Chapter 11

"I'm soglad you're back!" Jessa exclaimed, squeezing me tightly.

Even though Kachelle and I drove to the airport, she insisted on meeting us there when we landed. The moment she saw us, she ran and jumped into my arms, damn near knocking me over.

I chuckled. "I take it you missed me?"

"Of course I missed you! I had to buy my own lunch this week. It was very ghetto."

I playfully mushed her as she pulled away from me. She giggled as she pulled Kachelle in for a hug. When they finally separated, we headed for the parking garage.

"Sister-in-law, you were working the hell out of those bikinis, girl!"

I thought to myself, And I was working the hell outta her.

The thought caused me to chuckle to myself. Jess looked at me and smirked.

"Nasty."

"I didn't even say anything, Jess!"

"Oh, but you were thinking it. The way my sis is over her glowing, I know a whole lot of babymaking went on during this honeymoon."

I shook my head. "Stay outta grown folks business."

"Just because you're old, doesn't mean I'm not grown too."

Kachelle laughed at us. "I can get used to the banter between you two. Thank you, Jess. I got them from this boutique called Sinful Catch. She just added swimsuits not too long ago, but she also sells lingerie."

"Oooo! I might have to check that out."

"I wish the fuck you would," I said, frowning. "Who are you wearing lingerie for, and why haven't we met him?"

Jess laughed obnoxiously loud. "Pot meet kettle! You just came back from your honeymoon with the wife you met at the altar. No offense, Kay."

Kachelle giggled. "None taken."

"You see how he does me, sis? It's the double standards for me. For your information, dear brother, I'm not seeing anybody but when I am, I need to be prepared. You aren't gonna be a cockblocker."

She poked my chest with her stiletto nail to emphasize her seriousness. I rolled my eyes. She was grown, but she was and would always be my little sister. Even given my calm demeanor, I would fuck up any man that did her dirty.

"Anyway!" I said, grabbing Kachelle's hand. "What are you about to do?"

"I'm done with classes for the day, so I think I'm gonna go get my nails done and feet done a little later. Maybe do a little shopping."

"How do you complain about paying for your food but not that shit?"

She scoffed. "That is maintenance. I do that for me."

"Bye, Jess."

She grabbed my arm as I tried to walk past her.

"Wait. Mommy and Daddy wanna see you."

I sighed. "When?"

"Well… how are you feeling about going now?"

I looked over at Kachelle as we came to a stop behind my car. She smiled softly.

"Go ahead. I know you wanted to speak with them. I should probably go see my parents, too."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

I popped the trunk and placed both of our things inside. After walking her around to the driver's side, I pulled her into my chest and kissed her softly before handing over my car keys.

"I'll have Jess drop me off at your place. I won't be too long. Drive safe."

"I will."

"Leave the bags in the car. I'll grab them when I come back."

"I can take them?—"

"Baby," I said firmly. "You touch those bags, and we are gonna have a problem."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, dear husband."

I grinned. "You better act like you know."

Again, I pulled her in for a kiss, this time taking it slow. Behind us, Jessa playfully made gagging noises.

Kay giggled. "Remember this moment when you get a man, Jess. Now you have two siblings to tease you relentlessly."

Jessa frowned. "I thought we would have been better than that, Kachelle. I'm so disappointed."

Kay smirked as she pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek repeatedly. "I'm gonna love you."

Jess wasn't the type of person to show too much emotion, but I could have sworn I saw her eyes gloss over as she embraced Kachelle back. She remained quiet, but a slight smile remained on her face. I opened the door and helped my wife into the driver's seat, opting for just one more kiss before I closed it and let her go. Jess and I stood off to the side and watched as she backed out of the parking space and made her way out of the garage.

"I like her for you," Jess finally said.

"I like her for me too. Come on. Let's get this over with."

She led me to her car, and we headed for our parent's house. The drive from the airport only took about twenty minutes. I was a little nervous to see how they would behave today. The entire time I was on my honeymoon, I hadn't heard a peep from them, which was so unlike my mother.

She called me three or four times a week just to check in or talk. I wasn't surprised, but at the same time, I was a little disappointed. I was sure my sister told them I was alive and well because I'd spoken to her three times during our stay. When we pulled into the driveway, I could see my mother looking out the window.

Jessa slapped my arm. "Please don't put me in a position to have to step in. I have to live here."

"You don't have to. You could always get your own place. I've told you I'd pay your rent as long as you were in school."

"I know, but it's lonely living alone. I need human interaction."

"Get a roommate."

"You know I don't like people in my space for too long."

"You just said—never mind. Come on."

We exited the car and headed up the front steps of our childhood home. The front door opened, and my mother stood with a slight smile. She hugged my sister and kissed her cheek. When she came to me, she paused for a second before pulling me in for a hug.

"Hey, baby."

"Hey, Ma."

She kissed my forehead and grabbed my hand, leading me into the kitchen where my father sat reading the newspaper. Jess walked over to hug him and took a seat. He closed the paper and folded it, placing it on the table. He motioned for me and my mother to take a seat.

"Jacob."

"Dad." I sat back and clasped my hands together. "Jess said y'all wanted to see me."

"Where's your wife?"

"She went to see her parents."

"How was the honeymoon?"

"It was everything we hoped it would be. Why are we making small talk, Pops? I'm sure you have something you want to say since you asked me to come here."

He chuckled. "You're right. We can get right to it. You ready to apologize for how you spoke to me and your mother at your wedding?"

"Let's make one thing very clear. I meant what I said. Maybe I could have said it differently, but the sentiment would have been exactly the same. I wasn't just speaking to you and Mom. I was speaking to her parents as well. Y'all made both of us very uncomfortable."

He scoffed. "Did you expect a warm welcome, Jacob? You married a stranger. You have no idea what kind of woman you just tied yourself to."

"Actually, I do. I don't know everything…yet. But I know she's kindhearted. I know she's sweet, and she loves children. I know that she has a relationship with God, and she prayed for this union the same way I did. I know that I love how natural holding her feels. How aligned I feel she is with my spirit. Maybe I don't know the extent of the woman she is, but I have the rest of my life to figure it out. That is my wife… your daughter-in-law and future mother of your grandchildren. I don't care what you feel about our marriage, but I won't tolerate anything less than respect when she's around."

His brows furrowed in anger. Jessa and our mother looked between the two of us.

"Daddy, she's really sweet," Jessa tried to reason. "They look so happy together."

My father grunted. "How happy can he be being oblivious? Does she know what you do for a living? How much money you make?"

"She knows my profession, and she's never asked how much money I make. She makes her own. And this isn't about money, Dad. But since you want to take it there, my money is her money now. I'll provide for her because that's the kind of man I am."

"So what happens when she takes you for all you're worth?"

"The chance of that happening would be just as high if I'd married a woman I dated traditionally, Pops. A snake is a snake."

"The devil you know is always safer than the devil you don't. Remember that."

I sighed heavily as I massaged my temples. "How long are we going to do this? Just let me know now. I love you. I respect you, but I've already said I'm not gonna keep having this conversation. What's done is done. Kachelle and I are starting a new life together. I'd hate me seeking happiness on my own terms to ruin our relationship, Pops."

He didn't say anything. Instead, he got up and left the table. I shook my head, seeing that this was going to be a long battle. I turned to my mother, who sat quiet as a church mouse. There had never been many instances where my father and I butted heads, but if we did, she was always right there to smooth things over or be the voice of reason.

"You don't have anything to say, Ma?" I asked.

She sighed. "When you first told us you were getting married, I wanted to be happy for you, Jacob. I've dreamed of you getting married and making me a grandmother for years. Then you told us you were marrying a stranger, and that just didn't sit right with me. You're my son… my baby boy. The thought of somebody hurting you when I know how pure your heart is hurts me. I just… I feel like you rushed into this. I wished you'd taken the time to get to know this woman before you married her. You're acting like our concerns aren't valid as your parents."

I shook my head. "You have the right to be concerned. You made valid points, and I can't fault you for that. But I am a grown man. I don't do anything without exhausting all possible outcomes. You and Dad taught us that. If the risks had outweighed the gains, I would have washed my hands with it. I prayed every day for months on end for God to bless me with my perfect match, and when He did, I prayed every day that He would bless our union."

I leaned forward on my elbows and looked her dead in the eyes so she could feel me.

"I'm over the issue of you two not agreeing with this marriage. My problem was the way you acted at my wedding. You were both rude, not only to me, but to my wife. Jessa was the first person to come up there and make her feel welcomed into our family. Jessa… who barely likes people, gave her a chance. That's all I'm asking you for. Get to know her. Share family traditions with her. Teach her secret family recipes. Make her feel like she belongs because as long as she's with me, she's where she belongs."

I stood from the table and smoothed my hands over my shirt.

"You don't have to like it, but you can at least respect it. Now, if you will excuse me, I'd like to get back to my wife."

I looked at my sister, and she stood as well. Just to prove that I wasn't bitter, I pulled my mother into a hug and kissed her cheeks.

"I love you, Ma. You and Pops raised me to be a good and solid man. You have to trust that I know what I'm doing."

She nodded slowly. "I'll try."

I prayed that she would try. Maybe if she got on board, she could persuade my father to as well.