Page 79 of Surrender

“Can I have everyone’s attention?”

The room quieted down, and everyone turned to look at me.

“I just want to say that I am grateful for each of you here. We’ve come a long way since our first encounter.”

“Amen to that,” Mr. Lewis said with a grin. “Neither of you talk back as much.”

I chuckled. “Make no mistake, I’ll forever talk back over my wife.”

Jessa and Myra snapped their fingers.

“Period!” Jess chanted.

I continued. “Anyway, I’m happy to see the love grown not only between Kachelle and I, but amongst you all as well. You are a very big part of who we are, and we don’t take that for granted.” I reached for my wife’s hand. “Especially now.”

Puzzled looks crossed everyone’s faces.

“Kachelle and I have something to share with you all.”

Myra’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Jessa’s hand. I could tell she was about to burst at the seams. Kachelle stood to her feet. Smoothing her hands over her dress, she cupped her baby bump.

“We’re having a baby.”

The room erupted with cheers. Both of our mothers shot up out of their seats and rushed over to her. My father and Mr. Lewis grinned and hugged each other before coming to join in on the hugs.

“How far along are you!” Mrs. Lewis exclaimed.

“Eighteen weeks,” Kay answered.

“You didn’t waste any time, Jake!” Jessa said, playfully slapping my arm.

“Santorini caught up with y’all,” Myra added.

Kachelle laughed. “It really did. That trip was magical. We know it’s soon?—”

My mother waved her hand. “Soon or not, this baby is a blessing.” She reached out and touched Kay’s belly. “I’m gonna be a grandma!”

It seemed like the realization hit her and Mrs. Lewis simultaneously because both of them started crying. While Jessa and Myra comforted them, our fathers embraced us both.

“I’m so happy for you both,” Dad said, draping an arm around me. “My boy is gonna be a father. You’ll be great, son.”

“I’m just happy I’m still here to witness this,” Mr. Lewis said. “That heart attack could have taken me out.” He patted my shoulder. “You told me my work here wasn’t done. I guess becoming a grandpa was tied in with that.”

I smiled. “Of course it was. We need you here, old man. You all have to teach our baby everything we can’t. It takes a village to raise a child. We wouldn’t pick any other family to bring this baby into.”

It was ironic that the same people who were so against this union were the very people who supported us most now. An unconventional love story had brought us together, but it was unconditional love that would keep us together.

KACHELLE

I couldn’t help but admire myself in my wedding dress. My father insisted on paying for this whole wedding. Jacob offered to put in, but he was adamant about giving me away the right way this time. I got the experience I didn’t have the first time with my mom and Ebony.

We were having a small ceremony with just our closest friends and family right in our back yard.

Somya Tripp of Elite Glamour did an amazing job of transforming our back yard into a romantic oasis for the ceremony. I’d been up since early this morning, peeking out of our bedroom window to watch the process. Our colors were cream and nude. The only pops of color were the red, pink, and white flowers on the tables we would be eating at and the same colored flowers strategically placed for decor.

Once again, Jessa was Jacob’s best man while my sister’s husband served as a groomsman. Ebony was my matron of honor and Myra was my maid of honor. Barkly and Pawly were our ring bearers and it took alot of training to get them to act right and walk down the aisle. My mother and Mrs. Mitchell were cooking all the food, while Mr. Mitchell was on grandpa duty with our baby girl, Jayelle Simone Mitchell.

She was only four months old and the light of our life. Baby girl was the spitting image of her daddy, and I was so in love with both of them. Watching Jacob be a father was the most beautiful thing I’d ever witness. He sang to her, horribly, but she loved it. He read her bedtime stories. I never had to get up in the middle of the night with her because the first whimper had him on his feet.

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