Cookies of the Soul: Chocolate Cream Kisses and a Understanding

Her relationship with him was in trouble and she knew it. She had convinced herself for a long time that the important part was that she knew it. Today was the day she knew for sure that she had to fix it. Denying to herself that his situation was serious was easy to do, until she heard her Mom on the phone speaking to her some what doubtful brother, "Do you really know how serious this is? No, I mean how really seriously ill he is." Her mother does not jump to conclusions and, therefore; when she says something like that she means it.

Had it only been eleven years since he had married Mom? Ten years since he taught her how a real father treats his children whether or not they are actually his. Nine years since, well, since the chocolate cream kisses. She was fourteen years old. It was those ridiculous little chocolate cookie sandwiches with cream on the inside. She was fanatic about them. It seemed like she was always eating them. She remembered him sitting in his chair watching the TV, his usual happiness and content. When she went to kiss him, Mom started laughing. She pointed out that he had a pair of chocolate lips on his cheek. That's when her kisses were dubbed chocolate cream kisses. To about two months ago he always said before she went to bed "Jenny, give me one of those chocolate cream kisses." Whether or not she had chocolate on her lips, that's what they were called. She secretly had loved it. He was in too much pain to think on it now.

Jenny shook herself out of her daydream and back on her bed behind her locked door. She touched her face and it was wet. It had been a long time since she had felt them. Once upon a time they had a great relationship. It was full of laughter and friendship. Both in business and personal lives. When the business went down he automatically assumed that Jenny resented him for the inability to make the business fly and for all the money she had invested into the business. Shortly thereafter Jenny resented him for thinking so and she was too introverted to do anything about it.