Chapter 15

 

Before his mother went on her way, she complimented Jeanette on Tender Steps Preschool décor. As if paying attention to her surroundings for the first time, Marta turned in a slow circle taking in the pastel green walls and lavender mini-sectional in the reception area. “These colors are soothing. I’m sure parents appreciate dropping their children off here every morning.”

When Jeanette blinked back tears, Marta asked concerned, “What is it?”

She listened as Jeanette shared with her the role Alonzo played in the school’s overhaul and donation.

“Jeanette, my son did this because he wants you and your aunt to be able to give these children the best.”

Marta hugged Jeanette one last time. “Call Alonzo. He loves so much.”

“I will. I promise.”

Jeanette waved goodbye to Marta as she drove off in a shimmery pearl Lexus. She hurried up to her apartment, replaying her conversations with Gloria and Marta. For once she wasn’t going to be stubborn and take the advice of two very wise women. 

She sat on her bed and dropped her head into her hands. What a day. While the students were taking their naps, Jeanette googled Alonzo on the new computer in her classroom. Several articles, interviews and pictures were displayed. She felt like she’d been punched in the stomach when a photo of him with high-maintenance looking chicks clinging to his arm popped up.

If she could, she would have gone through the screen and scratched the heifer’s eyes out who had her lips plastered all over his. Jeanette reached for her laptop on the nightstand. Her fingers rapidly clicked along the keys as she brought up the Sports Illustrated interview written last year, she hadn’t been able to finish reading because the children had begun to wake up from nap time.

 

“Oh, my God. What did I do?” Jeanette cried, her hands trembling as she reached into the back pocket of her slacks for her cell phone. He didn’t withhold his identity because he was ashamed of her. He withheld it because he found the woman in the article. She was the woman in the article!

Alonzo, I love you. Please forgive me.

Jeanette’s worst fear came true. Hours passed. Alonzo never responded to her text.

 

***

 

To get his mind off his problems with Jeanette, Alonzo dropped by the auto shop to work on his vintage Datsun 240Z with his father. He was grateful Javier hadn’t asked him a ton of questions as they rebuilt the engine. Their conversation centered around the work on the car, which was fine with Alonzo. Having to concentrate on what he was doing freed him of his thoughts of Jeanette. He was in slow torment each time he reached out to her and she rejected him.

Quarter after midnight Javier called it a night.

“This is about as far as we can go, Alonzo. The other parts won’t be shipped until the middle of next week.”

“I see,” Alonzo said rolling his shoulders. Exhausted, he went over to the sink, picked up a thick bar of soap and began washing his hands. He dried them and went into his father’s office to get his cell phone off the desk. Glancing at the screen, his heart dropped when he saw there was a message. He swiped the screen with his thumb and read the message twice. He nearly tripped over his feet as hurried to grab his leather jacket off the coat rack in the corner.

“Papá, I have to go.”

Javier turned his attention from the tools he was putting away.

“Is everything alright?”

“I hope so. I’ll talk to you later.”

Although traffic was light it felt like it took Alonzo hours to get to Jeanette’s. When he finally stood on her doorstep, he alternated between ringing the bell and knocking. He wanted to yell for her to hurry up when the hallway light illuminated the stairwell.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he groaned when she opened the door.

She looked an adorable, hot mess. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy like she’d been crying for days. She’d must’ve been in the middle of doing her hair because half her twists were unraveled. A huge grape juice stain soiled her favorite white, fluffy robe.

Jeanette went into his arms when he opened them. Her body trembled. She cried harder as launched into a heartfelt apology.

“Sweetheart, I never meant to hurt you. I love you. I could never be ashamed of you.”

Securing the door, Alonzo picked her up, and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom. He sat on the bed with her in his lap. A large lump formed in his throat, threatening to cut off his oxygen supply as Jeanette held onto him weeping. He hushed her when she tried to talk through her sobbing because he couldn’t understand a word she was saying.

Somewhat composed, Jeanette lifted her head from Alonzo’s chest. She wiped at her eyes and nose with the hem of her sleeve, not caring if it looked disgusting. There were other things, important things pressing on her heart.

“When you didn’t answer me, I thought …”

She couldn’t bring herself to put her worst fear in the atmosphere, too afraid it would come true.

“Sweetheart, I was at the shop with my dad rebuilding an engine. My phone was on his desk. I didn’t get the text until right before I came over here.”

His sincere expression told Jeanette he was telling the truth. She loved him even more for rushing to her.

Alonzo squeezed her tight before tenderly kissing her forehead.

“And I should’ve told you the truth upfront. I let past experiences with other women cloud my judgement. You’re nothing like them, Jeanette. With you I didn’t have to worry about you asking for an eight-thousand-dollar purse after sex.”

He threw his head back, roaring with laughter when Jeanette shrieked, “Eight thousand dollars! What kind of coochie did she have?”

When he continued laughing, she chided, “That’s not funny, Alonzo. Do you know what Auntie and I could do for the school with that kind of money? We sure wouldn’t be buying a stupid purse.”

While working at Macy’s, during slow spells Jeanette would go spy out the new shipment of Coach and Michael Kors purses. The five-hundred-dollar price tag was a tad bit too rich for her blood.

And this was why he loved her. Investing that kind of money in her students would take precedence over a luxury item. Once he made her permanently his, he would give her whatever her heart desired.

Sobering up he agreed. “You’re right it’s not funny,” he shrugged, “that’s what I was dealing with.”

Fingering one of her unraveled twists, it was time for him to confess his worst fear. “I didn’t think you would ever see me again. What changed your mind?”

Jeanette stroked his tense jaw. She didn’t begin speaking until he relaxed beneath her touch. As she stared into his eyes, water began to fill hers.

“I read an interview where you said, ‘I’m waiting for a woman to come along who’s not interested in my status as a professional ballplayer or what’s in my bank account. I want a woman who would want me if I didn’t have two nickels to rub together. That would be the kind of woman I could settle down with… have babies with … I don’t know if she exists.’ It was then I realized I was that woman. And I was so scared I had messed up.”

Alonzo crushed his mouth to hers. He would tell her later that she could mess up a thousand times and it wouldn’t make him love her any less. Want her any less.

“I love you, Jeanette. You’re my everything.”

“I love you too, Alonzo. For always.”

Jeanette moaned when Alonzo untied her robe and cupped her breast. She grabbed his free hand to cup her other breast. Leaning forward she covered her mouth with his, their tongues swirling, creating a sensual dance. Breaking the kiss, she breathed out, “Take off your clothes.”

They feverishly undressed each other. Jeanette wrapped her legs around Alonzo’s waist when he picked her up, backing her against the wall. When his mouth came down on her breast only taking her nipple in, stroking an erogenous zone, she almost lost her mind and plunged down on his thick erection.

“Condom. Alonzo. Condom.”

Jeanette drew tiny circles on his neck with the tip of her tongue as he carried her to the dresser where she kept the condoms in the top drawer. He put her down for a moment to sheath himself. With her back against the wall again, he lifted her, impaling her to the hilt.

Jeanette cried out when he squatted and tilted her pelvis driving himself deeper inside. Their coupling was fiery, bodies slick with sweat as they pushed and pulled at each other drawing out the other’s essence.

Alonzo cussed, his eyes wild with passion when Jeanette squeezed her breasts together making her nipples touch. She let out a high-pitched scream when he leaned forward, his sharp teeth clamping down on her sensitive flesh. Jeanette’s body went still before exploding in orgasmic bliss. Alonzo threw his head back, high on everything about the woman in his arms as his own release pushed him into the inferno.

Staggering to the bed, Alonzo collapsed with Jeanette in his arms. The only sound heard in the room was their labored breathing. He kissed her damp brow. “I love you, Jeanette Adams.”

Jeanette smiled against his sweaty chest. “I love you, Alonzo Castro.”

A comfortable silence poured over them like warm honey. Jeanette readjusted herself so she could lay her head on his chest. The sound of his beating heart soothed her, giving her the courage to tell him about his mother’s visit.

“Your mother came to see me today.”

He was too drained to let his mind run wild with negative thoughts. “What did she want?”

Jeanette lifted her head to rest her chin on his chest so she could look at him. “To tell me how much you love me and that I should give you another chance.

Stunned, Alonzo said, “She did?”

“Yep. She even mumbled something about beautiful grandbabies.”

Alonzo’s laugh was cleansing. His mother had a nervous habit of saying her truest thoughts out loud. “She was serious.”

“I figured as much,” Jeanette laughed.

Alonzo rolled Jeanette on her back so he could be on top of her. He tenderly stroked her cheek with his thumb while gazing deep into her eyes.

“For us to give Mamá grandbabies we have to be married.”

Jeanette stared back, her heart pounding a million beats a minute.

“What are you saying, Alonzo?”

She wanted to cry when he kissed her sweetly. “I’m saying I want to marry you, sweetheart. And have lots of babies with you. Will you do that for me?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you Alonzo Castro.” She grinned at him and sassy as ever declared, “Because I’m that woman.”

Alonzo’s deep, sexy chuckle matched her sass. “Yes, you are, sweetheart.”