Crossing the Line

Jenny had to admit that she enjoyed the time she spent with Harold. He was charming and he was sexy. He didn't mind that she had two rambunctious boys. Still, it galled her to know end that Manny had rejected her and then the thought of Cheryl throwing them a party just took her over the edge.

She was telling Harold about it and he was completely sympathetic.

"I can't be too mad at Manny" he was saying "After all, if he hadn't put you down, I wouldn't stand a chance with you."

Jenny smiled. "Well when you put it that way, how can I protest?"

"I hear that the dinner is this evening" Harold was saying. "Aunt Eva told me. I got a good mind to go over there and crash the thing."

"Oh, Harold" Jenny exclaimed. "Manny wouldn't like that!"

"Probably not." Harold replied.

"Still" Jenny said thinking. "You are his family. We could go over there and let them know that we're willing to let bygones be bygones."

Harold stared at her. "You're willing to do that?"

"Of course not!" Jenny spat. "But still…there is Molly to consider. If we go and bury the hatchet so to speak, we can keep an eye on Molly and report any unacceptable behavior to the proper authorities."

"I don't know…" Harold replied. "I think he's crazy…but he's still my cousin. I don't want to rat him out."

"Think of Molly" Jenny pressed.

"I am thinking of Molly" Harold insisted. "She doesn't need any more grief. She already lost her mother. She wouldn't be able to handle losing her father too!"

"True, true" Jenny replied backing down. "We could keep an eye on her though…you may even be able to reason with Manny so to speak."

Harold was no fool. He knew a vindictive woman when he saw one. He was after all married to one of them. He also knew that Jenny was trying to use him to get back at Manny. That wasn't a problem. He didn't mind using her to get what he wanted either. He expected to be in her bed before much longer.

"You want to go over there?" He asked looking at her.

"Why not?" Jenny replied.

"Alright then. Let's go" Harold replied.

They rode over to Cheryl's in silence, each planning their strategy.

They pulled up in front of the door and Jenny noticed Manny's car was there. She walked up to the door with her arm tucked into the crook of Harold's arm. She rang the doorbell.

Cheryl came to the door and was shocked to see the two of them.

"Jenny!" she exclaimed surprised.

"Cheryl." Jenny said removing her gloves. "This is Harold, Manny's cousin. He's convinced me that I need to bury the hatchet concerning Manny and so here I am."

Cheryl stared at her a moment not believing that Jenny was crashing her party with Manny's cousin on her arm.

"That's all well and good Jenny, but we were about to have dinner-"

"No problem" Jenny replied interrupting her. "I'll just take a few moments of your time."

She pushed past Cheryl and walked into the door.

Cheryl looked lost, totally unprepared for Jenny's onslaught. Jenny walked straight to the dining room still with her arm tucked into Harold's.

She walked into the dining room and saw Manny look up surprised. Manny was sitting next to Corrina. She looked around for Molly and saw her sitting at a smaller table with some of Corrina's relatives. His mother was there and so were some other people that must be Corrina's family.

"We have some unexpected guests" Cheryl said nervously behind Jenny. She didn't know what to do.

Sid jumped up. "Jenny what is the meaning of this?"

"I just came over to offer the couple my congratulations" Jenny replied her eyes on Manny.

"You could have done that on the phone" Manny snapped. "Why are you coming over here uninvited, Jenny? I don't want any trouble."

"No trouble." Jenny replied. "Harold has convinced me of the error of my ways. I want to make amends."

Corrina stared at her in disbelief. She wondered what Manny was going to do.

"I don't believe you." Manny said. "I think you came over here to cause trouble"

"Well it's true whether you want to believe it or not" Jenny replied.

"I hope you're not expecting an invite to the wedding" Corrina replied.

Jenny stared at her a moment and then turned back to Manny. "Manny, surely you don't want to hold a grudge, do you?"

Manny stared at her. "What's really going on here Jenny?"

"I've already told you" she replied.

Manny looked at Harold. "What are you two really up to, Harold? I can't believe that you came all the way up here just to make trouble!"

"I don't want to make trouble." Harold replied. "It's just as she said. She wants to make peace."

Manny threw down his napkin and stood up. "Let me see the two of you out."

He walked over to them and led them to the door.

"I don't appreciate you trying to ruin things for me, Harold." He hissed.

"Look, it's just what I said" Harold insisted. "I just feel that this thing should end here. You two need to bury the hatchet."

"Your timing was off." Manny insisted. "Coming here was a mistake."

Corrina sat at the table wondering what was going on.

"That woman's up to no good for sure" Jevina said. "Burying the hatchet, my ass! She wants to bury it alright…right in the back of your head, Corrina!"

Corrina looked at her sister. "I didn't fall for that one bit. I wasn't born yesterday."

"You'd better be careful" Jevina replied.

"I am so sorry" Cheryl said helplessly. "I didn't know she was coming over here."

"Don't worry about it." Corrina replied. "That was a desperation move."

She glanced over at the kids who were sitting at the children's table. "I don't think they paid any attention to what's going on." Corrina replied. "Percy seems to be the center of their attention right now." Percy was cutting up as usual and the girls were in a fit of giggles.

Manny returned to the table and sat down.

"They're gone, right?" Corrina asked.

"Yeah." Manny replied.

"Well old man" Sid said standing holding up his glass. "Round one goes to you"

The dinner went on without any further incidents and Cheryl was grateful. After everyone left she sank down on the sofa and Sid came and sat by her.

"Are you alright" he asked.

"Yeah, she had me in a corner there for a minute"

"You know that apology was all an act, don't you" Sid said putting his arm around her.

"Yeah, But what is she really up to?" Cheryl asked kicking off her shoes.

"I think she wants to make Manny as miserable as possible" Sid replied. "I know she's your friend-"

"Former friend" Cheryl replied correcting him. "After that little demonstration tonight, I don't think we'll be talking much in the future."

"I'm glad you can see what's going on. She'll use whoever she can to hurt Manny." Sid replied.

"Life's too short. She should use her energy for more productive work" Cheryl replied.

Sid leaned over and kissed her. "Just keep your eyes and ears open."

Corrina didn't say much to Manny until she put Molly to bed. She came out of Molly's room and found him sitting by the record player listening to Louis Armstrong.

She sat down beside him.

"We've had quite a day" she said.

He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder.

"I guess we'd better get used to it" he replied. "We'll be married in one week."

"Getting nervous?" Corrina asked jokingly.

"No. I've never been more sure of anything in my life" he replied. He turned and looked at her.

"I love you, Corrina"

She smiled and kissed him. "I love you too."

She put her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. She fell back on the sofa and he followed her. He smiled down at her. She was a fast learner. She was becoming more aggressive and he liked it.

"Corrina, are you trying to get me in a compromising position?" Manny teased.

"Now why would I do that?" she asked smiling.

"Maybe you can't wait one more week." He replied. "I'll be happy to accommodate you."

"I just bet you would" she snickered. "However, I think I can wait for the final present you have to offer"

He kissed her, allowing his weight to rest on her. He smelled so good and his body felt good pressing into hers. He was aroused and rested his head on her chest as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"You need to stop tormenting me like this, Corrina" he murmured and then sat up.

The record player had cut off and he stood up and stretched. Corrina could see that he was still somewhat aroused but didn't say anything as he walked into the kitchen. She heard him go in the refrigerator and came back with two glasses of tea.

"To cool you off" he remarked handing her the glass.

Corrina took the glass of tea and sipped it.

"How long do you think we'll have to stay here?" she asked.

"I have several offers on this house, but I still have a mortgage. I'm trying to come out in the black. I think we'll do just fine. We could stay here if you want to." He looked at her.

"I think we need a fresh start" Corrina replied. "The house we looked at last week was promising. The neighborhood has several ethnic groups and we hopefully won't have any Mrs. Murphys to contend with."

"We'll always have to put up with something" Manny replied sighing.

"It comes with the territory" Corrina replied finishing her tea. She got up and walked over to Manny.

"The world is full of people like Jenny. You have to have a thick skin." She replied.

She walked into the kitchen and quickly washed out the glasses and then returned to the living room.

"I'll be going now, Manny" she replied.

"Take the car. I'll see you tomorrow."

Corrina walked up to him and gave him a goodnight kiss. She walked out to the car and was about to get in when she felt as if she was being watched. She got in the car and locked the doors. Manny was still standing in the doorway. She noticed some movement in the bushes next door and she saw a man crouching down. He had something in his hand and she tried to make out what it was.

She looked up and saw that Manny was about to come out of the house since she hadn't started the car. She didn't want him to come out leaving the door open with Molly inside. She quickly exited the car and hurried up the walkway.

"I forgot my sweater" she lied hurrying towards the door. She spoke rather loudly and Manny looked at her curiously as she approached him.

"What are you talking about?" he asked as she reached him.

She quickly grabbed his arm. "Come in the house" she hissed walking past him.

Manny turned and followed her in the house and she quickly slammed the door.

"There's a man out there in the bushes!" Corrina gasped.

"What are you talking about?" Manny asked looking surprised.

"I walked out to the car and I felt like someone was watching me. I saw a man crouched down in the bushes next door with something in his hand. I think it's a camera, but I'm not sure. I didn't want you to come outside to the car and leave the door open. I didn't know what he's up to."

Manny stared at her in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding? Come on! If anyone's out there, we're going to confront him!"

Corrina started to protest, but Manny was already out of the door and she hurried behind him. He walked towards the car, looking next door. Suddenly Corrina saw him duck towards the bushes and she heard a voice cry out.

Manny had a man by the collar that was holding a camera.

"What do you think you're doing?" he said pushing the man away from him. "Are you spying on me?"

"I'm just doing my job!" the man replied.

"Who's paying you?" Manny asked.

"I don't have to answer your questions" the man replied.

"I should call the police" Manny threatened.

"Go ahead!" the man snapped. "I wasn't on your property until you grabbed me and pulled me over here!"

Manny stared at him a moment. "What are you doing, trying to catch us doing something so that you can take the picture back to whoever hired you? What do you hope to accomplish?"

"I told you, I ain't answering your questions." The man replied.

"I think I know who hired you and what this is all about" Manny snapped. "Now you go back and tell Ms. Jenny that I'm onto her game and she can forget it!"

He shoved the man away from him again. "Now get out of here before I do something that will cause you to end up in the emergency room."

The man quickly walked off and Manny ran his fingers through his hair. He turned to Corrina.

"Can you believe this?"

"I wouldn't put anything past Jenny, Manny. " Corrina replied. "She probably hoped that he could sneak up to the house and take pictures through the window or something. Who knows?"

"I've got a good mind to give her a piece of my mind" Manny snapped.

"That's what she wants" Corrina replied. "She wants you to lose your cool so that she'll have something to hold over your head. We have no proof that it was her. Ignore her. We'll be legally married in a week and then what will she have to report? She's just looking for inappropriate behavior that she can use to make you look like an unfit father. Once we're married, she won't have a leg to stand on."

Manny looked at her and breathed a sigh of relief. Corrina was right. Jenny wanted him to lose his temper and come barging over to her house. He wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. They would be married in a week and then the y would be on their honeymoon.

He decided that he was going to warn Sid and Cheryl to keep a close eye on Molly while they were away. He didn't trust Jenny or his cousin Harold. He did not want his daughter near either of them while he was away. As for Harold, he would deal with him separately. A call to his wife should do the trick.

Corrina got in the car and Manny watched her as she pulled off. Jenny had gone too far this time. She didn't know who she was messing with. He turned on his heel and walked back into the house.