Jack & Diane (11 page)

The next day Diane made all the phone calls she was too tired to make the night before. Her best friend Amara was excited, but didn’t seem surprised. Her cousin Noli was confused that it wasn’t Alan but happy and excited to come and help her plan. Jack took Diane out to eat to celebrate their engagement. She was nervous because she knew she would likely be the only black there. Despite Jack disproving many of her stereotypes she wasn’t certain if he was the exception or the rule.

They sat at a bar height table near the bar. Shortly after ordering appetizers Jack excused himself to the restroom, kissing her cheek as he passed her. Diane looked around nervously and saw a stocky man with a bald head and a scraggly goatee wearing a hunting fatigue jacket and walking towards her. She grabbed her purse preparing to follow Jack if the situation was more than she could handle.

“I saw you here with Jack.”

She nodded, not knowing how else to respond to his statement.

“Are you two a couple?”

She nodded again not certain her voice wouldn’t betray her nervousness.

“Why?”

“Why not?” she said with more bravado in her voice than she felt. This conversation was going the same route as the one she had with Megan and she did not like it. With Megan she doubted that it would turn physical, but this man was unknown to her. This man was much larger than her so she needed an advantage. She grabbed Jack’s beer bottle prepared to use it as a weapon against his head if needed.

“Well,” he drawled taking the beer bottle out of her hand and drinking from it. Diane held her breath waiting for his next word. He smiled an easy smile and said, “Because you’re too pretty for a schmuck like him. And probably smarter too, not that it takes much to be smarter than him. You could do much better.”

Diane raised an eyebrow. “Can I?” she said relaxing just a tad.

“I know someone much better looking and a mile smarter.”

She looked at his choice of grooming and wardrobe. “Really? Where?” she said pretending to look around for this potential new suitor.

“Oww, that hurts,” he said putting his hand over his heart.

Before she could respond she heard Jack’s deep baritone from behind her say, “We can arrange you hurtin’.” He stood with his arms crossed looking quite intimidating and rather sexy.

“Do you really want me to embarrass you in front of your lady?” the hunter said with a smile.

“You ain’t been able to whoop me since we were seven and you had help then,” Jack said smiling. He grabbed the man’s hand a pulled him in for one of those man hugs that kept their hands between them so their bodies wouldn’t touch for fear they’d become instant homosexuals.

“Diane, this is Cooper. Cooper, this is my fiancée Diane.”

Cooper hugged Diane without the benefit of the hand and forearm barrier. His embrace was warm but did not heat her like Jack’s touch.

“I would say congratulations, but I think condolences would be more appropriate given who you’re going to grow old with.”

“Hey, where is my beer?” Jack said ignoring the slight. “Moving in on my lady is one thing, but taking my beer is unforgivable.”

“Beer outranks me?”

“I know he doesn’t have a chance with you. Beer doesn’t have a choice.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Cooper is the mastermind behind the fireworks,” Jack said.

This time Diane hugged Cooper. “You helped make the best night of my life memorable. Thank you Cooper. ”

“It was my pleasure. I just wish I had been the one to come along on the side of the road.”

A walking stick with boobs and hair bleached to within an inch of its life came and stood between Jack and Diane. She stood with her back to Diane and placed a hand on Jack’s bicep.

“Jacks, you forgot to come say hi.” Her thumb began to rub back and forth across his arm. Diane could swear she saw his eye twitch.

“I didn’t forget.”

“That’s so funny Jacks.”

She faked hitting his chest then slowly let her hand run down his abs towards his waistband. Jack grabbed both of her hands and removed them from his body then moved to stand behind Diane.

“Misti, this is Diane. Diane, this is…”

“Misti, his wife.” The word wife was emphasized to try and get a rise out of Diane, which it did, but that could not be discerned from looking at her face.

“Ex-wife. She’s the reason I don’t drink anymore. I don’t always make the best decisions when alcohol is in my system. It makes me stupid. I lose bets and have to grow mullets or get married when the devil’s poison is in my system.”

“You remember that ex part when it’s convenient for you,” Misti said to Jack then looked Diane up and down. “So you must be Jack’s flavor of the week.”

“Jack, beer is alcohol,” Diane said as she turned to Jack and ignored Misti as if the air hadn’t just been knocked out of her. This was the first she’d heard of Jack being married. She’d learned from dealing with her mother to never show you’re injured because that’s when predators go in for the final kill.

“Beer is not alcohol.” Jack says unsuccessfully trying to read Diane’s tone and body language. “Beer is…” he trailed off.

“Beer is beer,” Cooper inserted.

“Exactly, beer is not alcohol. Beer is beer”

Misti continued her train of thought disregarding the conversation over the classification of beer.

“I hope you know you’re just a little experiment. He’s just curious what chocolate tastes like but he has a thing for blonds. But I don’t know if I’ll take him back once he’s diddled with something like you.”

Misti referring to her as something instead of someone made her turn back to Misti. “Don’t start none, won’t be none Misti,” Diane said imitating what she’d heard on the playground growing up.

“What does that even mean? I don’t speak ghetto.”

“It means I’m from the hood and your flat butt will have to be life lined out of here when I’m done with you. So it’s best you leave while you’re able to.”

“I am so scared.” Her tone held no fear, but her eyes did.

Diane threw back Cooper’s shot and hopped off her bar stool, sending it loudly to the ground. She stepped toward Misti and looked down at her without saying anything for a few moments. Silence was intimidating because of the uncertainty of if it would be followed by more words or a fist to the face.

Misti took a step back and stumbled over the other bar stool.

“I don’t need to fight you to get Jack back. I have other skills.”

“With a name like Misti I’m sure you’re quite talented on a pole.” The other woman’s named rolled off her tongue like something bitter. “You try to come between me and my man and I’ll break your frail tail into so many pieces that they’ll have to identify you by the serial number on your implants.”

Diane heard Jack chuckle behind her. He put his hand on her waist and pulled her against him. He whispered in her ear loud enough for Misti to hear, “Darling, she’s not worth it.”

Misti had a look in her eyes like something from an episode of Criminal Minds. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. That’s it Jack, I’m done with you!”

“You promise?” Jack asked.

Misti stuck out her breasts and walked towards a table of guys that looked like they were allergic to soap and shampoo.

Diane turned around and took a step back away from Jack. “What on God’s green earth was that? Motor oil?” Diane said pushing the shot glass away and gulping down her water to wash the taste out of her mouth.

“It was my whiskey,” Cooper said. “I thought I was going to have to help Jack post bail for you.”

“I’m glad she left. My mouth was writing checks my fist couldn’t cash.”

“You’re quite the little actress, Di. I couldn’t tell you didn’t like that shot or that you weren’t meaning what you were saying,” Jack said as he took a step forward to close the distance Diane placed between them.

Diane took a step back again and glared at him as if he were a stranger. “Why didn’t you tell me you were married Jack?”

“I’m going to go replace my shot,” Cooper said knowing when to get out of dodge.

“It never came up.”

“That’s one of those things you should bring up. Sometime between hello and will you marry me you should have said ‘I’ve been married before’.”

“You’re right. I didn’t bring it up because that part of my life is something I wish to forget. You were already hesitant about me. I thought it would have been a deal breaker for you. I didn’t want to give you any excuse to say no.”

“Whether you being married before is a deal breaker or not should be up to me and not you.” Diane kept her tone low and even so that Misti couldn’t revel in the damage of the bomb she dropped caused.

“You’re right.”

“Jack, I’m starting to wonder if my mother was right. Maybe I’m crazy. I’m starting to wonder if I even know you.”

“You’re not crazy. You know me. Misti is part of who I was, not part of who I am.”

“The truth is important to me.”

“I didn’t lie to you.”

“Don’t cross hairs,” she cut off his defense. “I don’t like being blindsided like that.”

“You’re right.”

“You keep saying that. Do you really think I’m right or are you just patronizing me?”

“I mean it. You’re right and I’m sorry.” He pulled her in, hating the distance between them. It made him relax that she didn’t resist. “Do you forgive me?” He smiled down at her.

“Stop smiling at me like that.”

“Like what?” he said smiling more.

“Like you’re too sexy for me to be mad at you smile.”

“Is it working?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Do you forgive me?”

“I don’t like secrets. We have to be honest with each other, even when we think it’ll hurt. That’s the only way we can make it as far as our parents have.”

“So, you’re still going to marry me?”

“It’ll take more than bleach on top of silicone to run me off.”

♥♥♥

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Diane had talked to her father and brother several times over the next couple of weeks, but not her mother. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to talk to her but because her mother didn’t want to talk to her. Diane was waiting at the Indianapolis Airport for her cousin’s flight so they could start planning the wedding when her phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Diane it is your Mother.”

Diane didn’t respond. She knew the only thing her mother wanted to come out of her mouth was that the engagement was off. Since that wasn’t going to happen she waited for her mother to speak.

“Are you there Diane?”

“I am.”

“Your father told me that his niece is coming to help you plan this…wedding.”

Diane knew the hesitation before the word wedding didn’t mean anything positive. “I’m at the airport now to get her.”

“Why did you not ask me to help?”

“Because you don’t want me to get married.”

“Why would I want you to make a mistake?”

“You don’t know Jack well enough to say marrying him is a mistake. ”

“I do not know Jack? You cannot know that boy. Right now I am not sure if I know you. Diane, if he is some itch that you need to scratch, just scratch it but use caution and do not commit the rest of your life to him.”

“I can’t believe you just said that. I love him. He loves me. We are getting married. If you’re not on board, then why did you call? In fact, until you can respect my decision you don’t need to call me.”

Catherine paused before she spoke so she could control her voice and remove the quiver of hurt from it. “I will get ‘on board’ as you say, but I am your mother and love you far too much to watch you make a mistake without trying to steer you away from it.”

“You didn’t question my previous engagement. In fact you encouraged it even after he was unfaithful.”

“If you are referring to Alan, you were with him for over three years before you got engaged. Have you thought about when you will have the wedding?”

“In about one month. It depends on how quickly Noli, Rose and I can get the arrangements together.”

Again, Catherine was hurt that she was excluded from the planning while Jack’s mother is a part of it.

“Are you pregnant?”

“No mother.”

“Since there is no pregnancy, can you have a longer engagement?”

“We want a short engagement Mother.”

Catherine hated the way Diane said the word Mother like it was an indictment for a war criminal. “In that case, what I can I do to help with preparations? Perhaps I can find a reception hall.”

“Won’t that be difficult to do from up there?”

“What do you mean Diane?”

“We’re getting married down here.”

“Are you trying to kill me?” Catherine couldn’t control her voice as it rose an octave.

“Of course not. When you said you weren’t even going to attend, we decided to have it here.”

“Between Magnolia and Rose, it sounds like you do not need me. If something comes up, and I can be of assistance, let me know.”

“I will do that. Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” Catherine heard a touch of surprise in her daughter’s voice. It was obvious to her that Diane didn’t understand that she only wants her to be happy.

“I see Noli Mother. I have to go.”

“Tell Magnolia I said hello.”

♥♥♥

Diane pulled up to where her cousin was standing with several bags. Her cousin appeared to have lost even more weight in the months since they’d last seen each other shortly after the funeral for Noli’s parents. Her cousin was understandably having difficulty dealing with her parent’s sudden death at the hands of a drunk driver a little over eight months ago.

“Princess Di!” Noli said when Diane got out the car. Her cousin had given Diane the nickname because she often referred to her uncle’s wife as the Queen of Mean.

“Noli!” The two embraced for a long moment. No matter how much time passed between seeing each other it seemed like no time had passed. “How much did you pay in baggage fees?”

“Too much. These bags have been across the country and around the world with me.” Noli had been quite a nomad since shortly after her parent’s funeral, trying to outrun the pain of them being gone. “Each place I’ve visited has added another bag.”

“Will you be going home after the wedding?”

Noli paused and her eyes watered for a moment. “I doubt it. Uncle Robert is taking good care of the house.”

“Are you ready to plan a wedding?” Diane said changing the subject before they started crying at the airport pick-up lane.

“I’m ready to plan an urban-chic-country wedding for you and this random guy you met on the side of the road.”

“He’s not some random guy. Wait, did you say urban-chic-country?”

“Exactly. As soon as I get settled in the hotel, I’ll come show you what I already have in mind.”

“About the hotel, Jack’s mom said no family of hers was staying in a hotel when there was an empty bed in her house. I love you, but I didn’t want to fight that battle for you. Especially since I doubt I could win.”

“Not staying in a hotel will be a good change. Plus I’ll get a chance to catch up with my favorite cousin.”

“I have a lot of ideas for the wedding.”

“That’s good, but I don’t want this wedding to have you so preoccupied you won’t have time to study for the bar exam.”

“You and Momma are going to get along just fine. She said the same thing.”

“When did you start calling Aunt Catherine, Momma?”

“I was talking about Rose, Jack’s Mom.”

“Wow you’re moving fast. Calling his mother, Momma. Marrying him after just a month.”

Diane sighed. “Please don’t start Noli. I thought you’d be happy for me.”

“I am very happy for you. I can’t wait to meet Jack because he must be something special. I’m just amazed. A bit confused too. This is just so, so, spontaneous. It sounds like something I would do, not you.”

“You rubbed off on me. I guess I’ve changed. ”

“I’m sure I wasn’t the only one rubbing on you. I’m sure Jack’s done plenty of…”

“Noli, that is so inappropriate!”

Noli laughed. “And Diane is back.”

As they pulled up Rose was walking onto the porch. Noli got out the car and reached her hand out to the women smiling before her.

“You must be Mrs. Sloan, it’s so good to meet you. Thank you for letting me stay here.”

“You’re just like Diane, trying to shake hands and calling me Mrs. Sloan. Come here.” She wrapped her up in a warm hug. “Oh Magnolia, did you catch a bug or something while you were traveling? You’re so thin. Or did you get tired of hotel food? You’ve probably seen more hotels than a high class hooker.”

“I, um, I have seen a lot of hotel rooms.” Noli leaned into Rose’s embrace. “Please call me Noli. Magnolia is my great grandmother.”

“And you call me Rose. Are you hungry?”

“No, I ate on the plane.”

“Diane, let that fiancée of yours get the bags. Magnolia, you come on in and eat. Peanuts and soda are not a meal.”

A few minutes later Magnolia sat at the kitchen table eating the best biscuit she’d ever had when Jack walked in carrying a few of her bags followed by another guy carrying the rest up to her room. The two men returned down stairs and it was easy for Noli to tell which was Jack from the way he looked at Diane. Noli understood why her cousin was rushing to the altar. If a man looked that good and looked at her that way, she’d be saying ‘I do’ too.

“Noli, this is Jack.”

“Nice to meet you Jack.” Noli went to shake his hand but he pulled her into an embrace much like his mother did.

“Noli, thank you for coming to plan our wedding,” Jack said then released her from the embrace.

“I’m happy to be here.”

“Noli, this is my buddy Cooper.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” Cooper’s voice made Noli want to sigh. She attempted to just wave hello, but was once again pulled into an embrace. Jack’s hug was warm, but Coop’s was electrifying and lasted a little longer.

“Noli, Cooper has volunteered a space at his place for the wedding,” Diane said. “Maybe after dinner we can go check it out.”

“I was hoping to spend some time with you after dinner,” Jack said smiling at Diane.

“You two spend some time together,” Magnolia said. “If I can borrow your car I can go look on my own.”

“It can be easy to get lost, I can take you over to look at it, if you want,” Cooper said.

“Sure, that sounds good.”

♥♥♥

Diane sat quietly nestled in Jack’s arms in the back of the truck out at their spot. Noli was with Cooper looking at the structure on his property that might be used for the reception.

“Di, dad said he spoke with you about transferring the farm to me.”

“He did. He told me he wants to travel with your mom.”

“I’ve been pretty much running the farm for the last couple of years anyway,” Jack said.

“I told him I’d draft the transfer documents if he agreed to stop talking about grandchildren,” Diane said with a smile.

“Di, how many children do you want?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”

“You were engaged, didn’t you two talk about how many children you wanted?”

“We both agreed we’d get our careers underway before we started a family. I guess we thought we’d cross that bridge down the road.”

“Do you even want children?”

“I do. The thought of being someone’s Mother scares me though.”

“You’ll be a great Mother. You’re kind and caring and there are so many things that will make you a wonderful Mother.”

“Thank you. I do want to have a child or two.” she said this time with a little more certainty. “I want to have your children. You’ll be a great Dad. How many do you want?”

“As many as you’ll give me. I was awfully lonely being an only child.”

“That’s obvious. If you had brother’s maybe you would have chosen better friends,” Diane said with a laugh.

“Hey give Cooper a break.”

“We digress. Are you okay with waiting a year or two for babies?”

“I don’t mind as long as I get to practice that entire time.”

“You could practice now, but you’re being so old fashioned.”

“My mother has a name for girls like you,” he went in for a kiss and she pulled back.

“Does your mother think I’m easy?”

“I’m fairly certain she thinks you’ve given up the cookies. I think she thinks you’ve given in to me. She has no clue that you’re the one trying to get in my pants every chance you get.”

She moved on top of him and straddled him. “Why won’t you give in? We’ll be married soon. Doesn’t the engagement come with some benefits?”

“You’ve waited twenty-five years, what’s a few more weeks?”

“A few more weeks of you walking around here looking like you do and talking with that deep voice will be torture.” She let her finger trace the skin above his t-shirt’s collar.

He took her hands into his to halt the assault to his senses.

“In a couple of years, will you be beautiful with a round belly regardless of if your career is exactly where you expect it to be?” his voice took a serious tone.

“I can’t promise that Jack. Two years is both a lot of time and not much time. Anything can happen or I could still be shuffling papers.”

“I know, but having children isn’t the end of your career.”

“Jack, I’ve already had to rethink my entire career path by marrying you. I don’t know how much that will hinder me being partner someday?”

His face became hard and his eyes cold as he stared into her brown eyes. “Do you think marrying me is a hindrance? It’s not too late to back out.”

“I didn’t mean it like that at all. Jack, being your wife is more important than partner. I was just saying that being so rural limits my options. I won’t have as many opportunities.”

“Would just being my wife be enough for you?”

Her heartbeat accelerated as anger erupted in her. “You want me to give up being a lawyer to be a barefoot and pregnant farmer’s wife?” she grunted out. He held her on his lap when she tried to move.

“I didn’t say that. I was asking if it came down to you just being my wife, would that be enough? Would I be enough for you or would you resent me? I know I’m asking you to give up a lot, but I can’t leave here. I can’t ask my father to not retire and I can’t let a farm that’s been in the family for generations be sold to some big farming conglomerate.”

“I’m not asking you to give up the farm. I love you for being so dedicated to your family but you don’t understand the sacrifices I’m making to be with you.”

“You’re right. I don’t know anything about sacrificing dreams for this farm.” He gently pulled her up from his lap. “We need to get back to the house.” They had no schedule, but the conversation was heading in a direction neither of them wanted it to go.

“I’m sorry Jack that was a stupid thing to say.” She realized that he’d given up dreams that would never be achieved. She was just giving up the way her dreams would be achieved.

He did not respond. Instead he got up and got into the truck without helping her in. He had always helped her in. This was the first time he did not. The drive back to the house started off quiet. He’d turned up the radio to discourage her from talking. She had never seen Jack upset with her. She did not like the way he shut down and shut her out. She looked out the window so he could not see her tears fall.

“I’m really sorry Jack. I love you,” her voice was soft and shaky.

He looked at her. She looked scared and sad. Her smile was a futile attempt. Even in the darkness her eyes were wet and her cheek looked moist.

He stopped the truck and gave her a full smile. “I love you too Diane. I’m so sorry I snapped like that. It wasn’t about you. Misti and I got a divorce after she aborted our child without my knowledge.”

Diane’s large brown eyes stared at him for a moment. “Oh Jack. I don’t know what to say. I…” she trailed off truly at a loss for words.

“When I first moved to Nashville she followed me and was itching for a ring with the promises of love and family. Instead I got infidelity and lies. I guess she just wanted her hands on my money.”

“What money?”

“I got a little over a hundred grand from my parents. It was suppose to be for college, but they gave it to me when I decided to pursue a music career.”