Unbroken Promises (4 page)

He pulled some cash out of his pocket but she couldn’t see how much. He didn’t tell her to leave again so she stayed where she was until the woman said they could leave. Jesse did not speak to her when they walked outside or after they rode in the truck for a while.

It was just fine with Beth if he decided not to talk all the way home because she knew when he did she was going to have to lie to him, not only for herself but for all the other girls, too. She knew if she told the truth about how they went to Louisiana and what all they did that he would most likely tell every single parent, hers included. To her dismay, he broke the silence.

“Beth, tell me again how this came about,” Jesse asked in a slow drawn out way that assured Beth he was trying to trip her up and catch her in a deception. Therefore, she was very cautious when she answered and tried to say only the absolute necessary things. She figured the less said the less she had to cover for.

“When I woke up at Jana’s house this morning, everyone was saying how pretty a day it was.

Jana asked her parents if we could go to the beach for a few hours. They said we could go if we were home before dark. So we packed and came to the beach. We weren’t there more than 30

minutes when the cops arrested us. And you know the rest of the story. They brought us to jail and I called you to come get me.”

“I don’t understand how Jana’s parents thought they could give you permission to go by yourselves to a beach in Louisiana.”

“Well, I told them I didn’t think Daddy or Susan would care as long as I was home by the time they told me to be home, which was before dark.”

“Beth, you know good and damn well they would not have allowed you go. Ever since your aunt drowned in that boating accident your sister has been afraid of water. She’s never allowed you or Cody to get near water without Jordon or me watching over you.”

“You’re probably right. I wish I wouldn’t have now. But, like they say, hindsight is 20-20.” Beth held her breath hoping all she had said would pacify him.

“It would have been closer to go to Holly Beach. Why did y’all decide to go to a little tiny beach in Louisiana?”

“I’ve been to Holly beach before. I had never gone to the Lake Charles beach; so, when it was brought up, I also said I wanted to go.”

“You were at the police station by yourself. Can you explain that, too? I don’t understand why the other parents didn’t wait to make sure you had a ride home.” Beth groaned inside. She couldn’t tell him that everyone turned and hid their faces when different parents came in. They all knew they each had someone coming to get them.

“Well, I was the last one to leave and I told Becky’s parents not to worry and to go ahead and go because you were on your way. They had just left when you walked in the door.”

“I see…,” Beth knew he was still suspicious. But, to her relief, he didn’t say anything else about it. Then, to Beth’s sorrow, she couldn’t restrain herself and had to break the silence.

“When do I have to go to court and how much is it going to cost me?”

“Next month, and it’s gonna’ cost $350.”

Beth sucked in a quick breath, “Why so much? I don’t have quite that much saved. Do you think you can loan me the rest?”

“How much do you need?”

“I think I need about $260. And, do you think you could bring me to court when I have to go?”

“Not quite that much saved, huh? No Beth, if you were 18 you would have to go to court and pay the $350; but, with you still being a minor, you are not required to.” Beth breathed a sigh of relief. “Poor Julie and Tammy,” Beth thought. “That wasn’t very nice, Jesse.”

The following weekend Tammy invited everyone to stay overnight. Neither Susan nor Jordon found out about the beach incident. If they had, Beth would have been grounded and not allowed to go anywhere for a month. If they learned the whole truth, forever, in all probability would have been a short term.

After they rode the strip and talked to everyone, they went home. Tammy’s brother rented an X-rated movie for them to watch. The other girls didn’t think it was a big deal to see the sexual scenes, but Beth was blushing through the entire movie. Knowing Tammy’s brother was there, watching it with them, made it even more embarrassing. He was a sweet guy, but Beth was still uncomfortable with him being there. She hoped no one noticed how backward she was because she knew they would enjoy her embarrassment.

Ever since they started going out on weekends, Beth always had to cut everything short because she had to be home before the other girls. Beth began feeling cheated by having such protective guardians because no one else had to be home as early as she did. Her curfew was 11:00 p.m. Beth really liked it when Susan allowed her sleep over at one of her friend’s homes because she was able to stay out as long as they did. Beth knew Susan and Jordon assumed the other girls had curfews similar to hers.

However, Susan put her foot down when Beth wanted to stay at someone’s house every weekend. Susan told her she and Jordon were being very lenient by allowing her go out every weekend. Beth reminded Susan that she used to let her stay overnight all the time with her old friends. Susan didn’t even give her a reply; she just told her that she wanted her home at night.

Beth didn’t invite the girls to stay over at her house because she thought they would be bored.

Beth was also afraid Susan and Jordon would notice how wild they were and not allow her hang out with them anymore.

It was five days after Beth started feeling sorry for herself for having such a strict family that she was woke up with breakfast served to her in bed. Beth, still half-asleep, just started laughing.

“Happy Sweet 16, darlin’,” Jesse said as he kissed her on the forehead. He was the one carrying her breakfast tray and, just behind him, was the rest of the gang singing the “Happy Birthday” song.

The aroma of fried bacon filled her bedroom. Beth glanced down quickly at her breakfast of bacon, eggs, grits, and toast. “What a pleasant surprise! Does this mean I get to stay home from school, too?”

“Yes, I think that will be okay,” Jordon said as Susan looked a little skeptical.

“Well now, I don’t know about that. She’s only been going a little over two months and she has already missed three days. Besides, she doesn’t look sick to me,” Susan said practically but with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Yeah, I think she should get to stay home from school, and I think I need to stay home too, just to keep her company” Cody said excitedly, as if he had just come up with a brilliant idea.

“Cody Johnson, hush your mouth. With you wanting to be a veterinarian like Jesse does, you can’t afford to take the day off. You have to keep your GPA high and you can’t do that by playing hooky,” Susan said more seriously this time.

“Aw, come on baby, why don’t we all pack up and go to the lake for the day? It’s way too cool to ski, but I don’t think it would be too chilly to do some fishing and relaxing. I know that doesn’t sound like the most sophisticated birthday: but, would you like to do that, Elizabeth?” Jordon asked.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea. I can’t think of anything else I would rather do or anyone else I would rather be with on my birthday,” Beth said and meant it.

“If that’s what we’re going to do, then I believe anyone who is 16 years old ought to be able to bait her own hook. Don’t you think so, Jordon?” Jesse teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

“I don’t know, Jess, I still have to bait the hook of a 31-year old, and so I don’t know what to tell you. Looks like one of us might have to do it if we’re going to have enough fish to eat for supper,” Jordon drawled.

Beth rushed eating as everyone else got things ready to go. She didn’t want to waste any time because it took about an hour an a half to get to the lake. Today was Friday but Jordon didn’t say if they would be able to stay the weekend. She hoped they would. For the first time in a long time, she wanted to stay with her family instead of riding the strip with the girls.

That was starting to get a little old anyway. Every weekend they would do the same thing.

Ride up and down the strip until it was time to take her home. She did not know what they did after that or what time they all went home. She could just imagine what they would say if she told them she was going fishing. All of them except Annette would probably think she had lost her mind. Beth was sure fishing was a totally uncool thing for girls to do.

Oh well, she wasn’t going to worry about them this weekend because she planned to have a good time with her family. Come to think of it, she had missed the time they spent together. She would have to do better. She had probably hurt them by never wanting to stay home anymore.

Cool or not she loved to fish; she only hoped Jesse was just teasing about not baiting her hooks for her. She knew she could do it now, but she sure didn’t want to. She also liked the idea of him doing it for her and she enjoyed hearing him gripe about it. She was surprised that he was home this early on a Friday. His classes must have been cancelled for some reason.

It didn’t take long before everyone was packed and ready to leave. They were going in the Suburban so they could all ride together. Jordon pulled the boat behind them. Sometimes he left the boat up at the lake when they planned to go more often. Beth couldn’t remember the last time when they were all able to go. She guessed it was when she was 12 and learned how to ski.

She had gone back with Susan, Jordon, and Cody, but Jesse had not been able to go with them since.

Elizabeth was comfortably content sitting beside Jesse as they drove to the lake. At the moment, all was well in her world. The people she loved more than anything were with her.

Cody lay stretched out in the third seat with his favorite, worn-out cap pulled over his eyes.

Jordon sang softly and drummed his thumb along with the radio. Susan looked out the window and excitedly tapped the glass for Jordon to look at the pretty flowers she saw. Beth breathed in a pleased sigh and glanced in Jesse’s direction. She may have to accidently fall asleep on his shoulder before they got there she thought with a giggle.

Beth would be glad when Jesse finally finished with the veterinarian clinical because she hardly ever saw him anymore. Even if he came home on the weekends or had a few days off, he studied, worked, or partied.

Beth didn’t know what girlfriends he had now. Not that she could keep up with them all.

However, she was certain he made time for them. Beth remembered the day Jesse turned 18, the day she served him breakfast in bed, the day she made a fool of herself.

That morning Beth had gotten up before anyone else, went into the kitchen, and started the coffee. After gathering all the needed items, she began cooking. Beth had helped Susan cook many times so she knew what to do. She fried bacon and eggs, cooked grits, and toasted toast, hoping the whole time the aroma of the bacon didn’t somehow drift through the breezeway and into his house and wake him up before she was ready. After she finished cooking, she positioned the food neatly on a plate and sat it on a tray. Then she ran outside, cut a rose, and laid it on the opposite side of the napkin and utensils.

Beth walked slowly through the breezeway to Jesse’s front door. She didn’t knock because she wanted it to be a surprise when Jesse opened his eyes. She balanced the tray with one hand and gently eased the door open with the other. She walked as quietly as she could toward the bed. Beth was watching the tray as she crept closer to Jesse; but, when she looked up to see where she was going, she saw a redheaded woman duck her head under the covers.

Beth didn’t know what to do now. Should she act as if she hadn’t seen her or should she turn around and walk out the door? She was suddenly thinking that this was the stupidest idea she’d ever had. But, as nervous as she was, she decided to brave it through. Not only were her hands now shaking but the whole doggone tray was rattling. She managed to place the tray on the table beside the bed without spilling anything.

Beth tried to act as if nothing was wrong but now her voice failed to work right. “Ha-happy Bi-birthday Jesse…I wanted t-to surprise you with breakfast in b-bed,” Beth stuttered and that made her even more embarrassed.

“Thank you, pumpkin, that’s very thoughtful of you,” Jesse said after finally finding his voice.

Beth just merely nodded and turned to leave. She stopped when she was halfway to the door,

“Jesse, wou-would your fr-friend like something to eat or a cu-cup of coffee?” Beth asked without looking back.

Jesse, having just taken a sip of coffee, sucked it down the wrong way and started coughing,

“No, no baby, I’ll just share what you brought me,” he finally choked out.

Again, Beth nodded and, with her head held high and back straight, she walked out of the room. Before Beth even had the door shut, she heard the woman burst out laughing, although it sounded more like witch’s cackle to Beth. Then Beth heard the woman mocking her to Jesse, “J-J-Jesse would your fr-friend like a c-c-cup of cof-coffee?” Then she laughed repeatedly. Beth heard Jesse tell the woman to be quiet because she might hear her. Beth heard her alright and she would never forget her cruelty or her laugh.

Beth took off running as fast as she could. She was so humiliated. She was crying so hard she was gasping for air when she finally stopped beside the deep sparkling pond. She didn’t know how long she had been there when Jordon found her.

Her dad sat down beside her, put his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her close to him.

“Beth, honey, do you want to tell me why you are crying?” Beth just shook her head no. So Jordon picked her up, as he did when she was little and carried her all the way back to the house. He climbed up on the back porch, walked over to the old cypress porch swing, and sat down with her still in his arms. Jordon held her cradled in that position swinging for what seemed liked hours. Beth loved him so much at that moment. He never questioned her again about why she was crying, but he did tell her if she ever wanted to talk about it he was there.

For days after the awful incident, Beth tried to avoid Jesse. She didn’t know if she would ever be able to face him again. However, after a few days, she came out of hiding and started talking to him. He never mentioned it and neither did she.