Epilogue
A Year Later...
I drove down the street, blasting the latest K-pop for JaBria.
I had just picked her up from school and was headed home.
This wasn’t the first time I’d picked JaBria up from school.
The restaurant kept Jabari busy, but not to the point where he missed out on family things.
However, due to JaBria getting out of school early during peak hours, he couldn’t make it in time to pick her up.
JaBria and I had gotten close over the past year.
She was still in an arrangement to visit her mother, Kya, every other week.
Thankfully, Kya and Jabari’s relationship had gotten better over the past few months.
Sometimes, the two of them would bump heads, and I would have to act as the mediator, but it was never anything serious.
It was to the point where Kya was now reaching out to me if she couldn’t get in touch with Jabari.
We had a mutual respect for each other and remained in that space.
We were five minutes from the house when JaBria leaned forward and turned the music down.
“Miss Amina, can we call my grandma and see if it’s still okay for me to stay with her this weekend?”
“Yeah, baby, just touch on the screen and dial her number.”
JaBria did just that. We waited until Gloria answered the phone. Her voice was warm and welcoming.
“Hi, Amina.” She spoke into the phone.
“Hi, Gloria. I have JaBria here with me. She wanted to call and ask you a question.”
“Hey, my grandbaby, what’s up?”
“Can I still come hang out with you and Mr. Johnny this weekend?”
“Of course, baby. I’ve already talked to your daddy and mama, and they are okay with that.”
JaBria danced in her seat, and I giggled at her excitement for being able to hang out with the older crowd.
I understood because Gloria spoiled JaBria.
Then with her new man, Mr. Johnny, he kept Gloria in the malls, which meant JaBria was in the malls, getting anything and everything she wanted.
Mr. Johnny was a great man for Gloria. His wife had died ten years ago, and he had been looking for companionship.
He and Gloria had first started as church friends, and then their relationship had grown over time.
Mr. Johnny was a retired military officer, but due to his investment properties and boats, he was sitting on a substantial amount of money.
When Gloria first introduced Jabari to Mr. Johnny, Jabari was skeptical. He gave his mama and Mr. Johnny a hard time. However, after Mr. Johnny repeatedly proved himself, Jabari was able to look at him in a different way. Gloria was back in remission, and she was doing well so far.
“Amina, are you off today?” she asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yep. Jabari asked me to take the weekend off, so I did.”
“Good. You need a break, especially with the expansion.”
Since I took on the new position, I’d been making strides and implementing changes in the oncology unit, where we were awarded extra funding to expand the center and upgrade it with new equipment.
That came with a lot of additional resources, ensuring I had enough staff, and we can still assist patients during the construction.
However, things were going well. Still, I needed a break.
“Yeah. I’m glad to be spending time with Jabari. I’ve missed him.”
“Oh, girl, please. You see that man every night. But kiss him for me, and I’ll take JaBria off your hands.”
“Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. See you soon. Grandma loves you, JaBria!”
“Love you too.”
Gloria hung up the phone, and we pulled into the driveway. JaBria quickly jumped out and ran onto the porch. She waited for me to grab my stuff and make my way to the porch. Before I could unlock the door, the door flew open, catching me by surprise.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were working late,” I stated.
“That’s why I hired extra managers, so I don’t have to work late. Come inside.”
Jabari reached down and picked JaBria up, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Go make sure your clothes are all in there. I’m taking you to Grandma’s early.”
JaBria sped to her room to do as she was told. Jabari finally leaned over and kissed my lips.
“I love you.”
“I love you more.”
“Go make sure everything is in your travel bag. We have a red eye tonight.”
My brow raised. “Where are we going?”
“Vegas.”
“Huh?” I asked, confused that he was talking code.
“Danita helped me pack for you. Go check behind us, please.”
“Jabari—”
“Baby, go, and don’t start with all them questions.”
I sauntered to the room, constantly looking behind me, but Jabari didn’t follow me.
I opened the bedroom door, and there was a luggage set in the middle of the floor and a white dress laid on the bed.
I walked over to the dress and studied it.
It was long, flowy, and strapless. There was a long split on the right side, and the middle of the top was lace material.
“Pretty, right?” Jabari asked, walking up behind me.
“It is, but where are we going? To an all-white party?” I asked, placing the dress back down.
“Something like that?”
My eyebrow raised. “What do you mean, something like that?”
Jabari cleared his throat and reached for my hands. He placed a kiss on each and smiled. “You know I love you, right?”
I nodded. “And I love you too.”
“Even better, but I can’t imagine my life without you.
My mama loves you, JaBria adores you, and shit, even the staff gets excited when you come through the doors of the restaurant.
You’re this shining star in my life. I cherish you, and I couldn’t imagine life without you.
So, what I’m saying, or well asking, is for you to fly with me to Vegas this weekend and marry me. ”
My eyes widened. I damn near choked on my spit. I wasn’t expecting it. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Jabari. I just didn’t know if he felt the same.
“Wh-why Vegas?” I stammered.
He shrugged. “I don’t want to wait any longer. I’m ready to address you as my wife, Mrs. Amina Moore. Please inform the hospital staff that your name is no longer Nurse Anderson but Nurse Moore. I want to ice you out big enough so the world can know you’re mine.”
Being the crybaby I was, the tears flowed. Jabari wiped at them and kissed each side of my cheek.
“What do you say? Will you marry me?”
I sniffed and looked at him. My heart was leaping out of my chest. I’ve always dreamed of the day someone would ask me to become their wife. But I loved and was thankful it was Jabari.
“Of course, I’ll marry you!”
He lifted me off my feet, spinning me around, causing me to squeal.
“Listen, our flight leaves in four hours. Let’s drop JaBria off. Your sister is at the airport waiting on us. The faster we get there, the happier I’ll be, okay?”
“I can’t believe this! I’m so surprised.”
“Believe, baby. It was the Cancer spe?—”
I shot him a warning look.
“My bad, baby. It was the embrace of a Cancer that’s got me on lock.”
I giggled. “I love you, Jabari Moore.”
“I love you more, my soon-to-be wife.”
The End