With Faith & Love

\"All right everybody calm down!\" The Mackalls and Jackson were gathered in the basement of the Mackall residence. \"We\'re about to open gifts,\" Richard announced. He picked up a box and handed it to Miss Coretta. \"From your grandson, Wood.\"

\"Thank you, Wood,\" Miss Coretta said as she took the box. Richard finished handing out the presents and everyone ohhed and ahhed over their new gifts.

\"Now that everyone has opened their presents, we\'ll sing-\"

\"Wait a minute,\" Jett said, standing up. \"There\'s still one more gift that has to be given.\" He reached in his pocket and pulled at a small box. Jett kneeled in front of Janese and took her hand.

\"Wait a minute! I have to change the DVD in my camera,\" Wood said, reaching in his bag.

\"Jett what are you doing? You already proposed to me,\" Janese said.

\"I know. This is a new proposal.\"

\"Okay, I\'m ready,\" Wood said. He sat next to Janese and had the camera right in Jett\'s face. Jett shook his head and turned his attention back to Janese. Everyone was quiet and waiting for him.

\"Janese, we\'ve been through a lot together in a short amount of time. I know for a fact that I need you in my life. To keep me on track and focused.\"

\"Amen to that,\" Jules said, waving her hand. Jett cleared his throat and looked at his mother. \"Sorry.\"

\"Like I was saying. Janese, I want you to be my wife.\" Janese\'s eyes were filled with tears and she looked around the room. Jett had proposed before but this time it was different.

\"Answer the man,\" Vickie urged.

\"Yes.\" Jett smiled and removed her old ring and replaced it with a new white and pink tiara diamond. Richard whistled and shook his head.

\"Jett, how much that ring cost?\" Jett grinned.

\"Do you really wanna know?\" He kissed Janese and sat beside her.

\"If he doesn\'t I do,\" Vickie said. Justin gurgled something and everyone laughed. Jett picked him up and sat him in between himself and Janese.

\"Is that a future family portrait or what,\" Miss Coretta said.

\"Smile,\" Richard said, raising a camera. Jett put his arms around Janese and they smiled. Richard snapped the picture with his digital and looked at it. He handed the camera to Wood and he grinned.

\"Let me see,\" Janese said. Wood handed her the camera and she looked at it and smiled. \"Look.\" She passed it to Jett and he stared at the picture then down at Justin.

\"You\'re not ready to be an uncle yet, right?\" Justin looked at him with his fingers in his mouth. \"I didn\'t think so.\"

\"Jett, what\'s that supposed to mean,\" Jules asked.

\"Nothing ma. Why do you sound...impatient.\"

\"Because you and Janese are a trip. When are you two gettin\' married?\"

\"Soon ma.\"

\"When\'s soon,\" Janese asked. Jett looked at Richard and Wood for backup but they didn\'t say anything. Grandma Aultmon came walking down the steps.

\"Grandma! Can you help me? Please let the family know that Janese and I will get married soon.\" Grandma Aultmon sat in the recliner and laughed.

\"Jett, I had another dream.\"

\"Great!\" Everybody laughed and started joking around.

\"What are you two waiting for,\" Grandma Aultmon asked.

\"Jett said it would be better if we graduated first,\" Janese answered.

\"Let me rephrase the question. Why are you two stalling? Jett?!\"

\"Why is everybody jumping on me?\"

\"Because you\'re stalling,\" Jules said. Janese looked at him and folded her arms.

\"Jett, are you stalling?\"

\"Oh my goodness,\" Jett hollered. He threw his hands in the air and stared up at the ceiling.

\"I\'m not stalling and I\'m not rushing. We get married when we get married. The end. Now can we please sing some Christmas carols?\"

\"Jett\'s right. Let\'s enjoy the spirit,\" Wood said.

\"Oh now you say something,\" Jett said.

\"We need to talk,\" Janese said.

\"Look what you did,\" Jett whispered to Jules before he followed Janese upstairs. \"Baby I don\'t understand why you guys are tripping. We\'ll get married soon. I want to finish our first year of college first.\" Janese sat beside Jett at the breakfast bar.

\"Jett if you\'re having second thoughts-\"

\"Janese I\'m not having second thoughts. If I was I would\'ve never proposed a second time.\"

\"I know that. But why should school hold us back? There are a lot of married couples that go to school and have children.\" Jett just watched the snow fall in the backyard. \"What are you thinking about?\"

\"Our future. I looked at the picture and I thought about what I wanted out of life. I know I want you and to be together. I know I want kids and a house in the country with acers of land where they can play.\"

\"Jett I want the same thing.\" Jett sat and thought some more. \"Sorry I was pressuring you so much. But when they asked why we were taking so long, it got me to thinking.\"

\"I actually am stalling a little bit.\" Janese looked at him.

\"Why?\"

\"I\'m a little afraid.\"

\"Afraid of what?\"

\"People tell me that I look and act like my father everyday. Janese, parent split because they said they were too young when they got married. I don\'t want that to happen to us. I was crushed when my parents told me that they were getting a divorce. I don\'t want our children to experience that kind of pain.\" Janese nodded her head.

\"I know what you mean. I grew up without a father. But Jett, we\'re not our parents. And we\'ve learned from their mistakes. Don\'t you think that I\'m afraid too? I don\'t know what the future has in store for us. But I know that I want to share it with you. Good or bad.\"

\"It\'s kind of a scary thought but I\'m willing to do it. Let\'s get married this July. I\'ll even transfer to Howard,\" Jett said.

\"This July?\"

\"Yea.\"

\"This July coming up,\" Janese asked again, just to make sure.

\"Yes, Nessie, this July.\" She jumped out the seat and into his lap.

\"I love you.\" They shared a kiss then went downstairs to tell their families about their decision and to sing some Christmas carols.