Unbroken Promises (12 page)

After the incident with Troy, Beth decided she could start driving home herself. She wished she would have tried before the “Troy” episode, but she had been scared she would get lost or something. She felt that, if she left early enough in the day to make it to her destination before dark, she could do it.

After her first attempt was a success, Beth drove home at least every other weekend if Jordon and Susan weren’t coming to see her.

Beth finished her senior year with excellence. She loved the school and decided she would return in August and take a few of the basic courses that the school’s college branch offered.

She had studied hard and made good grades but she hardly had a social life. She had friends; but, while they went out and partied, she stayed home and studied or worked on projects.

However, now she wanted a break to go home for the entire summer and relax.

One of the classes she had taken was home economics. The students had the choice of what they wanted to make for a class project. Beth jumped at the chance to make her own wedding dress and she worked on it diligently. It was simple yet elegant. She had picked out a white silk material she thought would be perfect and she detailed the entire dress with crystals and small pearls.

When Beth tried it on after it was finished she was proud of her creation. She had shown a few of her friends and they all bragged on the dress and told her the slinky material flattered her figure. She couldn’t wait to show Susan and Jesse what she had created.

Beth felt she had matured since she had left to go to the private school. She was dressing less trendy and wearing her hair in a more adult style that she thought made her look older. At least those were her hopes—that she would portray a more mature image to Jesse.

Jesse wasn’t home when Beth got there and he wouldn’t be home for a few weeks. He had gone to visit his parents in Colorado.

Beth didn’t find out until much later that he hadn’t gone alone but had taken Trish with him, the lady, or more appropriately ‘witch,’ who Beth had offered coffee to so long ago. Beth had cried many nights because of that humiliating morning.

Beth was looking out the window when she saw Jesse pull up. Before the dust settled, she saw his friend, Trish, drive up and park beside him. Beth assumed he dropped her off somewhere to get her car. She knew they had only driven one car to Colorado.

Beth did not run out to meet him as usual and throw herself into his arms. No, she wanted him to notice she was almost grown. She took special care in getting dressed.

Susan had fixed a nice dinner; but, instead of just the family, Trish would be there, too. Beth was not the humiliated little girl this time, and she was ready to face her most hated enemy.

Everyone was already in the dinning room waiting for Susan to finish setting out the food.

Beth could smell and hear the still sizzling onions and bell peppers Susan had grilled with the fajita meat. It was one of Beth’s favorite meals, but she doubted she would be able to eat much tonight. She wore a short fitted pale pink suit with matching pumps. She had pulled her hair up in a full French twist and a small amount of make-up on. When she walked into the room, she walked with an air of confidence.

Beth saw Jesse’s eyes widened when he looked up and saw her. She was determined to hold his gaze as she seductively sauntered up to him while never taking her eyes off of his. It was almost as if there was a spell cast between them. Beth knew his friend was beside him, but she didn’t even glance her way. When Beth reached him, she held out her hand.

“Hello, Jesse, how have you been?”

Jesse, still spellbound, took Beth’s hand. “Hello, Elizabeth.”

“My, Jesse, what a lovely little girl! This must be the niece I’ve heard you speak of,” Trish slyly broke in with a sweet fake voice.

That broke the spell…Beth turned to Trish and, with her hand held out said “Why, what a lovely older woman you are. Did you happen to graduate with Daddy? [Of course, Beth knew the woman was Jesse’s age.] Beth continued talking not giving Trish a chance to jab back.

“You know, something about you sure looks familiar. I could swear we’ve met before.

No?..humm?…“Beth said with an exaggerated perplexed look on her face and her finger tapping her chin. “No, I don’t believe we’ve ever met, but something about you sure seems familiar.

Maybe it’s your hair. Yes, that’s it; your hair. It’s a very unusual color. In fact, I’ve only seen your particular shade once in my lifetime.” Beth threw up her hands and shook her head in a pretended bewilderment, “Go figure.”

Finally, Susan said dinner was ready and asked everyone to please be seated. Susan had cooked an entire Mexican style dinner. She had taco salad, refried beans, rice, beef fajitas with onions and bell pepper, flour tortillas made from scratch, even Beth’s favorite cheese dip, and chips were on the table.

Trish garbled under her breath as she bobbed her head from side to side, “So, the little twit wants to play with the big girls, does she?”

Jesse closed his eyes, rubbed his forehead, and then brought his hand slowly down his face until it covered his mouth and chin, muffling his words. “O-oh hell, I believe I’ve just made a very big mistake. This is going to be a night to remember and I don’t believe it is going to be a very pleasant memory. ”

Beth’s mind raced to find subtle insults. Well, heck, she didn’t care if they were subtle or not. This was payback time. As the old saying goes…

Susan had prepared a delicious meal, but Cody was the only one who seemed to be enjoying it and eating with any gusto. The tension was so thick for everyone else that they just idly ate, sipped their tea, and watched. The only noise in the room was the slight clanking as Cody picked up and set down the serving dishes.

Beth broke the silence, “Jesse, aren’t you going to ask what I’ve been doing at school?” She asked with a playful smirk.

Jesse raised an eyebrow and looked at Elizabeth as if he knew she was setting him up. He rubbed a hand over his chin and asked cautiously. “Yeah, Beth, tell me what you’ve been doing these last few months.”

Beth grinned and had that mischievous twinkle in her royal blues. “Well, since you asked…for a class project, I have created from scratch, cut out, and sewn my own wedding dress.

Oh, Jesse, you have to see it. It’s so beautiful!”

Before Jesse could comment, Trish popped up. “What color is your wedding dress, Beth?” Beth knew Trish could care less about anything that had to do with her. She was purposely interrupting to keep her and Jesse from talking to each other.

Beth just looked at her like she was stupid, “The color of the dress’s material is actually called ‘virginal white,’ which I thought would be fitting since that is what I will be when I walk down the aisle to meet my husband,” Beth said while looking at Jesse.

Then she turned back to Trish. “Trish, Cody told me you’ve never been married. If that time ever comes, would you like me to make you a virginal white wedding dress, hmmm?” Beth asked in her innocently false voice. Then she put her finger on her chin as if she were thinking.

“You know there were also a couple of other unusual names for material that I noticed [Which Beth was making up]. One was called ‘hot momma red’ and the other was named ‘sleazy black.’

Maybe one of those would be more appropriate for you. I’m sure either would look lovely,” Beth batted her eyelashes and smiled sweetly.

“Elizabeth, finish your dinner,” Jordon stated sternly.

Beth didn’t have to look up to know Trish was shooting daggers in her direction.

Trish leaned over on Jesse and draped her arm over his shoulder. Trish did her little cackle that Beth remembered so well, “Who knows, Beth? I may ask you to make me a wedding dress after all,” she said smugly.

“Oh, sure, just let me know ahead of time. By the way, Trish, do you have a husband in mind? Has someone proposed to you?”

Trish laughed again. “Yes and no. Yes, I definitely have someone in mind, but no he hasn’t proposed…yet.” Trish said all this looking at Jesse, but she turned her attention back to Beth.

“Beth, you are so very young to have a wedding dress already made. Do you even have a boyfriend? Surely you’re not engaged, are you?”

Beth looked at Trish with her own smug smile. “No and no…No, I don’t have a boyfriend and no I’m not engaged…but that doesn’t matter because I’ve known who I was going to marry ever since I was eight years old.” At the moment Beth was willing to stop the jabs.

Beth looked at Susan. “I’m suddenly very tired. May I please be excused?” Susan nodded a definite yes.

Beth stood up to go; but, before she could leave, Trish stopped her and had to ask. “Beth, I’m so curious. Who is this phantom husband?”

Beth stepped around the edge of the table and leaned over a few inches in front of Trish’s face. “Why, Trish, I’m going to marry Jesse. You see, you may have him now, but you won’t have him long,” Beth said this in a slow, factual manner.

“You don’t know what you talking about, little girl,” Trish hissed.

Beth laughed, “Trish, surely you don’t think Jesse would marry a worn out, old raggedy hag like you when he could have a raving beauty like me.” Beth really did not feel that way about herself but she thought it sounded good to say.

“Oh my lord,” Susan whispered.

Cody’s mouth dropped open, and Jesse put his head in his hands and groaned.

Jordon was furious; he shot out of his chair and pulled Beth in front of him. “Beth, I want you to apologize to Trish. She is a guest of Jesse’s and a guest in this house. You have been rude to her ever since you walked in. Apologize now!” Jordon overheard Beth’s words to Trish when she first walked in and thought Beth sounded rude. He knew she was spitefully trying to hurt the young woman’s feelings. He’d let it go the first time, but she was old enough not to be so petty. Besides, he thought it was high time she gave up this infatuation with Jesse and started dating young respectable boys her own age.

Jordon sure did not want her going back into that little partying stage she went through. That almost killed him.

“No sir,” Beth said in a solid voice.

Jordon knew he was firm but thought he was always fair. However, he never tolerated disrespect in any form. He was mad but also hurt because Beth was openly disobeying him.

“Beth, apologize,” Jordon repeated.

“No sir, I will not,” Beth said unyieldingly. Beth had her hand so tightly fisted that, unknowingly, her sharp fingernails were digging deep into her palm. She knew she was upsetting Jordon, and that was not her intention. She loved him too much to disrespect him on purpose, but she would die before she apologized to that witch.

“Beth, dammit, apologize,” Jordon shouted.

Beth raised her head, looked directly into his eyes, and shook her head, “NEVER.” Beth lifted her hand to brush away some hair that had fallen in her eyes. As she did, her damaged palm smeared bright red blood all on the side of her face.

Susan and Jesse both jumped up at the same time. Susan put her hand on Jordon’s arm, and Jesse threw both hands in the air.

“Stop it! For Christ’s sake, just stop it! We’re leaving.” After saying that, Jesse literally jerked the smug Trish out of the chair and practically drug her out the door and over to her car.

At first, Trish thought Jesse was protecting her by getting her away from the brat’s tongue; but, when she looked at his face and saw the hate in his eyes, she was stunned.

“You get your wicked scrawny ass in that car and don’t you ever come back.”

“Jesse, why are you so mad at me? I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t me who was wrong but that conceited snob,” Trish whined.

Jesse was barely holding himself in control. “Lady, I’ve never hit a woman in my life; but, if you don’t get out of my sight, you will be the first.” Jesse was so shook up he went back inside and poured himself a large glass of whiskey to help settle his nerves.

After Jordon sat back down in his chair, he rubbed his hands down his face and then cupped one hand over his chin, his elbow resting on the table. The whole episode disturbed him. He didn’t ever remember Beth defying him, especially so openly. And with her being so strong in her refusal that she ruined her own palms, it just wasn’t like her. With a sigh, Jordon massaged his eyes. Something was going on and when things settled down a little, he would find out what it was.

Susan had her hand on his shoulders. With wide eyes, she was looking from one to the other not knowing what to do.

Cody jumped up, ran and got a rag, and was trying to wipe the blood off of Beth’s face.

Beth took the rag from Cody. “Thank you,” she told him sweetly.

Then she walked over to Jordon and kissed him on the head. “I love you, Daddy. I’ll see y’all in the morning,” she said before she turned and went into her bedroom.

After she left, tears came to Jordon’s eyes. Susan held him as tears rolled down her own cheeks. Jesse walked in and handed Jordon a glass of whiskey, which he sat back and drank.

All four of them wore the same lost expression. After a while, Jordon blew out a deep breath through pursed lips then stood up as to go to Beth’s room.

Susan placed her hand and his arm. “Wait for me; I’ll be back in a minute.” She went upstairs and got some ointment and bandages. When she returned she grabbed Jordon’s hand.

“Now, let’s go see what that was all about.”

They knocked on the door and Beth told them to come in. She knew they would be coming.

She had already cleaned up and was in bed. Susan sat on one side and Jordon sat on the other.

Susan took her hands and put the ointment on each palm where she had clawed herself. Then she gently wrapped them with gauze. Beth scooted up against the headboard, took one hand of Susan’s and one of Jordon’s, and held them.

“I know you want an explanation of why I acted the way I did.”

“Yes, Beth, please tell us what that was all about,” Susan said.

“Daddy, do you remembered when I was about 10 and you found me at the pond crying?” Beth asked.

When Jordon nodded, she continued.