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JET’S ATTEMPTS AT GROUP counseling yielded nothing positive, so she stopped attending—again. Plus, the psychologists said post-traumatic stress could last a lifetime. She hoped not.
Dori’s feisty personality had kicked in and now at three-and-a-half-years-old, her niece resembled Diane more. Jet could tell Levi noticed that too. They acknowledged their loss with a weak smile or nod.
Layla was glad to hear Jet had put effort into her social life and accepted casual dates whom she introduced them to the Tollivers. One, to get their assessment, and two, to show them she was moving on. She noticed Rossi had started to date again too—women in church, of course.
One of Jet’s suitors, Terence Drake, was tall and nice-looking. He was nothing like the men she’d dated before. Having met him through an associate from her job, she liked his take-charge personality. Their first date had been dinner and a movie; the second, a visit to the art museum; tonight, it was dinner and whatever.
Terence was also a man who was punctual. At seven, he rang her bell and whistled at her coral dress that hugged her curves. She didn’t lack self-confidence, but his gestures and compliments made her feel beautiful.
Once they were inside his Lexus, she made a request. “Before we go to Maggiano’s for dinner, do you mind meeting the Tollivers?”
Terence winked. “Sure. We can swing by there for a bit.”
She gave him the address, then they chatted about their work week. As upper management at BJC Healthcare, one of the top employers in St. Louis, Terence had authorized cutbacks. “The good news is more than eighty employees took the early retirement packages. The rest will receive severance pay.”
Jet didn’t like to hear any misfortune fall on anyone. “My boss is pushing for me to take the CTP test—Certified Treasury Personnel. As his assistant, he’s grooming me for the next management level.”
“You should go for it.”
“I think I will.” She nodded. “I make good money as it is, but an extra thirty to forty thousand a year will help me set up a college or trust fund for my niece.”
“You’re a generous soul,” he complimented, then talked about his three brothers and how close he was to them. Jet shut down. Stopping at a red light, he turned to her. “Is everything all right?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I miss Diane.”
He patted her hand. “I’m sure you do. It’ll get better in time.”
How? she always questioned that after someone said it to her. A tear slid down her cheek, and Jet dabbed at it. She didn’t want a pat on the hand. Jet needed a hug.
Parking in front of the Tolliver’s house, she noticed familiar cars, but not Levi’s. Terence helped her out and guided her up the stairs and to the porch.
Rossi opened the door. Why was he at his aunt and uncle’s house?
“Jesetta.” He stepped back so they could enter and introduced himself with a handshake. “Rossi Tolliver—Minister Rossi Tolliver.”
What’s that all about? She gave him a side eye. The man rarely used his title outside of church. In the family room, Levi’s twin brothers greeted Terence as well as Rossi’s three brothers who also happened to be there. Besides Sharon, Jet only expected Levi. Sharon’s petite form got lost in the Tolliver fortress.
They went down the line with formalities and handshakes, but the expressions on their faces held suspicion. It was comical to Jet that she snickered until Terence gave her a curious look.
The door opened and Dori skipped in. The world evolved around her. Jet squatted and was the first to receive her hug.
“Auntie. Daddy bought me a stuffed animal and...”
When Dori took a breath, Jet introduced her niece to her date. The girl waved and made a beeline to her grandparents. Levi was more cordial to Terence, but her date seemed impatient to leave.
Too bad, she decided, coaxing another hug from Dori, then smothering her with kisses. The child giggled.
“We have reservations,” Terence said not too softly.
“I made pot roast,” Sharon offered.
“Thanks, but we need to go.” He steered Jet out of the door and to the car. The twenty-minute drive to the Italian restaurant was quiet. She didn’t mind as her blissful thoughts were on Dori and her bubbly personality.
Once they arrived, the couple were seated immediately. After ordering, Jet chatted away about her favorite person. “Isn’t my niece adorable?”
He didn’t answer right away as he drummed his fingers on the tablecloth. “Yes, but it looks like she’s going to be spoiled.”
Whether he was teasing or not, Jet took offense. “It’s a given Dori will be a little spoiled, but Levi and I will make sure she’s well-grounded.”
“Hmm.” He paused as the server placed their salads before them. He bowed his head, and each quietly blessed their food before making eye contact again. “I didn’t realize you were so close with your deceased sister’s in-laws. When your ex-brother-in-law remarries, your presence may be awkward, don’t you think?”
That one remark struck a chord with her. Terence might as well have said she didn’t belong. She kept her smile in place, wondering if their relationship progressed into something more permanent, would he try to keep her away from Dori. Wasn’t happening.
Plus, she doubted Levi would be getting married any time soon the way he doted on Dori and rejected advances from women at his church. In any case, it didn’t appear she and Terence would be compatible after tonight. The man she became serious with would have to love her niece unconditionally. That spoiled comment hinted Terence didn’t share her sentiment.
She took another dating hiatus for months until she met Jules Stone at the new unisex salon where her stylist started working. On their first date, they stopped by Levi’s house so he could meet her pride and joy, Dori. Jet decided any of her future dates would have to pass the test of her late sister’s in-laws.
“Auntie, I think one of his eyes is bigger,” Dori stated in a matter-of-fact tiny voice, then pointed.
She could hear Levi and Rossi snickering as they walked into the room. Her brother-in-law had begun to censor his adorable little chatterbox, so he gently scolded her.
“It’s not polite to say things to hurt people’s feelings. Apologize.”
Looking contrite, Dori pouted as she made eye contact with Jules. “My daddy says he apologizes.”
Everyone thought it was funny, except Jules. Studying his eyes behind his glasses, Jet noticed one had more of a slant than the other. How observant of her niece, but overall, he had commanding looks that attracted her.
Squeezing his lips, Jules’ nostrils flared. He was silent for a minute, then charmingly stated, “It was nice meeting everyone,” and rushed Jet out the door.
Once they had driven away, he turned to her. “For the record, I got hit in one eye with a softball when I was a boy. Your niece needs more restraint and discipline...”
No, he didn’t go there. Jet used every muscle in her body not to punch him. One, she didn’t fight, and two, no one was going to talk about her niece.
As far as she was concerned, the rest of the date was a bust, so at the end of the night, she kindly informed him, “I guess we won’t be seeing each other again.” She unlocked her front door, walked in, and closed it not too quietly.
