Jamie left work and made her way to the grocery store. Hmm, what do I need to make fajitas tonight? Jamie was making dinner at the Black's house that night, and the adult friends were going to handful out and talk. She made a last minute decision to grab som Kraft© Mac-and-cheese for Ally and Samuel. Ok what am I missing... Ahh! Peppers! She made her way toward the fresh produce aisle.
"Jamie? Jamie Hughes is that you?" called a voice from somewhere in front of her as she bent down to grab the perfect pepper. She looked up and to her surprise saw Edward standing there. "Oh my goodness! Edward? I wasn't expecting to see you here!" Jamie quickly brushed her hair of of her face. "Er, is it okay to give you a hug?" Edward asked sheepishly, his face turning red.
"Oh sure!" Jamie quickly answered. The two awkwardly embraced in the middle of the supermarket and Jamie thought it lingered a second longer than it could have. "Let me guess," Edward said glancing at her basket, " 'Jamie Hughes' Famous Fajitas'?" Jamie had made a variety of dishes for her friends and dorm-mates when she was in college. Fajitas were her specialty, and her friends always begged for them.
Jamie chuckled, "Oh, yeah. I'm making fajitas for the Blacks and some high school friends. Do you remember Hazel and Timothy Black?"
"How could I forget them!" Edward chuckled. "Timothy is one of the funniest men I know! Sometimes I miss being able to talk to him all day. He always knew what to say to make me feel better. How are he and Hazel doing? Wasn't Hazel pregnant when I last saw her?"
Edward and Jamie had spent an entire summer with the newlyweds at Timothy's parent's beach house in Key West, and the four were best friends. After the summer ended, Edward moved to Michigan to work at a big company, and they hadn't spoke since. "They're good." Jamie answered. "They have two kids now, Alla Mae, Ally for short, is three and Samuel is two. They're the cutest kids in the world. One day I hope to be lucky enough to have children as sweet as them."
A look of longing and sadness fell over Jamie. Edward sensed her sadness and reached out to touch her shoulder. "Jamie, I know that God will bless you with children one day, you're built to be the perfect mother." He smiled, and his smile made her sadness float away. "I'd love to talk but I really have to get going." Jamie said. "It was nice to see you again." She quickly embraced Edward and then hurried to the checkout, doing her best to hide her blushing face.
"Is that your boyfriend?" The young teenage cashier asked; the groceries weren't the only thing she was checking out. "No, not exactly." Jamie smiled and blushed again. "Oh, that's too bad, he's hot." the cashier said nonchalantly while ringing up Jamie's items. Yes, yes he is, Jamie thought. After checking out, Jamie managed to make it to the car without dropping anything, and began the drive to the Black's house.
When she pulled up to the house, she was greeted by two energetic children speedily running toward her. "Auntie Jamie! Auntie Jamie! What can we do to help?" the two children asked while looking up with puppy eyes. "Hmmm, well Ally, you can carry the taco shells and Samuel, you can carry the Mac-and-cheese!"
The two children ran back inside the house screaming "yay!" and "Auntie Jamie's here!" to the guests waiting inside, who only laughed. "Auntie Jamie, can I help you make dinner?" Little Ally looked up at Jamie with such a pleading expression, Jamie couldn't help but say yes. With Ally's help, as much help as a three-year-old could give, the process went much faster.
Within half an hour the fajitas and the Mac-and-Cheese were ready entire group was enjoying their meal; Hazel and Timothy were always open to a full house of people, it made their home complete. Occasionally, Jamie would glance over at the kid's table and make silly faces at the children. The meal was finished when Samuel and Ally both ran up to Jamie and rugged on her leg begging, "Auntie Jamie, come play a game with us!"
"Well we can see who THEIR favorite is!" Clark chuckled as he and Timothy stood up to begin washing the dishes. "Oh hush!" Sierra replied defensively, standing up for her friend. "You're just jealous, Clark!" The dishes were finished and everyone ended up playing a few rounds of Uno; since the children were still too young to play on their own, they "helped" their parents.
After the fifth or sixth round Hazel spoke up, "I think it's time for some certain children to go to bed." she said glancing at Samuel and Ally, who both protested. "Hey, what if I put them to bed?" Jamie suggested. "How does that sound, kids?" Timothy asked them. Their answer came in the form of a unified head shake.
Jamie proceeded to chase them up the stairs, and they two were in their beds promptly. "Can you tell us a story?" Samuel asked. Jamie thought for a moment. "Hmm, I've got one!" Jamie began to spin an elaborate tale about a brave knight who rescued a beatiful princess, who was locked in a tower that was guarded by a fierce dragon. After defeating the dragon, the knight and his princess rode off into the sunset.
When she finished she stood up and turned off the light. "Goodnight Auntie Jamie!" Ally whispered. "I love you!" Samuel whispered. Jamie walked in and kissed them both on the forehead and whispered, "I love you too." Jamie turned around to see Hazel smiling in the door way, and as Jamie walked out Hazel walked in to say her goodnight's.
Jamie said her goodbyes to Clark and Sierra, who left shortly after Jamie made it downstairs. She was on her way out the door when Hazel, came running down the stairs and stopped her to give her a hug. "Thank you for loving my children." Hazel said with tears forming in her eyes.
"Haze, I will never stop loving your children, even when I have my own." The two shared a look that only best friends could share and Jamie walked out to her car.
~~~~~
"And that concludes tonight's study on the book of Daniel. Any questions?" Mark had just given his first Bible study, and he was exhausted; he had been so nervous leading up to it that he breezed right through. Luckily, the group made him feel welcome and by the end he was much more confident.
"No questions? Ok let's conclude really quick with prayer. Lord, thank you for your word that you've given to us, and thank you for giving us the ability to read, understand and learn from it. Please help us to bind it on our hearts. Thank you also for Melanie and her willingness to host us here. Please be with us over the next week. Amen." His prayer was echoed by a few 'amens' and the people began to file out.
Mark slowly exhaled and ran his hands through his hair. Picking up his belongings, he made his way to the staircase and toward the lower level.
"Hey Melanie," Mark said as he approached the bottom of the stairs, "do you know why Jamie wasn't here tonight?" Melanie looked over at Mark with an inquisitive look. "No I don't, why does it matter?" She said with a bit of mischief in her tone.
"It doesn't, just curious. It seemed to me that she was planning to attend tonight based on her reaction yesterday." Mark said walking out the door. "It shouldn't but for some reason it does", he said quietly to himself, and did his best to shake the feelings on the drive home.
YOU ARE READING
Finally
Romance❝ғaιтн in God includes ғaιтн in his тιмιng❞ Jamie Hughes has recently graduated college and has moved with her best friend and her family to Smithsville, South Carolina. She spends her days working at The Nook, a local coffee shop, and preparing to...
