love you too..."
Something Extra: Liked this? Want to read more about Jacqueline and Bradshaw? Then read A Christmas Miracle...