Chapter 19

Kachelle washesitant about having dinner with my parents, but she reluctantly agreed. It was ironic that the same day my mother popped up on me, her sister popped up on her. I was happy they had a conversation, though. I knew how much she missed her.

"Do I look okay?" Kay asked, looking herself over in the mirror.

I chuckled to myself. She'd changed clothes three times already.

"You looked great two outfits ago, baby."

She looked over her shoulder at me. "Hush."

"What! You asked my opinion."

I stood and walked over to her. She had on a long-sleeved white shirt that she tucked into a pair of fitted high-waisted jeans, with a brown belt, and a pair of brown boots. Her curls hung freely, just the way I liked it.

"You look beautiful as usual," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist.

She blushed as I kissed her temple. "You're my husband. You have to say that."

"Nah, I love you enough to tell you if you look a mess. I can't let you go out like that."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you sure my pants aren't too tight?"

"Have you seen this ass you carry around?"

She playfully slapped my chest. "Stop!"

"Seriously, baby. You're fretting for nothing. Nobody is gonna think twice about what you're wearing."

She sighed. "Okay, okay. Let's go."

She grabbed her purse, and we left her apartment. The drive to my parent's house took less than fifteen minutes. When we pulled up, she released a nervous sigh.

"Here goes nothing."

"Think positive."

"I'm trying."

I climbed out of my truck and rounded the passenger side to let her out. Hand in hand, we walked up the driveway and up the front steps. Before I could open the front door, it flew open, and Jessa stood there with a smile.

"Hey, big head," she said, hugging me.

"Hey, punk."

She quickly pushed me out of the way and went to Kachelle. I shook my head as I closed the door.

"Hey, sis!"

"Hey, boo."

They shared an embrace and exchanged air kisses. I rolled my eyes. I would never get over just how quickly my sister had taken to her.

"You look cute," she said, spinning her around.

"Ask her how many times she changed clothes," I said with a chuckle.

Kay elbowed me.

"Don't come for my girl, Jake," Jessa defended, punching my arm.

"You know something, Jess. I get the feeling you like my wife a little more than you like me these days."

She giggled. "Just a little. I love you, but I've always wanted a big sister. Now we can gang up on you together."

"That's what you think. I got that act right to get her together."

I slapped Kay's ass, causing her to yelp.

"Baby!"

"Everything okay?" We heard.

We looked up to see my mother standing in the kitchen's entryway.

"Everything's fine," Jessa answered. "Just your son being mannish."

My mother smiled as she made her way into the living room. Kachelle nervously grabbed my hand. As mom approached us, she fidgeted with her fingers, a sign of her own nervousness. She came to me for a hug and kissed my cheek before turning to my wife.

"Kachelle… Thank you for coming. I was a little afraid you'd say no."

"Thank you for having me."

"I um… I want to apologize for never giving you and this marriage a chance. It doesn't excuse it, but I was afraid of Jacob getting hurt with taking such extreme measures. I just wanted to protect his heart. I can see that I don't have to do that. My son speaks so highly of you. He's protective of you, and that's how I know he truly loves you."

"I love him too, Mrs. Mitchell. You raised a loving, caring, genuine, and honorable man. He was always meant to make someone a wonderful husband, and I'm honored that that someone was me. His heart is always safe with me because I carry it right next to my own."

My mother swiped a tear from her eye.

"That's something I always tell my husband," she admitted. She reached for Kachelle's hands. "If you can forgive me, I'd love a chance to start over with you… to love you like my own daughter."

It was Kay's turn to wipe away tears.

"I'd like that very much," she whispered.

My mother pulled her into her arms, embracing her tightly. They both shed a few tears. Next to me, Jessa looked at me with a smile. She seemed as relieved as I was that this was starting off on the right food. Now, there was just my father.

"Where's Dad?" I asked.

"He went to the store to get ice cream to go with our dessert. He should be back soon. Why don't y'all come on into the kitchen?"

She motioned for us to follow her. In the kitchen, she had a buffet-style set up of collard greens, rice and gravy, baked mac and cheese, fried and baked chicken, candied yams, and homemade rolls. My stomach immediately began to growl.

"Oh my God," Kay groaned as she licked her lips. "This looks and smells wonderful. "I can already feel the itis coming on."

My mother laughed. "I hope you enjoy."

"Oh, I'm sure I will. Jacob can tell you, I love a good meal. I love it when he cooks for me. He's spoiled me with breakfast every morning since I went back to work."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a dentist. If you've heard of Superhero Smiles, that's me."

"The kids dentist, right?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"You love children?"

"Very much. I'm awaiting the day I'm a mother myself."

"Which might be sooner than you think," Jessa mumbled with a smirk. "TiTi Jess is ready!"

My mother shook her head. "Ready to have that child as extra as you?"

"I'm not extra, Mama?—"

I laughed out loud. "Ha! Again, have you met you?"

"Shut up, Jake. Your babies are gonna love me. I plan to be the rich auntie with no kids that buys them whatever they want."

"How are you gonna be rich when you're always spending my money?"

She playfully mushed my head. "That's exactly how."

"Watch me cut you off."

She gasped. "How dare you! You made me a kept little sister. That's the manner in which I'm accustomed to."

My mother laughed. "I told you not to spoil her. Don't ever listen to him if he complains about doing anything for her, Kachelle. He talks big shit about it, but he was the same one who used to come get her from me or his father if she was crying, and she'd shut right up every time. There would be times I went looking for my baby and she'd be in his room, laid up on his chest with both of them snoring."

Kay smiled. "Awww! That's so sweet."

"Let me grab the photo album!"

I rolled my eyes. "Here she goes."

My mother laughed as she left the kitchen and headed into the living room to grab the book of embarrassment. I wasn't sure why this seem to be a staple amongst parents. It was like they lived to share the most embarrassing pictures and memories of their children. She returned with a photo album, flipping through the album.

She placed the album on the counter. "Here we go!"

"Oh, my goodness!' Kay exclaimed as she flipped through the pages. "You two were adorable! I see why you're still so close. She had you looking like a teenage father, baby."

I chuckled. "She wanted to be everywhere I went."

"That much is still true," Mama agreed. "I love the way they love each other, though."

She cupped both mine and Jessa's face and kissed our cheeks. The sound of the front door opening broke the sentimental moment. I knew it was my father. Mom pulled away and went to greet him. As they spoke softly, I saw the frown on his face. It was clear he didn't know we were coming. If it was one thing my father hated, it was an ambush.

He kept looking back and forth between us and my mother.

"Should we leave?" Kachelle asked quietly.

"No."

My mother continued to talk to him. After a while, he raised his hands in surrender. She grabbed the grocery store bag in his hand and led him into the kitchen. He stopped a few feet shy of me and looked between me and Kay.

"Jacob. Kachelle," he said, extending his hand.

"Dad."

"Mr. Mitchell."

"Why doesn't everybody fix a plate and we can eat."

He didn't say anything else as he went to wash his hands. I turned to my wife.

"Why don't you grab a seat. I'll fix your plate."

"Thank you."

I pecked her lips before letting her go. We moved around the kitchen in silence, fixing our plates. When we were done, we seated ourselves and my mother said a prayer before we dug in. An awkward silence filled the room. The only sounds that could be heard were forks scraping.

"This is really good, Mrs. Mitchell," Kachelle complimented.

"Thank you, baby. Do you cook?"

"Yes, ma'am. I love to cook."

"I'm sure Jacob loves that. He can be a disposal system when he wants to be."

Kay giggled. "Oh, I've learned that much. We spend a lot of time in the in the kitchen. I think food was the first thing that bonded us."

She looked at me with a smile.

"Jacob told me you two bought your first home."

My father's fork clinked against the plate. We all looked over at him. He didn't say anything as he picked it up and continued eating.

"Um… yes, ma'am," Kay answered. "It has a beautiful kitchen. I can't wait to cook our first meal or have our first big family dinner. I can see a lot of memories being created there."

"The house is dope, Ma," Jessa chimed in. "Although your son isn't trying to let me claim a room. How else am I supposed to watch my niece or nephew?"

"Are you pregnant?" my father asked abruptly.

Kachelle shook. "No, sir."

"Even if she was, there would be nothing wrong with that, Dad," I said, looking at him. "We do plan to have children. If and when we are blessed with a child… your grandchild… that will never be a problem. Or will it?"

He chuckled as he sat back in his seat. "Let's address the elephant in the room. I'm sorry if feels like I'm beating you over the head with this, but you are my son. I love you. I just need to know that this woman has your best interest at heart, Jacob."

"You don't get to question her?—"

Kachelle held up a hand. "It's okay."

"Baby, no, it's not."

"It is. I'm gonna say this once, and I'm gonna be done with it, so make sure you hear me loud and clear, Mr. Mitchell."

She put her fork down and turned to my father.

"I love your son. I don't wanna hear anything about it's too soon for us to be in love because what you think doesn't matter on that front. I love him. I don't want his money. I don't want to ride his coattails. I have no desire to be a kept woman. You didn't have to say it, but I'm sure that's been a thought. A recurring one at that. I am a doctor, a dentist, to be more specific. I make my own money, and I have always paid my own way in this world. Jacob is not a come-up for me. Again, I love him. He is safe with me, and so is his heart.

"I would never dream of hurting or taking advantage of him. This man is my soulmate. He is who I prayed for, and I thank God for placing him in my path. I thank you and Mrs. Mitchell for raising such an amazing man. I know he is who he is because of you two. I don't want it to take years for you to accept me. Although I don't need you to accept me because your son already does, I would like to be accepted. We are family. You aren't going anywhere, and neither am I. You can get to know and love me, or we can continue to be strangers, but I'm here to stay.

"I am his wife, his partner, his helpmate, and the person who will stand with him in the face of adversity. You did your part in making him a man and a good husband. Let him be that."

She turned back to her plate and picked up her utensils, forking a helping of yams into her mouth.

"Can I have the recipe for this?" she asked my mother.

"Of course."

Jessa snickered. My father was still staring at Kachelle. His face has softened quite a bit which took me by surprise. He wasn't used to having anybody talk back to him. The fact that she put him in his place, and he stayed calm spoke volumes.

"Well…" he said, picking up his fork. "You've got a strong-minded one, Jacob. She's like your sister." He offered a slight smile. "I taught my baby girl to never let a man run over her and to stand her ground. I can see you were taught that, too."

Kay nodded. "I was. I don't like confrontation, but if I have to jump in the ring I will."

"Period," Jess said, slapping her five. "Daddy, can you please stop giving them a hard time? Look at them. They're happy and I finally have the sister I've always wanted. Don't ruin that for me… I mean for Jacob."

I chuckled. "You see how you made this about you?"

"I'm on your side, punk! I know I was skeptical at first, but I fully support you both and I think we all should as a family. Let's face it, Jake isn't getting any younger. You better leave them alone if you want some grandkids cause I'm not popping out anybody's babies. Please believe that."

My father shook his head. "Now that I think about it, I don't know if you being like Jessa is a good thing," he jested.

Kachelle smiled. "I love Jess just the way she is."

My sister blew her a kiss. When my father stood from his seat, we all waited to see what he would do. Much to our surprise, he reached for Kay's hand. She hesitantly slipped it into his palm and allowed him to pull her to her feet. When he pulled her into a hug, she stiffened for a moment before finally hugging him back.

"I'm sorry," he apologized.

"All is forgiven, Mr. Mitchell."

As they continued to embrace, he reached out for my hand. I grabbed his and he gave it a firm squeeze. Beside me, my mother swiped a tear from her eye. My heart felt lighter than when I walked in the door. Finally, I felt peace restored between us.

Now, there was the matter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis.