The Love That Grew

Ch. 39 OTF 🫶🏾

Three years later

Jashae's legs moved faster as she tried to keep up with Amara, who was a bundle of boundless energy today. Her little girl was all over the place, darting from one tank to another, her tiny, bubble gum pink nails catching the light each time she pressed her hands against the glass.

"Look, Mommy! Fishies!" Amara squealed, pointing at a group of brightly colored clownfish darting around in their tank.

Jashae laughed, her heart swelling as she saw how delighted her daughter was. She'd been running on fumes lately with Amara's unpredictable sleep schedule, but on these special mommy-and-daughter days, all of that seemed to melt away. Watching Amara's eyes light up with every new discovery made it all worth it.

Earlier at the nail salon, she'd let Amara choose her color despite Xavier's last-minute plea for clear polish. But as soon as Amara spotted the vibrant pink labeled "Bubble Yum," her little face lit up, and Jashae couldn't resist. She knew Xavier would have something to say about it later, but she couldn't imagine ruining  Amara's joy over a simple manicure.

As Amara pressed her nose up against the glass of yet another tank, babbling happily about the "silly octopus" inside, Jashae felt her own excitement rise. She leaned down, wrapping an arm around her little girl's shoulders, and whispered, "Want to see if we can find some starfish next?"

Amara's eyes went wide with excitement, and before Jashae knew it, she was off again, pink nails flashing as she waved her mom over to follow.

As Jashae finally reached her little girl, she scooped up Amara's hand, chuckling as she exchanged more polite "excuse me's" with the crowd. The sight of Amara waving excitedly at the penguins made the chase worth it. She knelt down, giving her daughter a gentle reminder, "Mara, baby, you can't just run off, okay? Remember, you have to stay close to Mommy."

Amara gave a small "okay" and took Jashae's hand, her eyes instantly drawn to the large, sparkling ring on her mother's finger. Jashae couldn't help but smile. Xavier had proposed just before Amara's first birthday, and they'd married before she turned two. Now, being "Mrs. Rice" felt like such a natural part of who she was, even though their relationship hadn't followed the typical path.

Their journey had been filled with love, and Xavier's protectiveness only seemed to deepen as the years went on. He'd wanted nothing more than to provide for her and Amara, even offering to support her career as a songwriter however she saw fit. But from the beginning, Jashae wanted to prove herself as a partner, not just someone riding along. She'd taken on countless new artists, throwing herself into her passion for music. Her work sometimes meant odd hours and back-to-back studio sessions, but music was her dream, her own little world she wanted to keep building.

Xavier struggled with it initially, not quite understanding why she felt such a need to push herself. "Babe, I've got more than enough for our family. I don't want you running yourself down." He'd tried to tell her over and over. But she wanted him to know that she was there for him, not his status or bank account.

In the end, a few couples' therapy sessions had opened up the conversation. He began to see that her drive came from a place of deep love and a desire to show she was truly committed. And with time, he'd found the words she needed to hear: "You're not competing with anyone. You're my prize, my end game, and so much more."

He had always seen her value, even if she didn't always see it herself. Xavier had reassured her time and time again that she wasn't just his wife—she was his partner, the one he was building a future with, and no one from his past would ever compare. He loved her for who she was, and her place in his life was already secured.