Prelude to kisses

Chapter 47

"Hey babe, can I use your laptop for a second".

She looked up to see him standing there scratching the back of his head. She'd never seen him so sheepish before she couldn't help but laughed. He came to sit next to her and said, "I sold it yesterday babe".

"Why? Was it not working well?" His eyes didn't give anything away, so she thought he wanted to buy a new one since he'd been with it for a few years now.

"I needed to pay for something and it's still the middle of the month".

"Oh, didn't you have emergency savings?".

She saw a flash of annoyance cross his face before it was completely erased by a smile, "I do, I just don't want to use that unless it's a real emergency. Besides I've had that laptop for quite a while, and it was running a bit slow".

Jackie nodded her head in understanding.

"What would you like for dinner?" At the mention of dinner, she got up to open the fridge, suddenly craving some homemade food. When she opened his fridge, there wasn't much there. She closed the fridge door, "I guess you haven't done your groceries for the week", She stated.

"I hadn't gotten around to it. Do you want to eat out or order in?"

"I saw a really nice diner across the grocery store".

In a few minutes after getting their coats and her handbag, he led her out of the house by the small of her back. Opening the door for her and leading out into the busy street. The moon was full above them, but the city lights made it hard for it to shine, she knew that if she was at her grandmother's, it would shine so bright she would be able to see her own shadow. He held her hand in his coat pocket to keep her warm, casting a glance to her every now and then. Jackie couldn't tell what he was thinking then. In five minutes, they were seated in a brightly lit and beautifully decorated diner across from each other. He ordered a chicken burger and fries, and she ordered their rice and chicken strips. It was heavenly. The sensations of spices hitting her taste buds.

They stayed for desert and chatted away into the night. In all the times they'd been out or when he'd ordered takeout, he'd never made her pay or even suggested he expected that of her, but as he led her out of the diner she wondered if she should have this time. She didn't know just how much of a financial crisis he was in, and she didn't want to make this time harder for him. She just hoped he would be able to get through it, because she couldn't do much for him especially if he didn't talk to her.

"Are you okay?" She asked him later when they lay in bed.

He shifted a little, pulling her further into him, "I'm okay, are you?"

"Yeah. You will tell me if there's something worrying you right?"

"Of course, but you know I don't tell you my problems so you can fix them for me, right?"

"I know".

"Get some sleep, it's going to be a long day tomorrow".

"Do you think you'll be able to make it to the graduation?"

"I don't know, but I will let you know. I got something for Loura, I want you to take it with you just in case I'm not able to give it to her myself".

"You didn't have to but thank you".

"You might think so, but your little sister would pull my ear if I didn't get her something".

Jackie laughed and as an image of Laura popped into her head, she believed what her boyfriend had just said. Laura didn't take those kinds of things lightly and she was not scared to say it.

The next morning, they only had enough time to drink coffee together before he was out the door in his suit. She loved seeing him all dressed up, especially in blue. It made his eyes shine. She had at least an hour before she had to be at Laura's graduation ceremony. That would be thirty minutes to do some cleaning around his house and rinse the cups in the sink, she decided.

After cleaning, taking a shower and getting dressed in her smart grey dress, she was out the door into her car. Laura was the first person in their family to ever graduate. The thought brought tears to her eyes. Her grandmother would be there to witness it, it was such a full circle moment to have everyone in her family there, supporting her little sister. In a sense it made her sad too because her paternal grandmother couldn't be here with everyone.

She wanted this memory to be forever engraved to her head. She wanted to live to remember every second of this day for as long as there was enough air in her lungs. Just as she'd imagined, she had to give Loura the present herself when her boyfriend sends a text that he wouldn't be able to make it. She'd hopped her grandmother would meet him and her mom who would only be in the country for a week. But the disappointment didn't last long when she saw how bright Laura shined tonight. It was her day. There was no reason to ruin her obvious joy by family introductions. Chloe had run off somewhere with Marvin by the time Jackie found her friend. She looked exquisite as always.

The day ended with a family and friends party at her house. Everything was last minute as she'd thought everyone would be going back home but the ceremony had gone on for longer than anyone had anticipated. Jackie and Mahita had the job to run around making hotel bookings for everyone and making sure they would be comfortable for the night. When she finally went home, it was only her mom, Loura and Chloe and their grandmother. Everyone found a place to sleep for the night, too tired to even change into comfortable clothes.