by Ancelli
~~~
Their wedding was at the small chapel on base, very small and simple, a celebration of their love just the way they both wanted it. There were no formal invitations, no theme, just them saying I do. There were only eight guests at their intimate wedding: Maya’s parents, Jesse’s dad, his sister Sarah, Lucas, his uncle Joshua, and Candice. Her siblings couldn’t make it, but sent her their love. The chapel was decorated with wild flowers at the altar thanks to Sarah. His sister also made a beautiful bouquet for her, Maya hadn’t even thought about getting one. Their wedding wasn’t formal, they didn’t even tell anyone but family and close friends.
When I said I do, by Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore played as Maya walked down the aisle in her flowing white dress arm in arm with her father. She smiled as soon as she saw her superman waiting for her at the altar, with his father and sister by his side. Tears of happiness rolled down her face, messing up her make-up. Maya wiped her face with the back of her hand.
They reached the altar and Jesse’s eyes were filled with unshed tears, “My beautiful, beautiful Maya,” he whispered, taking her hand from her dad.
Sarah took the bouquet from Maya.
“Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, thank you for gifting me with your amazing daughter. I promise to always put her first, to treat her with respect and dignity. She is my forever.” Jesse said never tearing his eyes away from Maya’s.
Everyone standing at the altar with them had watery eyes, or were in tears.
“Your welcome, and I’m going to hold you to that.” Her dad smiled, and kissed Maya’s forehead, “I raised an amazing woman. I love you, darling.” He stepped to the side, next to her mom.
Maya swallowed, “I love you, Daddy,” and then she turned to Jesse’s family. “Mr. Harvey,” she paused getting her emotions in check. “Thank you for raising such a wonderful gentleman,” and then she gazed into Jesse’s mesmerizing eyes. “Thank you for making me believe in love.”
“Your mother and I couldn’t be more proud of you, son,” Jesse’s dad said. His mother didn’t show up for the wedding, she claimed she was under the weather and couldn’t fly out, but Maya knew better. The woman hadn’t liked her from day one, she never gave her a chance since the first time she met her, but they didn’t let her absence dampen their celebration.
Jesse continued to lovingly stare at her as if everyone around them ceased to exist. “Do you know how much I love you?”
She wiped his fallen tear, “Yes I do, because I love you just as much.”
You could hear a pin drop at that point, it was so quiet as they gazed at each other until the chaplain called her mother in the front, and she started reading from the bible.
Ephesians 5:22-33.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
“Maya, my baby girl,” her mom sniffled, rubbing her nose with a handkerchief. “You have made me a proud mother, time and time again since you were born, and at this moment I couldn’t be more proud of the woman you’ve become. I love you to the moon and back,” she took a couple of steps forward and wrapped her arms around Maya, breaking her connection with Jesse. “Remember to compromise,” she whispered in her ear. “And give it up anytime he wants it.”
Maya bust out laughing, her mother never talked to her about sex. No one else heard her mom, “Yes, Mom,” she pulled back, and wiped her mama’s face. “You are my shero, you sacrificed so much for us, and I am forever indebted to you and Daddy. I love you, Mommy.”
Her dad reached for her mom, “Honey, they are trying to get married.” He took Maya’s mom’s arm in his as the chaplain started with the short ceremony. They recited their vows.
“Love…” Jesse took Maya’s hands in his, “I believe in us, the people we will grow to be, and the couple we will be together. I promise to be faithful and supportive, and to always make our family's love and happiness my priority. I will be yours in abundance and in want, in failure and in triumph, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.” His hands were shaking. “I promise to be the husband you deserve, to provide for our family and to love you until the end of time.” They improvised their vows, this wasn’t a conventional wedding, the chaplain stated that they could add or take away as they pleased.
“The end of time,” her lips curled into a smile.
Jesse continued. “I will dream, celebrate, and walk beside you through whatever our lives may bring. You are my person, my love and my life, today and always."
“I promise to try to be the best wife possible,” she chuckled. “I said try,” she squeezed his fingers, “because I don’t want to make promises that I may not be able to keep. You know how I can be at times. My mouth seems to get me in trouble, but you love me anyways.”
“You’re already the best wife I’ve ever had,” he smirked.
Maya snickered, “I’m the only wife you’ll ever have.” She got serious. “You have been my best friend, confidant and my greatest challenge. But most importantly, you are the love of my life and you make me happier than I could ever imagine, and feel more loved than I ever thought possible. I promise to nurture our dreams. I promise faithfulness and patience, respect and loyalty. In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. Until death do us part.”
They exchanged matching rings.
“You may kiss your bride,” the chaplain said.
Jesse inched closer to Maya, placing his arms around her waist and dipped her, making their family and friends laugh, and then he planted a gentle kiss on her lips. “Mrs. Harvey, are you ready for our future?”
“I’ve been ready…”
The next day after the happiest day of their lives at the time, Jesse and Maya went straight to a tattoo shop, and tattooed their wedding date on their ring fingers.
~~~
Maya just sat there watching the chapel she’d been married in almost nine years ago. It was exactly how she remembered the small white building with a cross in the middle. She was feeling so many emotions at once, her entire life with Jesse flashed all at once. From the day they first met, until the day he finally came back home. They’d been through too much together, and they overcame it, but they have more to overcome. Lights flickered from inside the church.
She took a deep breath, grabbed the flowers, and got out of the car. There was a vehicle parked on the side of the building. She strolled up to the church, and slowly opened the door. Maya walked further in, and stopped dead in her tracks. The church was lit with white candles, and Jesse stood at the altar in a white button up shirt and black slacks. She covered her mouth, he looked gorgeous. Her own cover model. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He didn’t move a muscle, standing at the altar.
“It was about time, love,” Jesse finally spoke. When I Said I do by Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore, played in the background. “Maya…”
She was so tired of crying, but this time they were happy tears. Jesse was back, and nothing, or no one was going to take him away. “Jesse…” She ran down the aisle, straight into his open arms. Maya circled her arms around the love of her life, and w
hispered. “Thank you for reminding me…”
Jesse leaned back, cupping her face, “I wanted to bring you back to where I made you promises.” He wiped her cheeks, “I broke those promises, but I’m ready to make new ones, and this time I will keep them.” Jesse kissed her nose. “My sweetheart, in this very spot you promised me to try to be the best wife.”
She gazed into his eyes. “I said I would try.”
“Maya, you did more than try, you were the best wife for me,” he leaned his forehead on hers. “We all have issues, but together we make a perfect, imperfection. Things you think I don’t like about you, are the things I love the most.”
“Really?” She chuckled, raising her eyebrow.
“I love that you are boisterous sometimes I need to be yelled at and put in place,” Jesse smiled. “I love everything about you.”
“Jesse…”
“Shhh…” he bent his head down, giving her a peck on the lips. “Thank you for forgiving me, and for giving this broken heart a second chance.”
“We’ve been through so much.” Maya placed her hand over his heart, “Our trials and tribulations have brought us to this moment, where we said I do almost nine years ago. We have come full circle and between all this we were blessed with two beautiful babies,” she tapped his chest. “Jr was loaned to us for a short time, but he was loved.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. “He knew how much Mommy and Daddy loved him. You came home in time to feel him move inside of me, he heard your voice, and believe me he knew Daddy loved him. And then we were given a second chance to be parents.”
Jesse’s lips curled up. “My Bella…”
“Yes, Annabella is our second chance.”
“I missed out.”
“Yes, you did,” she stared at him. “But bubbles,” she snickered, “might not remember those years. That girl worships the ground you walk on.”
“Love,” he took her hands in his. “Bella is my miracle. You and her brought me out of my darkness, I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s because you believed in me.”
“Always,” she entwined their fingers.
“Maya Thompson-Harvey, I promise to always put you first, to treat you with respect and dignity. I promise above all else to live in truth with you and to communicate fully and fearlessly. I promise to be the husband, lover, and best friend you deserve, to provide for our family, and to love you until the end of time. Will you take me as your partner in life?”
“My sweet Jesse, I will always be honest with you, kind, patient and forgiving. I do take you as my husband, lover, best friend and my partner for life. Now kiss your bride,” she got on her tiptoes, and Jesse passionately kissed her.
“Mmmm…” he reared back, “Sandra has Bella for the night.”
“She does?”
“Yes,” he turned around and started blowing out the candles. “Did you get your pills?”
“I sure did,” she raised her hand so he could see the ring. “I love it.”
“I have one more surprise,” Jesse placed his palm on the arch of her back.
***
Jesse dropped off the rental, and drove them back into town. Maya was asleep with the seat reared all the way back. He was so happy, that it scared him at first, until he had to tell himself he was worthy of his beautiful girls, that he deserves happiness. Jesse was perfectly imperfect in his wife’s and little girl’s eyes, and that was ok with him.
“Maya, we’re here,” he said pulling up to the big brick building that was being renovated. Mr. King was getting the bunk beds changed out. The doors were closed for the night, but Jesse was planning on changing that policy. He would open the shelter until they were at full capacity, according to what the fire marshal’s restrictions were. He parked in the director’s parking space. He never thought this was where he would end up again, but he was thankful that he was. “Love,” he rubbed her arm.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she squinted her eyes, looking at the structure. “Where are we?”
Jesse got out of the car, and walked over to the passenger door, opening it for Maya. He helped her out, closing the door behind them. “This is…”
Maya didn’t let him finish his sentence, “Oh my God you got the job?” she squealed. “You got the job!”
He chuckled as she dived into his arms, he held her tight. “Thank you,” he kissed the side of her head. “Thank you, baby.”
“For what?”
“For being by my side,” he rubbed her back. “I know you and Sandra had a lot to do with this. I have the best wife and friend.”
“I’m so proud of you,” she moved back, her brown eyes sparkling. “Don’t ever doubt how much you have to offer.”
Those words made his heart skip.
Maya pointed at the building, “Those people inside need someone who really cares about them, and no one does more than you.”
“I have so much to offer.”
“More than you know.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jesse couldn’t keep his hands to himself when he was around Maya. Making love and renewing his vows to his wife was a part of sealing his healing process. He knew he would do anything to make her smile. He stared at his reflection in the mirror as he adjusted his red tie. He’d come a long way in the last five months, Jesse was blessed. Maya wanted to show off her husband at her command Christmas party, and who was he to stop her. He’d once been ashamed, but now he was proud. He served his country with honor, courage, and commitment. His injury didn’t define who he was, it made him who he was today.
Jesse looked down at his ring finger. It would never be the same, he realized as he bent and stretched his digit. He started playing with his ring, he’d missed the piece of jewelry, and its presence on his finger.
Maya startled him, wrapping her arms around his waist, staring at their reflection in the floor mirror. “You look amazing, Mr. Harvey,” she laid her chin on his shoulder.
He gazed into her eyes through the mirror, damn he was one lucky man. It always amazed him how beautiful his wife was. Her make-up was barely noticeable, and she’d just had her hair freshly permed, and it flowed down her shoulders. “You look…” she took his breath away. Jesse twisted around in her arms, gazing at her from her head to her pretty toes playing peek a boo in those sexy open toed black pumps, “Incredible.” Jesse traced her nose and then her soft lips with his index finger. Her luscious lips were an aphrodisiac to him, they spiked a sexual desire in him. His hands traveled down her body, ending at the curves of her tight ass. “I’m one lucky son of a gun.”
“Yes you are,” she chuckled. “You like?” she smoothed her palms down her skirt.
“I love it,” Jesse softly tapped her ass. Maya wore a long red two-piece formal evening gown, with a high neck sleeveless crop top bodice hugging her breasts. A beaded band accentuated her waistline while her skirt cascaded down, hugging her curves perfectly, before falling to a glamorous floor length gown. “You look marvelous in that dress, but I know you look amazing without it. I can make that happen,” he bent his head, and began kissing her, and then softly sucking on her neck, making her moan.
“Stop it,” he could hardly hear her as she regrettably pushed him away.
“Do you really want me to stop?” Jesse tried to kiss her again, and she veered away from him.
“No,” she wiped her red lipstick off his lips. “I never want you to stop, and that’s going to make us late.” Maya picked up a small, sparkly purse, and headed out of the bedroom door. “Stop staring at my ass, and let’s go.”
Jesse chuckled, “It’s not my fault that it’s hypnotizing,” he said and followed in tow.
***
They entered the hotel ballroom and the first people the saw were Lucas and Sandra. Sandra was a Spanish beauty, reminding her of the Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañón. She was wearing a long white dress, with a split exposing her prosthetic leg, down to her white low heeled pumps. Standing by her said was her handsome husband. Lucas wa
s an elegant African-American man. Being an attorney, he always wore tailor made suits that accentuated his sophistication, and seeing him tonight in a tux was no different. Lucas held Sandra in his arms. He’d taken their son to visit his family in Germany for a couple of months, and now he was back. Sandra was beaming as she talked to other guests.
“J,” Lucas was the first to see him. “Excuse us.” He took Sandra’s hand in his and they walked over. Lucas gave Jesse a bear hug. “Man, it’s been a long time. Sandra said you were back, what the hell happened?”
Jesse embraced his friend, and pulled away. “Long story,” he said and stared at Sandra. Jesse assumed she hadn’t told her husband, or he was playing it off. “How was your vacation?” He changed the subject. Gone was the man that was nervous when he was asked about his past. He didn’t have to answer to anyone.
“It was great seeing family. It’s been years since we’ve all been together,” he hugged Sandra, “I only wished my wife could’ve been there too, but her clients needed her,” he kissed her forehead.
“Yes, I couldn’t up and leave my patients for that long.” Sandra smiled, “Cooper had fun with his cousins, and grandparents.” She was following Jesse’s lead, changing the conversation.
“How have you been, Jesse?” Lucas stared at him.
Maya squeezed his hand, letting him know he wasn’t alone. “I couldn’t be better. I finally got a job,” Jesse said proudly.
“I heard, congratulations.” Lucas said. “We have the old Harvey’s back,” he glanced at the both of them. “You were missed. Maybe we can get together and play cards like we used to.”
“That would be nice,” Jesse answered. He’d missed his old buddies, and the idea of spending time with them didn’t sound that bad.
