by Ancelli
Nancy sighed, “Sue, look at him, its obvious he’s no longer homeless. After everything I did for him, he didn’t even say bye.”
“What did you do for Jesse?” Maya glared at the women.
“Who’s Jesse?” Sue raised an eyebrow.
“I meant J,” she corrected.
“He would show up after the doors were closed,” Nancy turned around, “and I would sneak him in after hours. J was such a gentleman, he wasn’t your normal homeless guy, and I fell in love.”
“You fell in love with a homeless guy?” Sue chuckled.
Maya couldn’t be mad at the woman. Her husband was special, even a stranger saw it.
“Was it that good?” her friend asked, making Maya’s head snap.
Her heart skipped a beat, Jesse told her he didn’t have sex with anyone while on the streets.
“Not for the lack of trying,” Nancy picked up a pot. “Something was deeply hurting him. He was lost in his own turmoil. I tried to help him, but he wouldn’t let me in.” She started scrubbing one of the pots. “I would hear him talking in his sleep. It was always about Maya. I hated that woman, whoever she was, because she had his heart.” Nancy talked to Sue, and Maya turned back around with tears in her eyes, and continued washing the dishes without saying another word. She knew then that she had made the right decision fighting for their marriage.
***
“J,” an older black man yelled at him, making Jesse chuckle.
“Pete,” he handed the spoon to the person next to him, came around the counter, and hugged him. “Buddy, how are you doing?” Pete took him under his wing when he arrived in the city, the man was a Vietnam veteran.
“Not as good as you, boy,” he pulled on Jesse’s shirt. “I was worried about you. I thought something bad happened to you.”
“I’m great,” Jesse placed his arm over Pete’s shoulder. “I finally found my way back home.”
“Praise God!” Pete yelled raising his hands, making everyone in the shelter look at them, including the women in the kitchen, which included his wife and Nancy. Nancy stared at him, and smiled. Maya turned back around and continued whatever she was doing. “Pete, I want you to meet my wife.”
“How do I look?” He said patting down and smoothing his dirty shirt.
“You look good like always,” he followed Jesse toward the kitchen. “But I’m taking you shopping to get you some new clothes.”
“Boy,” he glanced at him. “I don’t need no clothes.”
They entered the kitchen and Nancy rushed into his arms. “J,” her embrace got tighter by the second. “It’s so nice to see you.” He felt her breath on his neck.
Jesse looked over her head, and Maya glared back at him through narrowed eyes, watching them.
He stepped back, "It's nice seeing you again too."
Nancy touched a button on his shirt. "You left without saying goodbye."
Pete smacked her hand off his clothes. "Woman, you have no shame, his wife is here," Pete said looking around the room.
"Wife?" Nancy’s voice rose.
"Didn't you see his wedding ring?" Pete glanced at his hand.
“I assumed he found it or stole it,” Nancy answered.
"Where is it?" Pete lifted Jesse’s hand.
"Long story," he sighed, asking himself the same thing. He meant to ask Maya for his broken ring. He could have it fixed. "Pete," he took a few strides toward the sink. "This is my wife Maya."
Nancy started choking and her face turned a hue of red. Sue's eyes widened. "You’re his wife?"
Jesse nodded.
"Yes, the woman you hate," Maya’s voice held a hint of attitude. "You should be more careful talking around strangers, you never know who they might be." She extended her hand and shook Pete's rough hands.
Pete chuckled, "You didn't tell me your wife was a sista." He eyed her. "J is a good man, sis. He was just lost for a minute. I'm glad he found his way back to you and you accepted him."
Nancy and Sue marched out of the kitchen. He wondered what was said before he interrupted.
"Don't mind them," Pete said. "J, stay out of places like this. You don't belong here. You have a family that loves you. Some of us weren't blessed with that gift. Value what you have."
"I want to help you," Jesse couldn't turn his back on the old man.
"You did when you got the hell off the streets. This,” he waved his hand, “is my life, but it was never yours."
Jesse knew Pete wasn't leaving this life. It was his survival. Pete was getting older, and fragile. Jesse pulled out his wallet and opened it. "Here," he pulled out all the cash he had. "At least take this," he placed the bills in his hand, and closed Pete's fist.
Pete glanced a Maya, "You okay with this?"
She smiled, "Yes, Pete. I'm okay with Jesse taking care of his buddy. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Anything for a beautiful lady," he rolled up the money and placed it his sock.
"Can you let us take you to the VA hospital have them check you out? You deserve that and so much more for the service you gave this country." She was trying to sweet talk him. "I mean don't you think they owe you?"
He thought for a few seconds. "I'll let you know," he started to walk away and stopped. "J, you can make a difference, be the best that you can be. Thank you for always looking out for me."
"Pete," Maya followed him. "You said you'll let me know, but how?"
He smirked. "Young lady, I'm an old man set in my ways." Pete slowly walked away.
Jesse held her hand, "Let him go."
"But..." her eyes shined.
“I will check up on him later. Let’s go home, and face my fears." He entwined his fingers with hers.
"So, you had a girlfriend?"
He stopped dead in his tracks. "Did she tell you that?" he clinched his jaw. "I'll go find her right now and clear that shit up." He searched the area looking for her.
Maya busted out laughing.
"She's the one that offered me money for sex."
Maya’s smile turned into a frown and her nostrils flared. "What did you just say?"
Oops, he thought, "Let’s go."
She pulled away from him and ambled back in. "Really, who the hell did she think you were? Preying on people in need."
Jesse grabbed her by the waist, and carried her out of the door. The people watched as they passed by. He put her down. "Love, calm down," he smirked. Jesse was flattered. "She thought she was doing me a favor."
"Ha, she was trying to do herself a favor," she paced. "What if she does it to someone else?"
Jesse pulled her closer. "We don't want to ruin all these people's Thanksgiving. She didn't get none of this." He rotated his hips in a sexual way.
Her lips curled up, "You dreamt about me while you were on the streets?" she combed her fingers through his silky hair.
"All the time," he pinched her ass. "Let’s go eat some of your mom's famous peach cobbler." he opened the car door for her.
"Yum," she got in, and clicked her seatbelt.
He closed the door, and stared at the old building. This was his closure, Pete was right. He didn't belong here anymore, not because he was better than the people in line, but because he had people who loved and supported him. They slowly drove away, “Bye to the past,” he mumbled.
“Hello to our future…” Maya took his hand, and kissed his knuckles.
Chapter Eleven
Maya stepped into the house first, with Jesse right behind her. Their families were gathered around two tables. They’d transformed her dining room into a small buffet area, taking her dinette table and turning it into the children’s table. There was an abundance of food, and half of a Turkey left.
Everybody stopped eating and looked up at them.
“Welcome back,” his grandmother said giving him the look that used to scare him as a child. It meant that he was in trouble.
"We tried to wait," Sarah was the first to speak, chewing on her food.
"But yo
u said to start without you," Rashida added. "Did you two lovebirds have fun wherever you went?"
Maya walked further into the house, "Actually we did," she placed her purse down on the counter.
"We volunteered at a shelter," Jesse pulled out an empty chair for his wife.
"Thank you," Maya sat and he gently pushed her in. “It felt great helping make a difference, even if it was for a short time.”
"Why can't you be a gentleman like Jesse?" Rashida faced her husband George.
He shook his head, "Thanks, Jesse."
Jesse sat next to Maya, "That's how I was raised," he stared at his dad and his new girlfriend. He placed his arm around Maya’s shoulder and kissed her temple.
"Why didn't you tell us?" his grandmother asked. He needed to face his fears. Jesse was about to answer, but she continued, "We could've volunteered together as a family." He thought she was asking about him leaving years ago.
He exhaled internally as he looked around the table at everyone sitting here, knowing that each of them had touched his life one way or another. They loved or tolerated him, but they had one thing in common, they were family. "We have so much to be thankful for," he searched the room for Bella. She wasn't at the kids’ table, maybe she was sleeping. "We just wanted to give back a little, maybe next time we can all go as a family."
"That would be nice," his mother-in-law added. "Jesse, it is great having you back. I missed seeing the spark in my daughter's eyes."
"It's back now," Rashida blurted making everyone laugh.
His dad picked up his glass, "To Jesse and Maya," everyone lifted their glasses to toast.
"Here, here..."
His uncle Joshua stared at him, winked, and mouth, “I’m proud of you.”
Maya took a sip of wine, and leaned in, "You're doing great."
He took the chance and have her a peck on the lips. "With you by my side, I can face anything thrown my way."
“Anything…” She took his hand and entwined their fingers together. He studied her wedding band, she never took it off. After all these years, and all the pain he put her through, she was still loyal. Jesse blamed himself for being so weak, but he also understood that he wasn't mentally well when he made that earth shattering decision that could've cost him his family. He caressed her knuckles.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Bella squealed from his mother's arms as she came around the corner. Jesse didn't expect to see his mother. She was smiling as she held little bit. "Look," she held up a stuffed teddy bear. "Nana gave me," she snuggled it in her arms.
"Bella showed me her room," his mom tickled his little girl, making her giggle. He loved hearing that sound, her laughter touched his heart every time. "Nana loves Bella," she kissed her cheek. "Right?"
"Right..." Bella repeated.
"Nana?" Maya repeated.
"Yes, silly Mommy," Bella looked at his mom. "Nana," and then she pointed at Maya's mom, "Grandma." Baby girl studied the room, "Granny," she pointed at Jesse's grandmother. "Grandpa," she glanced at his father-in-law, and then she grinned, showing her pearly whites with a tiny gap just like her mom when she stared at his dad. "Papa!"
His dad beamed as he gazed at Bella. His daughter and his father's bond was evident from the moment he saw them together. He thanked God that Bella and Maya had his dad and sister's support when she didn't have his.
“We didn’t want to confuse her,” Maya’s mother added.
"And who am I?" Sarah asked.
"Auntie S," Bella sang.
"Your favorite auntie," Sarah glanced Rashida's way.
"Wait a minute," Rashida interjected, raising her hand with a smirk. "I know you don't think you're her favorite aunt."
Everybody laughed, and they all continued talking, arguing and eating. He couldn't help but smile, he missed this, Jesse realized looking around. On the streets he didn't let himself think of the what ifs. He lived just to live with no reason, and now he had so much to live for. Maya squeezed his hand. Life was funny sometimes, it takes you down to the lowest of lows to make you better for your highest of highs. Things would never be perfect, but now he knew he would never be alone. If he was weak his wife would be his strength, and that didn't make him less than a man. That made him a very lucky dude.
***
Jesse's arms bulged as he placed them on either side of the kitchen sink caging Maya in. “Do you need help?” he whispered in her ear causing her to shiver. She inhaled his cologne, Jesse was wearing her favorite scent, Euphoria. She was having a hard time keeping herself together when he was around lately. Her core tingled as he got closer to her neck.
“No,” she gasped, holding on to the sink. “My mom and your grandmother cleaned up.”
“Almost everyone is gone,” he kissed the back of her neck, causing goose bumps to crawl up her body. "Thank you for giving me a second chance," he said against her sensitive skin right below her ear. Maya closed her eyes. "Most women would've turned their backs on me."
"I'm not most women," Maya mumbled. "You knew that on our first date."
"I did, I also knew you would be my wife," he nibbled on her earlobe, making her moan. "I'm going to take a cold shower," he whispered, and then inched closer on her ass, allowing her to feel his arousal. Damn, Jesse was rock hard, "And then I'm going to take a nap." Jesse pulled a piece of paper out of his back pocket and placed it on the counter. “I would never hurt you again,” he caressed her ass with his fingers, and smacked it, while rearing back and leaving her panting for more. "Maybe you should join me." He walked out of the kitchen.
Maya dried her hands with the kitchen towel, and picked up the piece of paper. She opened it, and started reading. The document was the results of his lab tests; they were all negative for STDs. He wrote a note at the bottom of the page.
Just in case you had any doubts. It’s always been you. No one could or will ever take your place my love.
She looked around the house noticing that everyone had left for the moment. Most of the family left for the mall for early sales, or they went to visit friends they knew in the area. His mother and Sarah took Bella for the afternoon, and his grandmother and great aunt were knocked out in the guest bedroom.
“Maya, where’s Jesse?” Jack said holding a bag.
“He’s taking a shower, and was going to take a nap,” she looked at him.
“Can you tell him I’m taking Milca to the airport,” his dad stated.
Maya was surprised, “You’re leaving already?”
“Yes,” the lady smiled. “I have to get back to work.” She had an idea why she was really leaving, Jesse wasn’t too accepting of his father’s new girlfriend, and Sarah hardly said two words to her. Milca might have felt out of place, she didn’t blame her for leaving.
“I can go get him,” Maya went to move, but his dad stopped her.
“It’s okay,” Jack said. “He needs his rest.” He placed his hand on the arch of Milca’s back, “I wanted her to meet the kids and grandbaby, and she did.” He grabbed his keys, and opened the door for Milca. “I wish we could’ve spent some time with Bella.”
Maya stared at her father-in-law, Paulette didn’t give the woman a chance to hold Bella. She gave Milca the eye all through the day, and it didn’t help that Jesse and Sarah were ignoring her too.
“You aren’t leaving too?”
“No,” he smirked. “I’m going to spend some time with baby girl.”
Milca stepped forward and gave her a hug, “It was nice meeting you, Maya, tell Jesse I said bye.”
She accepted her embrace, and leaned back. “I will.” Maya needed to talk to Jesse and Sarah about the way they treated Jack’s girlfriend. He’d moved on, and there was nothing wrong with him finding love again.
***
Jesse wrapped a towel around his waist after a long cold shower. Nasty Grind by Adina Howard could be heard coming from the bedroom. Maya loved playing music while they made love. She would move her luscious body to the beat, making their love making so much more powe
rful. Jesse was getting aroused again, thinking of the last time he had sex with his wife. During that dark time in his life, that was one of the only times he felt like he was living, when they’d put all their differences aside and made love on their anniversary. That night they conceived Bella.
Jesse opened the bathroom door, and continued to dry his hair. He threw the towel to the side and Maya was standing in front of him with a red silk robe on.
“Your dad’s girlfriend said bye,” she gazed at him.
“Bye,” he was being sarcastic. His mind was on the beauty standing in front of him.
She turned, twisting the lock on the door, and then turned back around. “You should be nice to Milca. You never know, she might be your step mom some day.”
“Milca is the furthest thing on my mind at the moment.” He swallowed down his nervousness. Maya was stunning standing there with her hair down to her shoulders. Since he’d been back she mostly wore it in a ponytail or bun, and at night she wrapped it up like she normally did. Jesse’s urges he’d washed away just a few minutes ago were back. His manhood jerked as she started to untie the straps to her robe, and the silky material slipped off her shoulders, falling to the ground. His heart thumped against his chest as his rod throbbed in arousal. “Damn,” he whispered making her snicker.
Jesse studied every inch of her delicious body. She had more curves than he remembered, and her breasts were fuller, this he noticed as her nipples hardened under his gaze. He continued his visual assault on his wife down to her stomach, she had a few more stretch marks tracing from her navel down to her shaven pussy. Jesse’s towel tented as his eyes met with hers again. Her brown eyes were filled with desire and love, mirroring his own. He couldn’t find his words. Jesse was celibate for almost three years, and he could feel all the built up pressure about to explode by just looking at her. He felt like a teenage boy about to have sex for the first time.
Jesse's eyes were glued to Maya's. He didn't dare look back down at her beautiful body, if he did he wouldn't be able to hold back. Was she ready? He could tell she was nervous, standing there with the red robe at her feet. Maya tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes like it normally did.