Chapter 7 - Page 88 - Jim's Promise

   Jim looked at Rhasha. He wanted her, but he knew she was too young for him. “Rhasha, I can’t do this,” he said, “you’re only eighteen years old and I’m forty-five. Besides, God wouldn’t approve of it.”

   Tears ran down Rhasha’s face. “Jim, you promised me you would be with me every night. I don’t want you to sleep in that chair anymore.”

   “Rhasha,” Jim said excitedly, “do you mean . . . just to sleep?”

   “Just to sleep, Jim.” She smiled. “But could you hold me?”

   Jim smiled as he crawled into bed next to Rhasha. He put his arms around her. “Sweetheart,” he said, “I don’t think God will get angry with me if I just put my arms around you and hold you every night.”

   They slept all night with their arms around each other.

   The next morning when Jim woke up, he found to his surprise that Rhasha was already awake. Her face was no more than six inches away from his, and she was staring into his eyes with her hand on his cheek. She kissed him on the forehead. “Good morning, sunshine,” she said.

   Jim chuckled. Rhasha was saying the same words to him that he greeted her with every morning. “Good morning, sunshine,” he replied.

   Rhasha placed his hand between both of hers. She had a serious look on her face. “Jim,” she said, “you have such pretty eyes.”

   Jim grinned at Rhasha. She grinned back. Jim knew what she was doing. Jim heard giggling behind him and turned to see Rhasha’s parents standing in the doorway. They knew Rhasha wasn’t flirting with Jim, but showing him her appreciation.