Page 51 of Surrender
I stepped aside and allowed her entry. She looked around at the boxes in the living room. I knew she didn’t know that I was moving because Jessa hadn’t said anything.
“Are you going somewhere?” she asked, turning to face me.
“I’m moving.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re moving away?”
“No. Kachelle and I bought a home. We couldn’t bounce between here and her place forever.”
She looked relieved. “That’s nice. I take it things are going well if you’ve made that big a commitment.”
“Things are going very well. What are you doing here, Mama?”
She nervously rubbed her hands together. She seemed very timid as she walked over to my couch and took a seat. She patted the space beside her, and I reluctantly moved to sit. Taking the plate from me, she place it on the table and grabbed my hands.
“I hate the way things are between us right now, Jacob.”
“Honestly, Ma, things are the way you and Dad made it. I understand that I sprung this marriage on you guys, but that was months ago. There was plenty of time to get used to the fact that this was happening.”
“For you, Jacob. You’ll understand when you have children of your own.”
“When I have children of my own, my support won’t be limited to how I think they should live their lives as grown adults. I get you two want the best for me as far as a partner. I respect that. But you have to respect that Kachelle is the best thing that ever happened to me romantically. I love her, Ma.”
“You… you love her?”
“Yes. And she loves me, too.”
“She does? She’s not just saying it?”
I kissed my teeth. “See, that’s what I’m talking about.”
She raised her hands in mock surrender. “I apologize. I didn’t mean any harm.” She sighed heavily. “You’re really happy?”
“Yes, mother. I’m happy. She makes me happy.”
She was quiet for a moment. “She must be pretty special.”
“She’s everything I prayed for. Maybe we didn’t meet in a traditional sense, but every day, I see that God led us to Arranged Hearts to bring us together. She is the woman I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. Come hell or high water, I’m gonna stand ten toes down behind her, even if that means standing against you and Dad on this.”
“I don’t want to stand in the way anymore. It hurts me not speaking to you over this. I just want you healthy and happy. If she makes you happy… I can accept that.”
“What about Dad? Why isn’t he here with you?”
“I was already out when I decided to stop by. He didn’t know I was coming.” She squeezed my hands again. “I’m sorry, Jacob. You’re my son, and I love you. I may not always agree with yours or Jessa’s choices, but I won’t trying to force my beliefs on you again. I’m willing to get to know your wife if she’s open to it.”
“She’s always been open to it. We’ve been dealing with the same thing. All we want is to be a happy family. We’ve been in our own little bubble for weeks now because we didn’t need that negativity influencing what we are trying to build. If you got to know her, you’d love her as much as I do.”
She smiled softly. “She’s a beautiful girl. I um… If I’m being honest, I saw the way you looked at her at your wedding. I’ve never seen you look at any woman like that. It was like your souls were reconnecting after spending a lifetime apart.”
That was exactly what it felt like. The moment I touched my wife, for the first time, I felt that spark. It was the reason I was so intentional with her. It was the thing that fueled our natural chemistry.
“It’s written all over your face,” my mother said, breaking me from my thoughts.
She cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead.
“I know you’re a hell of a husband.”
“I’m trying my best, Ma. I had a great example of what a husband should be.”