Simon was in awe because the life Cherish grew up in was already rough and hard to swallow. To hear about her mother’s boyfriend and how she was treated was out of the realm of normal. This man and her mother were sick and that caused a nauseous, angry knot in his stomach. All Simon could do was nod repeatedly and take in the information. He bore through the grittier, harsher parts of her reality and understood just how much Jasmine really meant to her. He personally couldn’t imagine having one without the other.
Cherish sniffed through her stuffy nose, huffed out, and wiped her face again, “Then when I was sixteen, he was arrested, and Todd came around. He convinced me that he was rich and that he could take me from all of it. I was so desperate to get out I had no idea that he was just grooming me too. But, he did take me far away from there and for that I will always thank him. I’m not afraid of Todd. Sure, he was a piece of shit and he doesn’t deserve the love I gave him or the daughter that we created, but I would be dead if I was still with my mother. What’s worse is…I don’t know what would happen to my baby. She already took one from me.” As she spoke, her breaths hitched once again, and her voice cracked. Overwhelmed with emotion, the thought of something happening to Jasmine caused her shake the nerves from her hands, “I don’t know what came over me, but that woman looked so much like her and I’m sorry, Simon. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you and I made a scene in the store.” She said breaking down and sobbing in her hands.
Simon moved in and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He wanted to hold her and make her feel safe until she could pull herself back together. Cherish turned inward to his body and pressed her face against his chest. His shirt was stained with her tears while she cupped a hand over her mouth and nose. He shook his head and pressed a hand against her hair, “It’s okay. It’s okay. You were scared…” He rubbed her back in a circular motion and shut his eyes, “…I’d be scared too if it were me. You don’t have to be sorry, Cherish. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He whispered as his hold on her grew tighter.
The living room was filled with her cries for a while before dying down to heavy breaths. Her shoulders and grip on him loosened as he stroked along her arm in a comforting manner. Before long, they watched the babies in silence, who continuously lifted their heads, lowered them again, and kicked their feet. Her legs were pulled in on the sofa as she rested her head on his chest. Numbly, she pulled at her bottom lip and simply watched the little, albeit upset, miracles learn right before her very eyes.
Simon inhaled a deep breath and gripped against her fleetingly before releasing, “Knowing all the hell you’ve gone through…I have a deeper respect for you now, Cherish. I won’t let anything like that happen to you again.” He murmured.
Jasmine had begun to fuss while Jr. had given up long ago and laid there. She couldn’t help but smile at them before she turned her face upwards towards Simon. She stared at his stubbled jawline and swallowed tightly as she wiped her wet face, “Thank you.” She whispered.
Simon stared down at Cherish in return. Her eyes were puffy, her nose was wet, and she looked…well, beautiful. He used the cuff of his sleeve to wipe a side of her face as she cleaned the other. She broke into a grin and awkward laugh. He gave her a warm and gentle smile, “Anytime…” He found himself getting lost in her eyes and an odd sensation pitted in his gut.
She was still in his arms and they were a breath apart. Instead of pulling away, she blinked up at Simon’s gaze for a long moment. Her lips parted slightly, and the grip of her hand tightened into a fist against his chest, “I know…” she whispered in return.
His eyes fell to her lips and he found himself closing in. Biting her bottom lip, she held her breath and braced for what was to come. She didn’t know what to feel or expect but couldn’t shake the jitters she felt. He closed his eyes and sighed out a breath as he suppressed the nervous feeling growing within him. He pressed his forehead to hers to stop himself because he couldn’t do that to her; it wasn’t fair.
Instantly, she was washed over with relief as she shut her eyes and smiled contently to herself. Simon felt himself slipping. His head tilted, and his nose brushed against hers. Though, thanks to an angry little girl on the floor, the moment was cut short by Jasmine’s shrill shriek. Cherish jolted in mirror with Simon as she regained herself, where she was, and who exactly she was with. “Oh god.” She thought to herself pulling away.
Pushing herself off the sofa, Cherish gripped the roots of her hair, stooped down, and picked Jasmine up, “Okay, okay I’ve got you. Stop your fussing.” She said calmly.
Like clockwork, Jr. began to fuss and cry the moment Jasmine started up and heard Cherish’s voice. His daddy lifted and soothed him with a few bounces and kisses against his forehead.
Kissing on her cheek, Cherish cupped along Jasmine’s diaper and faked surprise, “No wonder you’re so upset! Your
