Permission to Love

Chapter Fourteen

“Jae, we will have birf –“ Kathryn shakes her head after mistakenly picking up on her daughters stutter, “I mean BIRTHDAY cake when daddy and I get back tonight, I promise.” She assures the small child while making her way down the stairs all while trying to put on her last earring and left shoe. She straightens her dress with a soft sigh before calmly opening the door.

 “Well, don’t you just look all dolled up.” The fifty some year old woman compliments Kathryn with a smile before stepping into the large house.

 “Hi, Nanny Grace.” Kathryn smiles nervously before straightening out her short black dress once more. “I look okay?”

 “Okay?” The woman questions with a mischievous smirk. “It’s about time you and Mr. Weston had a real first date but I would be a little concerned about that poor boys heart after he gets a look at you.” She cackles as Kathryn rolls her eyes with a playful smirk.

 “It’s not a date. Alexander’s just doing something nice for my birthday, like every year.”

 “Mmhm.” Nanny Grace mumbles in sarcasm before turning to walk up the stairs with a sly smirk.

“It’s not.”  Kathryn assures firmly one last time before closing the front door in an attempt to keep the cold from entering in.

“And I suppose you wouldn’t be looking to impress anyone in particular with that new dress?” Nanny Grace questions her mischievously while standing on the stairs and looking down at the flushed birthday girl.

Kathryn scoffs before crossing her arms. “This dress isn’t new.”

The older woman nods before turning to continue her walk up the stairs. “You may want to dispose of the tag hanging out the back if you intend on using that lie, dear.”

Kathryn’s eyes widen and she quickly makes her way over to the hallway mirror. She slides her arms inside the dress and twirls it around so the tag is out front before quickly snapping it off just as the doorbell rings once again. She sighs a breath of relief before rushing over to the front door. She quickly turns the dress back around the right way and pushes her arms back out the holes before turning the door knob. Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees Alexander standing outside in a nice black suit and bright smile to match.

“Ready for our date?”

Her mouth drops slightly in shock and she quickly disposes of the tag in her left hand, causing him to give her a quizzical look when she tosses it to her left. She simply shoots him a crooked grin before holding up her index finger. “Just one minute, I need to tell Jae goodbye and grab my purse.” She turns and rushes up the stairs in a nervous fit, only causing Alexander’s smirk to widen at her tense behavior. “Just one minute.” She assures him once more as she makes her way up the stairs.

“You look so pretty, mommy.” Jaelyn compliments Kathryn as she steps into her bedroom where both her and Nanny Grace set up while the small tv screen shows a re-run of an old Happy Days episode. 

“Thank you, sweetie.” Kathryn says with a smile as she kneels down in front of the girl and plants a small kiss on her cheek. “Keep looking forward to that birthday cake and I’ll be back before you know it, deal?”

“Deal!” Jaelyn exclaims with wide eyes of excitement as Kathryn gives her one last hug before exiting the room. She starts to make her way down the stairs but luckily remembers her purse before she makes it too far and yanks it from the hallway table prior to unsteadily continuing her descent down the stairs.

Alexander smiles up at her from the bottom of the stairs. “Jaelyn’s good?”

“Jaelyn’s good.” Kathryn answers with a small smile before glancing down at Alexander’s outstretched elbow and slowly latching on. “So, you never told me; where are we going?”