*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
"All right," says my mama as my brothers, sisters, she and I are sitting out on the patio a couple days after Kaylee, Jonah and I come back to Phoenix to spend the rest of Christmas break with them before Jonah and I return back to Tampa. "I want to hear all about it, tell me all about your wedding."
I smile and say, "it was beautiful and absolutely perfect. I loved every moment of it and I'm glad I am finally a wifey. I never thought I was going to get married but here I am married to the love of my life. I know I'm only 18 almost 19 but I know Seth is the one for me."
"I'm glad," says my mama. "I bet you were a beautiful bride. What did you do?"
"It was the typical wedding," I answer. "Kaylee and Brandon were our witnesses she was my maid of honor and he was Seth's best man. Jonah walked me down the aisle and gave me away. It was very special then we had some pictures taken on the beach and at the resort we got married on. We had a little reception then Seth and I celebrated our marriage," I say biting my lip nervously.
"Ah the newlywed stage," says my mama. "I remember it well. I believe Chelsea came from our newlywed stage."
"Don't tell the story please, Mama," says Chelsea making us all laugh. Over the years we have heard that Chelsea was a result of a romantic night on a beach in Australia between our parents a couple months after they got married. Chelsea hates when they tell the story. "I think we all know about it."
"Yeah we do," I laugh. "Sorry, Chels."
"I'm not sure why you're laughing, Jordyn," says my mama. "You and Josiah were a result of a two week honeymoon to Hawaii for us."
"Of course we were," I say with a smile. "That's kind of romantic and cool to think that we were conceived in Hawaii. I want to go to Hawaii but I think Seth has other plans for us when we take our honeymoon."
"You don't know where you're going for your honeymoon?"
"Seth knows but I don't," I answer. "It's a surprise."
"Well, be careful in Hawaii if you make it there," says Chelsea. "Hawaii and our family don't have good track records when it comes to making babies. Libby and Langston were a result of a two week trip to Hawaii for Cody and me. You could be three for three," she says with a smile. "Hawaii and the Batista women have a baby making relationship and you could even get pregnant with twins."
"I would be okay with having twins," I say with a smile "It wouldn't be that big of a deal for me."
"I'm glad you're welcoming of that concept because it's possible," says my mama. "The day your dad and I found out I was pregnant with two babies he passed out. They run in our family and you're pretty likely to have twins of your own."
"I thought they skipped a generation?" I ask.
"I don't know," she says. "They can but then again they may not."
"I see," I say, "I'll be happy with twins. Jonah has been asking for a baby sister for months now. Seth and I keep telling him it will happen when it's supposed to happen."
"Jordyn, are you saying you weren't on any type of birth control before you got married?" asks my mama.
"Well, not really," I say. "I'm not on birth control now. I got rid of the pill a couple months ago. Seth and I decided to let life happen the way it should but obviously it hasn't been time for a baby because we haven't gotten pregnant yet."
"You're not alone," says Chelsea. "Cody and I gave up our birth control before we got married too."
"Same," says my mama with a smile. "Your dad was scared to death he would get me pregnant before we were married. We always joked that your Nonna would calculate the time of conception and figure out it happened before we were married. I got pregnant once when we first started dating but because I was attacked I lost that baby. Then we were on the pill and then I stopped. Sure enough Chelsea waited until three months into our marriage," she smiles. "God knew what he was doing. So you're planning to have more kids?"
"One or two," I say. "We haven't really decided. Right now we are just enjoying life and if it happens then it happens. I won't be upset. I want a little baby, Jonah wants a sister and Seth wants a baby. If it happens it happens. God will let it happen when he wants it to. That's how it works isn't it?"
"Everything is on God's plan," says my mama. "What about you, Chels? Are you having any more babies?"
"Probably not," she answers. "Libby and Langston are a handful. I can't have any more babies besides with Libby and Langston Cody and I don't get much time to talk," she says making us all laugh because that was our parents' secret code for having sex.
"You knew what talk meant?" asks my mama.
"We ALL Knew what talk meant," says Ben. "You and Dad would go talk for a long time then you would come back with your hair messed up and a smile on your face. Sometimes Dad would have a hickey or two on his neck. We ALL knew that when you and Dad said you were talking to stay away from the door and stay away from your bedroom."
"Even I know what it means when you say you're going to talk," says Sicily with a smile causing my mama's face to turn a light shade of pink. "If Chelsea was made in Australia and Jordyn and Josiah were made in Hawaii, where was I made? Sicily?"
"No," she says, "You were a very big surprise for your father and me. I didn't think I could have any more babies after Jordyn and Josiah but surely enough I found out I was pregnant with you and it was a BIG surprise; a surprise I love so very much and made our lives complete. You'll always be my baby girl," she says with a smile. "And your father and I named you Sicily because that's where my family is from in Italy plus your dad really loved the name. I wanted to name you Natalia but because your father delivered you on the side of the road that Christmas Eve in the snowstorm I told him it was his honor to name you and he chose Sicily Noel and while Natalia means born at Christmas time in Italian you're not a Natalia you're definitely a Sicily," she smiles.
"That's cool," she says with a smile. "I always thought it was cool I was born on Christmas Eve."
"So did we," says my mama. "So J, do you have any pictures from your wedding?"
"Of course," I say with a smile as I pull out my phone. "Kaylee took some pictures of us and we took some pictures. It was beautiful. It was the best wedding ever. I'm glad I chose to have a private small wedding like that with no reporters or paparazzi. It was perfect. I didn't need a whole song and dance. It was special for Seth, Jonah and me," I say as I hand her my phone to swipe through my pictures with a smile on my face. "Ignore the pictures in the hotel room that was after we celebrated our wedding."
"I have a question," says Kaylee, "is Seth an atheist? I mean he never joins us in prayer and you had no prayer at your wedding and there was barely any mention of God in your ceremony plus Brandon told me that Seth doesn't believe in God neither does he."
"Yes," I say as I look at my mama slide through the pictures on my phone. "Seth is an atheist. He does not believe in God which is why he never participates in prayer, why we didn't have any prayer at our wedding or much mention of God. He respects the fact that I go to church and believe God. He respects my beliefs and I respect his."
"He's an atheist?" asks Chelsea, "after everything our family has been through and everything you have been through how can you love someone that doesn't believe in God?"
"It is his right," I say. "He respects me and I respect him. It's not a big deal."
"And how do you plan to raise your kids with him, Jordyn if he is an atheist? What about Jonah? He has a biblical name and I would hope you're raising him to believe in God."
"Jonah goes to Sunday School every Sunday and he goes to church. I still go to church every Sunday so he is still being raised as a Christian and any other child I have with Seth will be doing the same. Seth respects my wishes for our children to be raised in the church but we decided that when they are older about 13 or 14 years old it is their decision on how they want to go about religion. It doesn't make him a bad person. He's still a pretty good man and I love him."
"As long as you're happy," says Chelsea.
"I am," I say.
"These are beautiful, J and I love that you and Seth decided on a tattoo for your wedding ring as opposed to the typical wedding ring. That's a pretty cool idea."
"Thanks, Mama," I say with a smile. "We chose that way because Seth would have to take his ring off to wrestle and I want the ring rats to know he's my man so we did the tattoo thing."
"That's cool," she says with a smile. "I like this," she says as Jonah comes running out to the patio with his cousin Langston with him.
"Like what?"
"Having all my kids together," she says. "I'm happy that we can all be together again. I like this."
"Me too," I smile. "You know what I want to know and I have been wondering this for a long time," I say as I pick Jonah up and put him on my lap as Chelsea does the same with Langston. "I want to know how Alyssa and Ben ended up; I never expected those two to end up together."
"Thanks, Jordyn," says Ben giving me a look.
"I've actually been wondering that too," says my mama. "You two are the complete opposite. I never expected you two to have a baby then you come to us a few years ago and tell us you're having a baby how did that happen?"
"You should know how a baby is made by now, Mom," says Ben with a smart ass smile. "You too, J."
"Oh, I am aware of how a baby is made," says my mama. "Your dad and I sure have enough but I mean how did you and Alyssa happen?"
"It all started with a drunken night, we hooked up, her birth control pill failed and she got pregnant then here we are in love today. It's not a big romance story. It all started with a drunken night."
"Gotcha," says my mama. "So Kaylee, who was that guy in the pictures you were dancing with at Jordyn's wedding."
"His name is Brandon," she says making me smile as she smiles nervously. "He's Seth's brother. We are going to hang out a little bit and see where it goes."
"What?" I ask. "You and Brandon? That's pretty cool. Seth said he was asking about you. I'm happy for you, Kaylee. He's a good guy and just think if everything works out and you two get married we'll be married to brothers and we would have the same last name again."
"That would be awesome," she says making me smile. Kaylee is my best friend. She always has been. Out of all my sisters and brothers Kaylee and I are the closest. We're even closer to each other than I am to my twin brother. Kaylee just gets me. We understand each other better. I would love for her to end up with Brandon.
"Jonah, your hair is all over the place," I say running my fingers through his curly hair. "I think I might have to actually get your hair cut. I don't want to but I think I need to."
"Why, Mama?" he asks. "I like my hair and my man buns," he says making us laugh.
"Me too," I say, "but it's getting out of control. I think it's time for me to finally cut your hair." I have never cut his hair in his life. I love his curls and I love how beautiful his hair is. Everyone always mistakes him for a little girl with his dark brown eyes, long eyelashes and his curly locks. His hair falls to below his shoulders when it's dry but when it's wet his hair falls to the middle of his back. I never had the power in me to cut his hair and just put it in little buns for ponytails sometimes I have had friends braid it to control it but now it's uncontrollable.
"No, Mama," he begs me. "I don't want my hair to be cut. I like it long. I want it to be like Uncle Roman's and Daddy's hair. Please don't cut it," he begs.
"I never wanted to cut Ben's or Josiah's hair," says my mama. "I loved their curls but I did cut it eventually. I had your dad do it. Why don't you have your dad do it? He knows what he's doing. He still has the barber shop. I'm sure he wouldn't mind giving Jonah his first haircut."
"I'll ask him," I say. "You know, I kind of miss Phoenix. I miss being near my family like you and Dad maybe after I get out of school Seth and I will move here. I can't move out here yet I'm almost done with school I start my internship in a couple weeks and have another internship in the fall then I graduate in December. I think maybe Seth and I should move here with Jonah."
"J, I know you like it here," says my mama, "but what about everything you've been through? You have a lot of history here and I'm sure you probably have a few enemies here after what you did to Kris. I don't know if it's safe or a good idea for you to move back here. I would love for you to live here but I don't think it's a good idea just like it's not a good idea for Ben to move to New York or visit New York which sucks because he can't visit his paternal grandma and his family up there. Just like it wasn't safe for Chelsea and Cody to move to New York a couple years ago. You just learn to stay away from your past danger."
"Why can't we go back to New York and why can't Ben go to New York?"
"I'd never make it out alive," he says. "My dad was a traitor and slept with mom instead of killing her. Remember all the bad people in New York that killed Tony, paralyzed dad and kidnapped me? I sold them out and got two of the worst thrown into jail. Their kids are all grown up. Brian's daughter already got revenge on Chelsea a couple years ago. If any of us go back to NYC we're all in danger. What Mama is trying to say is you sold out to Kris and got him put in jail so it may not be a good idea for you to come back to Phoenix to live. He might still have people out on the streets that are out to get you. It may not be the safest place, Jordy."
"Don't call me that I hate that," I say with a smile "and so does Mama but I have to think about it. I highly doubt anyone is going to come after me because of Kris. He's where he belongs and I did what I needed to do. If I hadn't I wouldn't be where I am today. He tried to kill me and he sold my son. He's exactly where he needs to be and I don't regret being a rat. It helped me get my life together so I can be an awesome mom to Jonah right buddy?"
"Right," he says with a smile.
"I just thought of something, Mama," says Chelsea, "what if Kris works for Ciccone, Chris and Brian? What if he was part of their gang?"
"I always thought that too. He came about around the time Sophia threatened you," says my mama. "What other way to come at me than to take my daughter and put her out on the streets? They couldn't get Ben out on the streets so why not take Jordyn when she was vulnerable. I might have to look into Kris' background and see if he has any ties to New York but I have learned you don't even have to have ties to New York they find you anywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if they are still watching and waiting for us," she says. "I don't think we will ever truly be free from them."
"Probably not," she says. "Let's not talk about it anymore. Let's have a good time and enjoy the good things in life."
"I agree," I say with a smile. There's nothing I enjoyed more than spending time with my mama and my brothers and sisters just talking and reconnecting. It has been so long and it feels good to be surrounded by family and even if they tell me moving to Phoenix is dangerous I still want to so I can be near my family. I miss them.
Later that day Jonah and I are at my dad's barbershop so that he can do something with Jonah's hair to tame it so it's not so wild. "So what are you looking at me to do?" he asks.
I let out a deep breath. "I don't know, Dad," I say looking at his hair. "I don't want him to lose all his curls. I was going to tell you to shave it all off but I don't want that. I don't want to shave his head. I'm not even sure I want you to cut it all off. What do you suggest?"
"You sound like your mama," he says with a smile. "She never wanted to cut your brothers' hair either. How about this? How about I shave off the bottom part but keep the top part but trim up his curls that way you can still put a man bun in his hair. Does that work for you?"
"That sounds perfect," I say with a smile. "I don't want to cry now I love his curls."
"Me too, he looks just like you," he says with a smile as he begins to do his hair. "Just like you look like your mama. Your Nonna used to always tell your mama that you were just like her. She said that you were going to be hell one day and you sure enough were but you turned out all right. I'm proud of you Jordyn. I can't believe you're a wife now and you're a mother. Should we expect any more grandchildren from you?"
"Well, maybe okay yeah at some point. Whenever it happens for us."
"I want a sister, G-Peezy," says Jonah. "Mama said she will give me a baby sister."
"I hope one day, Buddy," I say, "but I can't promise you a sister."
"Jonah, you don't have to call me G-Peezy anymore you can call me Pop Pop."
"Dad, you're ALWAYS going to be G-peezy," I say with a smile. "What do you think of Seth, Jonah and me moving here to Phoenix?"
"I would say that I spent a lot of money for you to go to rehab, a lot of money for you to go to college and a lot of money for you to start a new life out in Tampa and wonder why the hell you would want to come back to the place that caused your downfall. Don't you think that's crazy?"
"No. I want to be closer to my family. I want be close to you and mama. I don't know. That's what I was thinking. Seth and I are going to be looking for a house soon so I was thinking about coming back here."
"No, Jordyn. You're doing great stay in Tampa. It's been good for you. You have a whole new life out there not to mention Jonah has his cousins out there with him. If you move here he won't have anyone to play with. Your brother and sister moved to Tampa to be closer to you so stay in Tampa. You are doing so well don't come back to the place that destroyed you. Besides it may not be safe for you to be here after everything with Kris. It's better to stay in Tampa where you started your new life. You can come visit us and we can come visit you but you're doing well out there don't ruin it by coming back here."
"Okay, Dad," I say as I watch him work on Jonah's hair. "I just love you guys and for the first time in 5 years I actually feel good. I'm happy to be home. I feel like I belong."
"We love you too," he says with a smile, "but we love to see you succeed and do well in Tampa. Phoenix isn't the place for you, J. Tampa is, your whole life is in Tampa."
"Okay, Dad."
"I love you, J," he says, "and I just don't want to see you get hurt or see you fall back."
"I've been sober for almost 4 years now. I don't think I'm going to relapse besides relapsing now would be dangerous. I could die from a relapse. I'm not going to turn back to that life. I have learned self-control."
"I know but it's dangerous for you here. Ask your mom about what happens when you run yourself back into trouble, it never ends well. That's why we never go back to New York."
"I heard the story, Dad. We won't move back here but why don't you and mom move to Tampa?"
"We have thought about it. We just have to get Sicily off to college before we do."
"That would be great," I smile.
"You have a great life in Tampa don't ruin it by coming back here you're better there than you are here."
"Okay, Dad," I say as I watch him continue to work on my baby's hair until he's finished with it.
"All done," he says with a smile.
"It looks great, Dad. Jonah, you look so handsome!"
"Thanks, Mama," he says with a smile. "I will get all the girls at school with this haircut just like with my man bun," he says making me smile.
"It begins already," I say with a smile. "The playground player you're going to be a heartbreaker, Jonah that's for sure."
"I know, Mama," he says with a smile. "Is Daddy going to like it?"
"Yeah he'll love it," I say as I run my hand over the shaven part of his head after putting his other part of hair up into a little bun. "I love it. Thanks, Dad. How much do I owe you?"
"I just want a hug from my grandson," he says with a smile.
"Thanks, Peezy," says Jonah as he hugs my dad and my dad hugs him back. I grow a smile on my face. Jonah loves it with my family. I can't believe I waited this long for him to know them. They missed out and so did he the last three years but it's not too late for them to have a relationship.
Later that night after I give Jonah his bath and have read him his bedtime story I'm getting ready to tuck him before we have to catch a flight to Philadelphia, PA to meet Seth to fly home to Tampa together so we can spend New Year's Eve together. I miss my husband but I'm getting used to him being away and I'm used to it being just Jonah and me. I love moments like tonight with him. "Are you ready to say your prayers?"
"Yes, Mama," he says with a smile as we kneel beside the bed and fold our hands before he starts his night time prayers. "As I lay me down to sleep, I pray my soul to keep if I die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. God bless Mama and Daddy, G-Peezy and G-mama, Libby and Langston, Uncle Ben and my entire family. Thank-you for today and God I pray that I can get a puppy or a baby sister soon. Amen." He says making me smile before I help him get into bed.
"All right, Buddy, it's time for bed we have to go meet Daddy tomorrow afternoon to fly home."
"Okay, Mama," he says as I start to tuck him into bed. "Will you lay with me, Mama?"
"Yes," I say with a smile as I climb into bed with him. I cuddle up with my favorite little guy and play with his curly hair hoping it puts him to sleep.
"Mama?"
"Yes, Jonah?"
"Why is Langston different? Why does he look different?" he asks me stilling my heart that he has noticed the difference between him and Langston.
"Because God made him special," I say. "God spent a little more time on Langston and made him different and very special. Then he gave Uncle Cody and Aunt Chelsea that beautiful blessing because they were the best people to love such a special little boy."
"Why are people different?"
"Because if everyone was the same it wouldn't be any fun. Everyone is different, Jonah. You look different than everyone else and God makes each and every one of us our own person and sometimes like Langston God spends just a little more time on someone to make them extra special and then delivers them to the best people that can love that special little person so much and that special little person can love everyone so much to teach everyone else how to love. Being different isn't bad, everyone is different but that doesn't mean we should treat anyone differently because they aren't the same as us. If we all were to get a boo-boo we would still have the same red blood. It's not bad to be different it's bad to make fun of others because of their differences or dislike someone because they are different."
"Okay, Mama," he says. I think he's asleep but then he surprises me with another question. "Mama, are there bad people after you?"
"I don't know, Jonah. There might be but you know what we're safe and no one is ever going to hurt us."
"Why are there bad people after you?"
"Because Mama used to be very sick and she made really bad choices. She did a lot of bad things that she's not proud of but then she had one of the most beautiful little boys in the world and got hurt really bad. She almost lost the most precious thing to her but then a nice man returned that precious thing to her and she promised herself that she would change and that she would get better so that you could have a better life but doing better meant she had to get someone in a lot of trouble by telling the truth. It upset a lot of people and sometimes when people get upset they go after the person that upset them but you have nothing to worry about and you know why?"
"Why, Mama?"
"Because God promised to protect us and keep us safe. God will always keep us safe."
"I know, Mama," he says with a smile. "Are you better now?"
"Yes, I'm better, Buddy. I'm going to stay better for you and for daddy. I promised you when you were a baby I was going to be a better person and I am going to be for you. You're the greatest thing to ever happen to me Jonah. I love you so much and I'm never going to be sick like I was before again. I promise."
"I love you too, Mama," he says wrapping his tiny arms around me. "I love you SO much bigger than this whole world."
"I love you bigger than outer space!" I say with a smile. "And I will love you forever."
"Like in the book, Mama?"
"Just like in the book and you'll always be my baby but you really need to get some sleep because we need to meet Daddy in the afternoon and when we get home there's a surprise for you from Santa Claus."
"Okay, Mama. Goodnight," he says before he kisses my cheek.
"Goodnight, Buddy," I say with a smile and tears in my eyes before I kiss his tiny cheek. I never knew something so little and something so precious would change my life as much as he has. I never thought I could love someone or something so little until I met Jonah. He's my entire world and there's nothing I wouldn't do for him.
*A/N: what did you think of Jordyn spending time with her family reminiscing on the good times in their lives, talking about when they were younger? What do you think of Jordyn wanting to move to ARizona? Do you think it's a bad idea and she should stay in Tampa? Do you think Kris could have worked for Ciccone, Brian and Chris? What did you think of Jordyn getting Jonah's haircut? What did you think of Jonah's and Jordyn's talk together? Did Jordyn do a good job explaining some things to him about Langston? What do you think of her relationship with Jonah? Please review and thank-you for reading.
*A/N2: I have been reading the Dave and Alex stories and I have fallen in love with them all over again which is why my passion is coming back for this story. So are you still interested in this and want me to continue? I'm anxious to continue it so we can see the transformation of Jordyn. Please let me know. Thank-you.