Smooth Jazz Ch. 07

"As I recall I courted you woman. Truth is you only liked me for my looks. And I was in a band." Her daddy came into the room and he was as tall as Connor but lean and sturdy. His glasses stayed at the tip of his nose.

"Dad," Jazz jumped into his arms nearly knocking his glasses off and he laughed deeply as he squeezed her tight.

His salt and pepper hair made him look studious but the suspenders gave a nice touch to the farmer's eyes he seem to have, ones that seem to know the strain of hard work. He had a weary look in his eyes as they fell on Connor.

Connor felt that any minute he would tell him to leave his daughter alone and go get the shot gun.

"Oh hush Thomas, don't pay him no mind Connor. You go and wash your hands for dinner." She kissed his cheek and gave him a warm hug. He was shocked and touched in the same instant.

Connor went to Jazz's father who hadn't said a word to him just looked him in the eye and shook his hand firmly.

"Nice to meet you sir." He tried to keep eye contact, it was a man thing and respect is what he knew he needed.

"Call me Thomas and come in the den, let's talk a while, after you wash your hands of course." He motioned for Connor to go on, and he did.

"Now don't you be harassing the boy Thomas and hurry up cause these rolls is nearly finished. Come on baby, help mama set this table." She passed Thomas one more warning look knowing how he could be and they started setting the table.

*

"You have a nice home." Connor said absently, trying to find the rights words to say. Her father was a man of few words, and that made it difficult.

"Thank you, cigar son?" He took it and eyed it up and down. Cuban? The man had good taste. He watched as he cupped his hands around the tip and lit it up.

He flipped it and grinned when Connor caught it one handedly and lit his as well.

"Now I know you might think because I'm old I'm close minded, but I want to clear it up that nothing I say has to do with you being white." Connor shrugged his shoulders and Thomas laughed lighting up his face for the first time.

You about as cool, and calm as you want to be. I thought I could scare you a little." Thomas patted him on the back.

"You're alright." Thomas acknowledged.

"I did have thoughts about a shotgun; you might be hiding for the day your little girl brings home a knuckle headed boy."

"Yeah I did, but she's a woman now and I appreciate that she brought home a man, a real man, and not the uppity boy she brought here a while ago."

"Now she knows just how low down and no good for her he was. When she brought him home, we could see it. But it comes a time in a man's life where he must set foolish things aside and as much as I wanted my shot gun back then, and now knowing what he's done, I didn't grab it."

"Lord knows I wanted to lock her away, keep her from the hurt she couldn't see coming, but I couldn't, she had to learn."

He spoke sternly, no trace of anger in his voice, just simplicity. It made him hang on to each word, and soak it all in.

"But him putting his hands on her, I can't stand for. I want to thank you for protecting my daughter and keeping her safe, but I want to make sure you doing right by her."

"I'm not foolish enough to let someone as special as Jazz slip through my fingers, as a soldier I know what it's like to lose the one's you love. I don't want to lose Jazz. She's made a real man out of me, taught me how to love properly, made me a better man by being a better woman."

"Jazz is the best I know and I love her."

"I'm going to marry her, no matter what." His voice shook with a fever. Thomas looked at him regarding him seriously. He could tell Connor was head over heels in love.

He reflected back on a time when he had been with the same look in his eyes. He had his sights set and there would be no one in his way.

Not even hell and high water could have stopped him. Still thirty years later, he was still in love. He was still the luckiest man in the world, next to the one who would have his daughter.

"Jazz is a grown woman, and she can make her own decisions. I just want to make it clear whether you're asking for my permission and blessing, or demanding it." He let a smile touch the corners of his mouth and Connor chuckled.

"I'm asking sir for your blessing." He finished his Cigar around the same time her father did and put it out.

"You have my blessing, as long as you do right by her."

"I will and I won't let anything happen to her. I'm on it."

*

"HE'S MIGHTY FINE JAZZ, ALL MUSCULAR AND MANLY." Her mother patted her cheek as Jazz help set the table. She tried not to think about what her daddy was saying to Connor.

She knew that he never liked William, and expressed to her how he was no good. Part of the reason, she didn't let them know about the divorce. She didn't want him to be right. She hoped this time around she had done right.

"I love him mama." She smile from ear to ear and her Mama laughed richly. She had never seen her daughter glow with so much life. It was all in her eyes. She was in love and feeding off of the sweetest fruits that life had to offer.

Jazz was a woman now, and she had made her share of mistakes. Even so, she was treading in better waters now and her mother knew Connor would keep her baby safe.

"I know, and he's just about head over hills for you. He seems like a good man. I can tell from the way he carries himself, and he got a good sprit on him."

"He's a little troubled but you'll help him through. I don't think you realize how much he needs you." Her mother spoke wisely.

"I know he loves me, but I don't know if he'll stay. I'm afraid to ask what happens when he goes away...to us. He tells me he sees a future with me, but he hasn't really come up and said anything concrete." She put a hand to her heart at the thought of him leaving.

"He's healing Jazz, and he knows what decision to make. He's a grown man and he's smart whatever he chooses you have to be prepared for it."

Her ma always could look at a person and go so deep inside their fears and troubles. It was a gift and a curse in Jazz's case, especially at times when she wanted to hide the hurt and take comfort in handling it on her own.

"If he goes, I'll wait for him, I'll write him. I won't give him up Ma." She stared at the determination in her daughters eyes. She smiled inside with pride. She was no longer settling or being content. She had some fire and some spice.

"I know you'll do what's right. " Jazz came around the table and her and her mother embraced. She knew she could always find comfort at home.

"Thank you mama, I love you."

"I love you too suga." Her mother called Connor and Thomas to dinner. She beamed at him, as she could tell he approved of Connor and so did she. They gave each other a quick kiss of mutual agreement and bonded understanding.

Dinner went smoothly and was filled with laughs and easy companionship. Jazz hung her head in shame and enjoyment as they told Connor stories about their only child.

He almost choked on his food, when they mentioned how Jazz had fell down the stairs on prom night. She punched him in the arm and he coughed an apology.

They showed him pictures of her, and she just shook her head at her jerry curl she had and her hot pink halter tops. He poked fun at her high school sweet hearts and had something to say about each one.

Jazz just rolled her eyes and moved the subject along. She could tell her parents really like him. He had a charm that was irresistible as his father's. Even her father who rarely had much to say was slapping Connor on the back, and putting in input as well on all the topics of discussion.

*

Jazz tossed and turned as in Southern tradition Connor and her slept in separate rooms for the night. She didn't know how he was doing, but she could barely sleep. She closed her eyes when she heard footsteps nearing her bedroom.

Her mother had already come to check on her two times. Then both her mother and father came to get the scoop on what was going on. Her mother started crying when Jazz had told her everything she had been through since the divorce.

Her father listened intently and was pleased that Connor was taking over and had some ideas in the works. She hated that her mother wanted her to stay so badly. She didn't want to leave her life in Sacramento. She still had lessons to teach, and people to see about her organization she wanted to start.

Jazz sat up as her door opened and Connor slid inside. Jazz giggled and then covered her mouth when he put a finger to his lips telling her to hush.

"I can't sleep." Connor whispered and sat on the edge of her bed.

"I know I'm spoiled, I'm used to being cuddled at night."

"Well daddy's here now." Connor slid in next to her, wiggling his eyebrows and she laughed.

"Connor I hope you know we are not getting nasty in my parents' house." Jazz snuggled closer to him as he laughed as she eyed him seriously.

"I just want you close to me baby. I promise no funny business."

"Okay then." Jazz moved into the curve of his body and felt his hands wrap around her.

"So, what did you and my dad talk about?"

"He told me he wanted you to find a nice black man to settle down with, and where do I get off taking all the sistas away." Jazz nudged him in the stomach and turned around to face him.

"You think you're so funny don't you. For real Connor, what did you guys talk about?"

"Nothing baby, he just wants the best for you. He just wants to make sure that I don't hurt you. He's very protective of you and I understand why."

"You're special, strong but delicate. I know you don't need a man to take care of you but I want to."

Connor kissed her on the lips softly, like she was as delicate as he said.

"Well that's sweet. I love that you guys are getting along. I hate we have to leave in a day or two."

"Yeah, but we'll be back." Connor rubbed her back and she drifted off to sleep.

Jazz and Connor continued the same routine. At night Connor would sneak into her room and they would kiss and touch for a few hours and fall asleep; before he slipped back out to his room in the morning.

Jazz almost spit up her orange juice, when on the day they were leaving her mother told Connor that he was very heavy footed and Jazz that she screamed too loud a whisper. She just laughed it off and thanked god that her dad was out tending to his horses.

Connor just sweet talked her Mother and she giggled like a school girl. Soon they packed up and headed out on the road again and when Connor and her father went off for another talk, she eyed them suspiciously. She had no idea what they were up to. She hoped soon she would find out.

*

MARCELO LOOKED AROUND THE ENITIRE HOUSE. He couldn't believe their hunch was wrong he had managed to find nothing. He wiped the sweat from his brow, and sat down on the couch. He leaned forward putting his elbows to his knees, and hands to his head. He had to think.

Where could it be, maybe he wasn't as dumb as they thought and had locked it away in a safe somewhere. Marcelo could sense it was here though. Think, think, think....maybe. Marcelo got up and grabbed a wedge he had spotted earlier from the kitchen drawer.

He knew in the field they always kept things in odd places like dug out holes. He had seen some white erosion on the wooden floors in one of the guest bedrooms. It was so crazy of an idea it just might be true. He swiftly made his way to the back of the house.

Marcelo took the wedge and pushed it into the corner of one of the wooden panels that made up the floor. It slid back and he popped it off. He caught a glimpsed of white and continued with his task. He moved faster popping off as many wooden planks as he could.

He found plastic and green covering underneath. He slowly peeled it away. Sweat was running across the top of his brow at this point as he worked diligently. Finally the floor broke through.

Marcelo had to scoot back quickly as the floor fell in and a small hole was formed. It was deep and so dark. Marcelo quickly took out his phone and turned on the flashlight.

"Jackpot, sonofabitch!" Marcelo couldn't believe what he saw. Drugs, money and guns, from the amount he saw it was about to get more real than they could ever imagine.