I get up making my way to her as Jasmine places the laptop down on the coffee table. I place my arms around her as she places her hands on my chest looking into each other’s eyes.
“ Babe I know you will because you would stop the world if I asked.” I tell her getting a smile and nod
“ Anything to make you happy my love.” Jasmine says as I lean down to kiss her lips deeply
After I break the kiss I take her back to the couch in the places we sat only minutes before. She grabbed her laptop so she could show me her background which consisted of us all and the boys. It was the same picture I had as mine on my phone. Jasmine giggled telling me she snagged my phone to get the picture as she wanted it. I chuckled knowing she was a sneaky one, but loving in every way. The boys Lil Greg and Dakota were hungry around 9 p.m. so I helped Jasmine and Diamond to our room, but I got at the head of the bed with Jasmine laying up against me. Faye brought in a crying Greg handing him to Jasmine who bared her breast taking her shirt completely off before.
Diamond did the same as she laid against Hannah who handed Dakota to her girlfriend before getting on the bed like I was. We talk with Faye sitting on the side of the bed Jasmine and I are on. After about a hour both boys are fed and changed as we place them in their crib they share. Hannah and Faye leave for their room as Jasmine, Diamond, and I decide to get some sleep from a long day. As I hold both of them I smile knowing next Christmas will be better with the boys being a year old.
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Michelle POV:
It’s Christmas night and I can’t wait for this year to be over. I meet an awesome sweet guy over spring break, but those damn brats that hung around the bed wetter ruined it. Travis has been avoiding me more and more as Trey and he always go out. Keisha left me high and dry to ‘live’ with some new friends…Stupid bitch. And everything seems to remind mom of the waste of humanity I have to call my brother. As I fall asleep I think of Adam and how he takes me to be his and his alone.
As my dreams continue they turn to my mother, Travis and me being at home as I hear a doorbell saying it must be my fiance Adam. I run to the door giddy like a school girl. I open the door and I see its my little brother whose been away for years..I hug him and welcome him home. I call out to mom and Travis,”Guys heath came home!’ I hear running as they hug him. we talk for a bit and then I blink my eyes and there are about a dozen kids all running around as I ask,’Where did all these kids come from?’ Heath smiles,’Shellie say hi to your nieces and nephews.’ I smile because I love kids so much. I blink again and now I’m in a small apartment all alone with only a small tree that looks like it came out a Charlie Brown cartoon. and by it stands my dad. I ask him,
“ Daddy where did mom, Travis,Heath and all the kids go?” I ask as My father looks at me and sighs
“ Michelle you know that was a dream right? Heath is gone..you and Travis did that. You broke your mother’s heart…not Heath.” I look at him with a hatred that I never knew existed in me,
“ Well she ALWAYS loved him more.” I say with anger as My father shakes his head
“ WE loved you all the same Michelle. And this is where someone like you deserves to have Christmas…with a tree that is so pathetic it shows their love for family.’ My father disappears as I cry
I cry so hard I actually wake myself up. I look and see I’m still in my bed and walk the house..its the same. I chalk it up to being over stressed.
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Ellie POV:—the day after Christmas
I’m sitting at home wishing my other son would have come home this year. Its been three years since I’ve gotten to hug him or tell him I love him. I’ve sorta forgiven my son and the girls as have the other parents but they know that we are still missing our son and their brother. The grand babies make things a little easier but it also makes things more painful as he isn’t there with us for birthdays and family event. I hear a knock at my door and go to answer it. Its a certified letter. i sign for it and look at the address and see its my own but the name says Heath Thompson. I rip into it and cry. I grab my phone and group message Mike,Nate,Ricky,Kiko and Verna. ‘911 my house 5 minutes!!!’ In 5 minutes Kiko and Verna are there and the guys pulling up. Mike looks at me
“Ellie what’s wrong baby?” I hold up the envelope and see Kiko and Verna hold up theirs as well
“ Mike our son contacted us..Heath sent the letter. I cry as my husband holds me”
Nate and Ricky ask their wives as they say yes as well. We all go in. I read the letter to everyone and pull the pictures out and we all smile at LG as he has his father’s eyes. Dakota is a doll baby, but I wonder who his father is as Heath didn’t mention him. I smile knowing my son has people who care about him and he can trust. I am sad that he has a girlfriend as Tiffany has always and still loves him. I ask Verna and Kiko to read their letters which are the same as mine but just different name. I look at the group and start,
“ I hope he is ok, but from the picture I can only see he is doing alright. I think it’s best for now that the kids don’t know about this. I know that may sound wrong of me to say, but for best interest we keep this between the 6 of us. At least we know Heath is happy as he wouldn’t of sent us this picture of his son.” The group nod as we all think about how cute LG is
I trace the picture with my left index finger feeling my tears start to fall. I hear both my girlfriends also sob. I pull the picture of Heath holding both the boys to my chest wishing I was there to hold the babies. Ricky breaks the moment when he starts talking,
” Damn Greg would be so happy right now.Telling us about his second grand kid.” Ricky says as Mike looks at the pictures“ Yes it is, but to Heath this is his first born.” Mike says as all of us nodWe talk for a bit and discuss if and when we should let the kids know about Heath. ‘I look at my sisters and our husbands
“ You know eventually we have to tell Karen she is a big sister.” Everyone nods as Verna sighs
“ I know we do, but Tiffany will be so heartbroken to learn that Heath has moved on.” Verna says as Kiko and I agree with sadden hearts
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The rest of December went by as did New Years. It was a new year now and the coming months meant back to College. Jasmine kept up in her studies on line as the guys and I drove back and forth to classes on campus. Faye worked still, but was mostly home helping Jasmine with Lil Greg. Hannah and Diamond visited two weekends out of the month as to stay close with their family. When both Jasmine and Diamond were fully healed after a month on Valentines Weekend they had me make love to them like it was their first time.
They felt tighter, but I didn’t complain. The boys were growing and before long were reaching for the necklace’s around our necks which we all laughed as we knew they were learning. As the months were flying by I was studying twice as hard to come out with a good education that would help me support my family. I continued the company online with Jasmine on weekends with Diamond learning the ropes. When the month of May came along I was called to Dean Wilson’s office. He explained to me that I was to give a speech as I was the valedictorian of my class as my grade point was above the others. I smiled knowing this time I was not backing out.
I went home that day telling my family about it in which they hugged me tightly congratulating me. That month Jasmine helped me write a speech that would mean something and may show others what family meant. As the days passed to graduation my family started to prepare for the day. Hannah and Diamond made sure to get the time off. I couldn’t wait to see our family in the audience this time around. Jasmine was going to be able to join Adam, Jack, and I for our graduation.
I kept in my mind it will be a day to smile.I am standing up at the podium about to give my speech to all in attendance at graduation. I look up to see Faye, Diamond, and Hannah. Faye is holding Lil Greg in her lap as Diamond holds Dakota. Both are pointing at me as the boys look as their hands are being helped to wave at me. I wave back to see smiles from my family. I look at those in front of me only to let out a sigh before I speak.“ I would like to thank Dean Wilson, professors, staff, family, friends, and students for being here.
It’s been a hard and long 4 years for all of us students, parents, and those that we call family. I know I am suppose to talk about how college changed me, but I couldn’t of made it without those around me. They say family supports you in all you do. Well I have to say that’s true, but family doesn’t really mean those that your born into. Before college my life was empty until one day on the beach the summer before my first year a complete stranger took me in only to show me I could trust and love again.
She took me in as a grandson showing me what family was. Grandma May lived alone, but had enough room in her home to accept me as family. That first day of college I met two guys that also became my best friends, but they showed me what the word brother meant. After Grandma May died that first year Adam and Jack showed me family stays together no matter what happens. They helped me get pass her death to strive for life. Then after months and the start of our second year another came into my life my loving Jasmine.
She showed me I could love another in every way a man can love a woman. So my new family was growing and without them I knew I could not be where I am right now. As time went by our family of four turned to 7 then to 9 as before Christmas this past year I was gifted a son and nephew as Jasmine and my sister Diamond gave birth to two wonderful boys. Family is those that you call family. Those that are actually there for you, and support you in every way known to man.
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