I felt my well dry up as I watched Jesse pull up his pants and head to the door. He opened it slightly, making sure Ronnie couldn't see me. After speaking for a while in low hushed voices, he came back to the room. I didn't know what to do as I dressed up. Didn't know if I should hug him, will that make him feel better? I wondered.
"I'll be back." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. I nodded and walked him down before heading back upstairs.
It was already evening, and he wasn't home yet. He had called so many times to know how I was doing and also sent someone to assist me and keep me company. She was a middle-aged woman, Mira. She seemed to have known Jesse's family for some time as she spoke so fondly of them while she braided my hair.
"Do you think he'd be ok?" I asked honestly.
Mira chuckled "They were never close to begin with. Jesse was always against his father. I'm sure it'd hurt him, but not so much."
I didn't believe what she said. I was never close to my mum, but her death shook me and kept me indoors for a month. "I just hope he's fine." I sighed.
By midnight, Mira had gone to bed while I stayed up pacing the living room and anxiously waiting for Jesse to return. His last message said he'd be home before midnight but there we were.
I felt someone's hot breath against my skin causing my eyes to open. I had fallen asleep on the sofa while waiting. "I'm sorry I took so long." Jesse's hoarse voice spoke.
I didn't mind that as I pulled him into a tight hug "I'm just happy you're back."
"Me too. I've seen enough dead people for one day." He sat on the floor and placed his back against the sofa. "It was an accident. They had been driving in the rain."
He paused "He died alongside his driver and three of his security." I stretched my hand to hold his face but he stopped me midway and placed them on his chest. His hands were cold and his heartbeat was fast.
"I'm sorry," I said, not sure what else to do.
"We'd be at the church tomorrow. I'd have them bring your outfit over by morning." He stood up and placed a kiss on my forehead. "I've got lots of work to do, we'd talk later."
With that, he was off to his study. I worried about him so much, I barely slept that night. I turned and churned throughout the night feeling very sick and worried. By morning, the stylist was here. It was a black, sleeveless flare gown with a small jacket and a black rose used to hold my hair in place.
It was paired off with silver heels and accessories. Jesse walked into the room and watched me finish up my makeup before we headed down. He looked more like a groom at a black-themed wedding, with his black tuxedo with floral embroidery and black shoes.
Mira had gone home to prepare before joining us at the church. Jesse and I were sitting not too far from the casket and others followed suit. Each mistress with her child. They had all been given the chance to speak, each one trying to outcry the other. Their sons couldn't be any less embarrassed.
When Jesse was asked to speak, he simply shook his head in negation which prompted a lot of whispers from the congregation amongst whom was Trisha. I spotted her while I looked around, sitting at the far end of the church. She had a big hat on that hid her face for most but you could still see her. When I noticed her turn towards me, my grip on Jesse's arm tightened. He looked at me, "We'd soon be done. I'm sorry." He said pushing my hair back together.
We moved to the cemetery where he was laid next to his wife, Jesse's mother. According to Jesse, it was his long-time wish. To be laid next to his wife. We headed back to the family mansion where more people followed up behind and those who couldn't make it to the church waited.
"My condolences." And the likes of it flowed in from everywhere. Jesse said many of them were business partners and friends of his father who were strictly there to know the way forward. I needed a drink. I moved to the kitchen to get myself an orange juice, I wasn't going to drink on an important day like this.
"There you are... we've been looking all over for you." Someone spoke from behind. I turned to meet three young men with similar features to Jesse but nowhere close to him, or maybe they were.
They were very handsome and one had to bend over to talk to me. "Jesse's brothers?" I asked.
"Ah. I see he spoke about us. That's new." He brought his hand forward. "I'm Joe, this is Jayden..." He pointed towards the very talk one "...and this is James."
"And you must be Amelia," Jayden said and flipped his long curly hair.
"Yeah. I mean yes. That's me." I felt awkward. My eyes kept watching them closely. They kept their distance never making physical contact at any point.
"We're sorry you had to see this and now. You should be on your honeymoon with Jesse." Joe chipped in.
"No. It's fine. I'm just glad I could help Jesse out. He needs it."
"He can handle pain. He thrives with each pain he feels..." James brushed it off "Don't you guys remember Natalie's death?" He watched them "Totally unaffected."
"Who's Natalie?" I asked slowly.
Jayden covered James' mouth. "He's had too much to drink. We should go."
"It was nice meeting you, Amelia," Joe shouted as they dragged James away. And maybe I was overthinking but I was very sure I heard him say "Hope she doesn't end up like her."