ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON TEN

Episode 56

Jenessa rested her head lightly against the broad nude shoulder of her fiancé Nicholas and sighed with pleasure as they both basked in the aftermath of what she had been taught as a young woman was " sinful ". It was sinful to have sex outside of marriage. That was what her parents and the church had taught her. It was why she had dealt with so much inner mental anguish after the fight with Marvin so long ago that lead to that one drunken moment with his older brother Panther. She had confessed afterwards to  Marvin and the man had been so goodhearted he had forgave her and his brother but she never forgave herself. Then she had discovered she was pregnant with DuBuis soon after. She prayed that Marvin was the father but she never really knew. DuBuis looked like Marvin but he took after his uncle in some ways as well. She just never knew but Marvin accepted and loved that boy as his own , they had married and went on with their lives until Marvin had been killed. She was older now and less prone to guilt for her flaws and weaknesses. She still felt sinful with Nicholas but it also felt so good being in his arms. After being married to two strong Black men she never dreamed she would have ever fallen so deeply in love with a White man , especially not a White man like this one , but in love she was. Sometimes she wondered if she was dreaming and if she was when would it end. She hoped it never ended. She was glad DuBuis was fine with the engagement and not like he was with Sam. He was older now , forty ,  not a teenager , and more mature. Now it was Faith being her usual suspicious self about Nicholas. It was being a policewoman she knew that made Faith like that. Every cop she had ever come across was the same way. They suspected everyone of every wrong. Even their own families. Jenessa could not imagine living that way. She wished that her daughter would have listened to her like DuBuis always did and went to school to be a teacher. She was so smart really. Faith was wasted on the police. She also wished Faith would find a decent Godfearing woman and not people like that Pamela Perkins who had turned out wrong on so many levels. And , from what she heard from her son that Melinda , God rest her , had not been right either. Faith seemed to be drifting in her life. And the drinking ! Just like Marvin's other brother Edward. The drinking was why he had died in the fire at the cabin so many years ago. His drunken behind had stumbled and knocked into a candle from what she had heard. Maybe drinking ran in the family. Then again maybe DuBuis' bipolar ran in it  too , she sighed inwardly. She wondered what Sylvia would think of it ; her engagement and Nicholas. She was disappointed with her older daughter as well. She did not approve of Sylvia kicking out Luci the way she had when she found out the son she had gave birth to was really a transgender girl. Yes. It had been shocking. Just like when she had discovered that DuBuis was gay and again with Faith coming out as lesbian. She wished her two children were different because she didn't want their lives to be as difficult but she never dreamed of turning her back on either of them. They were hers and they would always be hers. Sylvia was wrong and Luci was better off with DuBuis and Spencer but maybe the child could find a healing ground with her mother this Christmas. Hopefully Christmas dinner at Nigel Norland's restaurant would turn out better than that terrible dinner at poor Glory and Andrew's house. Nigel. Her future stepson.

" I'm glad you found your son , Nicholas , " she whispered softly in his arms. 

Nicholas pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her tangled hair. " So am I. He seems to be such a good man. We have a bit in common as well. And , the family he is making for himself ;  his husband , the children , not the traditional one , I know , but it appears to work. I hope my other sons embrace him with loving arms. Max , I think there shall be no issue but..... Alexi. " He sighed. " Alexi has never been one to share. Anything. He just barely tolerates Max but Max is a gentle soul whom nobody could ever hate. Your Spencer reminds me of Max. Well not as brainy." He laughed faintly. " I hope this baby leads to happiness for your son and his man. And I hope...."

Jenessa turned her head to look at him with questioning dark eyes. " You hope what ? "

Nicholas seemed uncertain in that moment. Which was not like him in the slightest. " I hope that our future will be blessed with as much joy and happiness. And ..... I hope it will be here in the , how you say , DMV area. "

Jenessa smiled. " You want to stay here. "

" For the time being. Yes. I want to be near my son. And this family he regards as his. My son in law. My step grandchildren. And I know you want to be close to your own children once more. Your grandchild. Grandchildren with baby Miracle included. We can still keep your condo and my house in Florida. And sometime I would need to fly to London for business at the home office. I hope you will come with me on those occasions. We can remain here at the hotel until we marry in , maybe , early next year and then buy a home here. I hear Evergreen Acres is a nice neighborhood to live. "

" Sounds like an adventure to me. I'm starting to love adventures so why not , Nicholas , darling?"

Nicholas said tenderly , " Why not indeed , my precious jewel ? " Then his eyes twinkled at her. "You feeling up for another round ? "

" Oh , yes. Definitely yes. "