Think Of Me

Chapter Eleven

After her and Cristian's Sweetleaf date, Jeanna hadn't attempted to contact him. She didn't return his calls and hardly answered his text messages. She had a lot to think about. At first Cristian seemed like a perfect guy for her and Risa, but then what had changed her mind? Aaron.

She would always love Aaron, even after all he did wrong. His voice echoed in her head from the other night: Do you love him? Would you give me a second chance? ...we could have been a family... When she had gotten home that night and taken her necklace off, she realized she had worn the necklace he had given her when they first started dating. Why did she even still have that? Why didn't she throw it away? Because she couldn't.

Her phone buzzed; another call from Cristian. She answered with a tear strained voice.

“I'm sorry, Cristian. I just need my space right now. I need to think of what's best for my daughter right now...it's probably best if we just stop this before we get too deep.”

There was a few moments of silence on the other line followed by an argument. Cristian just couldn't understand that he wasn't what she wanted. Jeanna had finally realized how much she still loved Aaron, how much she still needed him.

But, was it too late to start over?

~*~

“Risa-E! Hold still!” Jeanna said sternly, grabbing her daughter's upper arm.

It was late Friday afternoon and Jeanna was getting her ready for her ballet recital later. Risa bounced all over the place, a mixture of excitement and nerves. She had spent the night at Aaron's (who had taken the whole day off) and he had made her French toast with extra syrup, getting her hyped up before sending her home with her mother. Jeanna made sure to thank him for that.

“Mommy, no!” Risa pouted, pulling away from Jeanna.

Jeanna huff-ed. “Do you want to go tonight, or not, Risa? Ms. Luxe wants everyone to wear their hairbows!”

Risa crossed her arms across her pink and silver sequined torso and started to stomp away to her room. What is with her today? Jeanna thought, continuing to blame Aaron for giving her sugar. Maybe that was the source of her moodiness. She wasn't used to eating that much sugar.

“Don't make me count to three, young lady!” Jeanna threatened, looking at the clock that hung over the kitchen doorway. They had about an hour before the recital started, meaning they needed to leave right then.

Risa grunted and screamed, fisting her hands into her hair and pulling the bun down that Jeanna had worked so hard to put up. “I don't wanna!”

Jeanna could put up with a tantrum, but this was getting out of hand. What in the hell went on at her dad's? “Risa Eydine. If you don't get over here this instant, you're going to get a spanking. One... two...”

The counting seemed to work because Risa changed directions and stomped her way back over to her mother. She pouted and cried as her mother scooped her red locks back up and pinned them up in a bun again.

“Did you not take a nap today?” Jeanna asked, irritated. Risa grunted and she took that as a yes. “That's your fault then, Reese. Now, listen. If Daddy's going to take time off work to come see you at ballet, you need to wipe those tears away and straighten up. Do a good job tonight so your daddy and I can be proud. Okay? Besides, Ryan and his mommy are going to be there, too!”

At the mention of Aaron's attendance, Risa wiped her tears and stood still, letting Jeanna pin the pink chiffon ribbon around the bun on her head.

“How will I know if Daddy's really there or not?” she asked, turning around and giving Jeanna a no-nonsense look.