Sweep Me Off My Feet

“This place sure does look different,” Jackson said as he looked around. “I guess it has been a while since I was here.”

She took a sip of her tea.

“I was just as surprised… I came here for dinner and the next week when I came back the place was entirely different.” She ran a hand on the couch and smiled up at him. It was the first genuine smile of the day. “I like it though… it is warm. It looks and feels like home.”

Jackson forced out a laugh.

“Michael O’Brien all settled down.” He shook his head. “I never thought I would see the day. I guess he was just waiting for you.”

Angela shook her head and pushed a curly strand back.

“Really?” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Because I heard him on the phone saying that he only married me to beat the racism charges that were crippling his business.”

Jackson exhaled loudly.

“You heard about that, huh?”

She shrugged.

“I did not only hear about it, I asked him and…” Her voice trailed off when her eyes welled up again. She leaned back and took another sip of her tea.

“Angie, listen… I know that your relationship started a little rocky and maybe Michael benefited from the publicity about your marriage, but you know, I have known him all my life and when he was talking about you, it was the first time in a long time that I saw him genuinely happy. He has always met girls who stay with him because for them, he was just a means to an end.”

“Kind of like the way I was?” she asked, and he shrugged.

“I know, this looks bad and I will not play devil’s advocate here. What Michael did was wrong, but I can swear on my life that he loves you and I know it just kills him knowing that he cannot be the man, the husband you deserve.”

She shook her head and Jackson leaned in.

“Listen, tell me something, has he ever failed to come home? Ever?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“No, he always comes home… even though it has been kind of a cold war situation between us.”

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

“He could very easily get a hotel or ask his realtor to get him a new place, but instead, he always comes home. To you.”

Angela bit her lower lip and held her cup in her hands.

“It is going to get better… I promise you. For now, just keep doing what you are doing,” he said. “Be patient with him, okay?”

She nodded reluctantly and he smiled.

“Thanks for being there today… I don’t know what Deshawn would have done if you were not there.”

He smiled.

“It was a pleasure really. I never really get real life SOBs to practice my MMA skills.”

“So, I was right when I thought you had MMA precision in the way you handled him.”

He shrugged.

“I don’t get much time to work out the way I would like, but I make it a point to get as much practice as I can.”

“Yeah, it shows,” Angela said, sipping on her tea.

“Who was he? The man in the parking lot?” Jackson asked, and she exhaled loudly.

“My ex. Deshawn… things didn’t end so well with him and for some reason, now he is asking about Brandon like he has always been this present father…” She rubbed her temple and rolled her eyes. “I honestly have no idea what that was all about.”

“How did he know you were going to be there?” Jackson asked. “Did he maybe follow you there?”

Angela thought for a moment and shook her head.

“No, I think it was purely coincidental… but I would never want it to happen again. Do you know what I mean?”

He nodded.

“Of course, of course… just, relax. I will talk to Michael and a lawyer friend of ours to sort out a restraining order,” he said just as his pager went off. “Damn… that is the hospital. I have to get going.”

“You’re a doctor?” Angela asked surprised. “No wonder I have never met you.”

“Yeah, I’m on my last year of my internship. Technically, last month. I start my residency in a few weeks.”

Angela could tell by the tone of his voice that he was proud of himself.

“Maybe we can get some time to know each other better over dinner sometime? I can invite Candy, she’s my best friend. It will be a best friend meet and greet, so to speak,” she said as he stood up.

“Sounds like a plan.” He leaned in and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Now, have some more tea and just relax, okay?”

She smiled as he rushed to the door and waited before he was out of the penthouse before she sipped on her tea. She felt a lot more relaxed after talking to Jackson and as she soon realized, she had a whole new outlook to her marriage as well…