25: Unacceptable

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"Are my eyes deceiving me? Who's this I'm seeing?" She asked as she took a step backwards.

"Have you forgotten me so soon?" Chris smiled.

"Wipe that grin off your face. Who the hell gave you my address and how dare you show up uninvited here?" Jacqueline yelled seemingly upset.

"Jacqueline, sweety, he called first to ask if he could come." Jasmine said as she stood beside Chris.

"And you accepted just like that? Even without calling me to confirm? What if he was a serial killer or a burglar? You'd just let anyone into our home because they want to see me?" Jacqueline shot back.

"Jacqueline can you stop yelling at your mom and calm down for a second? I really apologize for showing up uninvited. It's totally my fault, not your mom's."

"So why are you here then? What is so important that you couldn't wait till I came back huh?"

"I...I... I just needed to see you again."

"And instead of you to have gotten my information the right way, which is through me, you decided to stalk me?" Jacqueline threw her head back.

"I didn't sta..." Chris took a deep breath because he knew very well he actually stalked her. "I didn't stalk you Jacqueline. You did mention that you lived around here the other day at the lake! When I got here, I asked someone down the road if they knew you and they directed me here!"

"You blatant liar! You know deep in your heart I never told you the street I lived in talk less of the city. I only told you I moved to a better place!"

"Maybe you've forgotten. It was a very stressful time for all of us." Chris sighed.

"But it wasn't stressful for you enough because obviously, you never forgot about it." Jacqueline rolled her eyes.

"I couldn't! I don't know why, but I just could not."

"So how did you get my home number then?" Jacqueline stared him in the eye knowing he wouldn't be able to get out of this one.

"I..." Chris' eyes dropped to the floor. He was a lawyer and a good one at that so untangling himself from this situation with the right but untrue answers was in no way difficult for him. He just didn't want to create more lies so she wouldn't think Marley and Kim was involved. "I loo..."

"Jacqueline, that's enough!" Her mom said. "This man drove over an hour from where he lives just to see you! And I already told you that regardless of whether he got the address or phone number from God knows where, he still called to take permission from me before coming here. Do you think a burglar would do that?"

"Wow! Let's support the stranger over our own." Jacqueline smirked feeling disappointed in her mom.

"I'm not supporting him! I'm just saying that it's wrong for us to treat a visitor that way. After all that stress of driving down here, let's altleast treat him to lunch before he leaves. What do you think?" Jasmine asked her.

"I think not! Why should I care if he is stressed? This is my house and I'm free to talk to anyone as I like! More so, someone who dropped by un-in-vi-ted!" She stretched the words while looking at Chris.

"Jacqueline, please calm down. He means no harm!" Nolan added.

"Now you too? Whatever!" She flipped her hair and stomped to her bedroom.

"Please can you sit down for a few minutes while I go and talk to her?" Jasmine asked calmly.

"Sure. But I'm really sorry for putting you through all this trouble." Chris sighed.

"No, no, it's fine. You know, considering the history the both of you have, anyone in her shoes would do the same." Jasmine explained.

"Yes! I totally understand and I'm thankful that you and Nolan stood up for me the way you did." Chris said.

"No worries. I'll be right back." Jasmine smiled and left for her daughter's room.
When she got to the door, she knocked but there was no response so she let herself in.

"Mom, I'm not ready for a sermon now so if that's what you came for, it's best you leave." Jacqueline said immediately her mom entered the room.

"Please my darling, don't be so mean to that man out there. I don't think he has any bad intentions toward you."

"I'm not saying he came with bad intentions! All I'm saying is, he has no right to come here without my knowledge. How dare he come down here? How dare him?" Jacqueline said angrily.

"I know my darling, I know how how you feel. I can see that you guys aren't exactly best of friends, but then again, just try to consider him, at least for his effort of coming down here to find you."

"That's not my problem! Should have waited for me to give him an appointment." Jacqueline rolled her eyes and Jasmine chuckled.

"Sweetheart, they say that, when a man really wants something, he is ready to move mountains just to get to that thing. Yes, what he did is wrong because he acted out of desperation, but then again, but at least he had the decency to call first. Just let it slide this time. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't do it again." Jasmine smiled.

"Hm... Okay then. I guess he can stay and have lunch."

"That's my girl. Come on let's go." Jasmine smiled as she stood up from the bed and extended a hand to help Jacqueline out of it.

They invited Chris to join them at the table for lunch. During the time they ate, Jacqueline said little to nothing and kept her eyes on her food.

"So Nolan, how do you spend your time after school?" Chris asked trying to break the silence.

"I usually go to my friend's house to play video games. After that I come home, read a little, help mom around the house. Pretty much how I spend my days." He replied.

"Very nice." Chris smiled. "I must say, Mrs Bailey, this is the most delicious food I've had in a long time. You're a wonderful cook."

"Aw, thank you dear. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Would you like some more?" Jasmine asked.

"I wish I could but there isn't room for more." Chris chuckled as he tapped his stomach which made Jasmine and Nolan laugh. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome." She smiled as she stood up and began taking the left over food to the kitchen while Nolan helped her with the plates.

"Jacqueline... Can I talk to you a little before I leave?" He asked as she stood up from the dining and headed to the living room.

"What do you want?"

"Uhm... I want to apologize once more for coming here without your knowledge. Honestly, I have never done anything like this before. I really don't know what came over me but I just really needed to see you again that's why I came."

"Well you've seen me now. Mission accomplished." She smirked.

"Yeah, I guess. Uhm... Is there anyway I can see you again?"

"No!" She replied sternly.

"Now that was an answer I was totally not expecting." Chris chuckled which made Jacqueline crack a smile. "Okay, how about I leave my card here? Maybe, just maybe, a day might come where you'd want to talk to someone, but no one will be available, hopefully, so you'd have no other choice than to call me?" His eyes sparkledwith anticipation.

"You can leave it on the table if you like." She replied without looking.

"Well, I'd be on my way now. Thank you so much for giving me your time." He smiled and stood up.

"You're welcome." She stood up after him then went to the door to open it.

"Are you leaving now, Chris?" Jasmine asked as she came out of the kitchen.

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you so much for having me. I left my card on the table so please, feel free to call me if you need anything."

"Thank you dear. Drive safely." She replied.

"Hope to hear from you soon." He said to Jacqueline then left.

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