The Latest Storm
The bedroom was quiet and peaceful, the late afternoon light filtering softly through the curtains.
No one else was home today. Rebecca had gone out with Grandpa Prescott for a doctor's appointment, Alexander was at the office, and Ivy had left for the salon. It was just the two of them.
Emery sat back against the headboard of Jesse's bed, her legs stretched out in front of her. Her twenty-one-week bump rose and fell with every breath. She let out a long, tired sigh as Jesse sat at the foot of the bed, gently massaging her swollen feet with careful, soothing strokes.
"Ughh... I'm so exhausted, Jesse," she murmured, closing her eyes for a moment.
Jesse chuckled softly, his thumbs pressing into the arch of her foot with just the right pressure. "Already? You're only twenty-one weeks."
"It's... so tiring," she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips despite the fatigue. "But the result at the end is worth it."
Jesse's gaze softened as he continued the massage, his movements slowing into something more reverent. "That's exactly why mothers are the most respected being in the world," he said quietly. "They go through so much pain and bear it only because they know at the end of all this... is a reward."
Emery smiled, her hand drifting to rest on her belly. "I feel so complete, Jesse. Even though I know I'm in a mess right now, this baby..." She pressed her palm gently against the curve. "It makes me feel like I'm the most blessed person on earth."
Jesse's eyes shone with quiet emotion. He looked at her for a long moment, the tenderness in his expression unmistakable. "You are, Emery. You are blessed. And you'll see... all these problems would end soon."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that felt safe and rare between them lately. Jesse's hands continued their gentle work, thumbs circling her ankles, easing the swelling.
Emery's breathing slowed, her body relaxing against the pillows.
After a while, she spoke again, voice soft. "Sometimes I still can't believe this is real. That there's a little person growing inside me. That I'm going to be someone's mom."
Jesse nodded, his voice warm. "You're an amazing mom. The way you talk to the baby, the way you protect them even now... it's beautiful to watch."
Emery's eyes glistened. She looked at him, the old affection flickering in her gaze. "You're going to be a wonderful father too."
He swallowed, emotion thickening his throat. Without thinking, he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of it.
His mouth lingered there for a moment, warm and reverent, before he lowered it gently.
"I hope so," he whispered. "I want to be everything this baby needs. And everything you need... even if you don't want me to be right now."
Emery didn't pull her hand away. She let it rest in his, fingers loosely intertwined, the quiet intimacy of the moment wrapping around them like a fragile cocoon.
For a little while, the complications of the outside world faded. There was only the two of them and the tiny life between them sharing a peaceful, stolen moment of tenderness in the middle of the storm.
Jesse kept her hand in his, thumb brushing slow circles over her knuckles, while Emery closed her eyes and allowed herself to simply breathe.
It wasn't forgiveness.
It wasn't a solution.
But it was real.
And for now, it was enough.
×××××××
Jesse had just descended the stairs after Emery had fallen asleep following the foot massage.
He was heading toward the kitchen to make something light for lunch when the front door was suddenly thrown open with a violent bang.
Percy stormed in, dragging a screaming Harper behind him by the arm. She was kicking and cursing, her face flushed with fury and humiliation.
"Percy, what the fuck?!" Jesse shouted, rushing forward as Percy dragged Harper into the sleek sitting room and practically threw her onto the couch.
Harper landed with a gasp, immediately scrambling to sit up and glaring at her husband. "You asshole! You can't treat me like this!"
Percy ignored her completely, turning to Jesse with barely contained rage, chest heaving. "Ask your sister! She kept vibing to her fucking music while my daughter fell off the bed and got seriously hurt! When Mom tried to scold her, you know what she did?"
Jesse's eyes widened, confusion and anger rising fast. "What?"
"She fucking slapped her!" Percy roared, pointing an accusing finger at Harper. "Teach her some manners, Jesse! She needs a leash on her neck!"
Harper's face twisted with rage. "Percy, you're overreacting! It was just a little fall! Babies fall all the time!"
"Just a little fall?" Percy shouted back, voice cracking with fury. "She hit her head! She was bleeding! And instead of helping, you slapped Mom when she tried to tell you off for not watching her properly. You're always on your phone, always gossiping, always ignoring your own daughter!"
Jesse stepped between them, raising his hands. "Harper, what the hell happened?"
Harper pointed at Percy, tears of anger streaming down her face. "He's exaggerating! Kitty rolled off the bed while I was on a call. It wasn't my fault! Mom started yelling at me and I just... reacted. It was one slap!"
"One slap?" Percy laughed bitterly. "You slapped your my mother because she told you to be a better parent!
You're unbelievable. I keep telling you to look after her, and you never do!
You're always busy wrecking someone's home, backbiting, or scrolling through your damned phone! You don't care about your baby!"
Jesse rubbed his face, trying to process. "Harper... is this true? You slapped Mrs Ryde?"
Harper crossed her arms, defiant. "She was being dramatic. Kitty is fine now."
Percy threw his hands up. "Fine? She held her breath for almost a minute! We thought she was going to pass out! You're careless, Harper. You're a terrible mother right now, and I'm not letting you near Kitty until you get your shit together."
Harper's eyes filled with fresh tears. "You can't keep me from my own daughter!"
"I can and I will," Percy snapped. "I'm done. I'm keeping Kitty with me and you're not coming home. Stay here and think about what kind of mother you want to be."
"Percy! Percy, wait!" Harper cried as he turned toward the door.
Percy stopped for a second, looking back at Jesse. "Talk some sense into your sister, Jesse. Because if she keeps acting like this, I'm filing for custody. I mean it."
He slammed the front door behind him, leaving the room in stunned silence.
Harper collapsed back onto the couch, sobbing loudly. "Kitty got hurt... she needs me..."
Jesse stood there for a moment, jaw clenched. He knew it was her fault. Harper had always been careless with Kitty, more interested in her phone and gossip than actual motherhood. But she was still his sister. He moved slowly toward her.
Harper looked up through her tears, then threw her arms around his waist, burying her head against his stomach. She cried harder, clinging to him desperately.
Jesse let her, one hand resting awkwardly on her back, the other hanging at his side. He didn't speak right away, just let her sob against him while his mind raced with frustration and disappointment.
"Harper..." he finally said, voice low. "What the hell were you thinking? Slapping his mother? Ignoring Kitty? This isn't like you."
Harper's sobs grew louder. "Everyone is against me! Percy doesn't understand how hard it is. His mother keeps criticizing me. And now you're taking their side too?"
Jesse sighed, gently patting her back. "I'm not taking sides. But you can't keep doing this. Kitty is your daughter. She needs you to be present. Not on your phone. Not fighting with everyone. You have to do better."
Harper pulled back slightly, wiping her face. "I'm trying... but it's so hard. Everyone expects me to be perfect."
Jesse looked at her, his expression a mix of love and disappointment. "Then start by apologizing Mrs Ryde. And Emery. You've been cruel to her for no reason. She's pregnant and alone in this house. She doesn't deserve your anger."
Harper's face hardened again. "Emery... she's the reason everything is falling apart. She stole Alexander's future. She stole my brother's attention. She-"
"Stop," Jesse cut in firmly. "Emery didn't steal anything. She was forced into this. You need to leave her alone."
Harper sniffled, but the fight was slowly leaving her. She leaned back against the couch, exhausted.
Jesse stayed with her, one hand still on her shoulder, knowing this was only a temporary calm before the next storm.
The house felt heavier than ever.
And in the quiet that followed, Jesse wondered how much more chaos this family could take before it finally broke.
×××××××
A few hours later, the afternoon sun had softened into a warm golden hue filtering through the curtains of Jesse's bedroom. Emery was sitting up against the headboard, scrolling idly on her phone, when the door opened quietly.
Jesse walked in carrying a tray with lunch: a bowl of warm chicken soup, some fresh fruit, toasted bread, and a glass of cold water with lemon. He had prepared it carefully, knowing she preferred lighter meals these days.
Emery looked up and smiled softly at the sight of him. "You didn't have to bring it up here."
"I wanted to," Jesse replied gently, setting the tray on the nightstand before sitting on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling after the nap?"
"Better," she said, shifting slightly. "My feet don't hurt as much now. Thank you for the massage earlier."
He nodded, but his expression was a little heavier than before. Emery noticed immediately.
She tilted her head, studying him. "Jesse... what was all that noise earlier? I heard shouting and the door slamming. It woke me up for a bit, but I was too tired to come down."
Jesse exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest.
"It was Percy," he said. "He dragged Harper here and basically threw her on the couch.
He was furious. Apparently, Kitty fell off the bed while Harper was listening to music on her phone and not watching her properly.
When Mrs Ryde tried to scold her, Harper slapped her.
Percy lost it. He said he's not letting her see Kitty for now and told her not to come home. "
Emery's eyes widened in surprise. "She slapped her mother-in-law?"
Jesse nodded grimly. "Yeah. Percy was yelling pretty loud. He said Harper's been neglecting Kitty, always on her phone, always gossiping instead of being a mother. He was really angry. Mom and Grandpa Prescott are talking to him right now, trying to calm things down."
Emery looked stunned, her hand instinctively moving to rest on her bump. "I can't believe it... Harper has been difficult, but I didn't think she'd go that far with her own mother. Poor Kitty."
Jesse's expression darkened. "Harper's been spiraling lately.
She's always looking for someone to blame.
.. mostly you. That's why I think it will be better if you don't go in front of her right now.
It's possible she'll harass you again, especially after what just happened.
She's emotional and looking for a target. "
Emery was quiet for a moment, processing everything. Then she nodded slowly.
"Okay," she said softly. "I'll stay away. I don't want to make things worse."
Jesse reached out and gently squeezed her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "Thank you. I'll bring your dinner up later too. You don't have to deal with any of that today."
Emery gave him a small, grateful smile. "You're taking care of everyone, aren't you?"
Jesse shrugged lightly, though his eyes held a quiet sadness. "Trying to. Eat your lunch before it gets cold."
He stayed seated on the edge of the bed while she began eating, the room falling into a comfortable, protective silence. Outside, the distant sound of voices could faintly be heard from downstairs, but up here, it felt like a small sanctuary.
For now, Jesse was determined to keep Emery shielded from the latest family storm.
×××××××