I woke up pleasantly refreshed from my last date with Dane. He had convinced me that our "Light the Night" date would be fun. Walking a 5k under the stars to help cure cancer was surprisingly romantic. I had to give it to Dane, he certainly had an imagination. Huey would have never taken me on something like that. After our walk, we had a picnic by one of the fountains in the park; he drove me home, and kissed me good night at my door like he had done at the end of all of our dates.
Dane and I had been seeing each other for two months, and every date left me glowing until Monday. We had agreed to only schedule our dates Thursday through Saturday since those were the days I didn't have X. I was not going to introduce Dane to my son until I was sure he wasn't a kidnapper and until I knew for sure Dane and I had something serious; X didn't need a parade of men coming in and out of his sanctuary. Both Erin and X commented that I looked happier now, Erin with enthusiasm and X with a sort of caution. I felt happier now. Dane was a great guy from what I had seen so far; he was funny and intelligent, he was goofy and a gentleman. I couldn't help thinking that my parents would have liked him.
I shook myself out of my day dream and tried to massage the goofy smile off my face. I climbed out of bed and turned on the T.V. while walking towards the bathroom. Someone's political analysis rambled from the speakers. I usually kept it on that station for X before he went to bed; since the condo was new for him, I let him sleep with me until he felt more comfortable in a new place. He was getting better at sleeping in his own room, but sometimes he would wake up confused in the middle of the night and call for me. It was almost as if he was learning how to sleep through the night all over again.
"Representative Freeman, what is your position on gun control? How will you vote, as the senator of Maryland?"
My ear perked up to the journalist's question. I let my curly hair fall back down my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom. Apparently while I was day dreaming, the news anchors had segued into Huey's press conference. The shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School had sparked new controversy over gun laws. I remember the fear and terror that went through my body after seeing the news coverage. Huey and I had immediately pulled X out of school that day just so I could be sure that my baby was safe. We had also donated to the school fund for therapy for all the students and for the dependents of the adults killed. Huey and I had debated many times over the gun laws, but we were both in agreence over the solution.
"The problem is not with the laws. Limiting an American's right to defend themselves and their families is not the answer, because only good citizens follow the laws; criminals have neither care nor concern. Only those who truly use weapons to defend themselves will be hurt by stricter gun control. The clearest solution is a psychological examination upon purchase of a gun. These shooters may not have a record of violent crimes; instead they are normally good people that their peers could never see them committing such atrocities. I suggest that whomever wishes to purchase a gun, or renew their permit licenses be subjected to a full analysis of their psyche before they are allowed to receive their gun or renewed license."
"That was Representative Freeman's earlier response on gun-" I shut the T.V. off. Huey's response was excellent. He always was a brilliant orator; he had a gift for convincing people that they would be foolish to question him. Maybe that was why so many people were captivated by him. I immediately thought of his mistress, wondering if it was at one of his speeches that he had met her. I couldn't stop myself from the curiosity that plagued my mind. What was she like? Did he love her? Did she love him? Was he still seeing her now that I moved out? Did X know who she was; did he like her? Thousands of questions ran through my mind and I couldn't push them away. My phone's musical twinkle invaded my mind and pulled me out of the whirlpool that was my imagination. Looking at the caller I.D., a smile conquered half my face.
"Good afternoon gorgeous." Butterflies danced in my stomach at the timbre of his voice.
"Good afternoon handsome." I looked and myself in the mirror and had to laugh; I felt like a teenage girl all over again. I stood, leaning against the bathroom counter, with my pink painted toes running up my bare legs. My fingers twirled through my frazzled hair as I cradled the phone on my shoulder.
"So I was wondering,"
"Yes?" I bit my lip with anticipation.
"I was wondering if I could take you to a Raven's game?"
"A Raven's game? Uh sure but when?"
"Get dressed."
"Dane!" I shouted, but he had already hung up. I stripped out of my pajamas and practically launched myself into the shower. I debated on whether or not to wash my hair or just throw it in a messy bun, and settled on a messy bun; I did not have time to fool with a blow dryer and flat iron. I shaved my legs, arms, and trimmed my bikini line, just in case. I wasn't planning on having sex but most of the time no one plans on it. I threw on a pair of white skinny jeans, black sandals, and my black Ravens jersey and flipped my hair into a sophisticated but still relaxed top knot. I spruced up my makeup and threw everything I needed into my white Gucci purse. By the time I had finished misting on my perfume and applying my deodorant, the doorbell rang. Double checking my appearance and purse on last time, I tried not to skip to the door.
"Now don't you look amazing?" He smiled and gave me a once over. Mockingly, I shook my head at him and locked my door.
"I could say the same for you, but I won't since you probably had more than enough time to get ready without running around the house like a crazy person." He laughed and rested his hand on my waist while we walked down the stairs. I had to admit he did look good. He wore a purple polo that hugged his defined muscles impeccably well, combined with dark blue jeans that hugged his God blessed hips like a second skin. He looked like a man that knew who he was and was comfortable in his own skin.
"Heh, sorry babe. I would have given you more time, but I like keeping you on your toes." He smirked at me and kissed my cheek, then opened and shut my door for me. We threw on sunglasses to protect our eyes from the wind as he drove in his convertible. The drive to the stadium was filled with laughter and jokes about the Steelers, and him confiding that he was actually nervous to ask me to a football game.
"A lot of women don't like sports, or if they do it's like a guilty pleasure for them. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
"A lot of women do like sports, they're just afraid that it will make men see them like one of the guys instead of as a potential girlfriend."
"Oh yeah? And what do you want me to see you as Jazmine?" He glanced over at me. With his sunglasses covering his eyes, I couldn't tell what he wanted me to say, I only knew that he was fishing for something.
"Why don't you tell me what we are, seeing as you asked me out first, and I am still married."
"Jaz, I can tell you what I hope we are. I hope you're my girlfriend, but you have the final say. You have the power over me, Jazmine; I just hope you'll accept what I have to offer." He turned his eyes back to the road again and pulled into an available parking space. He pulled off his glasses and stuck them in the center console; I followed suit.
"Hmm and what do you have to offer me?" My voice dipped lower. I noticed that there were certain tones my voice could take to affect him; his throat would constrict and he'd raise his chin a little. His eyes would squint and darken for just a second, and then he would return to normal.
"I could offer you security." I raised my eyebrow a smidge. "I can promise that I won't ever take you for granted Jazmine. I can promise that I will never hurt you intentionally, and I'll never betray you or your trust." Something told me that he'd squeezed Erin for information, but I wasn't going to say anything about it. If he knew a little about the failure that was my marriage, than I wouldn't have to confess my shame and disappointment to him.
"That's a lot to promise."
"Give me half a chance Jazmine, and I swear you won't regret it. Allow me to show you that there are still good men in the world. Let me prove to you that we're not all two-timing dogs, as Erin put it." I forced my lips to stay in place. Erin had never vocalized her dislike of Huey, but many times when she saw his name on the caller I.D. she took a deep breath before she answered the phone. Both she and Cindy had taken me out for drinks after I had told them what happened on our last date and day of therapy.
"I know I make you happy, I can hear the smile in your voice when you answer the phone." I let out a soft chuckle. "I just want to continue making you smile, beautiful." A full-fledged smile broke out across my face and I couldn't hold in my joy. Here was someone who wanted to see me happy, someone who cared about my opinions and feelings.
"I guess I could give you a shot." I joked. He smiled back at me and gave me a kiss.
"That's all I need. Now let's go watch the Steelers get their asses kicked." He hopped out the car and came around to open my door. We walked to the stadium, my arm settled around his waist while his hand rested in my far back pocket. More than a few spectators watched us as we walked past, and I caught women glancing at Dane and biting their lip. I had to admit, we looked good together, and I liked being with him.
…
"You've been enjoying yourself lately." I bit the inside of my cheek and tried not to stomp on his foot. His grip tightened on my waist and he pulled me closer to him; I fought the urge to throw up.
"Who I choose to spend my time with Freeman is none of your concern."
"It is when that person is around my son." I was ready to claw his eyes out. How dare he imply that I would knowingly put my son in danger?
"You play the family man so well now, almost as if you actually cared." He glanced down at me and his eyes narrowed. I glared back, refusing to be intimidated.
"How much do you actually know about him Jazmine?"
"I know what I need to know, if you're so worried background check him then." His silence was answer in itself.
"Huey Percy Freeman, you did not have him background checked?!"
"I needed to make sure he wasn't dangerous since you were going to have him around my son."
"He has not met X nor has X met him, they don't even know each other's name. But maybe you're right to worry, since I'm always around my son and what not; unlike you, you never had to worry about your slut meeting X because you were never home." I was about to stomp away but the police commissioner came over to speak to Huey.
"Representative Freeman, it was nice of you to make it to our ball." The men shook hands while I "lovingly" attached myself to my husband and smiled at the commissioner's wife.
"It's always good to see you Jeff." Commissioner Jeff Rosenthal was one of the people of the law both Huey and I appreciated. Huey and Jeff had worked many long hours along with my dad, the governor, and the district attorney to clean up Baltimore and other cities near it. The Police and Firemen's ball was one of the most satisfying events we traveled to; it didn't make us feel like fakes smiling in the faces of even greater hypocrites. Huey and I were always happy to celebrate the hard work of people like the Baltimore police and fire units.
"Jazmine, you remember Commissioner Rosenthal?"
"Yes of course." I smiled and extended my hand to the commissioner.
"My, Representative Freeman, I'm surprised you came at all, instead of keeping this enchanting woman at home, all to yourself." He winked at Huey. "Mrs. Freeman, this is my wife Elizabeth, Lizzie, Mrs. Freeman."
"Please, call me Jazmine." I shook the woman's hand politely. She was a beautiful woman in her own right, and it was easy to see that she adored her husband, just as Commissioner Rosenthal adored her.
"I thought you looked familiar, you were in an article yesterday with a striking man at the Raven's game. Darling I don't know how you pulled that jersey off, it always makes me look as if I have more manly shoulders than I already do." We both laughed but I could feel Huey's eyes practically burning through my skull. I would have to be more careful on my dates with Dane; I couldn't let my personal escapades interfere with my business responsibilities.
"Hopefully he was paying attention to the game and my business politics rather than my manly shoulders. I was entertaining a potential buyer for a few of my pieces." I smoothly covered my tracks. Thankfully they both nodded and accepted the half-truth.
"Jazmine is one of the best artists in America; she's done a few commissions for the National Art Museum." The Rosenthals eyes widened, clearly impressed. I resisted the urge to stare at Huey; he rarely commented on my skill as an artist, he barely saw it as a real occupation.
"But enough about me, why don't we all enjoy the party?" I classily shifted the focus from me and back on to the reason for the extravagance.
"Right, we'll have to be sure to stop by your gallery soon. Have a wonderful night Mrs. Freeman, Representative." Elizabeth nodded and led her husband to the dance floor we had just exited. After a few more hours of shaking hands and polite conversation we left the ball and headed back towards my condo.
"Here, just in case you wanted to know." As I got out the car, he handed me the file on Dane. I looked at it with disgust, it was a breach of his privacy and I wasn't going to read it. I trusted Dane to tell me what I needed to know, when I needed to know it; that was the whole fun in falling in love, or at least getting to know someone. I nodded and turned to go.
"Jazmine," I turned back, annoyance clear on my face. "You looked beautiful tonight."
"Thank you." I turned and began walking towards the stairs until I heard the door shut and felt his hand at my lower back. "What are you doing?" I practically hissed.
"I'm walking you to your door." He shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I bit back my frustration and focused on not catching my heel on one of the steps. I didn't want to be bothered with whatever Huey had to say, I had already spent the night playing the doting wife, was that not enough for one evening?
"I received the papers this morning." He whispered towards my shoulder, as if he were too embarrassed to say them aloud.
"Good, then you can sign them and we can be on with our lives."
"It's not that easy Jazmine."
"What the hell do you mean 'it's not that easy', Freeman? It's very easy, you sign the papers, they are filed and I am out of your hair in every matter that does not include X, and better yet, you're out of mine." We reached my door but I had yet to unlock it. I was debating whether I really wanted to have this conversation with him here and now. I knew he was going to be difficult about this; he's Huey Freeman, nothing ever comes easy unless he wanted it that way.
"You know what I mean Jazmine."
"No I don't know what you mean. I don't understand what is not easy about filing our divorce now and waiting until after the election to announce that we are splitting because of irreconcilable differences."
"And what about X?"
"What about him Huey?! We've already explained to him what was going on; stop using our son as a shield just because you want this done on your time frame. I'm done waiting for you to tell me it's ok to live my life!" My voice rose to an angry whisper; I could not believe him!
"Jazmine, he's a child, he doesn't understand."
"He understands more than you give him credit for." I began fumbling for my keys; leave it to Huey Freeman to ruin my happiness for the weekend.
"X is a bright kid, but he's still a child, and he needs to believe in something stable and good." I dropped my keys. I took a deep breath and turned to him. I let out a bitter laugh.
"You want to keep our son pure? You who took joy in personally obliterating every one of my fairytales and dreams? You who takes pleasure in feeding off children's dreams while the sleep? Oh that's rich Freeman, that is truly rich." I picked up my keys and jammed them into the door. Before I had a chance to push through the door he grabbed my arm, whirled me around, and pulled me into his chest.
"Your sarcasm is really starting to piss me off."
"Good, at least I know you're not as heartless as you appear."
"You of all people should know I've never been heartless Jazmine."
"No, you're just an innocently cynical dream annihilator." He let out a genuine laugh. He was even more handsome when his face wasn't marred by harsh frown lines. He was about to lean in and kiss me but his phone rang, shattering the silence of the night. He dug his phone out of his pocket and looked at the caller I.D. I knew who it was the instant his regular scowl returned to his face.
"Let me guess, gotta take that?" My eyes narrowed to daggers and I shook my head. He was really unbelievable. He pressed the silence button and slid it back into his pant pocket. I broke out of his hold and opened my door.
"Jazmine, it's not what you think."
"It doesn't matter what I think, you're a free man, no pun intended."
"Jazmine,"
"Just sign the papers Huey, and let's be done with this."
"Jazmine!" I shut the door before he could get out another word. I leaned with my back against the door and waited until I heard his footsteps retreating down the steps. I shook my head and threw my purse and Dane's file onto the table. Stepping out of my heels, I noticed I had one voicemail on my phone. I pressed play while I slipped out of my champagne colored dress and took the various pins out of my hair.
"Hey baby. I know you're out with the Representative, so I figured you could use a pick me up when you got back. I might sound like a sappy teenage girl, but I miss you Jaz and I can't wait to see you. Sleep well, beautiful." A smile lit my face as I got to hear Dane's voice before I went to bed and wouldn't see him for half a week. I couldn't believe how quickly Dane was becoming a staple in my life, too quickly. I would talk to Riley tomorrow, before X came home, hopefully he could find the brakes on this run away train.