Movie Night at the Williams’ [KJ x Jaclyn]

[King James]

My name was Jason Williams and I was a real estate broker who had lost his wife to cancer merely six months ago. Since then my life had been consumed by my daughter and my work, the two things I could truly take pride in. I had started in real estate right after graduating college and had made a good living for myself and my family through it. My daughter, Jaclyn, however, was the true meaning in my life and what kept me going. Whether it was shopping, movies, camping, or whatever I would spend any free time I had with her.

Being in such a person-based industry, I made sure to stay in shape, running and lifting each day, giving me a lean, muscular build. I kept my greying salt and pepper hair short and neat with my sharp jaw clean-shaven. My deep blue eyes seemed to pop in contrast to my hair, a smile almost always highlighting my high cheekbones.

It was a Friday evening in Spring and I had just arrived home at the modest suburban home that I shared with my daughter. Parking my car in the garage, I proceeded inside to find my daughter making dinner in the kitchen. “Mmm, something smells good. Is my star chef in the making up to something tonight?” I teased as I sat my bag down by the door before proceeding to grab a beer from the fridge, popping the cap off and taking a nice long sip to start the weekend.

 

[Jaclyn]

… ever since Mama died, I've been trying to pick up much of what she did for me and Daddy ... housework and cooking during the week in particular ... because Daddy works hard and comes home very tired ... I know he misses Mama too so I try to be there for him to talk to like Mama said she tried to do when he got home …

… I have a little more than two more weeks of school left until I'm a junior and until my 16th birthday ... Mama always said she'd throw me a Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party but I guess I'll settle for whatever Daddy decides to do will be fine with me ... not that I have lots of friends to invite ... no, I just don't make friends like some of the other girls ... oh, there's one girl in Chemistry who hangs with me because lunch comes right after Chem ... but I've never done anything with her outside of school except she's been on the group 'dates' to roller skating and bowling and she'll be on the end of year trip to the water park ... Mama would have gone with us on that too ,,, she was my best friend …

... so on this particular Friday I get off the bus and walk two blocks and let myself in the back door ... it's a hot spring so I change out of my school clothes ... jeans and oversize T-shirt ... into something cooler ... a pair of little white satin wide leg shorts and a thin pale pink linen top with pink ribbon ties at the shoulders that Mama gave me ... the pink ties are cute ... after seeing myself in the mirror, I ditch my little A-cup bra ... and wish I could grow into the one B-cup bra Mama bought me because she said I'd need it one day ... wipe away a tear ... Mama won't ever see me in it either ...

… in the kitchen I get out what we decided to have for dinner ... some fish filets and makings for a green salad ... check the clock and make the salad ... I'll start cooking the fish at 5 because unless Daddy texts me he's home promptly at 5:20 and we try to eat not long after ... tonight is movie night and Daddy said we'd pick something from Netflix or the other on demand things later and maybe have popcorn if we wanted ... with the salad made, I start the oven at quarter to 5 ... the fish is ready in the broiler pan with a bit of cooking oil and herbs coating it and a slice of lemon on each of the three filets ... we don't eat starch much anymore since Daddy went on his diet …

… I pick up my notes from English Lit class and the book 1984 and read while I wait for Daddy ... at 5 the fish goes in the oven and I turn it over and replace the lemon slices at 5:10 ... at 5:20 I take it out to cool as I hear the garage door open ... foil over the fish as Daddy opens the door from the garage ... I turn to watch him come in ... to gauge his mood …

… he's weary yet seems to be trying to be cheerful ... gets a beer from the fridge and sits at the counter …

“Hi Daddy! Welcome home! How was your day? Dinner is ready in a few minutes.”