by Ancelli
“You’re beautiful.”
She gave him a timid smile, like she didn’t believe him.
Javier patted the bed, and she joined them. “Our little family.”
Jazmine got into the bed besides them, and she snuggled up close. “It’s time to tell my family.”
“Everything?”
She took Nicky out his arms. “That I’m married, and we share a beautiful son.”
“I’ll be right beside you.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
They snuck in after the meet and greet. Javier, Jazmine, and Nicolas sat in the back pew at her parents’ church. Javier had the baby with one arm and held onto Jazmine’s hand with the other. She pointed out her parents and siblings.
Javier studied Jazmine’s family; her father, Paul, was wiping his baldhead with a rag as her mother, Lauren, fanned herself with a flier. He assumed the woman next to them was her sister, Jewel. She was a bit thinner and wore braids, but her features definitely favored Jazmine’s.
He leaned into her. “You look like your sister.”
She smiled. “Yes, that’s Jewel.”
“Are you okay?” He kissed her temple.
“Yes.” Her sister turned around, scanning the room and froze when she saw them; Jewel grinned, and Jazmine placed her index finger to her lips.
Jewel stared at Javier, gave her a thumb up, and then turned back around.
Jazmine’s cell beeped and she dug into her purse, pulling it out.
“Were in church, put that away,” Javier joked.
She read the text and showed it to him. “He is handsome, well done. Is that his baby?”
“I’ll talk to you later, I’m coming over after church. And yes, he is, and he’s all mine, lol.” Jazmine messaged her sister back.
“I’m all yours, too.” He squeezed her hand.
***
The service started and everyone stood and began to sing. “How great thou art.” She was surprised that Javier knew the words. He was so into the songs, singing loudly, that Nicolas clapped and made babbling noises along with him.
That’s when Jazmine realized that what her dad said was right. There’s a reason for everything; we might not see it in the moment but eventually it will all make sense. God sent her a good man, someone who loved her without asking for anything in return. Javier was what she’d prayed for, and he was sent to her when she’d hit rock bottom. Tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back.
The sermon was about letting go of the past.
Javier shifted forward. Nicky lay against her shoulder fast asleep. “Baby, let’s go, before it’s over.” She stood up, and he followed behind her.
***
“Are you ready for this?” Javier parked behind the cars in her parents’ driveway.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” She looked back at a smiling Nicky. “Are you ready to meet your grumpy grandma?”
Nicolas banged his hand on his car seat, making them laugh. “Pa … da…”
“Yep, he’s ready.” Javier opened the door and stepping out. He strolled over to the passenger side, opened Jazmine’s door, and then took Nicky out his seat.
They walked to the front door.
“Here goes.” Jazmine rang the doorbell with her beautiful, new family behind her.
Jewel slowly opened the door with a huge grin on her face. “Well hello, sis. Come in.”
They walked into the spacious home. Nicky looked around and gripped onto Javier’s shirt. Everyone in the living room stopped what they were doing and stared.
Her dad observed them, looking from her to her son, she could tell he knew the baby was hers. Nicky looked like her, except for his eyes and skin tone.
“Hi family.” Jazmine waved, and then she took Javier’s hand in hers. “This is…” She took a deep breath.
Javier stepped up and introduced himself. “Hi everyone, I’m Javier, and this is my son, Nicolas.”
Jewel was the first to speak. “Hi Javier, I’m her sister, Jewel.” She moved around the room, introducing everybody. “These are our parents, Paul and Lauren, our oldest sister, Janice, and her husband, Bill, their kids, and our brother, Michael, and his wife, Kanisha, and their daughter.”
Everyone said hi back, but her mom just glared at him. “You’re a single father?” she crossed her arms over her chest.
Javier cleared his throat. “No, ma’am.”
“No…” She frowned. “Then you’re married?”
“Mom, stop questioning him, he’s Jazmine’s guest,” Janice said, holding a baby of her own. “This is my daughter, Angelic.”
Javier smiled. “Hi Angelic.” He touched her fingers. Nicky just stared at the other baby, grinning to show his four teeth.
Her mom gave him a dirty look. “You didn’t answer my question. Are you married?”
“Mom!” Jewel arched her brow.
~~~
Javier didn’t answer, he waited for Jazmine to reply, but she didn’t, she just stared at her mom. Her eyes widened at her mother’s rudeness.
“What’s the meaning of this Jazmine?” Her mother took long strides and stood in front of her. “You were dating Malcolm, he loves you. Is this man the reason you turned your back on him?” Her mom raised her voice. “Stop gazing at me and answer.”
“Lauren, leave the child alone.” Her dad turned to Javier. “May I hold him?”
Nicolas looked at his grandfather and scrunched his face, about to cry, when Javier said, “it’s okay Nicky, he won’t hurt you.” He pecked his cheek.
Her father gently took him in his arms and kissed his head. His eyes shined. “Jazmine…” Her dad turned to her.
“Yes, dad.” Jazmine watched her father.
“I knew something was different when you left town, you were gaining weight, but I thought it was stress.” Her dad ogled his grandson.
Her mother and siblings were quiet, listening closely to what her dad was saying. He knew the truth, no turning back.
“Is this my grandson?” He observed her.
Everyone’s face showed surprise, their jaws dropped and Jewel made a strangled sound, covering her mouth with her hand, waiting for her answer.
“Paul, what are you talking about?” her mom snapped.
“Lauren, look at this baby. Who does he remind you of?” Her dad changed the baby’s position so she could see him.
Her mother covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh God, Jazmine!” she barked.
Jazmine lowered her eyes to the floor, and then stared at her family. “Yes, he’s my son.”
“Is that the reason you left?” Her brother Michael asked, and then turned to face Javier, his nose flaring as he rapidly marched in front of him. “You bastard! You knocked up my sister.”
Javier was here for her, he would be her safety net. If he needed to take what her family threw at him, he would; if he had to be the bad guy, then so be it. He circled his hand around her wrist and stared back at her family members. Damn, they were pissed, and he understood why. They thought a man they never met impregnated their daughter, and they didn’t know anything about it. She came back home and never mentioned a grandbaby. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this.”
“You’re sorry!” her mom yelled. “Get out of my house, now!”
Nicky began crying. Javier stalked up to Paul and took him. He nodded to the people watching him and started slowly walking toward the door.
“Javier, don’t leave.” Jazmine grabbed his hand. “My husband isn’t to blame.”
“Your husband,” her dad said.
“What!” her mom roared.
“Yes, I came here to tell you, mother, that I finally gave you what you wanted, a grandbaby.” She wiped her tears. “Your first grandson.” She directed her attention to her mom. “I lost myself for a little while, and I didn’t think I could be anyone’s mother, but Javier helped me see that I can be.”
Javier gripped her fingers.
She squeezed his hand. “Dad, he is t
he man you’ve been praying for me to find. He is a God fearing man, who loves me like no one has, and I love him. If you want him to leave, then I’ll be leaving right behind him.”
“How could you just leave your child with him?” Her mother pointed at Javier. “I raised you better than this. What kind of woman just up and leaves her child?” Lauren lashed out, and Jazmine’s tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Don’t cry now, it’s too late for that shit. You could’ve come to me, instead of dropping him off with a man that you don’t even know.” Her mom’s shoulders heaved as she panted out the words.
Javier gave Jazmine their son and eased her away from her mother. “Mrs. O’Neal, I know you’re in shock, but I will not allow you to attack Jazmine. She did what she thought was right at the time. He is my son, so she didn’t leave him with a stranger.”
“I don’t care what you say, she’s a disappointment.” Her mom pointed at her.
Javier smirked. “Really, because I see a beautiful, strong, intelligent, funny, loving, and educated woman who loves her son. I’m proud of the woman you raised, but for some reason you don’t see it. She’s amazing.”
“Amazing. Is that what you told her before you took her to bed,” she howled at him.
“Mother!” Janice handed her baby over to her husband. “They’re married.”
“Lauren,” her dad chimed in, and then twisted to look at Javier. “Son, put yourself in our place. We didn’t even know she was seeing you, and even less that she was married,” her dad said, speaking calmly. “I’m not one to judge, but we didn’t expect this from our daughter.”
Javier turned his attention to her dad. “Sir, no disrespect, but there must be a reason she couldn’t come to you.”
“And why was that?” her mom asked angrily.
Jazmine wiped her tears. “You!”
“Me! All I’ve ever wanted was the best for you,” her mother spat.
Jazmine handed Nicky back to Javier.
“You’ve always made me feel like less, mother, you always compared me to Janice and Michael—that I should be more like them. I got the best grades, graduated with honors, and that still wasn’t enough!”
“You’re enough Jazz,” Javier said, he didn’t like where this was going, the inadequacy of how Lauren made her feel. He never knew she held onto the negative emotions when she was always positive around him. Now he understood why she couldn’t tell them what really happened, her mother.
“Jazmine I didn’t know that’s how you felt. We’ve always been proud of you,” her dad’s voice softened. “I love you, sweetie.”
Her mother remained silent.
“I love you too, dad. I made a bad choice, but I made it better,” she cried.
Jewel strolled up, and then hugged her. “I’m so sorry Jazmine. Why didn’t you tell me?” She backed up, holding her hand. “Why, did you do this alone?”
~~~
“I wasn’t alone.” Jazmine looked over at Javier. “I was ashamed, and I didn’t want to see the disappointment in your eyes, that’s why I left.”
“But Jazmine, you’re a grown ass woman,” her sister Janice pitched in. “That’s not like you, you would never turn your back on your own baby, no matter what.”
“I was willing to give him up because I was afraid of hurting him.” Jazmine stared at her baby.
“Why would you think you would hurt him?” Janice asked her concern apparent.
“Sweetie, you would never hurt your son,” her dad said. “Is there more you’re not telling us?”
“I wasn’t ready,” Jazmine said above a whisper.
“There’s more to this story, but I’ll leave it alone.” Janice wrapped her arms around Jazmine. “I’m happy you realized you’re ready.” She kissed her cheeks. “Don’t ever pull this shit again.”
“Welcome to our family.” Janice hugged Javier. “And thank you for taking care of my sister when she was pregnant with the baby.”
“I apologize for accusing you.” Michael extended his hand.
Javier shook his hand. “No worries; if she was my sister, I probably would’ve reacted worse.”
“When did you get married?” Bill, Janice’s husband, asked.
“Next month will make a year,” Javier answered.
“A year!” Jewel squealed. “You’ve been married to this hunk for a year and kept it to yourself.”
“Okay now, leave her alone,” her dad voiced, and then twisted toward Javier. “Son, please forgive my family for our rudeness. You’re not to blame for what happened.”
Her mom was still in shock, wiping the sweat of her forehead, looking from her to Javier. She stepped forward, and Javier took a step back, not knowing what Lauren was going do. “I would never hurt him.” She clutched Nicolas’ hands in hers and kissed them. “I already love you.” She rolled her eyes at Jazmine and marched out of the house.
“This is going to take some time to adjust.” Her dad came up to Javier, and then gently took Nicky. “I’m your grandpa.” He went in the direction her mom went.
~~~
Javier stared at her dad as he exited the home. Michael came up to him. “Don’t worry about your son.”
“I’m not worried about Nicky, it’s your mother I’m worried about.” Javier went to move, but Jewel stopped him.
“She’s mad. Dad is the only person that will be able to get through to her,” Jewel said. “And Nicolas will make it easier. Please, stay for lunch. I would love to get to know my new brother-in-law,” she said, walking to the kitchen.
Most of her family strolled into the dining room, speaking amongst themselves.
Javier cupped Jazmine’s face. “Are you okay?” He wiped her tears with his fingers.
“Yes. Sorry for the way they treated you.” She placed her hands on his.
“They love you, any parent would react the way they did.”
Jazmine got on her tiptoes and gave him a feather-light kiss. “Thank you for standing by me.”
“I will always be by your side.”
Jewel came back into the living room. “Save that for later. We’re waiting for you guys to eat. Hurry up.”
Jazmine grabbed Javier’s hand, and they entered the dining room.
Her dad joined them for lunch, but her mother didn’t. He said she wanted to spend some time with her new grandson alone, but she never showed her face again, not even when the left. Jazmine knew her mother would have a hard time forgiving her, but she knew she could always count on her father.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Happy anniversary, sweetie,” Jazmine’s dad’s voice flowed through her phone.
“Thanks, daddy.” She’d taken longer than anticipated to reply as Javier brushed his mouth against the side of her neck. “Dad, I have to go. I love you.”
“I love you, too, and give my grandson a big kiss.”
“I will.” She pressed the END button. “Javy, stop it.” She bumped him back. “You’re going mess up my make-up.”
He watched her through a heated gaze. She knew she looked good. Her hair was styled in tight curls, and she wore a red, sheer blouse coupled with tight, black jeans. Her six inch red pumps hurt her feet, but she wanted to look good for her man. She smiled, I’m representing.
They walked out of the bedroom. The babysitter was due any minute now.
“I can’t believe you convinced me to go to a karaoke bar.” He sat on the living room couch.
Javier was handsome, his washed out jeans and a white buttoned down shirt displayed the hard muscles of his thighs and shoulders. He’d brushed his hair into a messy style. He exuded an air of sexy confidence like one of those models in the GQ magazine.
“You said we could do anything I wanted to.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I feel like singing.”
He leaned forward on his elbows. “You can sing into my mic anytime.”
Jazmine chuckled. “Stop being so nasty.”
Javier stood and strolled over to her, placing his hand in her bac
k jean pocket and yanking her against him. “You love it when I talk dirty.”
The doorbell chimed.
Jazmine smacked his hand away, and then sauntered to the front door, tugging it open. Her breath caught for a moment. Damn, a tall, muscular, brown haired man was standing there. He was gorgeous, looking down at her through clear, hazel eyes, and all she could do was look back at him.
A beautiful teenage girl stood next to him. She must’ve been his daughter. Her skin was the color of caramel, and she had the same eyes. “Hi Mrs. Martinez, I’m Alanie,” the girl said, pulling her long, curly brown hair up in a ponytail.
Javy cleared his throat. “Jazmine, this is Commander Wood. His daughter babysits for me.”
“It’s Jeremy.” He extended his hand. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Javier placed his arm around her waist as she took his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” She released his palm.
“Excuse me, where’s cookie monster?” Alanie peered into the house.
“He’s sleeping.” Jazmine opened the door wider to allow Alanie in. “He might sleep through the night.”
The teen entered their home.
“Sir, thanks for bringing her by,” Javier said.
“Javier, it’s Jeremy when we’re not on base.”
“It’s a habit. Are you going to Peter’s bachelor party?”
Jazmine placed her hand on her hip. “What bachelor party?”
Jeremy chuckled. “Oops, didn’t clear it with the wife?”
“I’m just kidding.” She smiled.
“I’ll bring her home, and if we get back too late, I’ll drop her off in the morning, if that’s okay?”
“You can keep her,” Jeremy said, ambling down the driveway. He stopped and shook his head. “I take that back, Malanie would kill me. See you next week.”