8.126 Jeannette Devine

The wedding day had arrived at last, and Jeannette needed some time alone with her mother. She loved that Julian was also family oriented and didn’t mind that she still spent a lot of time with her family. But, she recognized that she was now going to be part of someone else’s family and would probably not spend as much time with her own. Of course, the Devine’s would always be welcomed at the Pruett Estate, but Jeannette needed to get into the mindset of being a Pruett.

Before she spent time with her mother, she wanted to spend some time with herself. When she moved to the estate, she took the guest room downstairs. But, after a while, Julian began to stay with her and was now sleeping there exclusively. He took a liking to that room. Not only because Jeannette was there, but also it added to the excitement of this new adventure they were on together. Although he was born and raised in that house, he had never spent spent any time in that room. Experiencing Jeannette in this “new” venue made everything more exciting for him. So, knowing that she was about to spend the rest of her life with him, she asked him to go back to his room on their last night as two single adults.

She barely got any sleep as she lay there thinking about all that had occurred over the last few years of their lives. The majority of the time she lay there shaking her head at thought of how oblivious Julian  had been all that time. She laughed at how he thought her brother was another man and how she kept him going until he began to cry. Replaying his words made her heart melt all over again. It had been a long time coming. Although she wished this day would have come sooner, she wouldn’t change any of the events that lead to Julian’s transformation. He was exactly the way she always wished for him to be.

She told her mother to arrive around 2:00, and Ciera Devine arrived on time and helped Jeannette put on the dress. Ciera took a look at her daughter and was extremely proud. “Oh, my child. You are so beautiful! I just can’t believe it.”

Jeannette smiled. “Believe it, mommy. Three more hours!”

Ciera reached out and embraced her daughter. She held her for a long time as she played her favorite memories of her as a child in her mind.

Jeannette was doing the same thing. She always treasured her mother’s hugs. Ciera was a bit serious when they were growing up. She thought she had to be so her kids would turn out ok from raising them alone. Between her no nonsense ways and working a lot, the intimate family moments were scarce. But, every now and then, little Jeannette would wake up in the middle of the night to find her mother still awake after returning home from one of her jobs. She would crawl out of bed to snuggle with her mother on the couch. Ciera understood and would oblige her for a few minutes before sending her back to bed. Since moving out, a hug was always waiting for her each time she was in her presence again.

“Are you nervous,” Ciera asked.

“Nah. Well…it’s not the wedding I’m concerned about…”

“Oh. Ohhhh…”

“No, mommy, it’s not that either. You know we’ve been doing that.”

“So, what is it then?”

“My birthday is coming up really soon…” She lowered her head.

“Ohhh, I see. This is about children.”

Jeannette raised her head and tried to flash a smile.

Ciara continued, “Don’t worry about that, honey. They’ll come exactly when they’re supposed to whether it’s tonight, next week, or even next year.”

“I know, mom, but…I don’t want to be too old, you know? I’m already past my prime.”

“Jeannette! You’re still in your prime! You’ll be in your prime for as long as you’re able to have a baby. Stop worrying about it! You’ll stress yourself out, and stress can make this situation difficult. Then you’ll really get exactly what you don’t want. I know you’re afraid of being an old mother and missing out on seeing your kids grow up, get married, and have their own children. But it won’t be the end of the world if that happens! The experience of being a mother is rewarding enough no matter how long you get to experience it. Besides, if it’s really bothering you, I’m sure this family can get you some of that stuff.”

Jeannette laughed. “Youth Potion? You make it sound like illegal drugs, mommy!”

“Whatever it’s called. You know I don’t agree with it. I don’t think we should mess with the time we have. The Watcher places us here in the time we need to be here. Who are we to tamper with it?”

Jeannette rolled her eyes. “Oh, mommy.”

“Let’s not talk about this now, ok? I don’t want you to be preoccupied with worry on your wedding day. So…what are you looking forward to the most about getting married?”

Jeannette thought about it for a moment. All her anxieties about when she would have a baby washed away when she thought about what she had always wanted. “Spending all the rest of my days with Julian!” She was beaming.

Ciera looked at her daughter while she was recalling her own first love. She and Mr. Devine were high school sweethearts and practically ran to the court house after graduation. They couldn’t wait to be together. She was overjoyed that her daughter finally had that kind of love. “You and that boy,” she said while shaking her head. “There has never been anyone else for you!”

“Nope. He was always the one for me.”

“I know what that’s like,” Ciera said with a slight tremble in her voice. “If he was here right now, he would be so proud. Heh, he’d be crying his eyes out. Such a sensitive man.”

“I wish I could remember him.”

“I wish you could too.”

An appropriate moment of silence presented itself, and they welcomed it as they each had their own thoughts.

“Ok, Jenn. It’s getting close to that time. Do you want me to help you with your hair or something?”

“Ummmmm…no offense, mommy…but, I want to look fabulous, and we both know you know nothing about hair and makeup…and I am your daughter…”

They shared a laugh.

“The blind leading the blind, huh,” Ciera said.

“Exactly. This is Viv’s department, so I will put myself in her very capable hands.”

“Good! It felt like the right thing to ask at the time, but I have no idea why I even bothered.”

“It was a nice gesture, mommy.”

“You’re beautiful just how you are. I can’t imagine how stunning you’ll be when she gets done with you.”

Jeannette smiled, and Ciera looked at her daughter once more.

“I am so proud and so happy right now! I can’t contain myself! Let me get outta here and get myself dressed before I turn the waterworks on.”