Time and Unforeseen Occurrences Chapter Five

Sometimes I would wonder why Jacob was so involved with my family even when we were friends, but he said he fell in love with my mother the first time he met her. My mother has a way of making people do that. Jacob and Monique also became very close instantly. I think he was like the daddy that she always craved. After Jacob's first visit to my mother's house she invited him to come again, and said that he didn't have to wait for me to come with him, because that might be a long wait, he took her up on that. My father had died years earlier when I was young and being an only child I was spoiled and loved a lot. But mother loved everyone a lot that darkened her doorstep. My mother's love for me was the reason why she died as one of those Jehovah's Witnesses instead of the Baptist she was raised as from infancy. I continued being a Baptist even after mother's diversion, being a witness required changes that I did not want to make.

It was her death that brought me and my grand kids together. It took the death of my mother and seeing them at mother's home, the funeral and grave site to melt my anger and pride. They were so adorable and knowing they had my blood running in them was too much. It was at the grave site I finally got my nerve to speak to them. The boys saw Jacob and they ran excitedly to him and hugged his legs. That's when I realized that I really wanted to be apart of their life.

The tears were swelling in my eyes, I am not sure if it was because I had just laid my mother to rest, or I had realized just how much Monique and her boys meant to me, or maybe it was a combination of the two.

I walked up beside Jacob and I bent down to give them both eye contact and I extended my hand to them for a handshake. I found my voice and I was able to say hello and to ask them how they were doing. They both remarked, "good." Neither one were in a suit, just a clean pair of pants and clean shirts and shoes that they appeared to be growing out of. It was the beginning of March and it was cold and windy and they both had coats that fit very snug with matching stocking caps. I need to take them shopping I thought to myself. As I was about to tell them my name, Monique walked up. I think I managed a smile, but my heart was beating so fast, I thought it was coming through my chest. I stood up so I could give Monique direct eye contact.

"Hi Monique, how are you doing?" I asked.

"Fine mother," she replied her eyes still red from crying even though it was cold outside, I felt a shiver from the icy glare she was giving me. I walked up to her and gave her a hug, she didn't return the gesture, her arms stayed by her side. She looked at the boys and called them to her side, I thought she was going to leave but what she did next surprised me.

"Jonathan, Marcus do you remember the pictures of the lady in Grandma Kate's house that you would ask about, and I would always she that she is Miss Zabeta. What I didn't tell you about Miss Zabeta is she is my mother, your grandmother."

"You're our grandmother?" the bigger boy asked.

"Yes and who are you and what is your brother's name?"

He points his little finger at his chest and says, "I'm Jonathan," and then pointed his finger at his brother, "He's Marcus."

"I am truly glad to meet you both." I reply.

Monique looked pretty in her blue dress and her hair was in a pony tail, but she looked as if she wasn't feeling well, and when she walked she walked as if she was in pain and she looked older than her twenty six years. The coat that she had on was shorter than her dress, and if I wasn't mistaken it looked like one I brought her years ago. She had on black shoes and the soles were wore down. I just shook my head because my daughter was supposed to be looking glamorous, leading a glamorous life. She walked over and gave Jacob a hug and kiss and she asked him if he had seen Quincy. He told her she was already headed back to the house to help set up to feed the family.

I looked at Monique and asked her if the boys agreed to it, would it be all right for the boys to ride back with me in the limousine that the funeral home had provided. Knowing that Monique and I didn't get along, I had arranged for C&H funeral home to provide a car with three limousines. One for mother's brothers and sisters, one for me and Jacob and the other for Monique and her family. Monique asked the boys how would they like riding with me back to Grandma Kate's house. They both said it would be okay.

I started searching the crowd for Miles. "Monique where is Miles, he is riding back with you to mother's house isn't he?

"No mother he doesn't like the country or graveyards, so he left immediately after the funeral. He didn't feel like he would probably be wanted anyway."

I look at he and shake my head, "Your husband can't give you support on the one day you need it, why does that not surprise me?"

Monique rolls her eyes and replies, "Mother he isn't the only one who doesn't support me when I need it, what Miles does or does not do is any of your concern." She then walks away from me over to the kids and kisses them and tells them she will see them at Grandma Kate's house.

The present*********

The boys run back into the kitchen and jumps on the stool at the counter. Jacob tells them to sit at the table. "Honey is there anything you need some help with?" I ask Jacob.

"Yes, set the table and get the orange juice from the refrigerator." Jacob answers back.

"Would you guys like to help me set the table?" I ask the boys."

"Yeah Granny," they answer.

"Yes," I correct them. "Have you both washed your hands?"

"Yes Granny Zee." Jonathan reply.

"Yes Granny Zee," Marcus answers like an echo.

They both show me their hands, "they are so cute," I think to myself. "I am so proud of the good job that your mom has done with you boys, you are both so smart," I tell them as they are helping set the table.

"Why don't you tell Monique that, or better yet boys you tell your mom what Grandma just said."

I ignore him but Jonathan tells his grandpa he will do it.

Jacob places a stack of pancakes, and a stack of sausage and bacon in the center of the table. I help Jonathan and Marcus with their plates and I put a couple of pancakes and a couple of strips of bacon on my own plate. Jacob piles his plate with everything.

"Jacob are you free today to spend time with me and the boys?"

"I have never major going on today, why?"

I look at the boys with excitement in my voice and I say, "Because we have several things to celebrate today, first one is the fact that yesterday was the boys first day of summer vacation, and the second that is that the boys will spending a little bit more time with us, because mommy had to take a little trip and that means that we are going to have a lot of time to spend with the guys," I answer with excitement. With so many things to celebrate, we need to go to Greensboro for pizzas at Celebration Station, that is unless the boys ate too much pizza last night! What do you say boys?"

"Celebration Station!" yells Jonathan.

"Celebration Station!" yells Marcus.

I knew that maybe I was spoiling the kids a little bit but I had to occupy them to take their mind of their mother. Too bad Quincy's kids weren't a little bit older, I would take the twins also," I thought to myself. "Oh why not take them it's only a few hours."

"Jacob if I took Quincy's girls do you think together we could handle all the kids?"

"We a team aren't we, besides it would be nice to spend some time with the girls. Give Quincy and Jeffrey some time to themselves."

"You think she would mind trading vehicles for today, since she has the bigger vehicle?"

"That would mean her driving your Mercedes, what you think?"

"I wasn't thinking because I now realized I could tell Jacob was getting excited about the whole day spending time with the twins. I knew he would like that. After breakfast I tell the boys to go and get dress. They run out the room as usual, then shy Marcus runs back and gives me a kiss.

"Thank you Grandma Zee" and he runs off again.

I look up at Jacob who has started loading the dishwasher with a surprised look on my face and he looks down at me and smiles. I get up and help ;him and every time our hands or bodies touch, I feel my face flush with excitement and love. I look over at him and grin and say, "you better be glad the boys are here, or you would be in trouble." The way he grins back I can tell he was thinking the same thing.

He leaves out the kitchen to go and take his shower. I start the dishwasher, and I take my time wiping off the dishwasher, stove, kitchen counters and sweeping the floor hoping to give Jacob enough time to shower and dress. I have to avoid the temptation I am feeling to join my husband in the shower, especially this time of the day with the boys around.

I hear Jacob going down the hall on his way to the game room that's when I head towards our bedroom. I look in the night stand beside our bed for our phone book. I look up Victoria Quessential Reynolds and the name "Quincy" is in parenthesis. What in the world was her mother thinking about giving her the name Quenssential? I guess the same as mother was thinking giving me a name like Zabeta. I dial the number.

"It's your quarter, spend it?" Quincy answers.

"Hello Quincy, how are you doing this morning?"

"Auntee Zee, is everything okay, have you talked to Mo, is she alright?"

"Yes Quincy everything is fine with Monique, calm down."

"Well, I just figured you calling something must be wrong, how is Uncle Jacob?"

"Like I said before everything is okay, so what are your plans?"

"Well I had planned on visiting Monique sometimes today, before I go to work and sit with a patient for about five hours, why?"

"Well I was wondering if your girls could go with Jacob and I and the boys to Greensboro to Celebration Station, and if the answer is yes, would you trade vehicles with me today, because yours is bigger."

"Wait a minute I think we have a bad connection," she says beating the phone on the floor or the wall or something," because I could have sworn that you just offered to take care of my girls, and you were offering me your Mercedes!"

"Yes I did Quincy, I was also thinking if Jacob is up to it, we would keep the girls tonight and you can come and get them first thing in the morning and I do mean you because that's when you will be returning my car also."

"Auntee Zee are you sick or dying or something?"

I can't help but laugh and then I get quiet, because I am thinking I wish I could make Monique this excited and happy.

"You still there Auntee?"

"Yes Quincy this is just my way of saying thanks for having Monique's back."

The other end goes dead.

"No problem Auntee, Monique's my girl."

"That was all that was needed to be said.

"I'll see you in about an hour or so."

"Okay Auntee Zee."

I then return the phone to the cradle. I hurry to the bathroom and take my shower. I hate to be late for anything, especially when I have told someone what time I will be there. If the Lord is willing I am going to be there in an hour.