40. Relationships rekindled?

Mateo and Jessica walked hand in hand around a nearby park after their dinner date, his mother was watching Kaiden overnight so the two could truly focus on just one another.

This would be Kaiden's first overnight trip and Jessica definitely had all the nerves about it but she tried not to think about it and reminded herself that if needed she could go get him whenever. However, Mateo had been doing a pretty good job with keeping it off her mind as well.

"I'm happy we did this." She smiled as she looked at him while they walked. He stopped walking as he put his hands on her waist turning her so that she was face to face with him. "I am too." He let out, "we needed this." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "We did." She said lowly as she neared his lips, placing a kiss on them. "I especially needed it before flying out to see my mother tomorrow." She confided.

"Everything's going to be fine." Mateo comforted. At least he hoped it would. He said that last time and she called him crying afterwards. But he hoped this time would be different since it was her mother's idea. Jessica sighed, "I hope so. But just knowing how she is I can't be sure."

"Well even if it doesn't go how you hope, look at the positives, you get to see your sisters and you said you haven't saw them face to face in years." She nodded, he made a valid point. This would also be there first time meeting Kaiden. She smiled at the thought, Mateo leaned down placing a kiss on her lips. "Let's get out of here."

They made it back to her place as Jessica quickly went to taking her shoes off, she wore a cute form fitting dress with some heels, her hair out in its natural curls and light makeup.

Mateo took her in as she bent down to un-strap her shoes, he licked his lips as she leaned back up turning around to look at him. She laughed when she saw his eyes on her ass.

They two had yet to do anything besides some kissing and touching. So the sexual tension was up there. He walked towards her pulling her into him, they held eye contact with one another as Jessica smiled, before placing her lips on his.

The kiss intensified as their tongues got to know one another once again. Mateo lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around him. With barely breaking the kiss he made his way up the stairs placing her on the bed.

He broke the kiss as he stood up, admiring her body. He was going to take his time with her tonight, learn what she liked and what she didn't. That was the purpose of the night right? And he couldn't wait to do some exploring.

———

Jessica stepped out of the airport as she looked for her sisters, they had rented a car and said they would be at the airport to pick her and Kaiden up since they had got in earlier.

"Jessica!" Jazmin yelled making it easier for her to spot them as Jazmin was damn near halfway out the window with the biggest smile on her face. She leaned back in the car and opened the door to get out seeing that Jessica had her hands full. She was wearing Kaiden, but also had his car seat and car seat base as well as her bag.

Jazmin grabbed the car seat and base only leaving Jessica with rolling her luggage. Jessica quickly got the base in and the car seat, she knew it wasn't the safest but she wasn't about to wake Kaiden to put him in the car seat when they were going to a hotel down the street.

"Hey baby sis!" Jackie smiled as she turned around looking at her. "Oh my gosh, look at him. He's so cute!" She gushed as she looked down at Kaiden. "I can't wait to hold my little nephew! I'm so excited we're all together!" She let out. "And we're staying together! This is going to be great."

"Or aggravating cause you been getting on my nerves already!" Jazmin let out with her head in her phone causing Jessica to laugh. "Jazmin shut the fuck up." Jackie let out as she looked at Jazmin with a stank face.

She started driving towards the airport as Jessica sent Lex a quick text letting her know she had landed, she was excited to see her. She smiled knowing that either way it went with her mother this could be a good trip, she had her sisters and her best friend.

They got settled in the hotel and caught up as both of them took turns holding Kaiden and loving on him. Jackie checked them time, "damn it's already 5:30pm." They were supposed to be meeting their mother at her house at six. Jessica's nerves were building up, just recalling how the last time it was seeing her mother. And she was even more nervous since she had Kaiden with her.

Jazmin was nonchalant about it, and Jackie was excited. All three of them felt something different. Jackie had always wanted them to rekindle their relationship, through the craziness Jackie was closest with their mother so it was crazy when she stopped talking to Jackie because she found out she was gay. Jazmin didn't understand why Jackie would even be so happy about this due to how their mother had treated her after the fact.

"I guess we need to get ready to head out then." Jessica let out as Jackie nodded. The three of them put on their shoes and then hit the highway. They arrived at their mothers in no time. Jazmin sighed as she looked at the house they grew up in, it brought back the worst of memories for her.

"Let's go." Jackie encouraged as she opened the door. All three of them got out as Jessica grabbed Kaiden's car seat. Jackie knocked on the door standing front and center as Jessica and Jazmin stood behind her.

They heard all the locks unlock as Jazmin commented on it, "this bitch still crazy." She said lowly as Jackie shot her a look. The door opened as their mother stood their still beautiful as ever, her hair wrapped, female sign earrings hanging from her ears, with multiple rings on her fingers. She looked each one of them up and down, staring extra long at the car seat beside Jessica before she moved to the side to let them in. "Hello." She spoke, Jackie spoke back with a smile while Jazmin just looked at her as she entered and Jessica offered a small smile.

She led them to the living room as she sat on the smaller couch and they sat on the longer one. She had tea sitting out on the table with four cups. "Herbal tea?" She questioned as she poured herself a cup.

Jazmin and Jessica declined as Jackie said she would take some. "No, she's good." Jazmin spoke up. "No, I want some." Jackie replied as she put her eyes on Jazmin then back to her mother. "She could be trying to kill your ass." Jazmin tried to say lowly.

"Jazmin!" Jackie hissed through her teeth, she knew their mother heard the comment. Jackie really wanted this to end on a positive note but she could see now that Jazmin wasn't going to go easy.

Their mother laughed, "I'm surprised those STD's haven't killed you." She barked back. "See, hell no. I'm not doing this." Jazmin stood up as Jackie did too before she started speaking. "No, we just got here we aren't doing this. Mom you asked us to come here and we're here and I just damn sure hope you didn't ask us to come so you could remind us how we are a disgrace to you."

"I didn't but she started with me." She let out as she sipped her tea. "You're a mother!" Jazmin yelled out. "Yet you act like a child, like you're one of my peers. I started it? Grow up!"

Their mother rolled her eyes as she drank some more of her tea. "I didn't call you here to do this." She let out as Jackie convinced Jazmin to sit down.

Jazmin sat down as they all placed their eyes on their mother. "I know we all haven't talked in some time but I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a few months ago and I just wanted you girls to know." She let out.

The girls sat their silent for a moment as they processed what she said, "and what are the doctors saying?" Jessica asked.

"Well with chemotherapy, the risk of me staying alive and doing okay is high."

"That's good." Jackie let out, "are you going to do chemo?" Their mother shrugged, "it's quite expensive."

It was a moment of silence until something dawned on Jazmin, "is that what you called us here for?" she questioned. "Because you need help paying for your chemo?" She sat back as she crossed her arms, part of her hoping she was wrong but she knew her mother, it was her way or the highway and she only called on people when she needed them.

"If you want your mother to die then so be it." She let out, letting it be known that's exactly what she called them all there for. "Wow! See I knew you didn't change, you had Jackie thinking that maybe you changed, but you didn't! You are still the same trash ass parent that you've always been!" Jazmin yelled out.

"A trash ass parent?" It was clear that it offended her. "I've always taken care of you girls! Made sure you were good, tried to protect you, had clothes on your back and food on the table! How fucking dare you!"

"Congratulations you did the bare minimum of what a parent is supposed to do!" Jazmin let out! "All you cared about was yourself! And how you looked! As soon as we did something you didn't like you cut ties with us. What parent does that!?"

"Because I raised you all better than that!" She stood up as she responded.

"Who cares! Kids make mistakes, they do things that you don't always agree with but you are supposed to be there!" Jazmin cried out. "You were supposed to be there for us, but you weren't there in some of the times we needed you the most." Jazmin's emotions were spilling over as Jessica pulled her in hugging her.

Jackie placed her hand on her back as she rubbed it. She shook her head as she looked over at her mother. "We really had hoped you change. But if money is all you want so be it." Jackie let out. "I'll help pay for your chemo, even though you don't fucking deserve it." She finished.

"I will too." Jessica started, "because at the end of this, when you're dead and gone I can say I gave it my all to make things right with you. So I'm going to give you the help that you never gave me when I needed it."

"All we can do is pray that God cleanses that ugly soul of yours." Jackie let out. "Let's go." She said towards her sisters as they all quickly got up, Jazmin wiped her tears as she started speaking. "You don't even deserve what they're willing to give. God knows it was daddy's heart they got, and clearly I got yours cause I'm not giving you shit."

With that they all walked out as their mother didn't even try to see Kaiden, something Jessica noticed. "I'll send my cashapp or even the website for the payments." She let out as if everything was good, as if her daughters didn't just express the discontent she had with them.

"Fuck her." Jazmin let out as they got to the car, "don't help her with shit!" She said as she looked at the two of them, "like really reconsider that shit." They let her rant as they drove back to the hotel. "I need a night out after this shit." She let out after letting them know she told them hadn't shit changed with their mother.

Just as she said it Lex hit Jessica's phone asking if she wanted to go to a bar, she let Jazmin know. "Hit the bar with Lex, she just hit me up about going to one, but you know I got Kaiden so it's a no for me."

"I'll watch him." Jackie let out as she looked at Jessica in the rear view mirror. "No Jackie, I'm not going to make you do that."

"You aren't making me do anything, I want to. I need to spend some time with him who knows how long it'll be before I see him in person again."

Jess contemplated it, she didn't want to say yes right away. Jackie didn't have any kids, but she trusted her sister nonetheless. "When's the last time you saw Lex? I know it's been a minute since you in San Diego now, go have fun sis!" Jackie continued.

She made a valid point, "Jackie are you sure?" Jackie smacked her teeth, "yes Jessica, it's a few hours not overnight." That much was true.

———

Jessica sat at a table with Lex and Jaz as she sipped on an angry orchard, she was taking it easy tonight because she had a flight tomorrow and because the last time she went hard with Lex she got pregnant, not that she would be having any one night stands. Her and Mateo were in a good place right now.

"How's everything been?" Jess asked as she smiled at Lex, Jaz had just got up to go order another drink. "Everything is good babe, Adonis and I are still going strong. A real nigga cuffed a bitch." She laughed out.

Jessica was happy to hear that, Lex had been telling her about him but it new news that she was officially in a relationship. "Yessss! Officially cuffed!" Jessica smiled out.

Lex blushed, "how's everything been with you?" She asked back as Jessica let her know that her Mateo were slowly working on things while also informing her that they had finally did the deed and she was thoroughly impressed, seeing as how the first time they did it she had no memory of it.

Jazmin came back to the table the same time that Jessica's drink was low, she excused herself as she made her way to the bar. She stood looking around as she waited for a bartender to come help her.

She did a double take thinking she saw Dwayne, and realized her eyes weren't playing tricks on her once they made eye contact. He gave her a light smile before her eyes went to the person beside him, Brielle. Is he back with his baby mama again? She questioned as she took in the two. She watched as Brielle said something to him and then walked away, and Dwayne took that as his moment to come towards her.

"Jess! You're back!" He smiled, a surprised look on his face. The bartender finally approached Jessica as she asked for another angry orchard before focusing on Dwayne. She looked him over, he still looked good. "Yeah, I am."

"Well you look good, as always. Can't even tell you had a baby. How's the baby?"

"Thank you, and he's good. How's baby girl?" She questioned back as he let her know she was doing good. "You and Brielle back together again?" She  questioned, throwing light shade at how much they were on and off as the bartender dropped off her drink and told her the total. Dwayne quickly pulled out some cash and paid for it for her.

"I appreciate that, you didn't have to do that." She let out as she took a sip of her drink. I'm sure Brielle wouldn't have liked that. She thought, but then thought about how Mateo probably wouldn't have either.

"It's nothing, but uh yeah, we're trying to work on it." He sighed deeply finally answering her question.

Jessica nodded knowing this conversation didn't need to be much longer, "well, it was nice seeing you. Thanks for the drink. I'm going to get back over here with Jaz and Lex."

"Wait, how long are you in town?" She turned back around to answer his question, "I leave tomorrow."

"Damn, okay. Well take care." He let out as she smiled and walked back to the table. "So I just saw Dwayne." She announced as she sat down.

"Oh we saw." Lex let out. "And I see him and Brielle are working things out." Jessica continued. Alexis picked up her drink as she took a couple of sips from it. "According to Brielle they been working on it while he was with you, the whole time."

"What?" Jessica asked with surprise, she didn't know how much of it she believed when it came to Brielle, but knowing that he cheated with her while they were together she knew there was some truth to it.

Alexis nodded, "you did right by dropping the nigga." Jessica shook her head, "I guess I did."

"But that's neither here nor there." Jazmin let out, "you bossed up! You got a man with some money and whose a bomb baby daddy! So fuck Dwayne!"

"He's not my man yet." Jessica smiled out, "oh but bitch he will be." Jazmin manifested. "Hell yeah, and we are drinking to that shit!" Lex yelled out.

Jessica was all smiles, she needed this time with her girls. It was long overdue.