He looked up from Ivy and right at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Every guy that finds out I’m a single mom would be miles away from here and I’ve been waiting for you to do the same, but you still haven’t.” I said “You intrigue me.”
“Is that a good thing?” He asked.
She smiled and nodded
“But it’s also scary.”
The waiter chose that moment to arrive with their food which put their conversation on hold.
They were half way through their meal and Ivy was back with Jules as she had to feed her the mashed potatoes and minced meat while she cut through her steak.
“What’s scary about it?” Ceaser asked.
She looked at him swallowing before taking a sip from of the white wine.
“Hmm, well…” She swallowed “… it’s safe when you know someone and are able to predict their actions because then you know what’s coming and what to expect from them which does get boring in time but it’s safe than being around unpredictable people. It’s scary to be around them.” She looked at him “You never know what to expect from them. They do things you never think they’d do. They surprise you in many ways, both good and bad. So, for me, even though it’s fun to be around unpredictable people, it also scares me on what to expect from them because you never know what’s coming.”
He watched her before a smile formed on his lips.
“So, you like being around me even though it scares you?” He asked.
Jules nodded slowly.
“I know nothing about you except that you’re a gentleman and the way you are when Ivy is around, the way you treat her, I get a glimpse of the kind of man you are.” She paused. “I’ve avoided dating and relationships in general because of a really bad past and after I adopted Ivy, the what-I-call-suitors just… fled. Like I said; No man wants to date a single mom and it became convenient for me.” She paused “But here we are. I-I don’t mean here on a date. It’s not like we’re dat…”
“We are on a date.” Ceaser had a smile on his face from trying not to laugh at how fucking sexy she looked when she got nervous.
“Right.” Jules said looking away as fast as she could before she said something embarrassing again.
“Ivy’s adopted?” She frowned as she snapped her gaze back up at him.
Did she tell him that?
“You mentioned it earlier.” Ceaser answered her unasked question.
“Hmm, yes.” That’s all she could say.
“How long?” He asked.
“It’s been a few months.”
“How old is she?”
“One.”
Ceaser noticed she wasn’t comfortable with talking about Ivy with him.
“Well, from what you said, I don’t actually like children, they make me irritated. But Ivy; Ivy’s special. She’s not like the other kids” Ceaser explained. “That’s why I’m the way I am with her; when you’ve disliked something or someone your whole life and finally find one that’s worth the trouble, you go a long way to do anything to keep it. She’s special.”
Jules watched Ivy playing with her toy with a smile on her lips.
“She is.” Jules sighed as that familiar feeling hit again. “She’s the only family I have left. I never want to lose her. My prayer everyday is for God to let her be mine forever because it’s still hard to believe I’m her mother.”
Jules looked at Ceaser and saw something flash in his eyes but it went as quickly as it came.
“I know it’s selfish but I can’t give her up. I would never give her up, not now, not ever. Every time I think about her parents giving her up, I wonder how they could possibly do that to her, but it’s their loss. I love her and she is mine now, no matter what our DNA says.”
Ceaser was silent as he took that in.
“So, tell me something about you that would make you seem less of a stranger.” Jules said
Ceaser sighed with a smile.
“Well…” Their conversation was smooth as Ceaser talked about work and family avoiding a lot of things like his real name, his role in the company, what he was really after.
On the way back to her house, Ceaser’s mind went back to what Jules had said. He didn’t know what to think any more about her. She clearly loved Ivy and thought Ivy’s biological parents gave her up. If she only knew the complete story.
“Thanks for dinner tonight.” Jules said when Ceaser placed the car seat back in her car and shut the door “And the company, it was refreshing.”
He smiled looking at her.
“Same here.”
Silence.
“I should…” She began.
“Yea.” They walked to her door and he unlocked it as Ivy stirred in Jules’ arms.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” He said.
She smiled at him before entering the house and shutting the door behind her. She locked the door and went upstairs to Ivy’s room ignoring the giddy feeling in her stomach. She placed Ivy in her crib not wanting to disturb her she left her in her clothes removing the headband and her shoes kissing her cheek before leaving the room.
Jules went to her room shutting the door only slightly. She picked her nightie from her closet and went to the bathroom to change. She washed her face clean from makeup then got into bed with a silly smile on her face.
She was beat and as soon as her head touched the pillow, she was out like a light.