chapter 3

Part 2 OUTLINE

            At 27, Jessi had nothing else left in mind but protect her two treasures in life. Since that second she got the chance to finally hold them in her arms, she’d already prayed to God and everything she believed in that they guide them, as much as she would do whatever it took to protect them and give them nothing but the best. Give them everything they needed in life. Everything.

            But not their dad. No. Absolutely not.

            Jenson was one thing, alright. In fact, he was too good, too nice, too different from everything she had expected. Also, she knew well herself things just wouldn’t work out as how she’d hoped for the moment she decided she was going to L.A. and try life there. But they met. It was more of an accident, really. But, their paths crossed.

            And she got to be part of his life.

            For a while. And she got to know him well. The guy was real, funny, and practically a ten. But one thing was for sure — she would never be the woman for him.

            No. He didn’t even know she got pregnant. Didn’t have a clue he fathered her with twins.

            She left and planned on living a quiet life; away from the city, away from everyone she knew, with only her adoptive parents, her babies, and every pint of courage she had left keeping her company and keeping her sane.

            She had her reasons. For keeping it all from him.

            For one, he was married. Yes, very much married, before the two of them even met. Secondly, they wouldn’t even have met if it weren’t for her job and her long-time producer friend she was related to. So, that told her it wasn’t some work of fate at all, destiny, or whatever you call the thing.

            She had to stay away for good or she would have ruined everything for him: his family, his marriage, his career. Everything. But heaven knew he was still part of her life. Especially since she had been raising their children for three years now. And counting.

            If it weren’t for her loving parents and some of her real friends she had left, she probably wouldn’t have made it out of that hospital alone and unseen by anyone from work. But, she made it happen. She had to.

            She had gathered the strength to finally face the consequences of what she let happened, and, for the first time in her life, she felt that God was really listening to her prayers…

Because she survived, and she had her family to back her up anytime she needed them.

            It got really difficult the first month she found out she was pregnant. She had no idea what to do next. Had no one else to talk to. Not even Jenson. And one day, she just bolted out of the city. Quit her job in a heartbeat. Some asked her why. And she lied, of course. She’d told everyone concerned that she was having family troubles back in Ohio. When, actually, her parents had already moved to another state years ago. She couldn’t risk anyone finding out about her getting pregnant. Because her friends at work knew well she didn’t have a boyfriend to speak of.

            So she left Canada, her only stable job, and everyone. She didn’t really want to, but the sticky situation called for it. She had to clear her head. Find an answer. No doubt she didn’t want to ruin anybody’s life. So she returned home.

            Her parents, who were then living in Mississipi, were more than surprised to see her back. Because the last time they saw her, they were pretty much having a falling out. She’d run away from home when she was 17. And so when they saw her on their doorstep again, after seven long years, her parents were glad. Even more glad when she told them the truth. They didn’t even hesitate for a second when she told them she was pregnant and single. It was about five months later when she found out she was having twins.

            She had been living with her parents ever since. Then she gave birth to Kenneth and Emily — named after her adoptive grandfather and her adoptive mother’s only sister who’d passed recently. Kenneth and Emily grew up fast, knowing only her and their grandparents.

            Now, the twins would be having their third birthday in the coming month. Despite her being away always and tied up with work more often than not, she still couldn’t believe her babies were now turning three years old. Just nights ago, she had been busy wrapping birthday presents for them. And now her parents were talking her into getting the twins into school. She sudddenly felt unsure. Well, not because she wasn’t financially prepared. She had been working in the town mall for about three years now. Promotions went smoothly and everyone on the job was nice.

            Surely, she’d saved enough for toddler school, but, she just wasn’t that ready yet of letting her babies out of the house. At times, she would even have panic attacks whenever her parents would take the twins to the park, whenever she had to work late sometimes and on holidays. But other than that, everything was perfect.