Unbroken Promises (2 page)

“Is she?’

“No, Julie, my sister, is going to take us. You like her, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I like her, I don’t know her very well, but she seems like a lot of fun,” Beth said.

“Well, I’ve got to go. Everyone’s waiting on me. I’ll call you later.” As Beth was walking away, she had a funny feeling. It was almost as if her conscience was warning her she was getting in way over her head. She had never talked back or lied to her sister or Jordon. Yet her new friends seemed to think nothing of it.

Jordon was hesitant when Beth asked if she could start going places with her new friends. He told her he didn’t know any of them or their families. Susan didn’t like the idea of Beth abandoning her old friends. It worried her that Beth had stopped going to church with her. She always had some excuse not to go. Susan didn’t want to make Beth do all the things she was raised to do, but she had hoped Beth would find a love for the strict standards she had come to love. Susan always had the promise she made their mother in the back of her mind. She was trying to do her best in fulfilling it—to raise Beth and Cody as her mother would have done.

However, she felt as if she was failing miserably. Susan also felt that, by forcing Beth, it would make her more rebellious than she was already becoming.

Susan knew that she had failed God many times—like the time she was jealous over Jordon.

She knew she would most likely fail again; nevertheless, she still could not help wanting to protect Beth from the things she knew could hurt her. Although Susan did not feel at ease with the idea, in the end she and Jordon both gave in and agreed to let her go. She told Beth she better behave and they wanted to meet these young ladies pretty soon if she was going to be hanging out with them.

Two of the girls were seniors and had their own cars. One of the girls was Becky’s sister, Julie, and the other senior was Tammy. Annette and Jana were juniors and she and Becky were sophomores.

They were all beautiful girls and fun to be around. Julie was the boldest. Tammy was laid-back, not the one to initiate anything but willing to do whatever anyone else suggested. Annette was the most cautious of the group and Jana was the clown who usually had them all laughing.

Beth liked Becky the most. She guessed it was because she had known her the longest and they were in the same grade. However, Becky was just as daring and bold as her sister, Julie.

Their first trip to the mall together was a blast. The mall was crowded with people walking in every direction with bags hanging off their arms. The aroma of cookies baking in one of the little shops drifted pleasantly, making Beth determined to buy some before they left. There was a choir singing in the center of the mall and their voices, and instruments echoed throughout the entire mall. Beth tried to stop and listen, but her friends tugged her into yet another store. They didn’t miss a single store and Beth bought tons of stuff, mostly Christmas presents for her family. She knew it was early to be buying Christmas presents, but she couldn’t pass up all the good sales. She spent almost everything she had saved. Beth regretted she wouldn’t be able to show Susan all of her good bargains because she would have to hide them.

When they dropped Beth off, everyone but Julie got out to meet her family. They ran into Cody as he was coming out of the front door. Beth was almost sure Cody knew all her new friends. She was about to tell him hello and ask him if he remembered them, but stopped short with her mouth half-open. The angry narrowed eyes Cody stabbed at her warned Beth not to make any reintroductions. Beth knew Cody was furious with her having anything to do with her new friends. Ever chance he got he reiterated how she was going to end up getting into trouble hanging out with such ‘trash.’ And knowing Cody, if she gave him the least opportunity, he would probably say something insulting.

She hurried everyone past him to where Susan and Jordon were. Jesse, as usual, wasn’t home. Jordon was in the recliner with a newspaper lying over his face. Beth would never understand how he slept with the smell of ink and paper right in front of his nose.

Susan was sitting on the couch beside him reading a book. A vanilla candle burned on top of the fireplace mantle giving off a welcoming fragrance. She put her book down and stood as soon as they entered. Jordon fought a few moments with the squawky handle on his antique recliner

—recliner he refused to get rid of, before he was finally able to get out of it.

“Susan, Daddy, this is Tammy, Annette, Jana and Becky. Susan, you should remember Becky from last year. She was in most of my classes, and she was with us when we went on the class trip to the museum. Girls, this is my sister, Susan, and her husband, Jordon, who I call

‘Daddy.’ I know it sounds confusing, but my dad died before I was born and Jordon’s the only daddy I’ve ever known.”

“Yep, that’s right,” Jordon nodded, then pulled Beth to him in a playful manner and threw his arm over her shoulder. “Beth was barely a year old when I started dating her sister. The first time I picked her up in my arms she looked at me and said “Daddy,’” Jordon said with awe in his voice and a boyish grin on his face. His eyes crinkled and he ruffled Beth’s hair as if she were still only a year old. “Ain’t that right, Sue?”

“Well, kinda.”

“What do you mean, kinda?” Jordon said with mock affront.

“You were holding her when she looked up at you, but what she said was…‘da-da-da-da-da.’

Then you looked at me like a little boy who just got his first new train set and said, ‘Sue,’ did you hear? She just called me ‘daddy.’ Then you sat down on the couch and held her for what seemed like hours until da-da-da-da-da became dad-dy. And you have been ever since.” Jordon smiled at the girls, mischievously ignoring Susan. “Do you girls like to ride horses?

We have plenty of horses to go around. If y’all want to, come over and ride sometime.” All the girls, especially Becky, stared goggle-eyed at Jordon. Finally, Annette spoke, “Thank you, that sounds like a lot of fun, Mr. Bately. I’ve never ridden, but I would love to learn.” The other three nodded in agreement.

Beth walked back outside with her friends and waved to Julie, who was waiting in the car listening to the radio. Becky spoke in amazement. “Oh my gosh! Beth, your brother-in-law is gorgeous! Don’t get me wrong, your sister is pretty,” she added hastily. “You know, you and she favor a great deal. I mean, you both have dark hair and blue eyes, even though her hair is dark brown where as yours is black, and her eyes are more of a smoky blue and yours are—are—

um,” Becky squinted into Beth’s eyes, “several different shades but royal blue seems more prominent. Anyone can tell y’all are related.” Becky took a breath and let out a whoosh whistle,

“but your brother-in-law slash dad is HOT! My-my-my, I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone who has as fine a body as he has.” Becky turned to the other girls, her animated hand gestures showing how excited she really was. “And did y’all see his eyes? They are hunter green with gold flecks, and the outside of the irises are rimmed in black. And, even though his hair is light brown with blonde highlights, his eyebrows, and his heavy eyelashes are almost black. My gosh, I was almost hypnotized just looking at him. And, when he grinned that boyish grin with those straight white teeth and beautiful sculptured lips, I could hardly breathe.” Becky turned back to Beth, “Does his brother, the one you’re madly in love with, look as fine and sexy as he does? If he does, it’s no wonder; you have been in love with him your whole life.” Beth was a little taken back by this verbal worship of her dad. “Uh, yeah. In fact, Jesse and Jordon would look like identical twins if Jordon wasn’t 13 years older.” Beth had never really thought about it before, but she and Susan did favor, and Jordon and Jesse did look almost identical. Beth guessed the big age difference between her and Susan and Jordon and Jesse was one of the reasons she never paid much attention to their resemblances. Beth always found their age gaps odd especially since they had no other siblings.

Suddenly Beth thought with indignation, “Susan is just as beautiful as Jordon is handsome.” But, of course, her friends would fawn more over a good-lookin’ man. Jordon and Jesse both had the good looks and bodies women fawned over, although it never occurred to Beth that Jordon might be just as sexy and physically appealing as Jesse. “Eewww-gag,” Beth thought as scrunched her nose. “Not going there.”

Becky broke Beth out of her musing by saying, “I don’t care how old Jordon is; he is one good-lookin’ man! When are we going to meet the illusive Jesse?”

“Oh, I don’t know. When he comes home on the weekends, he usually goes out. I very rarely see him myself.”

“Where does he live when he’s in town?”

Beth motioned them to follow her to the end of the front porch. She leaned over the rail and pointed around the side of the house toward the back. “He lives in that little house, or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes we call it an apartment, sometimes we call it a bungalow.” Beth continued more to herself than her friends, “You know, Jesse really needs to close in his bedroom. That way he could have somewhere to hide all his junk if someone comes over. He’s so messy.” Julie beeped the horn and waved for them to come on.

“We better go. We’ll see you later, Beth,” Becky said and they all walked to the car and got in.

After their first shopping trip, Beth and her new friends spent almost every weekend doing something. If they squeezed together, they could all ride in one vehicle. It was more fun to ride like that instead of taking two cars. The things they first invited Beth to do were innocent—like going to the mall or out to eat, but each time they would do something a little more daring.

One Saturday Julie had a fantastic inspiration. “Hey, y’all, I have a great idea! I know a way we can go out and party until closing. Jana can tell her parents that she is staying with me and Becky and the rest of us can say that we are staying with Jana. I know a place just across the state line that has two dancehalls side-by-side.” Then Julie smiled a mischievous smile, “And I know of a way we can all get in, too.”

“The age limit to get in Louisiana nightclubs is 18. Although Tammy and I will be legal, my plan will get y’all in, too. They don’t usually card if a person looks old enough; but, just to be on the safe side, I know of a way to get fake I.D.’s. Beth, Annette, Jana, and Becky, y’all bring me a small picture tomorrow. A school picture will be fine. I’ll put them in the mail for fast delivery so we’ll have them by the time we’re ready to go out. Everyone looks 18 and, with the fake I.D.’s, we shouldn’t have any problem getting in. We’ll be home free.” Nine days later the cards came in the mail. The ID’s had their picture, name, town, state, and fake birth date on them. They looked real. The girls were all laughing and bragging on Julie for her cleverness. They knew everything was going to work out and were going to be able to party hard the next weekend. Beth was excited but praying nothing would go wrong.

The next Friday they all did as planned and asked to stay at the right houses. When everything was ready, they left for Louisiana. As soon as they got to Lake Charles, they stopped at the first hotel they came to. They hurried into their cramped, musty smelling room, with an awful gold and brown décor. Beth turned on the loud clanking air-conditioner so it would be cool when they returned. Then they changed into tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. Beth didn’t own either so she borrowed both from Becky. After looking each other over and agreeing everyone looked sharp, they drove about ten miles to the dance halls.

As soon as they got out of the car, Julie said, “Y’all stop acting so nervous! You’ll cause them to become suspicious. If they ask why you don’t have a driver license, just tell them you don’t drive. Tell them your parents can’t afford for you to have a car right now, so it was no use in going to the trouble to get your driver’s license. Act like we do this all the time.” Beth thought, “Sure, Julie can act calm. She isn’t the one fixin’ to get busted.” Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and followed them up the steep wooden stairs to the nightclub.

Beth was amazed. The floor was lit up and dancing with the music. There was a huge silver ball hanging from the ceiling reflecting the brilliant lights from the floor. The thick haze of cigarette smoke that drifted above their heads also reflected the dancing lights. From the amount of smoke, it seemed every person in the place enjoyed cigarettes. The music was so loud; Beth could actually feel the vibration of each beat. They all paid to get in; but, as they walked further inside, Beth heard Jana being questioned. Even though she had the fullest figure, her shortness made her look younger.

Beth held her breath waiting for Jana to reply. To her credit, she told the woman at the door what Julie had told her to say in a calm voice. Jana said they all came to Louisiana because it was legal for them to get in. The woman looked her over again then told her to go ahead. They all met up in the bathroom and burst out laughing. “Oh, Jana that was just too cool. You did great, girl!” Julie bragged. Everyone else patted her on the back and excitedly agreed.

Beth picked up dancing as if she had been doing it all her life. She even found a partner to teach her the two-step. She wasn’t able to do all the twist and turns she saw some of the more skilled dancers doing but she thought she was doing pretty good for a beginner.

“Hey, come on, y’all, let’s try this!” Beth waved the other girls over. They all lined up to do the Cotton-eyed-Joe. Each girl locked arms around the backs of the one next to her and stood in a line. As the music started, they watched the group in front of them and copied their steps. By the end of the song, they had it down pat. They even shouted on cue “Bullshit!” when it came up in the song.

Beth didn’t remember when she had so much excitement. She only wished it wasn’t wrong, but then it probably wouldn’t be as fun if it were legal. The sneaking was what put the added excitement to it. The others were drinking beer, but Beth was so busy dancing she didn’t have time to try drinking. She hardly sat out a song. The time passed by quickly and, before they knew it, they were announcing last dance. They didn’t even make it to the place next door.