“You, Jesse Parker, are officially emancipated,” Kaleb told him proudly as he stepped over to him. “Welcome to legal adulthood… though you’ll always be a Bell,” he tacked on the end with a wink, pulling him in for a hug.
Jesse didn’t say anything, wrapping his arms around Kaleb’s waist before being immediately scooped up into Stella’s embrace. Reid, Kingston, and Killian went next in their congratulations, each cautiously patting him on the back and shoulder, making sure not to move too quickly. Finally, it was my turn. Unlike the others, I didn’t try and offer any congratulations.
Instead, I offered him a smile that I hoped conveyed everything I couldn’t put into words. The past few months had been rough for me, but Jesse had been struggling for so much longer. My battles weren’t quite over yet, but we’d just made a major victory in his, and I felt nothing but elation for this new life that was opening up for him. Jesse deserved to be a Bell, to be surrounded by friends and family that loved him and would embrace all that he was and all that he wanted to be. Jesse immediately wrapped his arms around my waist, yanking me into a tight hug and burying his face into the crook of my neck.
“Thank you, Em,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
“You don’t have to—” I tried, squeezing his shoulders.
“Yes, I do,” he continued quietly, cutting me off. “I wouldn’t be here, be free of him, if it hadn’t been for you pushing me to tell them.”
I couldn’t think of anything to say. Nothing seemed to be enough, so I held on tightly. Our moment together felt as if it went on forever yet ended too soon as Stella started talking about opening presents. As Jesse worked through the bags of gifts, his smile grew wider and the dark air that always hovered over him dissipated.
“We have one final thing,” Kaleb announced, keeping it mysterious with a wave of his hand as he started toward the basement. Giddiness built as we descended, but when I looked over to Reid and Kingston to share in my excitement, I found them looking as confused as Jesse. The fact that Stella had shared his new room with me before them made the ‘mom/daughter-esque’ moment that much more special.
“What’s with all the secrecy?” Kingston asked, glancing at his parents and eventually me when he realized I was smiling so brightly my cheeks were starting to ache.
“Patience,” Stella tsked before glancing at Jesse and tilting her head toward the door “All right, Jesse. Your last presents are in there.” He didn’t say anything, his steps hesitant as he moved closer.
Holding my breath, I took in Jesse’s reaction from the door. He was silent, standing as still as a statue. It wasn’t until I saw his jaw clench and his hand come to wipe his face that I realized he was actually crying. Stella and Kaleb converged on him, their words too soft to hear, while Reid and Kingston were speechless as they poked their heads into the room.
It was such a monumental moment, and I had no idea what to say… what to do… so I stood there, waiting patiently for whatever Jesse needed. After a few more minutes of Stella and Kaleb talking, they stepped away with warm smiles and pulled Reid and Kingston along as they left the room.
“We’ll let you two have some time. Dinner is ready whenever you guys come back up,” Stella whispered to me as Reid and Kingston protested having to go back upstairs. Nodding, I stepped into Jesse’s room.
“Jess?” I murmured, pausing by the edge of his bookshelf. It’d been an overwhelming little while, and I didn’t want to startle him, but he made the decision for me. His hand came out, wanting me to take it, and when I did, he pulled me into another heartfelt hug, tucking his face into the crook of my neck.
“They… they got me new bedding… and clothes… and a space where I could… start the next chapter of my life with more than bad memories,” he forced out, his voice thick with emotion and slightly garbled as he kept himself pressed against me.
“They love you, Jesse,” I told him, my heart breaking at how something that should have been so normal—caring parents, a safe place to sleep—was so special to him.
There was no way to tell how long we stood quietly together. It was only when he finally pulled away that I realized my arms were getting tingly from holding on so tightly. When he stepped back, his eyes were red, but a happy grin was spread across his face.
“Hey look, an easel. And all my art,” he noted softly, finally able to take in the room. Everything he looked at only made the smile widen, the cracks in my heart mending as he grew excited.
“Yeah, Reid and I picked up the easel before coming over. I know how much you’ve been enjoying drawing and painting, and what better way to do it than with an actual holder for your canvas and paints?” I explained, pausing slightly before continuing. “Thought maybe… you might have wanted something that would last if you decided to pursue a degree or career as an artist.”
“You know… I don’t know if I had even thought that far ahead,” he confided softly, shrugging. “I know we’ve been filling out applications and stuff, but I hadn’t actually let myself believe that it would happen. Life’s always been about surviving until I was out of the house and free of my father.”
“But you are now,” I whispered, brushing my fingers against the back of his hand in our signature way of asking if we could hold hands. Intertwining our fingers, Jesse chuckled, nodding.
“I guess I am. I’ll think about it. How about that, Em?”
“Sounds perfect.” I had just leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek when my stomach growled loudly enough to almost echo off the art-covered walls.
“Let’s go get some food. I’m sure Reid’s throwing a fit about not being able to eat yet,” Jesse joked, so we rejoined the party.
The hustle and bustle of everyone in the kitchen and around the table was comforting, the food even more so. All of us ate, stuffing ourselves until none of us wanted to leave the table. Instead of working on schoolwork for later in the week, we’d decided to put on a movie.
“Kingston, Killian, want to pick out a movie?” Stella prompted. “We’ll get the table cleared really quick and then join you guys.”
“I’ll help,” I offered, popping up from my seat before I officially became one with the cushioned chair.
“Reid and I will help with the table,” Jesse murmured, and much to my surprise, Reid didn’t put up an argument, the wink he threw me when I glanced at him telling me all I needed to know. Tonight was about Jesse, and if Jess wanted Reid to help, then he would.
So cute.
“So, Babydoll, any thoughts on movies?” Kingston questioned when we reached the living room, his attention on flipping through the on demand and streaming channels while Killian browsed the bookshelf of movies.
“Hmm, not off the top of my head, but I’ll let you know if I find one I think would be good.” I went to sit down next to King, but he grabbed hold of my hips and redirected me onto his lap.
“Well, hello there,” I teased softly, the butterflies in my stomach fluttering to life as I wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
“Sorry, I’ve just missed you the last couple days. It’s been busy with homework and stuff,” King told me, the sentiment making me warm from the inside out.