Love And Marriage

Chapter 2: Ordinary People

Once we got to Jesse's parents house, we grabbed the two bottles of wine and hurried to the door. Jesse rang the doorbell.
His father, Marcus opened the door.

"Took you long enough! Come in, how are you Jaleia?" I gave his dad a hug as we stepped into the house.

"I'm doing okay. How was your trip? Jess didn't drive you crazy did he?"

"Eh, he was Aight. You know." He said jokingly.

"What am I chopped liver dad?" Jesse said as he handed the wine off to his dad.

"Hey Jess, you're very pretty, how's that? Come on Jaleia, get something to eat, everyone is in the dining room."

"I swear he loves you more than me." Jesse said, skating his head.

"It makes up for your mother hating me." I replied.

We followed his dad into the dining room where everyone was seated. Jesse's sister Ciara and her husband Xavier, his brother Shaun and his wife Melissa, and his little sister Diana. Everyone was talking and laughing and joking around.

"Look who finally made it!" Jesse's dad yelled to everyone. Everyone greeted us as we got to our seats. Jesse pulled the chair out for me to sit.

"Gee I wish someone would do that for me." Said Melissa, staring at Shaun.

"Bruh, quit being all polite and shit! You're making some of us look bad!" Shaun said to Jesse.

"You give me too much credit! It didn't take me to make you look like shit!" Jesse teased.
We made our plates, and joined the conversation. To my left was Melissa and Shaun, Jesse, who was on my right was sitting next to his dad.

"I just wanted to say," Jesse's Dad said, pausing as we got quiet, "Thank you all for coming out. I'm thankful to see you all and to get to spend time with all my kids. And I mean all, so I include you Jaleia, Melissa, and Xavier. Thank you all for such a great trip. I love you all, and I mean that. I want you all to remain close with each other no matter what. Nothing makes this old man happier than seeing all his kids together, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Now who's ready for dessert?"

We all cheered as Jesse's mom brought out a pan of peach cobbler, with some vanilla ice cream. We took turns passing around the dish, when it got to me Jesse's mom said "Are you sure you need to be eating that? You've been looking a little pudgy lately. "

I glared at her. Jesse put his hand on my knee.

"Please let it go." He whispered in my ear.

"Fine." I said as I passed him the dish. Becuase Jesse and I knew each other as kids, it surprised me when I met his mom as his girlfriend. When we were kids, I had no problems with her but as an adult? When I say that woman has NEVER liked me, I mean that woman has NEVER liked me. It only got worse when we got engaged, she didn't think that Jesse was serious about me until she saw that ring.

Once we finished dessert we all moved to the living room. We played couples Charades at first, but it got entirely too competitive. Jesse and Shaun started arguing over the rules and killed the game. When they play on the same team it's fine but separately? It gets wild.

"Hey Jay!" I turned to find the voice it was Jesse's little sister Diana. She was 16 now and sometimes I couldn't believe that she was the same little girl who loved princesses and dressing up. She looked like Jesse, with the most beautiful dark brown skin and long box braids. I've known her for so long it feels like she's my actual little sister.

"Hey D, what's good?" I said as I hugged her.

"I'm okay."

"You bored yet?"