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After he paid to get in, we got the top of our hands stamped and grabbed a map to show us the way to all the exhibits. It had been so long since we’d both been to the zoo and there had been so many changes over the years, that we agreed we wanted to see it all. He did not let go of my hand except when he’d had to grab his wallet to pay but then took it once again right away. The date was already off to a remarkable start. And I hadn’t even had to make a mad dash for the bathroom.Yay me!
We worked our way through the zoo, stopping to see everything. Laughing, talking, and enjoying our time together, especially when we got to the monkeys. They were one of our favorites. Their silly, playful antics as they jumped and swung around their enclosure had us both cracking up. As we approached the elephant exhibit, there was a cart outside a grassy area and when I read the sign, I squealed in delight. My inner child was obviously coming out to play.
“What is it?” Braxton asked.
“Elephant Ears, we have to Braxton. Dessert first is the theme tonight, right?” I kept a hold of his hand as I dragged him right up to the front of the cart.Score, no line.I told the lady we needed a giant cinnamon and sugar one as I pulled my hand from his to dig into my purse. He put a halt to that very quickly.
“No way are you paying, I will get it.” I just smiled because I wasn’t going to argue if the man wanted to treat me to something delicious.
After Braxton paid, I realized we were not holding hands any longer. I missed the connection. I didn’t get a chance to dwell on it because they called out our order was up, and we’d need all the hands we could get. The thing was gigantic. It practically had its own zip code. Braxton just looked at me, then the ear in my hands, and cracked up laughing.
“I don’t know how we are going to eat that and still have dinner later, but let’s give it a whirl. Just remember I already had the sweetest dessert of all time.” He winked.
I rolled my eyes at his playfulness and decided to play back. Where this side of me came from I didn’t know.Braxton must bring it out in me. “If you’re lucky, you’ll get another taste.” Then I put a little sway in my hips and headed off to sit down.
I’m fairly sure Braxton’s eyes were glued to my butt since I could feel them on me, but I didn’t dare turn around, or all that bravado would have vanished.I haven’t had to pee yet, and I am not starting now.
“Okay, let’s cop a squat under this tree and dig in,” I told him.
“Did you just say cop a squat?” he asked, chuckling.
“Yup, I may have watchedPretty Womanwith Julia Roberts and Richard Gere one too many times, but it’s an awesome movie.” He was just looking at me like I was certifiably crazy, and like he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Never seen it,” he answered with a shrug.
My eyes bulged out and I honestly think I must have looked totally nuts by then, because honestly who hasn’t seenPretty Woman?
“Dude, we are so going to be watching it. You have to see it.”
“It’s a date,” he had replied with a roguish grin.
Eek, I was doing a happy dance in my head at the thought but didn’t dare move or someone may think I am crazy and send me off to a padded room somewhere.
By the time we gave up trying to finish the thing, we were both wearing a ton of sugar. Brushing off my clothes and shaking out my hair, my eyes met Braxton’s; I froze. Then as if in slow motion, I saw his hand reaching out to graze the side of my cheek. His thumb brushed over my bottom lip and he lowered his head to mine.
“You got a little something here on your mouth.” Desire filled his words. A second later his lips met mine. He licked the seam of my mouth, and I opened for him immediately. Two in one day and the date wasn’t even over yet. Lucky me. Our breathing was heavy and rapid, as we pulled apart, both shaking with the adrenaline rush the kiss had given us.
Braxton stood, putting out his hand to pull me to my feet. I let go and walked over dumping the rest of what was not eaten and our garbage in the trash. He automatically extended his hand again and I took it. “Let’s finish up and then I will get some solid food in you.” Not sure how much I could eat after that Elephant Ear feast, but wanting to keep the date going as long as possible, I would sure try. Even if I was sick by the end of the night, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make just to spend more time with Braxton.
We decided to skip the train ride since we had walked the whole place already, but Braxton mentioned coming back again some time. Knowing he was thinking ahead about being with me down the road had a content sigh of contentment escaping my lips. I liked the idea so much, but at the same time, there was part of me that was still scared and feared I would never be enough for him.
Plus, my life with the center and the kids were a huge part of me, and someone would have to understand that. I didn’t know if Braxton wanted kids, but I knew I may not be able to give them to him or anyone else, for that matter. What I did know was that one way or another someday I would hopefully have one or more. My life changed when I was adopted, and I fully planned to do the same for a child who needed that. Because the day someone had made me a part of their family, was a blessing any child deserves.
Jumping the gun a bit aren’t you, Jurnee? I mean you're on your first date for heaven's sakes.
On our way out, Braxton saw the gift shop and pulled me in. We were looking around the shop, my hand still in his, when all of a sudden he dropped it and picked up an adorable, stuffed monkey and said he thought I needed it to remember our date. I hadn’t had a stuffed animal in forever and I certainly didn’t have many growing up, or at least much until my parents brought me into their home. I grinned at him and his eyes went soft.
Damn I love that look.
He walked off to pay for the gift and I followed. After he thanked the cashier, he turned with the monkey in hand and placed it in mine. Grabbing my hand once again we walked out of the store to the gates and headed to the Jeep. As we reached the passenger side of the vehicle, Braxton asked me what I was going to name it.
“Maybe George, I always did like Curious George. Although I was probably too old for the book by H.A. Rey and Margret Rey about the little orphaned monkey by the time I got to read it. A little girl that was brought into the foster home I was in had the book with her. I didn’t have books of my own growing up until I got to foster care, and even then, there were very few, but I found I liked to read and to take care of the younger kids. Gemma was only six when she arrived, scared, and had just lost her parents in a car accident. She, like me, had no other family and got put into the system. She treasured the stuff she brought with her, and that book was one of her favorite things because her parents used to read it to her all the time. So what they couldn’t do anymore, I did instead. We read that book every night, and most nights she stayed snuggled in with me. Many of the other kids there would sit and listen too. We all understood about being orphaned and George had woven his way into all our hearts. Although I got adopted and was so excited, leaving her was extremely difficult.”
A small sob escaped me, and tears trickled down my cheeks. It was always hard revisiting the past.
Then I panicked a little bit when I realized I had just let a load of personal information out, and while I felt okay about him knowing, I couldn’t tell what the look on Braxton’s face meant. But the glistening of moisture in his eyes had taken me by surprise. I stood there and waited. Then his finger gently swept a strand of hair out of my face, and he tucked it behind my ear.
“Please don’t cry, beautiful. Those tears are killing me”
