28 Blind Dates: After the Costumes (Part 44)

“We Need to Talk”

Jalisa: Merlin, we need to talk.

Merlin: Uh, oh – am I in trouble?

Jalisa: No

Merlin: Did you run into another BDC contestant?

Jalisa: No, Merlin – this has nothing to do with any of that.

Merlin: Okay, let’s talk.

Merlin leads the way upstairs while the triplets open up a discussion of their own.

Jamelia:  I spoke with Kory today, and he told me something very interesting.

Jalin: Why are you bothering my friends?

Jamelia: I wasn’t bothering him. I was asking him why he hadn’t asked Me-Me out yet.

Melisa: What? Why’d you do that? *brief pause* What did he say?

Jamelia: I’m sure Jalin knows exactly what he said. Don’t you, Jay?

Melisa: What did you do, Jay?

Jalin: I told him to stay away from my sisters. I told all of my friends that. So you two are off-limits.

Melisa: What the heck? Why would you do that?

Jalin: Because my friends are my friends – I don’t need them coming around here just to see one of you.

Melisa: But you had no right to do that! They don’t belong to you.

Jalin: You wouldn’t even know Kory if it wasn’t for me. There are plenty of guys at school for you to date. Go find your own boyfriends and leave my friends alone.

Melisa: I really dislike you right now.

Jalin: But you have to live with me, so you’ll get over it.

Jalisa: I don’t know how to say this.

Merlin: Now I’m nervous.

Jalisa: Okay – here goes… I want to quit my job, Merlin.

Merlin: *relieved sigh* That’s it? I thought it was something terrible.

Jalisa: You’re okay with me quitting?

Merlin: I’d like to know why. The kids are teens now. They don’t need a stay-at-home mom.

Jalisa: I don’t want to stay home. I want to go back to law. But, I’d have to begin at entry-level, which means a significant pay cut. I know we have a lot of bills, but I’m really unhappy with my career, and it makes me sick to think where’d I’d be right now if I never quit in the first place.

Merlin: You can’t think like that, babe. You explored another career for a while. There’s no failure in it – only growth.

Jalisa: So you’re okay with the idea of me starting over?

Merlin: I don’t have to be okay with it. You do. If you’re unhappy, then I’m unhappy. I want you to do what’s right for you.

Jalisa: Thanks, Merlin.

Merlin: You’re welcome. Why were you so afraid to tell me this?

Jalisa: Well – it’s like I said last night…

Merlin: You didn’t think I’d have your back.

Jalisa: Well, yeah.

Merlin: I meant what I said, Jalisa. I do have your back, and I always will. Do you believe me?

Jalisa: Yes, I do.

Merlin: Good *leans over and kisses Jalisa.*

Jalisa: I’m going to call my boss, *suddenly excited* soon to be ex-boss, now.

Merlin: Okay, I’ll give you some privacy.

Merlin exits to the bathroom while Jalisa makes the calls necessary to set herself onto another career path. Afterward, she changes out of her old career clothes, thinking that maybe she should burn them in a bonfire. She’s back on her original path, and she couldn’t be happier.

BDC: After the Costumes Summaries | read from the beginning

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