TIME TO MOVE ON
Jewell had no idea what she would say to Evan, but she knew it was time to stop ducking him and making up excuses for not seeing him. After all, Evan wasn’t a stupid man. He was decent, and deserved to be with someone who didn’t have doubts about their relationship. Jewell decided to break up with Evan in a public place. That way she could say what needed to be said and walk away without causing a scene. She’d spent all day thinking about what she would say and how she would say it. The conclusion was there wouldn’t be an easy way. His feelings were bound to be hurt. The one thing she was certain of was that she wouldn’t tell him she was getting back with King. He didn’t need to know. Her plan was to tell him that she needed space, that she decided she wasn’t ready for a relationship—at least not the kind he wanted—and she thought it was best for him to move on. She was going to tell him that he was a good man who deserved someone who was ready to accept what he was willing to give.
She’d convinced herself that by placing the blame on herself, it wouldn’t make him feel like he failed. She just wanted her family to be together. The time she’d been spending with King and Tyson made her realize this even more.
She and King hadn’t told Tyson about reuniting, at least not yet. King wanted to, but Jewell felt they should give it time. Little did she know, Tyson knew that something was up.
One evening as they lay across her bed watching a movie, he asked, “Ma, what’s up with you and Dad?”
“What do you mean, what’s up with us?”
“I don’t know. You two have been acting really funny, whispering and stuff. It’s like you’re being extra nice to each other.”
Laughing, Jewell asked, “Are you saying we were mean to each other before?”
“No, but you act almost like boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Jewell was tickled pink. “What do you know about girlfriends and boyfriends?” Teasing him, she asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Tyson started to blush. “For real, Mom. You and Dad are always touching each other and stuff. Are you two getting married or something?”
“No. No. We just . . . um. We just . . .” She didn’t know what to tell him. “Ask your father,” she said, thinking that would get him off her case.
“I did. He told me to ask you.”
Jewell smiled. She should have known better.
“Well, your father and I are dating one another.”
“Does this mean we’re going to be a family again?”
“We’re already a family, sweetheart,” Jewell told him, hoping he would drop the subject.
No such luck. “But are we going to be a family together in the same house?”
All Jewell could say was, “I don’t know yet.”
Later that night when King arrived to pick up Tyson, Jewell asked, “Why didn’t you let me know Tyson was asking questions?”
“The way I figured it,” King said, “is that he’d ask you also.”
Jewell told him he was right, and she repeated the conversation verbatim.
“So, did you break up with the white boy yet?” That was all King wanted to know.
“Not yet.”
King walked out of the house and slammed the door behind him.
Jewell walked over to the phone, called King’s house and left a message on his answering machine, “Please don’t be angry. I’m going to do it this weekend.”
That was why she was at TGI Friday’s now, heading Evan’s way. He’d already taken a seat and was looking through the menu. He looked up and smiled when he saw her. When she arrived at the table, he stood up and pulled her seat out. “I’ve missed you.” He tried to place a kiss on her lips, but she turned her head and the kiss landed on her cheek.
“So, what’s up?” Evan asked as he sat down.
On edge, Jewell said, “Nothing. Why?”
“I haven’t seen you in over a week, and when I do, I try to kiss you and you turn your head.”
Jewell didn’t realize that she’d done that. “I’m sorry. My mind is just preoccupied.”
“With what?”
“Just stuff at work,” she lied.
The waitress came over and asked, “Would you like something to drink?”
Jewell ordered a Margarita on the rocks with extra tequila. She figured she’d need the extra courage. Evan ordered a rum and Coke. The waitress left their menus. Evan just sat staring at Jewell while she tried to pretend that she didn’t notice.
“Jewell?”
She looked up.
“Why don’t you be honest with me and tell me what’s up?”
Jewell decided not to put it off any longer. She opened her purse, pulled out the ring Evan had given to her and put it on the table in front of them. Jewell knew when he first gave it to her she should have given it back. But as they say, diamonds are a girl’s best friend.
Evan glanced at the ring and asked, “What’s this? Why are you putting the ring on the table?”
“I’ve decided to give it back to you. I can’t accept it,” Jewell told him.
“Why not?”
“I’ve decided that what you want and what I want are two different things. We’re moving in two different directions, and I don’t want to pretend anymore.”
“You don’t want to pretend? Jewell, what are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Evan. Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I’m not ready for a commitment. I can’t pretend that I am, and I don’t want to lead you on.”
The waitress came back over. “Are you ready to order?”
“No, we need some more time,” Evan answered without taking his eyes off Jewell. He noticed that Jewell wasn’t returning his gaze. Instead, she looked surprised by whatever was behind him. Evan turned around to see what she was looking at.
King had just entered the restaurant with a friend. “Isn’t this a coincidence? You’re dumping me, and in walks your son’s father. Wouldn’t he love to be a part of this?”
Little did Evan know, he was. At that exact moment, Jewell saw Trey pointing in their direction. King and Trey were friends during their youth, and Jewell never liked him. He was always a troublemaker, and it appeared that he hadn’t changed.
King looked in Jewell’s face and frowned. He started walking in their direction.
“Damn.” Jewell wanted this night to be drama free. Evan looked at her and smirked. King was soon standing in front of them.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” He spotted the ring on the table. “Or should I ask what do we have there?”
Evan put his hand out, and King surprisingly shook it.
Being sarcastic, King asked, “Are we getting engaged?”
Jewell didn’t know what to say.
“Actually,” Evan volunteered, “you’ll be happy to know she’s giving me the ring back and—”
Jewell shot Evan a look that he understood to mean this was between them.
“Can I see you for a second?” King asked Jewell.
“No.” Jewell was not in the mood.
“I’ll only take up a minute of your time.” Looking at Evan, he asked, “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Go ahead and take care of your business,” Evan said.
Trey was standing off to the side, amused. “I’m going to sit down, man.”
Jewell stood up and followed King to the back of the restaurant. She asked him where Tyson was. It was just something to say.
“With Trey’s girl and son.”
“Oh.”
“So, what’s up with you and Evan out on a date?”
“It’s not a date. I came to break up with him. Didn’t you get my message?”
“Yeah, I got it. What? You couldn’t break up over the phone?”
“I could have, but I chose not to,” Jewell said.
“Have you told him?” King wanted to know.
“I was doing that when you walked over.”
“Oh. I’ll let you go back and handle your business then.”
Jewell turned to walk back over to Evan.
“Hey!” King called out.
Turning around, Jewell asked, “What now?”
“Can I have a kiss?”
Jewell rolled her eyes and turned away. When she reached the table, Evan was standing up.
“Where are you going?”
“I can tell when I’m not wanted,” Evan told her.
“Please, Evan, let’s talk about this.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I love you, but you don’t love me. I want to be with you, but you don’t want to be with me. What more is there to say?”
Jewell didn’t have a reply.
Evan shook his head and said, “I didn’t think so.”
He walked away, leaving her standing there.
King watched Evan leave the restaurant then approached Jewell. “You want some company tonight?”
Jewell just looked at him.
“Well?”
“No, King. I think I just need to be alone.” She turned to leave the restaurant, but King grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him.
She hoped Evan had left and wasn’t in the parking lot witnessing this.
“I love you,” King told her.
“Yeah, I know,” she responded.
That night when Jewell arrived home, she tried calling Elsie, but there no answer at her house and she wasn’t picking up her cell phone.