Mi Esposa

By Jessie Juan Glenn

Mi Esposa will take you on a heart-pounding journey through the life of Jamie Rico Emerson, while taking you on an emotional tour of love in its truest and rawest form. You will see how true love cant be stopped or limited by any boundary no matter what the price that one may have to pay to protect a loved one while displaying the deepest depths of betrayal and deception by the one you least expect.

Jamie, a young American child who had never identified with his family, was stripped of a childhood by Americas drug epidemic, leaving him angry and driven to prove himself.

Jamie saw firsthand what people were capable of. After being compelled to become someone he wasnt, he learned who he was and lived the life he wanted. Jamie ran from what he became but was forced to return to the person he thought no longer existed to protect the wife who meant everything to him. However, Jamie didnt know if his wife truly needed him or was part of the deception that turned him back into the person he thought no longer existed.

Jamies lesson in life was he had to learn that, no matter how hard he tried to protect his loved ones, the decisions he made to protect them are what pushed them away and forced him to make the ultimate decision: to follow the Word of God or to follow his heart and protect those whom he loved the most?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493167913

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Jessie Juan Glenn.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2014901606

ISBN:                  Hardcover                        978-1-4931-6792-0

                            Softcover                          978-1-4931-6793-7

                            eBook                               978-1-4931-6791-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 06/13/2014

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

543208

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1   The Making of a Monster

Chapter 2   The Turning Point

Chapter 3   The Return to Innocence

Chapter 4   The Return of the Monster

Chapter 5   The Return of the Emptiness

Chapter 6   The Revenge

Chapter 7   Friendship

Chapter 8   The Indictment

Chapter 9   The Return

Introduction

Mi Esposa will take you on a heart-pounding journey through the life of Jamie Rico Emerson, while taking you on an emotional tour of love in its truest and rawest form. You will see how true love can’t be stopped or limited by any boundary no matter what the price that one may have to pay to protect a loved one while displaying the deepest depths of betrayal and deception by the one you least expect.

Jamie, a young American child who had never identified with his family, was stripped of a childhood by America’s drug epidemic, leaving him angry and driven to prove himself.

Jamie saw firsthand what people were capable of. After being compelled to become someone he wasn’t, he learned who he was and lived the life he wanted. Jamie ran from what he became but was forced to return to the person he thought no longer existed to protect the wife who meant everything to him. However, Jamie didn’t know if his wife truly needed him or was part of the deception that turned him back into the person he thought no longer existed.

Jamie’s lesson in life was he had to learn that, no matter how hard he tried to protect his loved ones, the decisions he made to protect them are what pushed them away and forced him to make the ultimate decision: to follow the Word of God or to follow his heart and protect those whom he loved the most?

Chapter 1

THE MAKING OF A MONSTER

The telephone rang at 8:00 a.m. Rarely does her phone ring before 9:00 a.m. When she answered the call, she knew it was something of an important nature.

Yes, said Nadia.

There is a young law student here who is seeking information about Mr. Emerson, said the guard to the estate.

Send her away, said Nadia. Then she hung up the phone and started to walk back to the living room. She paused for a few moments and just stared down at the floor. Her heart began to pound, and her eyes filled with water. She walked back over to the phone and called the guard.

Guard: Hello.

Nadia: Is she still there?

Guard: Yes, she is still here. She claims she is doing research on trial lawyers, and she wants to know about Mr. Emerson. She is adamant that she wants to speak with someone about him.

Nadia: What is her name? Check her driver’s license.

Guard: Her name is Catalina. I already checked her ID.

Nadia: Send her in.

Guard: Okay. Do I need to search her first?

Nadia: No, that won’t be necessary.

Guard: Okay. Thank you.

Nadia then hung up the phone and walked over to the balcony overlooking the driveway. She saw a young girl walking quickly toward the front door. The young lady had a high degree of anticipation on her face. Nadia knew who this young lady was and why she had come.

Catalina knocked on the door. Nadia opened the door politely and asked Catalina to come inside. Catalina’s skin was tan, and she had blue eyes. Nadia knew immediately who this young lady resembled.

Nadia: What can I do for you?

Catalina: "My name is Catalina, and I would like to learn about Jamie Emerson. I am writing a report about American trial lawyers. This is for a research paper for a prelaw class I am attending.

Nadia: And what made you choose to write a report on Jamie?

Catalina paused with a concerned look on her face. I really don’t know, she replied.

Nadia: I have been considering writing a book about Jamie.

Catalina: Have you started it yet?

Nadia: Not quite. I know most of his close friends.

Catalina: How close is the book to being finished?

Nadia: I have not actually started it yet. But I have been thinking about the contents of it. If you would like to wait, I could give you a copy of it.

Catalina: I would like to learn about him now, if you don’t mind?

Nadia: I don’t mind. I enjoy talking about Jamie. I can tell you about him based on what I have considered writing.

Catalina: I would really appreciate that. Thank you. How do you know Jamie?

Nadia: He is my brother.

So you are a prelaw student? asked Nadia. Catalina nodded her head yes.

An education is expensive, said Nadia. Catalina agreed with Nadia, but in reality, Catalina had no clue just what Nadia was referring to, and Nadia knew this.

Why is an education expensive? asked Nadia.

Because it is not cheap to go to a good school, replied Catalina. Nadia looked Catalina deep into her eyes and strongly considered not telling her the story of her brother, Jamie Rico Emerson.

Nadia: An education is expensive, Catalina, not just because of the financial hardship that is associated with going to an expensive college or university. It is expensive because the lessons of life can be quite taxing on a person, and someone who is well-rehearsed in the challenges of life or with the possible outcomes to a situation that one could easily put oneself in understands that there is no cost too great for a good education whether it be from a college university or from the lessons that one learns through the experiences they deal with as they go through life. Both of which are important, and depending on the situation one is put in dedicates which is the most valuable.

Catalina, not fully understanding this, prompted Nadia to proceed cautiously as she told her the story about her brother, Jamie Rico Emerson.

Nadia: So what is it that you want to know about Jamie? What part of his life? Just how and what he thought about being a lawyer?

Catalina: No. No. I want to know everything about him. As much as possible. Not just the lawyer he was but the real Jamie Emerson. Everything about him I want to learn about.

Nadia asked her to come into Jamie’s office. In Jamie’s office, there were photos of Jamie, plaques, and trophies that were symbols of Jamie’s accomplishments. Catalina couldn’t take her eyes of the pictures of him.

What do you know about Jamie? asked Nadia.

Catalina said, Not too much. Just that he was a lawyer whose story is worthy of learning about.

Nadia offered Catalina something to drink or eat, but Catalina couldn’t eat or drink.

Where do I begin? asked Nadia.

Please, from the beginning, said Catalina.

From the beginning, huh, replied Nadia.

Nadia then began to tell Catalina about the life of Jamie.

Jamie’s education began at a young age—as young as a person could imagine. Being the second child born from a mother who would end up having four children, all of whom had different fathers, was the very beginning of his education. Not having a father figure at a young age caused him constantly to think about why his father didn’t want anything to do with him. Was there something wrong with him or was it his fault his father wanted nothing to do with him? Jamie always wondered. This, coupled with his mother never knowing her father and her being raised by a stepfather who did not understand her or Jamie, caused him to feel even more rejected and angered as he would strive for acceptance from members of his family but would always fall short.

Jamie never felt as if he belonged with his family. He truly never did really fit in. But he loved everyone in his family more than he could ever love himself. Looking back, it is hard to imagine how Jamie could love everyone so much since most of the adults in his family cared so little about him. Jamie knew this but rarely mentioned it to anyone. But he also wondered why.

Like most families, religion was an important part early on in Jamie’s life. Initially, his mother did have the best of intentions. Jamie felt, early on in his life, that his mother was his best friend. But as he grew older, the things he learned about his family and how he dealt with them would ultimately alienate him from his loved ones—and even his mother.

Jamie and his two sisters often went to church with a married couple named John and Beth. John and Beth were Sunday school teachers. They lived for the church and the children whom they taught the lessons of life through the teachings of the Bible. While young in age, Jamie understood the lessons they were trying to instill in the students of the class. He was always able to see the wisdom or the deeper meaning to stories.

Jamie didn’t believe all the stories John told to the Sunday school class. To Jamie, some of them simply made no sense. However, he understood most of them and was able to find the true inner meaning of majority of the stories.

Jamie loved and admired John and Beth, looked up to them both, and wanted them to accept him and like him as well. They too loved Jamie.

One of the many lessons Jamie took from John concerned suicide. Jamie believed this. When John spoke of this belief, he spoke with true conviction. This was not something John took lightly. This story made sense to Jamie. According to John, suicide was the only sin God would not forgive you for. God couldn’t forgive someone for this sin because it is beyond God’s control. This was the lesson John felt most passionate for. Jamie always wondered if he lost someone to a suicide.

John’s reasoning was that you could commit any sin and God would forgive you as long as you would never do it again and you did, in fact, repent and ask God for true forgiveness after you committed the sin. But your heart had to be true, claimed John. However, if one killed oneself, that person would not be able to ask for forgiveness because he or she would be dead.

You cannot not commit murder, a sin, never repent and then expect to be forgiven by God and be allowed into the Lord’s kingdom if you take your own life. To take part in ending your own life would be suicide, and if one takes their own life, they can’t repent and truly feel convicted for a sin that you are going to commit in the future, because if you are truly convicted of the sin in your heart, you would not be able to commit the sin. Hence, if you tried to repent prior to committing the sin, it would be useless as you can’t truly repent and then go commit a sin, explained John.

This seemed logical to Jamie. This, coupled with John feeling so strongly about it, reinforced this into Jamie’s mind and his heart.

Jamie and his little sister loved going to church. Both of them felt at home in church.

One Sunday morning in church, John asked the class several questions concerning the Bible. After Jesus was born, he was placed in a what? Does anyone know? asked John.

Jamie whispered to his sister Sharon, A manger, Sharon.

Don’t lie, Jamie, said Sharon.

A manger, said Jamie while raising his hands.

Yes, a manger. Why was he placed in a manger? asked John.

Because he was born in a barn, Sharon, whispered Jamie.

No, Jamie, said Sharon.

Because he was born in a barn, said Jamie as he raised his hand.

Yes, said John while smiling at Jamie.

Does anyone know where Jesus was born? asked John.

Jamie said in the ear of his sister Sharon, Jupiter.

Sharon raised her hand and said, I know, I know.

Yes, Sharon, said John.

Jupiter, said Sharon.

No. Jesus was not born on the planet Jupiter.

The entire class laughed, including Jamie.

Jamie said, Bethlehem.

Yes, Bethlehem, replied John.

Sharon slapped Jamie’s arm and said, You’re mean, Jamie. Jamie snickered at his little sister as he placed his arm around her.

Jamie listened closely to all of John’s teachings. Jamie followed John’s teachings as closely as possible. Early in his life, Jamie was true to the Word of God but mostly because of the respect he had for John.

Jamie was grateful to have John and Beth in his life as well as in his sisters’ lives. He knew that their hearts were in the right place. John and Beth would pick them up for church every Sunday. Jamie went to church each and every Sunday of a year except one. He was not allowed to go on this one Sunday because his mother wanted the family to go to someone’s home for Easter. Jamie was trying to impress John because John didn’t think anyone in the Sunday school class could make the commitment of attending church every Sunday for one year. But Jamie could do it, so he thought. After all, the only place and time that Jamie felt like he belonged anywhere was with John and Beth at church. He loved John and Beth, and he loved church.

It is probably natural that Jamie felt that way. During all of Jamie’s childhood, he felt rejected and unwanted. Of course, his father not wanting to have anything to do with Jamie made him feel rejected. This was further reinforced by certain family members not wanting anything to do with Jamie. When Jamie was young, he always wondered why. At times, Jamie would inquire from the adult members of his family and would try to engage them in conversations concerning him being adopted. If he was around a distant relative, maybe a distant cousin of his mother, he would strike up a conversation concerning adoption. But no one ever gave him his answer.

Jamie loved his step-grandfather, Marcus. Jamie always knew that he didn’t care for him as much as his real grandchildren. But this never stopped Jamie from loving him. Jamie knew, when he got older, that he had irritated his grandfather. This was partly Jamie’s fault because he tried so hard to be a major part of his grandfather’s life. His grandfather would always boast about his son and himself and compared them both to Jamie: When Corey was your age or You ain’t nothing or Corey, at one time… This took place during Jamie’s entire childhood. Corey could run faster than you when he was your age. Corey was a smart kid, unlike you. He was hard on Jamie. Even Jamie’s Aunt Darla knew that her father didn’t care for Jamie, and she tried to show Jamie as much love as possible while he was a child.

The most remarkable thing his grandfather did to Jamie took place when he was eleven or so. It was the Fourth of July, and his grandfather, Marcus, was having a barbecue. He had been drinking his beer. Marcus was laughing and smiling. He was in a good mood. Marcus started to play boxing with Jamie’s cousin Raven. Marcus told Raven he was fast because Raven could dodge his punches. Jamie wanted his grandfather to think he too was fast and win his approval as Raven had. Raven and his grandfather were closer than Jamie and his grandfather partly because Raven lived there at grandfather’s home with his mother and his sister, so they spent a large amount of time together. Also, Raven was his real grandson, unlike Jamie. In an attempt to play with his grandfather, Jamie began telling him, You can’t hit me. Jamie knew he was faster than Raven. Jamie was older and always beat him in sports because he was a year older.

Jamie proceeded with teasing his grandfather. Looking back, even Jamie would say he must have been quite obnoxious. But he was a kid in search of acceptance and a father figure.

After a few minutes of teasing his grandfather, Marcus said, All right, you are gonna get it! He drew back and swung at Jamie with his fist closed, aiming toward Jamie’s face. Jamie ducked and fell back. The thrust of his swing caused his grandfather to fall forward to the concrete. He scraped his fist, arm, and elbow. His arm had a fair amount of blood on it, but it was mainly scratched up. About the time Marcus was getting up, while the grandkids that were younger than Jamie were laughing and saying, Don’t mess with Jamie—Jamie was the oldest male grandchild, so a few of them thought he was tough despite his lack of being tough—Jamie’s uncle Corey came around the corner and saw the blood on the arm of his father and heard what the other kids were saying while laughing. Jamie was standing there, still in shock, trying to make sense as to why his grandfather tried to hit him so violently.

Jamie thought Raven and he were slap boxing. Why is he so angry at me?

As Jamie was focusing on his grandfather and how he was skinned up, his uncle Corey started to yell at Jamie.

Corey: What did you do to my father?

Raven: Jamie didn’t do anything, Uncle Corey.

Corey: Why are the kids saying ‘Don’t mess with Jamie?’

Raven: They were playing, and Grandpa tried to hit Jamie but missed, and he fell down.

Jamie was terrified. He just escaped a punch from his grandfather that would have hurt a child had it connected. Then his uncle, someone Jamie loved and admired too, started yelling at Jamie.

As his grandfather got up, he was laughing, but Jamie could see he was embarrassed at what he did. He played it off, but Jamie looked him deep into his eyes, and he seen the shame in his eyes as his grandfather looked down after

Reviews for Mi Esposa

[datrappert · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A sad tale from O'Brien concerning an alchemist, his daughter, and a doctor who becomes involved with them. You can see the end coming, but his style is engaging, and his vocabulary with have you reaching for your dictionary (or pressing on your Kindle, which is a lot faster!)