Page 64 of His Forever

“Hmm, maybe an hour or so ago? Paulie said you and Zeus had something you needed to talk about, so we made ourselves at home,” he said.

“Hi, Mother,” she softly said, unable to tear her eyes away from her mother. Since her revelation a few weeks back, she had begun to change for the better.

“Hi Marleigh. You look…beautiful,” her mother softly said.

“Thank you. Apparently, love does that to a person.”

“Love?”

“Yeah, love. Not sure why I waited so long to realize how I felt. But now Zeus knows it all and he still loves me,” she quietly told her mother.

“So he knows about…”

“Yeah, he knows that I might not be able to have kids. And it’s okay.”

“I’m happy you’ve found each other, Marleigh. I felt so guilty then, too.”

“Why? You didn’t give me cancer, Mother, so why feel guilty?”

“Because I knew that to save your life, we might keep you from being a mom.”

“Zeus said that if we can’t have kids, there are other ways to be parents.”

“Yes and I think the two of you would be good ones,” her mother stated. “Now, can you introduce me to his mother?”

Taking her mother’s arm, she led her over to María-Luisa. “Mamá? I would like you to meet my mother, Gracelyn Cross.”

María-Luisa, having gotten the story from Zeus, turned to the other woman and embraced her. “We love your daughter, Gracelyn. She has been the best thing to happen to my Jesús.”

Startled, the other woman tried to pull back but gave up when María-Luisa leaned in closer and said, “And you, my dear, what you endured is something no woman should ever go through. I have been there and if you need a listening ear, I will be there, si?”

Zeus, catching what his mother had said, glanced with wide eyes at his mother. “Mamá?”

“Si, Jesús. Your Papa helped me tremendously, as did my Mamá and sisters. Now, enough of this sadness, it is a time to celebrate our country’s independence, si?”

***

Belly full, she sat against Zeus and laughed at the antics of his nieces and nephews. When he leaned in and whispered, “Mi siempre hermosa, will you stay the night with me?” she shivered, feeling the desire course through her.

“Yes. Daddy and Mother can stay at my place for the weekend,” she replied. “And Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Sam are at Paulie and Gray’s.”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s go home,” he said, standing up and pulling her with him. “Mamá? We will see you all in the morning, si?”

His mother gave him a knowing look before she nodded. “Be here for breakfast, Jesús, or I will send Carlos.”

He laughed as he walked Marleigh over to her parents. “Good night, Princess,” her dad said.

“Good night, Daddy. Good night, Mother. Just so you know, the cats will probably want a can of wet food.”

“We’ve got them, Princess. Go enjoy your evening.”

***

As they walked onto the porch, he scooped her up and carried her through the door bridal style. Setting her down when they reached the back porch, he looked at her and asked, “Do you want to get in the hot tub?”

“That sounds wonderful,” she said.

He pulled the cover off the hot tub before he helped her in, pulling her onto his lap so she straddled him. Leaning down, he cupped her face in his hands and said, “I want you again, mi siempre hermosa. Here and now.”

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