Chapter 11
Elisha grabbed the box that’d come in the mail from home, a smile on his face. Jael had told him that she’d sent a care package. His stomach rumbled with anticipation, a care package from his wife often meant home made baked goods and coloring pages from the kids. Sitting on his bed he ripped open the box and removed the tell-tale box of cookies. Underneath the cookies lay a smaller box, with an envelope beneath it. OPEN FIRST, labeled the oblong box and he shook his head. What a woman. Curiosity got the better of him, and Elisha could wait no longer he pulled open the box and gasped. A positive pregnancy test lay in the box, the envelope was next in his hands and he opened it quickly. Inside lay a picture of Khalil and Eliana wearing matching Big brother-Big sister shirts.
A smile tugged at his lips as the note on the back of the picture read "Call me, Daddy."
Elisha reached for his phone and dialed home quickly. "You didn’t tell me on the phone!" he exclaimed.
"I wanted to tell you in a special way." he could hear her smile across the phone line.
He chuckled and touched the picture of the two little ones they’d adopted. "It was special, love. Thank you. I can’t believe that you’re pregnant... I want to be there."
His wife sighed softly, "I want you to be here too. I wanted you to be here when I found out, and again when I told K and Elli."
Being away from them made his heart hurt, and now there’d be a third baby who’d need him. "Maybe this should be my last tour of duty." he said quietly.
"That’s your decision, Elisha."
He nodded and sighed, this was never easy.
--
Cami walked into the empty apartment that Ezra sat in alone."Hey love." she said, walking over to sit next to him on the floor. "Why are you here all alone?" she asked.
"I was just thinking." he said.
Cami smiled and wrapped her hand around his arm. "Thinking about what?" she asked.
He took a deep breath and looked at her."Cami, I feel like I’m doing the right thing moving here to be with you. I just want to make sure I know and you know that this is the right thing for us to be doing. You know? We're moving on to another part of our relationship." he said.
Cami nodded."Yeah, I like this though. I like having you around. Actually, love having you around." Cami said, laying her head on his shoulder.
Ezra smiled."Are we going to get married?" he asked.
Cami looked at him speechless. "Cambria, I love you." he said before kissing her.
"I love you too, Ezra." she said with a smile. "Where is this all coming from?"
Ezra smiled and shrugged."Your sister is so happy with Elisha and her kids and I want to be that happy." he said.
Cami looked forward picturing the look in her sister’s eyes as she looked at her kids and husband. She smiled. "I want you to be that happy." she said looking back to him.
"I want to be that happy with you." Ezra said. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a box.
"Ezra, what? What is this?" she asked.
He handed her the box and let her open it.
"I don’t know what to say." she said looking at the ring that sat in the box so perfectly.
"Cami, I know it’s early in our relationship. But, we don’t have to get married right away. We can take some time. A lot of time? Just say yes. I don’t want to be with anyone else." he said.
Cami stared at the ring, then closed the box. She took his hand and placed the box in it then closed his fingers around it. "Ezra, this is not a no. But, I think this is too early." she said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Ezra wiped the tear from her cheek. "Don’t worry about it. I know it’s early. I still love you Cam." he said pulling her closer to him. "Think about it though?"
Cami nodded. "I will." she said.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek.
--
Jael sat on the couch with a book in her lap glancing at the clock. It was far past the time she generally went to bed, but Cambria hadn’t returned yet and she was worried. The sound of keys in the door had Jael sighing in relief as she looked up to see her sister standing in the doorway. "Where have you been?" she asked, putting a book mark into her book and laying it on the coffee table before her.
"Being proposed to." Cambria stated matter of factly, flopping unceremoniously onto the couch beside Jael.
"Excuse me?" Jael could feel her mouth drop open much like her sister’s had earlier.
Cambria kicked off her black flats and tucked her legs beneath her, "Ezra opened a ring box and asked me to marry him tonight." She sighed and folded her hands and set them in her lap. "I said no."
Jael’s eyes widened involuntarily. "You said no to Ezra? The man you’ve loved since you were what sixteen?! Why would you say no?"
Shaking her head quickly, she looked down at the ground. "I don’t even know exactly...I just know that we need more time to get to know one another as a couple before we can marry each other. I mean, look at you and Elisha. You’ve been together for years and finally decided it was time and everyone was after you about how soon it was. How could I be officially with the man for a week and get engaged?"
Reaching out, Jael hugged her sister tight and smiled. "You do whatever it is that makes you happy, sister. Whether people accept it or not, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you’re in love and you are happy with Ezra. Everything else is cake."
"Thanks, Jae. I’m going to get to bed." she mustered a small smile as she walked to her bedroom.
"Call Ezra!" Jael called after her sister. With that, she consulted the clock again and dialed Elisha’s number hungry for communication with her husband.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Life,Love,and Other Mysteries-Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Cami walked into the kitchen mostly everyone was there. "Good morning guys. How’s it going?" She asked. She gave each of the kids a kiss on the cheek and Ezra also.
"Sister, do you think you can watch Khalil for me? The baby has a doctor’s appointment today and I don’t want him to be bored." Jael said. Cami nodded.
"Of course. I have to go shopping so he’ll hafta suffer through buying cookies and candy." Cami said with a wink towards Khalil.
The little boy clapped his hands and laughed. "Tookies!" he said.
Cami smiled and picked the boy up.
"Don’t spoil the child." Jael said.
Cami shook her head. "I never do." she said with a smirk.
Jael laughed and picked up the baby. "Alright were heading out. Khalil have fun and be good. Cami no spoiling my child!" Jael said before walking out the door.
Cami looked at Khalil and shrugged. "I like spoiling you though kiddo." she said.
"Spoil kiddo." He repeating.
Cami nodded."That’s what I thought!" she said. She walked into the nursery to get him dressed and Ezra came in to help.
"Can I come?" he asked.
Cami raised an eyebrow. "Come where?" she asked.
"The store. I need some stuff for my apartment." he said.
Cami turned around and widened her eyes."You got an apartment?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Oh my gosh I’m so happy for you!" she said hugging him.
He laughed and hugged her back.
"When can I see it?" she asked letting him go.
He shrugged. "We can go now if you want." he said.
She nodded and picked Khalil up. "Come on little man let's go see this new house."
--
Cami took Khalil out of the stroller and let him run around the empty apartment. "This house is so cute. So it’s official now? Your really staying?" she asked.
Ezra put his arms around Cami and kissed her cheek."Yes it is. Just have to go back to my mom’s and get my stuff, but I’m not leaving after that." he said watching Khalil jump around.
Cami laughed as Khalil ran over and put his hands up for her to pick him up. "What do you say we go get our shopping done eh?"
--
Cami walked into her house with arms full of bags. "Hello? Jae ya home?" she asked.
"Yeah, I’m in the living room. Do you need help bringing stuff in?" Jael asked running into the kitchen.
"No, I've got it all. Ezra’s bringing Khalil in. He fell asleep in the car." Cami said starting to put stuff away.
Jael helped put the stuff away than sat at the table with Cami.
Ezra walked in and sat with them.
"So Bryna told me that you were talking about marriage?" Jael asked.
Cami raised her eyebrows and looked over at Ezra who had his eyebrows raised as well.
"What are you talking about? I should shoot her." Cami said under her breath.
"Hey there don’t get too crazy" Ezra said. "I mean we’ve only been together for a month."
Cami nodded and looked at Jael."Welcome to the family." Cami said.
Jael laughed. "Seriously." she said.
Ezra shook his head. "Thanks."he said before standing up to get a drink.
Jael and Cami both laughed. Cami knew that he really didn’t know what he was getting himself into going out with her.
--
Jael watched Ezra walk away and she turned to her sister, "Hold onto that one, he’s good for you." she said.
"I’m going to try. How’s Elisha?" Cami asked.
"I haven’t heard from him today, but yesterday he was okay, missing home. I’m trying to think of a creative way to tell him I’m pregnant." she said, gauging her sister’s reaction.
"Excuse me?" Cami’s mouth dropped open and she wrapped her arms around Jael.
"I said, I’m pregnant. Elisha and I are having a baby..How do I tell him?"
"Send him the pregnancy test." Ezra stated from the doorway. "And a picture of the kids in big brother and big sister shirts."
Cami’s mouth dropped again, "Where did that idea come from?" she questioned him.
"Television." he chuckled his face reddened as he ducked back into the kitchen.
"What a man you’ve got on your hands sister." Jael laughed. "But I just might use his idea."
"I can’t wait! Another nephew or niece." she hugged Jael again, and stood. "I’m going to find Ezra and tease him relentlessly about this idea."
Jael shook her head and grabbed her laptop off the desk, it was time to find t-shirts for the kids. Her hand rested on her stomach and she sighed, she wished that Elisha was here so that they could’ve found out together. Instead, he was a whole world away with no idea that he was going to be a father again. Another sigh left her lips, no sense in feeling sorry for herself, it was time to start looking up.
Cami walked into the kitchen mostly everyone was there. "Good morning guys. How’s it going?" She asked. She gave each of the kids a kiss on the cheek and Ezra also.
"Sister, do you think you can watch Khalil for me? The baby has a doctor’s appointment today and I don’t want him to be bored." Jael said. Cami nodded.
"Of course. I have to go shopping so he’ll hafta suffer through buying cookies and candy." Cami said with a wink towards Khalil.
The little boy clapped his hands and laughed. "Tookies!" he said.
Cami smiled and picked the boy up.
"Don’t spoil the child." Jael said.
Cami shook her head. "I never do." she said with a smirk.
Jael laughed and picked up the baby. "Alright were heading out. Khalil have fun and be good. Cami no spoiling my child!" Jael said before walking out the door.
Cami looked at Khalil and shrugged. "I like spoiling you though kiddo." she said.
"Spoil kiddo." He repeating.
Cami nodded."That’s what I thought!" she said. She walked into the nursery to get him dressed and Ezra came in to help.
"Can I come?" he asked.
Cami raised an eyebrow. "Come where?" she asked.
"The store. I need some stuff for my apartment." he said.
Cami turned around and widened her eyes."You got an apartment?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Oh my gosh I’m so happy for you!" she said hugging him.
He laughed and hugged her back.
"When can I see it?" she asked letting him go.
He shrugged. "We can go now if you want." he said.
She nodded and picked Khalil up. "Come on little man let's go see this new house."
--
Cami took Khalil out of the stroller and let him run around the empty apartment. "This house is so cute. So it’s official now? Your really staying?" she asked.
Ezra put his arms around Cami and kissed her cheek."Yes it is. Just have to go back to my mom’s and get my stuff, but I’m not leaving after that." he said watching Khalil jump around.
Cami laughed as Khalil ran over and put his hands up for her to pick him up. "What do you say we go get our shopping done eh?"
--
Cami walked into her house with arms full of bags. "Hello? Jae ya home?" she asked.
"Yeah, I’m in the living room. Do you need help bringing stuff in?" Jael asked running into the kitchen.
"No, I've got it all. Ezra’s bringing Khalil in. He fell asleep in the car." Cami said starting to put stuff away.
Jael helped put the stuff away than sat at the table with Cami.
Ezra walked in and sat with them.
"So Bryna told me that you were talking about marriage?" Jael asked.
Cami raised her eyebrows and looked over at Ezra who had his eyebrows raised as well.
"What are you talking about? I should shoot her." Cami said under her breath.
"Hey there don’t get too crazy" Ezra said. "I mean we’ve only been together for a month."
Cami nodded and looked at Jael."Welcome to the family." Cami said.
Jael laughed. "Seriously." she said.
Ezra shook his head. "Thanks."he said before standing up to get a drink.
Jael and Cami both laughed. Cami knew that he really didn’t know what he was getting himself into going out with her.
--
Jael watched Ezra walk away and she turned to her sister, "Hold onto that one, he’s good for you." she said.
"I’m going to try. How’s Elisha?" Cami asked.
"I haven’t heard from him today, but yesterday he was okay, missing home. I’m trying to think of a creative way to tell him I’m pregnant." she said, gauging her sister’s reaction.
"Excuse me?" Cami’s mouth dropped open and she wrapped her arms around Jael.
"I said, I’m pregnant. Elisha and I are having a baby..How do I tell him?"
"Send him the pregnancy test." Ezra stated from the doorway. "And a picture of the kids in big brother and big sister shirts."
Cami’s mouth dropped again, "Where did that idea come from?" she questioned him.
"Television." he chuckled his face reddened as he ducked back into the kitchen.
"What a man you’ve got on your hands sister." Jael laughed. "But I just might use his idea."
"I can’t wait! Another nephew or niece." she hugged Jael again, and stood. "I’m going to find Ezra and tease him relentlessly about this idea."
Jael shook her head and grabbed her laptop off the desk, it was time to find t-shirts for the kids. Her hand rested on her stomach and she sighed, she wished that Elisha was here so that they could’ve found out together. Instead, he was a whole world away with no idea that he was going to be a father again. Another sigh left her lips, no sense in feeling sorry for herself, it was time to start looking up.
Life,Love,& Other Mysteries-Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Cambria stood holding the picnic basket staring at her sister’s retreating car. "I cannot believe that woman!" she exclaimed, turning to look at Ezra, who was smiling at her.
"Don’t look at me," he replied, holding his hands aloft in mock surrender, "she’s your sister!"
"Yeah, unfortunately...she’s a brat!" she laughed and looked down at the picnic basket. "But, as long as we’re here we might as well eat."
"Yes ma’am." Ezra said, saluting.
Together they walked to a nearby tree and sat in the shade. Cami began to pull out the contents of the picnic basket and smiled at the organization of her sister’s basket. "Look at this!" she exclaimed, tipping the basket slowly so he could see the contents. The entire basket was laid out in sections from main course down to dessert, each item had its own small tupperware container or baggie.
"I hate to say this, but Jael has a problem." Ezra contended finally.
"You’re just realizing that?"she chuckled softly and handed him a container holding a sandwich, then another with a small helping of potato chips.
"Well, I think I’m getting a fuller revelation than I had before." he winked at her and opened the container and quickly took a bite of the sandwich. "She is quite the picnic supplier though! And, she gave us some nice quiet time together, for which I’m very thankful."
"You and me both!" Cambria stated taking a bite of her own sandwich. She’d remember to hug and smack Jael when she got back to the apartment.
--
Jael tucked Eliana into her crib and kissed her cherubic cheek. "Guess who’s next?" she whispered.
"No!" exclaimed Khalil as he reached for her ringing cell phone. "Daddy!"
Jael could hear her husband’s chuckle on the phone line as he greeted Khalil. Her heart warmed at the little boy’s smile and conversation with his dad.
"Elli nappin’, Daddy." he said climbing onto his bed looking all too old for two. "Went to park. Yeah, fun!" Khalil nodded as he talked.
Finally the little one passed her the phone and lay down on his bed. "Daddy say nap, Lil." he smiled at Jael and reached for the covers.
"Hello handsome." she said as she tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder, pulling the covers over Khalil and kissed his chubby cheek. "Goodnight darling." she whispered.
"I’m not sleepy yet." Elisha laughed softly.
She laughed softly and shut off the light in the nursery. "Not you, silly, my other darling."
"Well that makes me jealous." his deep laugh warmed her insides as she sat on her own bed and cradled the phone against her ear.
"Oh does it?" she laughed with him, "You know you’re my one and only, Elisha."
"Of course." he answered quickly. "How are the kids?" he asked finally.
"They're okay. Missing you already, Elli was babbling dada today." she smiled remembering her little girl’s babbling in the carseat on the way home from the park. "K was asking for you all day long...I took them to the park to pre-occupy them. And did a little matchmaking while I was there." she giggled softly.
"Who are you messing with now?" his joking reproach warmed her.
"Ezra and Cambria. It was only a matter of time, you know that."
--
Cami laughed as she walked into the door. She looked in the living room where Bronxon and Bryna sat looking at Ezra and Cami. She looked back at Ezra and winked.
"You mean Bronxon actually did that? Oh my Gosh that’s hilarious." She laughed. Ezra looked at her than laughed.
"Yea exactly it was so funny." He said.
"What did I do?" Bronxon asked. Cami and Ezra walked into the room and started to laugh.
"Nothing were just fooling around." Cami said. She sat on the couch and Ezra sat next to her. "So what are you two love birds doing in here?" She asked.
"Just talking." Bry said. Cami smiled and held Ezra’s hand.
"About?" She asked.
"Stuff." Bronx said. Ezra stood up and still held onto the basket.
"Hey guys I’m gonna go take a shower. After sitting on that ant hill I feel a little dirty." Ezra said.
Cami laughed. She pictured Ezra jumping off the blanket as Ants attacked his clothes. All she could do was laugh. Ezra smiled and walked out of the room leaving Cami with Bronxon and Bryna alone.
"So you guys seem extremely happy together. What’s going on?" Bryna asked. Cami smiled and sat back.
"Stuff." She quoted Bronxon. Bryna rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on Cami." Bry said.
"I think its to early to know exactly what’s going on. I mean obviously were together and happy but I think it’s to early to know marriage wise." Cami said. Bry and Bronx both widened their eyes.
"Marriage?" Bronx asked.
"Well every girl wants to get married and dreams of it. You know Big wedding, Friends and family there to witness your love for each other. But like I said it’s way to early to think that way."
"But its not wrong to think that way." Bry said. Bronxon looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you think about marriage?" He asked. Bry nodded.
"All the time. Like Cami said it’s something that is always on a girls mind. They can’t help it." Bry said.
Cami laughed a little before standing up. "You guys have fun talking I’m going to bed."
Cambria stood holding the picnic basket staring at her sister’s retreating car. "I cannot believe that woman!" she exclaimed, turning to look at Ezra, who was smiling at her.
"Don’t look at me," he replied, holding his hands aloft in mock surrender, "she’s your sister!"
"Yeah, unfortunately...she’s a brat!" she laughed and looked down at the picnic basket. "But, as long as we’re here we might as well eat."
"Yes ma’am." Ezra said, saluting.
Together they walked to a nearby tree and sat in the shade. Cami began to pull out the contents of the picnic basket and smiled at the organization of her sister’s basket. "Look at this!" she exclaimed, tipping the basket slowly so he could see the contents. The entire basket was laid out in sections from main course down to dessert, each item had its own small tupperware container or baggie.
"I hate to say this, but Jael has a problem." Ezra contended finally.
"You’re just realizing that?"she chuckled softly and handed him a container holding a sandwich, then another with a small helping of potato chips.
"Well, I think I’m getting a fuller revelation than I had before." he winked at her and opened the container and quickly took a bite of the sandwich. "She is quite the picnic supplier though! And, she gave us some nice quiet time together, for which I’m very thankful."
"You and me both!" Cambria stated taking a bite of her own sandwich. She’d remember to hug and smack Jael when she got back to the apartment.
--
Jael tucked Eliana into her crib and kissed her cherubic cheek. "Guess who’s next?" she whispered.
"No!" exclaimed Khalil as he reached for her ringing cell phone. "Daddy!"
Jael could hear her husband’s chuckle on the phone line as he greeted Khalil. Her heart warmed at the little boy’s smile and conversation with his dad.
"Elli nappin’, Daddy." he said climbing onto his bed looking all too old for two. "Went to park. Yeah, fun!" Khalil nodded as he talked.
Finally the little one passed her the phone and lay down on his bed. "Daddy say nap, Lil." he smiled at Jael and reached for the covers.
"Hello handsome." she said as she tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder, pulling the covers over Khalil and kissed his chubby cheek. "Goodnight darling." she whispered.
"I’m not sleepy yet." Elisha laughed softly.
She laughed softly and shut off the light in the nursery. "Not you, silly, my other darling."
"Well that makes me jealous." his deep laugh warmed her insides as she sat on her own bed and cradled the phone against her ear.
"Oh does it?" she laughed with him, "You know you’re my one and only, Elisha."
"Of course." he answered quickly. "How are the kids?" he asked finally.
"They're okay. Missing you already, Elli was babbling dada today." she smiled remembering her little girl’s babbling in the carseat on the way home from the park. "K was asking for you all day long...I took them to the park to pre-occupy them. And did a little matchmaking while I was there." she giggled softly.
"Who are you messing with now?" his joking reproach warmed her.
"Ezra and Cambria. It was only a matter of time, you know that."
--
Cami laughed as she walked into the door. She looked in the living room where Bronxon and Bryna sat looking at Ezra and Cami. She looked back at Ezra and winked.
"You mean Bronxon actually did that? Oh my Gosh that’s hilarious." She laughed. Ezra looked at her than laughed.
"Yea exactly it was so funny." He said.
"What did I do?" Bronxon asked. Cami and Ezra walked into the room and started to laugh.
"Nothing were just fooling around." Cami said. She sat on the couch and Ezra sat next to her. "So what are you two love birds doing in here?" She asked.
"Just talking." Bry said. Cami smiled and held Ezra’s hand.
"About?" She asked.
"Stuff." Bronx said. Ezra stood up and still held onto the basket.
"Hey guys I’m gonna go take a shower. After sitting on that ant hill I feel a little dirty." Ezra said.
Cami laughed. She pictured Ezra jumping off the blanket as Ants attacked his clothes. All she could do was laugh. Ezra smiled and walked out of the room leaving Cami with Bronxon and Bryna alone.
"So you guys seem extremely happy together. What’s going on?" Bryna asked. Cami smiled and sat back.
"Stuff." She quoted Bronxon. Bryna rolled her eyes.
"Oh come on Cami." Bry said.
"I think its to early to know exactly what’s going on. I mean obviously were together and happy but I think it’s to early to know marriage wise." Cami said. Bry and Bronx both widened their eyes.
"Marriage?" Bronx asked.
"Well every girl wants to get married and dreams of it. You know Big wedding, Friends and family there to witness your love for each other. But like I said it’s way to early to think that way."
"But its not wrong to think that way." Bry said. Bronxon looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you think about marriage?" He asked. Bry nodded.
"All the time. Like Cami said it’s something that is always on a girls mind. They can’t help it." Bry said.
Cami laughed a little before standing up. "You guys have fun talking I’m going to bed."
Saturday, February 21, 2009
"Life, Love, and Other Mysteries" Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Jael stood back and watched her husband check his last bag at the airport, and tried to hold back the tears burning at the back of her eyes. Everything seemed to be speeding up when he was leaving, and she was sure this deployment would feel like he was gone for forever. Sighing, she sat in one of the hard plastic chairs and watched Elisha walk toward her.
"Baby, are you okay?" he knelt down before her, his dark eyes assessing as he took her hand in his.
"No." she whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand. "I'm already missing my husband." She could no longer hold back the tears that coursed down her cheeks like twin rivers refusing to stop.
"Come here love," he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. "I'm going to miss you too, Jael. It'll be no time before I'm back here with you."
She snuggled closer to him, remembering each moment of warmth between them as she held onto him with all the strength she still possessed. Her heart hurt with the thoughts of what could possibly go wrong between them, and with him overseas.
"Stop worrying." he whispered, stroking her back gently.
"It's kind of hard to just stop worrying." she wiped at her eyes quickly, kissing him gently. "I'll try for you though."
"Good." he smiled at her and kissed her again, "Now I've got a plane to catch, and you have two kids to get home to." he stood her up with him and pulled her close once more for a hug. "Give the babies kisses for me."
"I will" Jael nodded, and kissed his cheek. "You come home safe to us."
"Of course." he winked and turned away walking toward the terminal.
Turning her head toward the ceiling, Jael whispered a silent prayer for her husband's safety and quick return. Sighing, she resolved herself to go back home and take care of Khalil and Eliana. It'd be a long year without him.
Jael walked in the door and set her suitcase and purse just inside the foyer as she collected herself to deal with an apartment full of people. Really, all she wanted to do was run back to the airport and beg Elisha not to leave. Instead, she took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen where everyone was congregated eating breakfast. "Good morning everyone," she called out, pulling every last bit of pep she could out of the caverns of her soul.
"Hey, how are you?" asked Cami, wrapping an arm around Jael's shoulders.
"I'll be okay, eventually. How were they?" she asked, wiping off Eliana's mouth and picking up the chubby little girl who held her arms out to mommy. Snuggling the darling little girl close.
"Angels as always." replied her mother, wiping off Khalil's mouth before he went running to Jael.
"Daddy?" whimpered the little boy, sticking a thumb in his mouth.
Handing Eliana off to Cambria, Jael knelt before her adopted son, "Baby, Daddy had to go away for a little while, he'll be back to see us. He's going to call you tonight." She pulled the whimpering boy into her arms and hugged him close. She'd known that when she and Elisha had explained it to Khalil he didn't understand, of course what two-year-old did? In fact, did she even understand why they had to give him up for months at a time? No, not really, she conceded.
"Do we want to go to the park?" asked Ezra, resting his hand on Khalil's head.
"YES!" Khalil exclaimed, hugging Ezra's knees.
"Can Eliana go too?" Cami asked, rubbing the little girl's cheek.
Jael nodded, "I'm going to come too. I can't sit here alone all day...I'll get them ready, can you grab my camera bag?"
Cami laughed, "Of course."
--
Cami sat next to her sister on the bench. Jael was feeding Eliana and Ezra was playing with Khalil.
"How's it going, sister?" She asked knowing her sister must've been having a hard time. Her husband had left her with two kids for a year. Cami couldn't imagine having to go through that. Even now with her and Ezra going out for a week. If he left and she couldn't see him for a year she'd go insane.
"I'll be fine. I've done this before." Jael said.
"Yeah, you have. You're stronger than anyone I've ever met." she smiled at her sister and hugged her with one arm.
"Thanks. I just want to be sure to be there for the kids. Especially Khalil, he hasn't experienced this long of a time period without Elisha before." Jael sighed, and pointed her camera at Khalil who was smiling as he slid down the sliding board.
"He'll be fine. We'll make sure of that. You have all of us too, don't try to do it all on your own, Jae." Cami took over feeding Eliana for her sister.
"I'm so glad I do have all of you to help out, but I also don't want to be a burden. They are my kids after all." she took a quick picture of her sister and daughter.
"Yeah, but if we can help we want to. It's the least we can do to make it easier for you, Jael. That's what family does." she stated after the picture was taken.
Jael's cell phone began to ring in her pocket, "Thanks C, I'll be right back, I've got to get this it's probably Elisha." She retrieved her phone from her pocket and walked away from the bench talking.
"Hey! You gonna' sit over there and think all day or come play?" called Ezra from the playground.
Cambria laughed, "We're coming!" She picked Eliana up from her stroller and ran toward the playground.
--
Jael listened to her husband's voice on the phone with a smile on her face, "I miss you." she said with a sigh.
"I miss you more. I miss the kids too. How are they?"
"Khalil started to get upset when I came home without you today, we're at the park now trying to keep him busy."
"Poor little guy, let me talk to him for a minute?" his voice held concern and love for their son.
She smiled, "Sure, hold on a minute." she walked over to the playground, "Lil K! Daddy's on the phone."
Khalil raced to her, tiny chubby legs churning the distance between them. "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" he exclaimed over and over until he reached her. Jael sat on the steps leading to the sliding board and held the phone against her son's chubby cheek.
"Hi Daddy!" he exclaimed again as he held the phone with one small hand.
Jael could hear the rumble of Elisha's laugh and his mumbled words to Khalil. Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she heard much of the one-sided conversation between the two most important men in her life. They were sorely going to miss the influence of Elisha in their lives over the next year.
"Miss you, Daddy." whimped Khalil, his bottom lip puckering.
Her tears threatened to fall, and she rubbed at her eyes as Khalil said his goodbye and hasty "lub you." She took the phone from his chubby hand and sighed her resolve. "Elisha?"
He chuckled, "That boy is off on the sliding board right now, isn't he?"
Jael found herself laughing as well, "You know your son."
"Of course, I know you too. Stop crying, love. I'll be home before you know it. Kiss the baby for me, and make sure you send an email tonight in case I can't get to the phone. I love you."
She smiled, "I love you too, Elisha. Talk to you later baby."
Closing the phone, she turned back to see her sister standing with a whimpering Eliana. "What's wrong with my baby girl?" she stood, pocketing her phone and held her arms out to her daughter.
The little girl jumped into her arms and snuggled into her chest.
"Elli is tired." Cambria said with an exaggerated pout.
"How about if I take them home and you take the picnic basket I packed in the backseat of the car. Have a picnic with your man." she said with a wink.
"You are a sly one, sister." her sister accused.
"Yeah, but you love me!" she exclaimed calling for Khalil and buckling both children into the double stroller. It was the least she could do to help her sister and Ezra get enough time together. She knew what it was like to have to be away from the person you loved for a length of time, they needed as much time together as they could get. End of discussion.
Jael stood back and watched her husband check his last bag at the airport, and tried to hold back the tears burning at the back of her eyes. Everything seemed to be speeding up when he was leaving, and she was sure this deployment would feel like he was gone for forever. Sighing, she sat in one of the hard plastic chairs and watched Elisha walk toward her.
"Baby, are you okay?" he knelt down before her, his dark eyes assessing as he took her hand in his.
"No." she whispered, cupping his cheek in her hand. "I'm already missing my husband." She could no longer hold back the tears that coursed down her cheeks like twin rivers refusing to stop.
"Come here love," he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. "I'm going to miss you too, Jael. It'll be no time before I'm back here with you."
She snuggled closer to him, remembering each moment of warmth between them as she held onto him with all the strength she still possessed. Her heart hurt with the thoughts of what could possibly go wrong between them, and with him overseas.
"Stop worrying." he whispered, stroking her back gently.
"It's kind of hard to just stop worrying." she wiped at her eyes quickly, kissing him gently. "I'll try for you though."
"Good." he smiled at her and kissed her again, "Now I've got a plane to catch, and you have two kids to get home to." he stood her up with him and pulled her close once more for a hug. "Give the babies kisses for me."
"I will" Jael nodded, and kissed his cheek. "You come home safe to us."
"Of course." he winked and turned away walking toward the terminal.
Turning her head toward the ceiling, Jael whispered a silent prayer for her husband's safety and quick return. Sighing, she resolved herself to go back home and take care of Khalil and Eliana. It'd be a long year without him.
Jael walked in the door and set her suitcase and purse just inside the foyer as she collected herself to deal with an apartment full of people. Really, all she wanted to do was run back to the airport and beg Elisha not to leave. Instead, she took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen where everyone was congregated eating breakfast. "Good morning everyone," she called out, pulling every last bit of pep she could out of the caverns of her soul.
"Hey, how are you?" asked Cami, wrapping an arm around Jael's shoulders.
"I'll be okay, eventually. How were they?" she asked, wiping off Eliana's mouth and picking up the chubby little girl who held her arms out to mommy. Snuggling the darling little girl close.
"Angels as always." replied her mother, wiping off Khalil's mouth before he went running to Jael.
"Daddy?" whimpered the little boy, sticking a thumb in his mouth.
Handing Eliana off to Cambria, Jael knelt before her adopted son, "Baby, Daddy had to go away for a little while, he'll be back to see us. He's going to call you tonight." She pulled the whimpering boy into her arms and hugged him close. She'd known that when she and Elisha had explained it to Khalil he didn't understand, of course what two-year-old did? In fact, did she even understand why they had to give him up for months at a time? No, not really, she conceded.
"Do we want to go to the park?" asked Ezra, resting his hand on Khalil's head.
"YES!" Khalil exclaimed, hugging Ezra's knees.
"Can Eliana go too?" Cami asked, rubbing the little girl's cheek.
Jael nodded, "I'm going to come too. I can't sit here alone all day...I'll get them ready, can you grab my camera bag?"
Cami laughed, "Of course."
--
Cami sat next to her sister on the bench. Jael was feeding Eliana and Ezra was playing with Khalil.
"How's it going, sister?" She asked knowing her sister must've been having a hard time. Her husband had left her with two kids for a year. Cami couldn't imagine having to go through that. Even now with her and Ezra going out for a week. If he left and she couldn't see him for a year she'd go insane.
"I'll be fine. I've done this before." Jael said.
"Yeah, you have. You're stronger than anyone I've ever met." she smiled at her sister and hugged her with one arm.
"Thanks. I just want to be sure to be there for the kids. Especially Khalil, he hasn't experienced this long of a time period without Elisha before." Jael sighed, and pointed her camera at Khalil who was smiling as he slid down the sliding board.
"He'll be fine. We'll make sure of that. You have all of us too, don't try to do it all on your own, Jae." Cami took over feeding Eliana for her sister.
"I'm so glad I do have all of you to help out, but I also don't want to be a burden. They are my kids after all." she took a quick picture of her sister and daughter.
"Yeah, but if we can help we want to. It's the least we can do to make it easier for you, Jael. That's what family does." she stated after the picture was taken.
Jael's cell phone began to ring in her pocket, "Thanks C, I'll be right back, I've got to get this it's probably Elisha." She retrieved her phone from her pocket and walked away from the bench talking.
"Hey! You gonna' sit over there and think all day or come play?" called Ezra from the playground.
Cambria laughed, "We're coming!" She picked Eliana up from her stroller and ran toward the playground.
--
Jael listened to her husband's voice on the phone with a smile on her face, "I miss you." she said with a sigh.
"I miss you more. I miss the kids too. How are they?"
"Khalil started to get upset when I came home without you today, we're at the park now trying to keep him busy."
"Poor little guy, let me talk to him for a minute?" his voice held concern and love for their son.
She smiled, "Sure, hold on a minute." she walked over to the playground, "Lil K! Daddy's on the phone."
Khalil raced to her, tiny chubby legs churning the distance between them. "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" he exclaimed over and over until he reached her. Jael sat on the steps leading to the sliding board and held the phone against her son's chubby cheek.
"Hi Daddy!" he exclaimed again as he held the phone with one small hand.
Jael could hear the rumble of Elisha's laugh and his mumbled words to Khalil. Tears burned the backs of her eyes as she heard much of the one-sided conversation between the two most important men in her life. They were sorely going to miss the influence of Elisha in their lives over the next year.
"Miss you, Daddy." whimped Khalil, his bottom lip puckering.
Her tears threatened to fall, and she rubbed at her eyes as Khalil said his goodbye and hasty "lub you." She took the phone from his chubby hand and sighed her resolve. "Elisha?"
He chuckled, "That boy is off on the sliding board right now, isn't he?"
Jael found herself laughing as well, "You know your son."
"Of course, I know you too. Stop crying, love. I'll be home before you know it. Kiss the baby for me, and make sure you send an email tonight in case I can't get to the phone. I love you."
She smiled, "I love you too, Elisha. Talk to you later baby."
Closing the phone, she turned back to see her sister standing with a whimpering Eliana. "What's wrong with my baby girl?" she stood, pocketing her phone and held her arms out to her daughter.
The little girl jumped into her arms and snuggled into her chest.
"Elli is tired." Cambria said with an exaggerated pout.
"How about if I take them home and you take the picnic basket I packed in the backseat of the car. Have a picnic with your man." she said with a wink.
"You are a sly one, sister." her sister accused.
"Yeah, but you love me!" she exclaimed calling for Khalil and buckling both children into the double stroller. It was the least she could do to help her sister and Ezra get enough time together. She knew what it was like to have to be away from the person you loved for a length of time, they needed as much time together as they could get. End of discussion.
"Life, Love and Other Mysteries" Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Jael kissed Eliana's forehead as she tucked her into the crib for the night. Her family was going to keep both Eliana and Khalil for the night so that Jael and Elisha could spend their wedding night together and then send Elisha off in the morning to return to Iraq. Her stomach was twisted with nerves and worry, as she turned to tuck Khalil in as well. Elisha sat on the edge of the bed and kissed Khalil's chubby cheek as Jael pulled the covers over the little boy. She caught her husband's eyes and smiled gently, as he covered her hand with his.
"I love you, Jael." he whispered.
"I love you too, Elisha." she replied, leaning across the bed to kiss him.
"Let's get going before they wake up again." he chuckled softly.
"Yes, lets." she followed him out of the room, and clicked on the night light before pulling the door closed.
"What are you two still doing here? Get going!" Cambria pushed them toward the door.
"Well goodness!" Elisha chuckled, tugging her toward the door.
Jael stood inside the doorway and pinned her sister with a look, "You have the numbers right?"
"Yes, and I won't need them. I can handle two children." She closed the door a little bit.
"But, if they need us..." she sighed, pushing the door open, half wanting to run back into the room and take both little ones with them.
"Jael, your family is more than capable of taking care of them. Let's go." he kissed her gently.
"Okay, okay. I'll be back tomorrow at ten." she called as the door slammed in their faces.
Sighing, she obliged and followed her new husband to the car. Jael took her seat beside him in the passenger seat of their compact car.
"Are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"I'll be okay. It's all happening so fast. We're married." she stated softly.
He nodded, "That's right baby, we're married."
Life couldn't get any more mysterious to Jael at this point. Marriage.
--
Cambria walked into the living room where everybody sat. Eliana had just fallen back to sleep after what seemed like an eternity. Everybody was laughing and joking around.
"Guys, not to be rude or anything, but can you please quiet down so I'm not up for another half hour of trying to get the child back to sleep." She said sitting on the floor next to the chair Ezra was sitting in.
"Were getting to bed anyway." Maryn said. Bry kissed Bronx and than stood up as did Maryn.
They walked out of the apartment and to her neighbors house. Everyone else said their goodnights and walked out of the room leaving Cami and Ezra alone.
"So your taking on the mommy role now?" Ezra asked as Cami stood up and walked over to sit on the couch.
"You could say that." She said with a smile but it soon faded as she heard Khalil start to whine.
"I got it." Ezra said standing up.
She watched him walk into the room and the whines continued but also the crying started. Cami stood up and walked into the room.
"What's wrong buddy?" Cami asked sitting on the bed next to Khalil.
"I want my daddy." He said. Cami picked the little boy up and put him on her lap and started to rock him.
"Daddy will be back don't worry" She said. The whines stopped and she looked at Ezra. "Is he sleeping?" She whispered.
Ezra looked at the boy and nodded.
Cami gave a relieving sigh and set the boy down in his bed. They walked out of the room and Cami looked at the clock. "I think I will sleep in their room tonight just in case one of them wakes up." She said.
"Your going to be such a good mother when we have kids." Ezra said with a smirk.
Cami raised her eyebrows."Why thank you. I try." She said with a smile.
"Well it doesn't look like it takes much. You're a natural." He said pulling her close to him.
She smiled and kissed him.
"Get to bed." She said.
He laughed and walked away.
Cambria walked into Carina's room and got her stuff then walked into the kids room. She laid her stuff on the ground and than laid herself down. God, he seems a little to perfect. Please, don't let me get hurt outta this. Please let Him be the right one. She prayed.
==
The Next Morning
Cami woke up to Eliana looking at her through the bars of the crib.
"Morning baby. How long have you been up?" She asked.
The baby gave her a toothless grin.
Cami stood up and picked the baby up out of the crib.
"Mo'nin. " Khalil said, sitting up in his own bed.
Cami laughed."Good morning handsome. You guys ready for some breakfast?" She asked.
Khalil nodded, "Hungry."
"Me too" she agreed, as she helped him off of the bed. Together the three of them raided the kitchen, she set Eliana in her high-chair, and helped Khalil into the booster seat. "What do we want for breakfast?" she asked, finally opening the cabinet to take stock of the food that resided there.
"Toast!" exclaimed Khalil, bouncing in his seat.
"I agree." Cami said. She took the bread out of the refridgerator and put two pieces in the toaster. She walked over to the refridgerator and took out the apple juice. "You want apple juice to drink?" She asked. Neither kid gave an answer because Khalil was dancing and Eliana couldn't talk. She took a sippee cup out of the cabinet and a bottle and started to pour the apple juice into them.
"Good morning." She turned to see Bronxon walking in.
"Hey! Good morning. Want some toast?" Cami asked.
"I don't know. I haven't really heard great things about your cooking." He said with a smirk taking a seat next to Khalil.
"Keep an eye on them? I have to get the baby a bib so she doesn't make a mess." Cami said. She ran into the kids room and opened the top drawer and grabbed a bib. Than she ran back out to the kitchen. Ezra was now in it sitting next to Bronxon. "Good morning, Ezra." She said with a smile.
"Morning, Cami. Bronxon says your cooking? Should we get out of here?" Ezra asked.
"Shut up! You guys don't have to eat my cooking. It's just a piece of toast!" Cami said. She took the two pieces out of the toaster and put another two pieces in.
"Babe, were kidding. It's fine." Ezra said.
Bronxon laughed.
This was going to be a long day.
Jael kissed Eliana's forehead as she tucked her into the crib for the night. Her family was going to keep both Eliana and Khalil for the night so that Jael and Elisha could spend their wedding night together and then send Elisha off in the morning to return to Iraq. Her stomach was twisted with nerves and worry, as she turned to tuck Khalil in as well. Elisha sat on the edge of the bed and kissed Khalil's chubby cheek as Jael pulled the covers over the little boy. She caught her husband's eyes and smiled gently, as he covered her hand with his.
"I love you, Jael." he whispered.
"I love you too, Elisha." she replied, leaning across the bed to kiss him.
"Let's get going before they wake up again." he chuckled softly.
"Yes, lets." she followed him out of the room, and clicked on the night light before pulling the door closed.
"What are you two still doing here? Get going!" Cambria pushed them toward the door.
"Well goodness!" Elisha chuckled, tugging her toward the door.
Jael stood inside the doorway and pinned her sister with a look, "You have the numbers right?"
"Yes, and I won't need them. I can handle two children." She closed the door a little bit.
"But, if they need us..." she sighed, pushing the door open, half wanting to run back into the room and take both little ones with them.
"Jael, your family is more than capable of taking care of them. Let's go." he kissed her gently.
"Okay, okay. I'll be back tomorrow at ten." she called as the door slammed in their faces.
Sighing, she obliged and followed her new husband to the car. Jael took her seat beside him in the passenger seat of their compact car.
"Are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"I'll be okay. It's all happening so fast. We're married." she stated softly.
He nodded, "That's right baby, we're married."
Life couldn't get any more mysterious to Jael at this point. Marriage.
--
Cambria walked into the living room where everybody sat. Eliana had just fallen back to sleep after what seemed like an eternity. Everybody was laughing and joking around.
"Guys, not to be rude or anything, but can you please quiet down so I'm not up for another half hour of trying to get the child back to sleep." She said sitting on the floor next to the chair Ezra was sitting in.
"Were getting to bed anyway." Maryn said. Bry kissed Bronx and than stood up as did Maryn.
They walked out of the apartment and to her neighbors house. Everyone else said their goodnights and walked out of the room leaving Cami and Ezra alone.
"So your taking on the mommy role now?" Ezra asked as Cami stood up and walked over to sit on the couch.
"You could say that." She said with a smile but it soon faded as she heard Khalil start to whine.
"I got it." Ezra said standing up.
She watched him walk into the room and the whines continued but also the crying started. Cami stood up and walked into the room.
"What's wrong buddy?" Cami asked sitting on the bed next to Khalil.
"I want my daddy." He said. Cami picked the little boy up and put him on her lap and started to rock him.
"Daddy will be back don't worry" She said. The whines stopped and she looked at Ezra. "Is he sleeping?" She whispered.
Ezra looked at the boy and nodded.
Cami gave a relieving sigh and set the boy down in his bed. They walked out of the room and Cami looked at the clock. "I think I will sleep in their room tonight just in case one of them wakes up." She said.
"Your going to be such a good mother when we have kids." Ezra said with a smirk.
Cami raised her eyebrows."Why thank you. I try." She said with a smile.
"Well it doesn't look like it takes much. You're a natural." He said pulling her close to him.
She smiled and kissed him.
"Get to bed." She said.
He laughed and walked away.
Cambria walked into Carina's room and got her stuff then walked into the kids room. She laid her stuff on the ground and than laid herself down. God, he seems a little to perfect. Please, don't let me get hurt outta this. Please let Him be the right one. She prayed.
==
The Next Morning
Cami woke up to Eliana looking at her through the bars of the crib.
"Morning baby. How long have you been up?" She asked.
The baby gave her a toothless grin.
Cami stood up and picked the baby up out of the crib.
"Mo'nin. " Khalil said, sitting up in his own bed.
Cami laughed."Good morning handsome. You guys ready for some breakfast?" She asked.
Khalil nodded, "Hungry."
"Me too" she agreed, as she helped him off of the bed. Together the three of them raided the kitchen, she set Eliana in her high-chair, and helped Khalil into the booster seat. "What do we want for breakfast?" she asked, finally opening the cabinet to take stock of the food that resided there.
"Toast!" exclaimed Khalil, bouncing in his seat.
"I agree." Cami said. She took the bread out of the refridgerator and put two pieces in the toaster. She walked over to the refridgerator and took out the apple juice. "You want apple juice to drink?" She asked. Neither kid gave an answer because Khalil was dancing and Eliana couldn't talk. She took a sippee cup out of the cabinet and a bottle and started to pour the apple juice into them.
"Good morning." She turned to see Bronxon walking in.
"Hey! Good morning. Want some toast?" Cami asked.
"I don't know. I haven't really heard great things about your cooking." He said with a smirk taking a seat next to Khalil.
"Keep an eye on them? I have to get the baby a bib so she doesn't make a mess." Cami said. She ran into the kids room and opened the top drawer and grabbed a bib. Than she ran back out to the kitchen. Ezra was now in it sitting next to Bronxon. "Good morning, Ezra." She said with a smile.
"Morning, Cami. Bronxon says your cooking? Should we get out of here?" Ezra asked.
"Shut up! You guys don't have to eat my cooking. It's just a piece of toast!" Cami said. She took the two pieces out of the toaster and put another two pieces in.
"Babe, were kidding. It's fine." Ezra said.
Bronxon laughed.
This was going to be a long day.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
"Life, Love, and Other Mysteries" Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Cami sat next to Ezra at the dinner table. They went out to have supper with the family minus Jael. She wasn't sure where she went but she was sure her sister would tell her at the house.
"So you've seemed extra happy which is quite a change from your miserable attitude towards us this morning." Maryn said. Cami smiled and looked at Ezra who winked at her.
"Well, you guys making fun of us all weekend has changed our minds about us being together." Cami said. Everyone got quiet and looked at them.
"You guys hate each other?" Kassarah said coming out of no where. Cami was used to her neighbor showing up from random places but her family gave her a strange look.
"No we don't hate each other. Were getting married." Cami said trying to keep a straight face.
"I didn't know you were that close." Her father said. Cami and Ezra both laughed.
"No no no we just decided to have more than a friendship?" Cami asked looking at everyone who still looked at them in shock. "What? Get back to eating it's not like you didn't know it was going to happen!" She said. She put a fork full of salad in her mouth and tried to not look at their judgemental looks.
"How is that going to work if he's going back on Friday?" Cami's mother asked. Cami had almost forgotten that he had to go back. She looked at Ezra was looking at her as well.
"We haven't talked about that." Ezra said.
"You guys should figure something out then. But otherwise, I'm quite happy that you two are together." Cami's father said. Cami gave a little smile and suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go to the ladies room." She said taking the napkin off of her lap. She got up and started walking to the bathroom. She felt a hand pulling her from her elbow and she didn't want to turn around. She knew who it was and she didn't want him to see her being upset.
"Cami, please talk to me? We can leave here and go somewhere else." Ezra said. She turned around and looked at his eyes.
"I don't want you to leave. I finally have you after 6 years and now your going to leave me in 5 days." She felt tears burn at her eyes. She wasn't much for goodbyes. Even if it wasn't for 5 days.
"It's just for a little bit. I can come here every weekend to see you. Or you can come home with me for the weekend. I want my mom to meet you personally." Ezra said holding her hand. Cami looked around at the people who stared at them.
"Let's go somewhere else to talk." She said.
He nodded and they walked back to the table.
She picked up her purse and took out 20 dollars. "Here's for our dinners. You guys stay as long as you like Bryna or Maryn have keys to the house. Were gonna go talk about some things."
Cami said.
Her family all nodded and she and Ezra walked out. They got into the car and she was driving this time. She wasn't sure where they were going to go that was quiet but they had to go somewhere to talk.
"Your really quiet. It's kind of making me nervous." Ezra said looking at her. She looked over at him and smiled a little.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I told you what I wanted to at the resteraunt. Your turn to talk." She said pulling into the parking lot of one of her friend's apartment buildings. She had an extra key because she had to take care of the apartment whenever he went out.
"Where are we? Your not going to kill me right?" He asked getting out of the car. She laughed and shook her head.
"No don't worry. This is my friend's house. He goes to my school and is out for the weekend so I have a key. Were going to borrow it." She said nodding. She held his hand and led him into the apartment building. They made their way up to the apartment and Cami opened the door.
"This is nice." He said walking in. Cami smiled and closed the door than locked it making Ezra turn around to look at her. "Wow." He said as she took her coat off.
"what?" She asked with a smirk leading him into the living room. He raised his eyebrows.
"Did you look that amazing all day?" He asked with a smirk. She nodded.
"pretty much." She said with a small laugh. He shook his head and sat on the couch.
"Anyway, I think we need to see each other alot." He said holding her hand as she sat next to him. She nodded.
"I agree." She said.
"Do you think we can make it work?" He asked. She nodded yet again.
"With God all things are possible." She quoted the famous verse from the bible. He smiled.
"Amen." He said with a wink. "It's taking all my strength to not kiss you right now." He said biting his bottom lip. It made her blush.
"Why? Why don't you just kiss me?" She asked. She couldn't believe she was saying that to Ezra. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing's coming to mind." He said. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well if you want to wait to kiss me that's fine. We can sit here all day he wont be home for a while."
--
Bryna walked out onto the patio where Bronxon sat. She sat on the arm of the chair he was sitting in and looked at him but he made no effort to look at her.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked. He still did not look at her but took a deep breath.
"My brother and your sister are going out." He said. She nodded.
"I know I was there, remember?" She asked. He looked at her finally.
"Yea." He said.
"So what's so bad about them going out? You realize we pretty much set them up for it right? We brought them with us to dinner." She said taking his hand. He nodded.
"Yea. I thought I'd be happy for them but they made me realize that your living here now and when I go back with Ezra and your parents your not coming back with me. Were not going to see each other as much as we usually would, Bry." He said pulling her down to sit on his lap. She pouted a little.
"I know. But we know that this is the best thing for me. We talked about this Bronx." She said looking at him. He sighed and looked down.
"I know we did but I don't want it to happen. I want to take you home or move here."
"Well then, move here." she said smiling at him, hope bubbling up within her heart.
He shrugged, "Okay."
"Okay, that's it? Just like that you're going to move here?" she asked, her eyes widening as she spoke.How could he make a split second decision like that?
"Well, I need to go to school somewhere, so why not here with you?" he kissed her hand softly and smiled at her.
"Oh you've made me the happiest woman alive right now." she exclaimed hugging him tight.
"I doubt that." came Jael's voice from behind them.
"Bronx is going to move here, go to school with me." she smiled at her sister and winked, "What could be better than that?"
"Elisha and I just got married." Jael countered.
The family now crowded the patio, it was loud and everyone was speaking at the same time both to her and Jael. Eliana and Khalil were crying in the confusion. Bryna's head spun, but at least she knew she had Bronxon with her. For good.
--
Maryn sat in the living room. Everyone seemed to have a man except for her. She watched everyone around her in chaos but she did not feel at all chaos. The door opened and Ezra walked in with raised eyebrows as he watched the craziness Maryn now called home. Cami was next in the house and her reaction was equal to Ezra's. Than another figure walked into the house. Something she never thought she'd ever see. A very handsome man. What was he doing here? Better yet Who is he? She wondered as he followed Cami and Ezra into the living room.
"What's going on in here?" Cami asked.
"Ask Jael. Whose your friend?" Maryn asked. Cami looked at her and than to him and Maryn could see the light bulb go off in her head.
"This, Maryn, is Gabriel. He goes to school with me. Gabriel, this is my sister Maryn. You guys talk it up we have to go find Jael." Cami said taking Ezra's hand they walked out of the room.
Maryn moved over on the couch and motioned for him to sit next to her.
"Nice to meet you, Gabriel." She said. She shook his hand and he kissed hers.
"You too. You know your sister was telling me about you on the way over here and she could not have described how amazingly beautiful you are." Gabriel said. Maryn felt her cheeks get extra red and took her hand away from his.
"Thank you. She's told me nothing about you at all." Maryn said with a smile. Gabriel laughed.
"Really? You would think if she really wanted us to be together than she would tell you a little about me." He said with a smile. Maryn laughed.
"I know she's slacking we'll have to talk to her about that."
--
Cami looked at her sister and didn't know if she should smack her or hug her.
"You just got up and married each other?" Cami asked now looking at Elisha.
"Yea. Well see he has to go back to Iraq and I need to take care of Khalil. So it was necessary." Jae said. Cami hugged both of them.
"Well I'm excited for you guys!" She said. Ezra shook Elisha's hand and hugged Jae.
"Thank you! When are you guys going to do it?" Jael asked.
Cami looked at her sister in shock.
"Joking! I know you just started going out."
Cami looked at her again.
"We didn't announce that till dinner when you weren't there how do you know?" Cami asked.
"Believe me I know it all!"Jael said with a wink.
Cami took Eliana and walked away with Ezra. "I can't believe they got married." Cami said looking at Ezra. They tried to find a quiet place but the house was full or so it seemed. Cami walked into the nursery and Ezra shut the door.
"It's a good thing they got married though right?" Ezra asked. Cami nodded.
"Yea. I mean, definately. I knew they were going to it was just when? But now Elisha's going to Iraq." She said playing with the baby. Ezra sat next to her on the floor.
"Yea, God Bless him."
"My sister is going to need some help with the kids, and being alone..." she said, running her hand over Eliana's cheek gently.
"Yeah, probably. But, that doesn't mean we can't make time for us, Cambria." Ezra stated, taking her hand in his.
"Are you sure about that? Because, if we're just going to go back to being alone..." her voice broke.
"Cambria look at me." he cupped her chin in his hand, and turned her face to him. "We're going to make this work between us. Even if I have to move to Delaware."
Her heart thudded within her chest as she leaned into him. "Are you for real, Ezra?"
He chuckled, "Of course I am, Cami." he kissed her gently. "Now smile a little for me, we need to go back out there before they come looking for us."
"Right." she smiled and lifted Eliana onto her hip. "Lets get back to them."
Cami sat next to Ezra at the dinner table. They went out to have supper with the family minus Jael. She wasn't sure where she went but she was sure her sister would tell her at the house.
"So you've seemed extra happy which is quite a change from your miserable attitude towards us this morning." Maryn said. Cami smiled and looked at Ezra who winked at her.
"Well, you guys making fun of us all weekend has changed our minds about us being together." Cami said. Everyone got quiet and looked at them.
"You guys hate each other?" Kassarah said coming out of no where. Cami was used to her neighbor showing up from random places but her family gave her a strange look.
"No we don't hate each other. Were getting married." Cami said trying to keep a straight face.
"I didn't know you were that close." Her father said. Cami and Ezra both laughed.
"No no no we just decided to have more than a friendship?" Cami asked looking at everyone who still looked at them in shock. "What? Get back to eating it's not like you didn't know it was going to happen!" She said. She put a fork full of salad in her mouth and tried to not look at their judgemental looks.
"How is that going to work if he's going back on Friday?" Cami's mother asked. Cami had almost forgotten that he had to go back. She looked at Ezra was looking at her as well.
"We haven't talked about that." Ezra said.
"You guys should figure something out then. But otherwise, I'm quite happy that you two are together." Cami's father said. Cami gave a little smile and suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go to the ladies room." She said taking the napkin off of her lap. She got up and started walking to the bathroom. She felt a hand pulling her from her elbow and she didn't want to turn around. She knew who it was and she didn't want him to see her being upset.
"Cami, please talk to me? We can leave here and go somewhere else." Ezra said. She turned around and looked at his eyes.
"I don't want you to leave. I finally have you after 6 years and now your going to leave me in 5 days." She felt tears burn at her eyes. She wasn't much for goodbyes. Even if it wasn't for 5 days.
"It's just for a little bit. I can come here every weekend to see you. Or you can come home with me for the weekend. I want my mom to meet you personally." Ezra said holding her hand. Cami looked around at the people who stared at them.
"Let's go somewhere else to talk." She said.
He nodded and they walked back to the table.
She picked up her purse and took out 20 dollars. "Here's for our dinners. You guys stay as long as you like Bryna or Maryn have keys to the house. Were gonna go talk about some things."
Cami said.
Her family all nodded and she and Ezra walked out. They got into the car and she was driving this time. She wasn't sure where they were going to go that was quiet but they had to go somewhere to talk.
"Your really quiet. It's kind of making me nervous." Ezra said looking at her. She looked over at him and smiled a little.
"I'm sorry." She said. "I told you what I wanted to at the resteraunt. Your turn to talk." She said pulling into the parking lot of one of her friend's apartment buildings. She had an extra key because she had to take care of the apartment whenever he went out.
"Where are we? Your not going to kill me right?" He asked getting out of the car. She laughed and shook her head.
"No don't worry. This is my friend's house. He goes to my school and is out for the weekend so I have a key. Were going to borrow it." She said nodding. She held his hand and led him into the apartment building. They made their way up to the apartment and Cami opened the door.
"This is nice." He said walking in. Cami smiled and closed the door than locked it making Ezra turn around to look at her. "Wow." He said as she took her coat off.
"what?" She asked with a smirk leading him into the living room. He raised his eyebrows.
"Did you look that amazing all day?" He asked with a smirk. She nodded.
"pretty much." She said with a small laugh. He shook his head and sat on the couch.
"Anyway, I think we need to see each other alot." He said holding her hand as she sat next to him. She nodded.
"I agree." She said.
"Do you think we can make it work?" He asked. She nodded yet again.
"With God all things are possible." She quoted the famous verse from the bible. He smiled.
"Amen." He said with a wink. "It's taking all my strength to not kiss you right now." He said biting his bottom lip. It made her blush.
"Why? Why don't you just kiss me?" She asked. She couldn't believe she was saying that to Ezra. He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing's coming to mind." He said. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
"Well if you want to wait to kiss me that's fine. We can sit here all day he wont be home for a while."
--
Bryna walked out onto the patio where Bronxon sat. She sat on the arm of the chair he was sitting in and looked at him but he made no effort to look at her.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked. He still did not look at her but took a deep breath.
"My brother and your sister are going out." He said. She nodded.
"I know I was there, remember?" She asked. He looked at her finally.
"Yea." He said.
"So what's so bad about them going out? You realize we pretty much set them up for it right? We brought them with us to dinner." She said taking his hand. He nodded.
"Yea. I thought I'd be happy for them but they made me realize that your living here now and when I go back with Ezra and your parents your not coming back with me. Were not going to see each other as much as we usually would, Bry." He said pulling her down to sit on his lap. She pouted a little.
"I know. But we know that this is the best thing for me. We talked about this Bronx." She said looking at him. He sighed and looked down.
"I know we did but I don't want it to happen. I want to take you home or move here."
"Well then, move here." she said smiling at him, hope bubbling up within her heart.
He shrugged, "Okay."
"Okay, that's it? Just like that you're going to move here?" she asked, her eyes widening as she spoke.How could he make a split second decision like that?
"Well, I need to go to school somewhere, so why not here with you?" he kissed her hand softly and smiled at her.
"Oh you've made me the happiest woman alive right now." she exclaimed hugging him tight.
"I doubt that." came Jael's voice from behind them.
"Bronx is going to move here, go to school with me." she smiled at her sister and winked, "What could be better than that?"
"Elisha and I just got married." Jael countered.
The family now crowded the patio, it was loud and everyone was speaking at the same time both to her and Jael. Eliana and Khalil were crying in the confusion. Bryna's head spun, but at least she knew she had Bronxon with her. For good.
--
Maryn sat in the living room. Everyone seemed to have a man except for her. She watched everyone around her in chaos but she did not feel at all chaos. The door opened and Ezra walked in with raised eyebrows as he watched the craziness Maryn now called home. Cami was next in the house and her reaction was equal to Ezra's. Than another figure walked into the house. Something she never thought she'd ever see. A very handsome man. What was he doing here? Better yet Who is he? She wondered as he followed Cami and Ezra into the living room.
"What's going on in here?" Cami asked.
"Ask Jael. Whose your friend?" Maryn asked. Cami looked at her and than to him and Maryn could see the light bulb go off in her head.
"This, Maryn, is Gabriel. He goes to school with me. Gabriel, this is my sister Maryn. You guys talk it up we have to go find Jael." Cami said taking Ezra's hand they walked out of the room.
Maryn moved over on the couch and motioned for him to sit next to her.
"Nice to meet you, Gabriel." She said. She shook his hand and he kissed hers.
"You too. You know your sister was telling me about you on the way over here and she could not have described how amazingly beautiful you are." Gabriel said. Maryn felt her cheeks get extra red and took her hand away from his.
"Thank you. She's told me nothing about you at all." Maryn said with a smile. Gabriel laughed.
"Really? You would think if she really wanted us to be together than she would tell you a little about me." He said with a smile. Maryn laughed.
"I know she's slacking we'll have to talk to her about that."
--
Cami looked at her sister and didn't know if she should smack her or hug her.
"You just got up and married each other?" Cami asked now looking at Elisha.
"Yea. Well see he has to go back to Iraq and I need to take care of Khalil. So it was necessary." Jae said. Cami hugged both of them.
"Well I'm excited for you guys!" She said. Ezra shook Elisha's hand and hugged Jae.
"Thank you! When are you guys going to do it?" Jael asked.
Cami looked at her sister in shock.
"Joking! I know you just started going out."
Cami looked at her again.
"We didn't announce that till dinner when you weren't there how do you know?" Cami asked.
"Believe me I know it all!"Jael said with a wink.
Cami took Eliana and walked away with Ezra. "I can't believe they got married." Cami said looking at Ezra. They tried to find a quiet place but the house was full or so it seemed. Cami walked into the nursery and Ezra shut the door.
"It's a good thing they got married though right?" Ezra asked. Cami nodded.
"Yea. I mean, definately. I knew they were going to it was just when? But now Elisha's going to Iraq." She said playing with the baby. Ezra sat next to her on the floor.
"Yea, God Bless him."
"My sister is going to need some help with the kids, and being alone..." she said, running her hand over Eliana's cheek gently.
"Yeah, probably. But, that doesn't mean we can't make time for us, Cambria." Ezra stated, taking her hand in his.
"Are you sure about that? Because, if we're just going to go back to being alone..." her voice broke.
"Cambria look at me." he cupped her chin in his hand, and turned her face to him. "We're going to make this work between us. Even if I have to move to Delaware."
Her heart thudded within her chest as she leaned into him. "Are you for real, Ezra?"
He chuckled, "Of course I am, Cami." he kissed her gently. "Now smile a little for me, we need to go back out there before they come looking for us."
"Right." she smiled and lifted Eliana onto her hip. "Lets get back to them."
Saturday, January 31, 2009
"Life, Love, and Other Mysteries" -Chapter 5
Life, Love & Other Mysteries
Chapter 5
Bryna sat on the couch waiting for her sisters to come out of their bedrooms so they could get to church. It was going to be her new church and shes was eager to see what it looked like and what kind of music they played. Cambria's bedroom door opened and Ezra and Cami walked out both smiling. She wondered about those two. After their lunch together yesterday they had been acting differant. In the car they had said something about being inspired by the old woman in the restaraunt. She knew they didn't do anything. If anything they were just talking to each other while she got her makeup on and he gelled his hair up. Bronxon sat next to her and put his arm around her and leaned in closer to her ear.
"What's going on with them?" He asked nodding towards Ezra and Cami.
"Your guess is as good as mine, darling." She said with a smirk. He nodded.
"I thought so." He said sitting back.
"Hey where's Jael?" Cami asked as she sat on the couch to put her shoes on.
"She is in her room getting dressed." Maryn said walking into the room holding Jael's daughter.
A knock sounded at the door, and Bryna hopped up off the couch and walked toward it. Quickly, she opened the door and smiled at Elisha and Khalil who stood beyond the door smiling back at her. "Good morning!"
"Good morning." replied Elisha.
Khalil who held Elisha's hand, popped a chubby finger into his mouth and smiled shyly up at her around his finger. "Mo'nin." he said.
She couldn't help but wink at the little boy and try to resist the urge to lift him off his feet and hug him. "Come on in guys, we're waiting on Jael."
"Sounds like everyone else was quick getting ready this morning." he waved to the others who sat around waiting in the living room. Eliana lit up and immediately reached out for Elisha. He swept her up in his arms and kissed her cheeks several times.
Jael came into the hall just then with a smile, "Are we ready?" She leaned in and kiss Elisha's cheek before picking up Khalil.
Bryna sighed and helped Bronxon off the couch, "We are. I don't know about those two, their mooning over each other over there." she indicated Ezra and Cami on the love-seat.
Cami shot Bryna a death glare and hopped up off the couch, "Of course we're ready." She leaned in close to her sister, "You say one more thing like that, and you're out on your butt!"
Bryna giggled and winked at Bronxon and then Cami.
--
Cami tried to forget Bryna's words as they walked out of the house, her cheeks were burning and her anger was beginning to simmer to the top. One more comment about she and Ezra and she just might scream! Ezra touched her elbow gently and tugged her back away from the group who was splitting up into different cars. "Let's go to church in your car, alone. I think we need to talk, and that you need some time away from your well-meaning but nosey family."
She laughed nervously. "Okay sounds good."
Quietly, they slipped away from the group further and walked around the corner to her car. "Do you want to drive?" she asked.
He nodded, and took the keys from her hand as he unlocked the door and climbed in behind the wheel.
She waited for him to unlock her door, then climbed into the passenger seat. Nervously, she fidgeted with her purse and bible trying to work up the nerve to look at him. What did he want to talk about? Was he going to say something about her sister's indicating they were "an item"? Or was he going to ask her out? Really, she couldn't ever read what his thoughts were. He was a quiet man and not as transparent as she'd normally like. Slowly, she cast a glance at his profile. He was handsome, incredibly handsome. She could feel her cheeks becoming more red by the second as she stared at him.
"Say something?" he asked, his voice soft.
Cami swallowed hard, what should she say? She'd thought he'd speak first! "I'm glad you asked if we could take my car, I couldn't take one more minute of their teasing." she finally spoke after what seemed like hours.
"I think we should get used to it." he countered, as he looked at her.
"What do you mean?" hope sprang eternal in her heart.
"Well if things work out, that means dealing with years of their teasing, Cami. Can you deal with it?" he smiled slowly.
Her heart picked up it's pace, racing like a dozen horses racing. "Of course! I've put up with them for twenty-one years teasing about one thing or another, I can deal with the teasing for the rest of my life as long as I have you."
Ezra's smile seemed to reach his ears as he put his eyes back on the road and drove into the church parking lot. "Im glad, Cami." he said as they climbed out of the car.
"Me too." she replied, linking her hand with his as they walked toward the church together.
--
Jael stood next to Elisha enjoying his presence beside her, and the presence of her brothers-and-sisters in Christ around them as they worshipped the Lord together. She held Khalil, who seemed to have a fever this morning and was extra cuddly and clingy. Elisha had passed Eliana on to Bryna who had stolen the baby away to pass her on to one of the women in the church who was oohing and awwing over the chubby little girl. He stood beside her, his hand on her back as the minister welcomed everyone to the service and acknowledged the visitors.
Elisha's cell phone began to buzz in his pocket, and she stepped out of the way to let him slide around her. He winked at her and walked swiftly down the aisle to answer his phone.
Her stomach began to churn with the expectation that something was about to happen. No one who knew him well would be calling during what they knew was church time. Khalil watched after Elisha, and snuggled closer to Jael whimpering softly. Closing her eyes, she rubbed the sweet little boy's back, she needed to realize that it wasn't about just them and their love. These two sweet children that they'd been entrusted with needed their strength and love at every moment; moreso than she needed the assurance of her soon-to-be,whenever they set a date, husband's love.
Just as the congregation was being told to be seated, he returned looking quite unhappy. Elisha slipped past her and into his seat again, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.
"What's wrong?" she whispered, looking up at him and searching his dark eyes for an answer to her questions.
"I'll tell you after church." he conceded, hugging her as reassurance.
Khalil climbed over into Elisha's lap as if he needed his daddy at this moment, and wrapped his little chubby arms around Elisha's neck.
Her heart thudded with love, worry, and the feeling that her life was complete with them in it. She covered his hand that lay on her shoulder,with her own and sighed settling in for the rest of the service.
After the service had ended, she wished that their church was not so loving and caring, wanting to talk for hours after the service. At this moment, Jael wanted to hurry out of the church and hear what that phone call had been about. What was troubling Elisha? After the phone call, he'd become downcast, refusing to look in her eyes. Finallly, after what seemed like hours they walked out to the car. In silence, they buckled Khalil and Eliana into their carseats and climbed into their seats. "What's going on?" she asked immediately.
"It was my commanding officer, I'm being sent back to Iraq love."
His words seemed to hit her in slow motion, her entire life plans had now been rearranged by a small sentence. "Baby no, please no." she whispered, clasping his hand.
"I wish I didn't have to, Jae." he sighed and kissed her cheek. "I don't know what I'm going to do with Khalil."
"I can take him." she stated, still feeling the sting of his words.
"Yes, but legally you can't make any decisions for him until we're married." he rubbed her cheek gently.
"Then let's get married."
He looked at her quickly, "What?"
"Lets go get married, tonight.." she looked up at Elisha, hoping he could see her insistance. She needed to know that everything was taken care of between them, leaving nothing to chance.
"Are you sure? What about the big wedding you were planning months from now, baby?" he asked as he fidgeted with her engagement ring.
Jael nodded her head, "Of course I'm sure! We can have that wedding when you come home to us. We'll just do the part that counts right now to make sure everything is taken care of."
He smiled and kissed her softly. "Let's do it."
Turning back to the wheel, he turned on the car and took off toward the nearest justice of the peace.
Chapter 5
Bryna sat on the couch waiting for her sisters to come out of their bedrooms so they could get to church. It was going to be her new church and shes was eager to see what it looked like and what kind of music they played. Cambria's bedroom door opened and Ezra and Cami walked out both smiling. She wondered about those two. After their lunch together yesterday they had been acting differant. In the car they had said something about being inspired by the old woman in the restaraunt. She knew they didn't do anything. If anything they were just talking to each other while she got her makeup on and he gelled his hair up. Bronxon sat next to her and put his arm around her and leaned in closer to her ear.
"What's going on with them?" He asked nodding towards Ezra and Cami.
"Your guess is as good as mine, darling." She said with a smirk. He nodded.
"I thought so." He said sitting back.
"Hey where's Jael?" Cami asked as she sat on the couch to put her shoes on.
"She is in her room getting dressed." Maryn said walking into the room holding Jael's daughter.
A knock sounded at the door, and Bryna hopped up off the couch and walked toward it. Quickly, she opened the door and smiled at Elisha and Khalil who stood beyond the door smiling back at her. "Good morning!"
"Good morning." replied Elisha.
Khalil who held Elisha's hand, popped a chubby finger into his mouth and smiled shyly up at her around his finger. "Mo'nin." he said.
She couldn't help but wink at the little boy and try to resist the urge to lift him off his feet and hug him. "Come on in guys, we're waiting on Jael."
"Sounds like everyone else was quick getting ready this morning." he waved to the others who sat around waiting in the living room. Eliana lit up and immediately reached out for Elisha. He swept her up in his arms and kissed her cheeks several times.
Jael came into the hall just then with a smile, "Are we ready?" She leaned in and kiss Elisha's cheek before picking up Khalil.
Bryna sighed and helped Bronxon off the couch, "We are. I don't know about those two, their mooning over each other over there." she indicated Ezra and Cami on the love-seat.
Cami shot Bryna a death glare and hopped up off the couch, "Of course we're ready." She leaned in close to her sister, "You say one more thing like that, and you're out on your butt!"
Bryna giggled and winked at Bronxon and then Cami.
--
Cami tried to forget Bryna's words as they walked out of the house, her cheeks were burning and her anger was beginning to simmer to the top. One more comment about she and Ezra and she just might scream! Ezra touched her elbow gently and tugged her back away from the group who was splitting up into different cars. "Let's go to church in your car, alone. I think we need to talk, and that you need some time away from your well-meaning but nosey family."
She laughed nervously. "Okay sounds good."
Quietly, they slipped away from the group further and walked around the corner to her car. "Do you want to drive?" she asked.
He nodded, and took the keys from her hand as he unlocked the door and climbed in behind the wheel.
She waited for him to unlock her door, then climbed into the passenger seat. Nervously, she fidgeted with her purse and bible trying to work up the nerve to look at him. What did he want to talk about? Was he going to say something about her sister's indicating they were "an item"? Or was he going to ask her out? Really, she couldn't ever read what his thoughts were. He was a quiet man and not as transparent as she'd normally like. Slowly, she cast a glance at his profile. He was handsome, incredibly handsome. She could feel her cheeks becoming more red by the second as she stared at him.
"Say something?" he asked, his voice soft.
Cami swallowed hard, what should she say? She'd thought he'd speak first! "I'm glad you asked if we could take my car, I couldn't take one more minute of their teasing." she finally spoke after what seemed like hours.
"I think we should get used to it." he countered, as he looked at her.
"What do you mean?" hope sprang eternal in her heart.
"Well if things work out, that means dealing with years of their teasing, Cami. Can you deal with it?" he smiled slowly.
Her heart picked up it's pace, racing like a dozen horses racing. "Of course! I've put up with them for twenty-one years teasing about one thing or another, I can deal with the teasing for the rest of my life as long as I have you."
Ezra's smile seemed to reach his ears as he put his eyes back on the road and drove into the church parking lot. "Im glad, Cami." he said as they climbed out of the car.
"Me too." she replied, linking her hand with his as they walked toward the church together.
--
Jael stood next to Elisha enjoying his presence beside her, and the presence of her brothers-and-sisters in Christ around them as they worshipped the Lord together. She held Khalil, who seemed to have a fever this morning and was extra cuddly and clingy. Elisha had passed Eliana on to Bryna who had stolen the baby away to pass her on to one of the women in the church who was oohing and awwing over the chubby little girl. He stood beside her, his hand on her back as the minister welcomed everyone to the service and acknowledged the visitors.
Elisha's cell phone began to buzz in his pocket, and she stepped out of the way to let him slide around her. He winked at her and walked swiftly down the aisle to answer his phone.
Her stomach began to churn with the expectation that something was about to happen. No one who knew him well would be calling during what they knew was church time. Khalil watched after Elisha, and snuggled closer to Jael whimpering softly. Closing her eyes, she rubbed the sweet little boy's back, she needed to realize that it wasn't about just them and their love. These two sweet children that they'd been entrusted with needed their strength and love at every moment; moreso than she needed the assurance of her soon-to-be,whenever they set a date, husband's love.
Just as the congregation was being told to be seated, he returned looking quite unhappy. Elisha slipped past her and into his seat again, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.
"What's wrong?" she whispered, looking up at him and searching his dark eyes for an answer to her questions.
"I'll tell you after church." he conceded, hugging her as reassurance.
Khalil climbed over into Elisha's lap as if he needed his daddy at this moment, and wrapped his little chubby arms around Elisha's neck.
Her heart thudded with love, worry, and the feeling that her life was complete with them in it. She covered his hand that lay on her shoulder,with her own and sighed settling in for the rest of the service.
After the service had ended, she wished that their church was not so loving and caring, wanting to talk for hours after the service. At this moment, Jael wanted to hurry out of the church and hear what that phone call had been about. What was troubling Elisha? After the phone call, he'd become downcast, refusing to look in her eyes. Finallly, after what seemed like hours they walked out to the car. In silence, they buckled Khalil and Eliana into their carseats and climbed into their seats. "What's going on?" she asked immediately.
"It was my commanding officer, I'm being sent back to Iraq love."
His words seemed to hit her in slow motion, her entire life plans had now been rearranged by a small sentence. "Baby no, please no." she whispered, clasping his hand.
"I wish I didn't have to, Jae." he sighed and kissed her cheek. "I don't know what I'm going to do with Khalil."
"I can take him." she stated, still feeling the sting of his words.
"Yes, but legally you can't make any decisions for him until we're married." he rubbed her cheek gently.
"Then let's get married."
He looked at her quickly, "What?"
"Lets go get married, tonight.." she looked up at Elisha, hoping he could see her insistance. She needed to know that everything was taken care of between them, leaving nothing to chance.
"Are you sure? What about the big wedding you were planning months from now, baby?" he asked as he fidgeted with her engagement ring.
Jael nodded her head, "Of course I'm sure! We can have that wedding when you come home to us. We'll just do the part that counts right now to make sure everything is taken care of."
He smiled and kissed her softly. "Let's do it."
Turning back to the wheel, he turned on the car and took off toward the nearest justice of the peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)