CHAPTER 45 PART 3: Things Change
Jermaine
It was the second day of the weekend with our families visiting and I’d asked Tess’ mom if I could take her to lunch and we could just talk. Since dinner the night we told them, Tess had been walking on eggshells avoiding her mother so I was tryna do whatever I could to fix the problem. My mom was gon go sightseeing with Zach and Allison and Tess was going shopping with her sister or something and we was all gon meet up for dinner at Junior’s. I’d taken mama Joyce to Gotham Bar and Grill though for lunch, I thought she’d enjoy it. The whole way here was filled with small talk and stuff but we hadn’t really discussed Tess or the baby just yet. I also knew that I had to talk to her mom and get her to feel me out, I knew I’d lost her trust and it had to be the main reason why she wasn’t excited about this whole baby thing or whatever.
“Aight so I’ll just come out and say it,” I cleared my throat and she looked at me. “the main reason I asked you to come to lunch is so we could talk about a few things, and I know that in your eyes it may seem as though I haven’t always had Tess’ best interest at heart and I know that I hurt her in the past—which lead to losing your trust,”
She looked at me nodding. “that’s true, you did hurt her really bad…”
“I—I’m in love with your daughter Miss Joyce—I’d do anything in my power to make sure that she’s happy and I can assure you that I’m going to take care of her and our unborn child.” I told her and she sipped her iced tea before nodding once more.
“I don’t want Tess to be stuck—at this point she’s given up her career for you… If you leave her she’s raising this baby on her own—You see what’s happened with her friend Aleisha? I don’t want that to be my baby…” she said I could feel where she was coming from. I got it 100%. She was just a concerned mother, and the way she reacted to the news was just out of concern, although Tess didn’t quite get that she was obviously hurt by what her mom said.
“I understand that, and I can swear to you that will never be the case.” I assured her.
“I’ll have to see by your actions then, Jermaine—“
“Of course,” I nodded.
“Do you see yourself marrying her anytime soon?” She then asked, I knew this was a huge deal to her. That was the main thing Tess had been worried about.
“Tess and I have talked about it,” I began, “but we’re not a point where we’re ready to get married.” She raised an eyebrow at me. I’m pretty sure she didn’t know where I was going with this. She looked like she coulda smacked me in that moment if I’m bein honest. “Wait hear me out—I watched my mom go through two marriages where she was treated badly— I feel like if I ever marry a woman, divorce should never be an option… Tess and I kinda feel like why should we fix something that aint broken, you know? I definitely know I want to marry her, and when the time is right I will come to you and ask for your blessing and do it the proper way. I don’t want to rush such an important thing just because we’re having a child.”
“Well when you put it like that…” she said and I felt we’d come to an understanding, “I’m glad we had this talk—I really am,” she smiled softly. “You take care of my baby or else you’ll have me to deal with you hear me?” she joked and I nodded.
“Yes ma’am,”
After the talk we ate and chilled a little bit before heading back home. When we got there my moms had already come back with Zach and Allison so all of us were just kicking it in the family room before heading out to dinner.
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Tess
I went to eat with my little sister before we went to the mall to shop. I was almost 2 months pregnant so barely showing—but I was already starting to wear baggy shit just to be safe. We were trying to keep it under wraps until there was no possible way to hide it anymore. We’d been shopping for a couple hours and Ari decided to get a fake nose piercing just to see how my mom would respond—she was tryna get her ass whooped out here… this girl plays too much.
“Yoooo so this means J. Cole’s kid is gonna be my niece or nephew I’m telling everyone at school—“ She said as we were looking through some racks at shirts.
“You better shut the fuck up with that shit—are you dumb??” I smacked her arm.
“Chilllll fam, I’m playing no need to get violent,” she laughed out loud. “I only sent a few snapchats with him that’s it.” “Kids are dumb… I don’t need them screen shotting that kinda shit—“ I told her shaking my head, “don’t gloat about that—“
“I’m not gloating though,” she mumbled, “like it’s just cool that my sisters boyfriends J. Cole that’s all—“ I sucked my teeth at her, “it’s even cooler that I’m your sister don’t even get it twisted, Jermaine’s not all that.”
“wOOOOoULd you believe ME IF I SaId I’m in lOooOOVE—“ she started singing and I began walking away from her she’s so embarrassing. She followed me through the store laughing out loud.
“If you don’t shut the hell up—I’m putting down all the shit I picked you up I swear,” “Okay okay okay I’ll act right… jeez,” she said still laughing.
I paid for the clothes and we headed out to get some frozen yogurt. I missed being able to kick it with my mini me. She was gearing up to go to college next year and I was hoping she’d come to New York for college and hopefully my mom would follow too. But that was probably a long shot if I’m being honest.
“So you ready for this kid or nah?” she asked me as we ate our froyo.
“Why are you interviewing me right now?” I laughed, licking my plastic spoon. “I dunno though, I’ll see—mom wasn’t too happy bout it so that kinda made me feel shitty.”
“You know how she is though, she’ll come around… she always does,” she said knowingly. She was right, but it didn’t exactly help me feel much better.
Afterwards we hit up a few more stores before heading back to the car so we could meet everyone else for dinner. Surprisingly, Jermaine had made sure they were all on time and they were at Junior’s before us. They were seated in the booth in the back closed off and we came in and joined them. I hugged everyone at the table in turn before proceeding to sit in the free spot next to Jermaine. He looked really happy—I ain’t seen him smile like this in a minute.
“Hey bubba,” I said softly and pecked him.
“Wassup girl? What did you buy me?” he said smirking.
“Nothing. She’s rude,” Ari said sitting opposite us. Our moms, Zach and Allison were further down the table in their own conversation.
“I thought as much,” Jermaine sucked his teeth before getting a good look at me and up downing me. “Whatchu wearing heels for Tess?”
“Don’t hate on my booties they’re cute—“ I frowned.
“You shouldn’t be wearing heels in your state Tessie,” Mama Kay chimed in.
“Yeah your feet are gonna swell up, you gotta take care of yourself and your comfort for my grandkid please—“ my mom said… I was gonna have to talk to Jermaine later about the talk he had with her. “Oh my go—“ I muttered under my breathe, “I’m baaaaarely 6 weeks though,” “Still baby,” Jermaine wrapped his arm around my shoulder, “that’s a habit you gotta break… just hold out on the heels until my son’s here.” He smirked. “It’s not a boy… she’s gonna be my mini me,” I stuck my tongue out at him. “I say it’s a girl too to be honest,” Zach said.
“Same here,” my sister added.
“Let’s put money on it bruh,” Jermaine said to Zach grinning at him.
“Yeah I’m down let’s do it,” he laughed.
“No no no one’s putting money down on my grandson,” Mama Kay said laughing.
Dinner was full of great vibes and family. I was content and lowkey kinda sad that they were leaving soon. With this new chapter in boyh mine and Jermaine’s life having family around was beginning to get more important. That and our lives when this baby comes was all shit that we needed to start figuring out.
