Page 56 of Treasured

Chapter Twenty

Mary

Every time I stood outside that restaurant, my skin prickled and my stomach flipped like I was afraid they would kick me out.

I don’t know why. I’d never eaten there or gone beyond the golden doors.

Today was different from the night Dwayne had asked me to marry him.

He held my son in his arms and reached for the door but I said, “I’m nervous.”

He kissed my cheek and led me inside.

The black marble counter still had a maître d’ behind the podium. He took Dwayne’s name and directed us to follow him. Dwayne stayed beside me and said, “My mother will like you.”

We made it to the window that overlooked the river, and a woman in a purple dress that had Dwayne’s dark brown eyed gaze stared back at me. I held my now-showing belly and said, “I’m…”

“Mary, is it?” She came over and held my hands.

I nodded and then said, “Dwayne has told me all about you, Ms. Jensen.”

She pressed her hand on my back and said, “Call me Desiree, or Mama Jensen, if that makes you more comfortable.” She glanced past me, and her smile grew wider as she asked, “Now, is this Bruce?”

“Yes,” I said. For a moment, I wondered what I would do if I were her and I were meeting some woman Bruce brought to meet me. One day, I’d be in her shoes.

Dwayne held Bruce and the chair for his mother as she said, “I bought you a present. In the summer when your mom has her new son or daughter, maybe all of you will come to my place in California for a visit. We’ll all go to the beach.”

“Thanks, Mama,” Dwayne said and pushed her seat in.

A staff member brought us a highchair for Bruce, and Dwayne held out my chair and let me scoot in.

Once Bruce was settled, Dwayne took a seat next to me when Destinee asked, “Mary, what do you think?”

I held my unborn baby in my womb like he gave me strength, too, and said, “I’m happy. I was scared to meet you.”

She reached out, took my hand, and said, “Look, if Dwayne ever gives you trouble, call me. I’ll straighten him out.”

He pressed his hand on his heart like he was offended. “I’m a good son, Mom.”

She nodded. “You are, and you both seem happy, which is all I ever wanted for you.”

Then a waiter came and took our orders. It didn’t matter, though. Dwayne took my hand, and I knew he treasured me, which was all I ever wanted from a man. But with Dwayne, I had that and so much more. He was perfect for me.

THE END