Chapter 25
New Year’s Eve
Four Days Later
E
llie looked around her new home, and her soul felt full. Her friends and family scattered about, filling the walls with noise and love. Her home was big enough for everyone, and Loyal had spared no expense on the furnishings. It was the perfect place to bring in the New Year.
“Thank you so much, Ellie, for letting me and Christian stay here until I can get on my feet,” Courtney stated as she walked up to Ellie, offering a hug.
“Don’t even mention it, girl; we’re happy to have you,” Ellie said. “And it’s no rush for you to get out. My home is your home. Have you spoken to James?”
“Not really. He sends me notes from his therapy sessions. I’m glad he’s going, but I don’t want to go back to that situation. Until he’s better, I’m not comfortable with Christian being there without me, either, so Sloan’s going to help me with a lawyer so I can file for full custody.”
“I think that’s smart, and how about you? You scheduled your next therapy session yet?” Ellie asked.
“It’s January 2nd, actually. I want to start the year right. I’ve got a lot of healing to do.”
“You’re taking all the right steps, Court,” Ellie said, cupping her friend’s pretty face.
“You’re so beautiful and so deserving of good things.
Never let another nigga play you small again.
” She put her forehead to Courtney’s, and they shook their heads like they used to do in middle school. “I love you, my girl.”
Courtney was emotional as she whispered, “Oh, Ellie, jumping your ass in the bathroom in 7th grade is the best thing that ever happened to this friend group,” Courtney whispered.
“Jealous-ass bitches,” Ellie snickered.
“Knock, knock!”
Ellie turned toward the door as Sloan announced her arrival.
Ellie smiled when Cassidy walked in behind her.
Seeing their shorthand with one another was amazing.
They were a beautiful couple who radiated their love for one another wherever they went.
I really don’t know how I didn’t see the shit before, she thought.
They just fit, and if Ellie knew her brother at all, she knew it wouldn’t be long before he asked Sloan to marry him.
They were already spoiling one another. They had missed Christmas together but didn’t hesitate to make up for it.
Cassidy had purchased her a stunning diamond necklace and tennis bracelet, which she wore proudly.
Ellie could see the matching ring coming from a mile away.
He was just waiting for the right moment; she was sure of it.
Sloan had forced him to put his classic car up for the winter, and they had gone car shopping.
She forced him to join the Mercedes club by gifting him an S-Class AMG.
They were a successful, sexy couple who exemplified Black love, and Ellie had gone from their biggest hater to their number-one cheerleader.
She couldn’t get one without the other, these days, because whenever she called Sloan, she was with Cassidy, and whenever she called Cassidy, Sloan picked up the damn phone.
They were the annoying-ass couple, and Ellie loved it. She knew her mother would approve.
“Is that my daughter-in-law?” Papa called out.
“You know it is,” Sloan replied as she kicked off her snow-covered boots and rushed to hug Bishop first.
“Not you over here sipping. What you got in that cup?” Sloan asked playfully while giving Ellie the eye.
“Not you over here snitching,” Papa shot back. “Go’n back over there.”
Cassidy chuckled and wrapped Ellie in a bear hug.
“Beautiful home, E,” Cassidy stated.
Ellie beamed and replied, “Your boy did good.”
“Where we posting up at?” Sloan asked, giving Ellie a warm hug with one arm because she was holding Cassidy’s hand with the other.
Ellie laughed at how connected at the hip they were.
After all those years apart, she knew that they would be inseparable for a while.
It was sickening but also adorable. Love had won.
“Shy’s pulling up now. She was trying to find a spot. ”
“Okay, cool,” Ellie replied. “We can go in the den.” She checked her watch. They still had an entire hour before the ball dropped.
“Hey, boo!” Shy shouted. She was her normal, bubbly self.
“Hey, girl, we’re in the den, Ellie stated.
“How many shots am I down?” Shy asked.
“None; we just getting the party started,” Ellie laughed. “You know I’m an old bitch. Can’t turn up too early or I’ma be sleep before the ball drop.”
“I’m already anticipating passing out in one of your guest rooms,” Shy warned.
Ellie dodged little kids as she walked through the house. “Brooklyn! You and the other teenagers take these kids to the basement! They in grown folks’ business up here!” Ellie stated.
She was grateful for the additional living space.
When Loyal said renovated, he hadn’t lied.
The basement was finished to the highest of standards.
Her home was beautiful, and as her loved ones filled it, she couldn’t be more grateful.
He had no clue the gift he had truly given her.
The gift was reconnection. She couldn’t remember the last holiday season that was filled with this kind of joy.
“You better than me. I would be going crazy with all this eating and drinking and spilling shit in my brand-new house,” Shy stated.
“It really doesn’t bother me,” Ellie said, looking around at the happiness on all her family members’ faces.
“You buy a house like this to live in it. You fill it with memories. You put kids in every room. You host holidays and birthday parties. I want my house to always feel like this. I just wish…”
“You wish what?” Courtney asked.
Ellie’s smile dwindled as she thought of Loyal.
“Nothing,” she said. The yearning she had for that man was real.
She thought of him every day, but she never called.
She hoped to hear from him, but it had been almost a week, and her phone never rang.
She had gone back to her world, and he had gone back to his.
It was like they had never even crossed paths at all— only they had.
They had gotten to know each other over this Christmas holiday, and she couldn’t un-know him.
She took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s take shots!
” she said, clapping her hands together.
Thinking of him would put her in a funk, and that wasn’t how she wanted to bring in her New Year.
She stood and went to the bar. “I have a full bar, so pick your own poison and drop your keys in the bucket if you having more than two shots. Won’t drink and drive on my watch. ”
Everyone called out their preference, and Ellie started playing bartender. She passed out the drinks and then looked around the room.
“Everybody got a shot?” she asked. She looked at Sloan. “Sis, what you drinking? You want me to make you a drink instead of a shot?”
Sloan looked like a deer in headlights.
“Don’t say you ain’t drinking. It’s New Year’s Eve. You already know we’re partying all night,” Shy teased.
Sloan paused for an awkward beat, and Cassidy sat up in his chair. “You good, baby?” he asked.
Sloan sighed. “Yeah, I umm… Just don’t feel like drinking tonight. We’ve got a drive, but you enjoy yourself. I’m chilling.”
“Oh my god! Are you pregnant?!” Ellie blurted.
Cassidy’s eyes scanned Sloan’s entire body, and Ellie covered her mouth in excitement.
“Wait, what?” Shy asked, stunned.
“Sloan?” Courtney added.
Sloan was visibly uncomfortable as the entire room focused on her. Cassidy was on edge as he commanded her stare. He caressed one side of her face while staring at her curiously. ?°You got something to tell me?”
“You are, aren’t you?” Ellie was so giddy she jumped up and down.
Sloan looked at Cassidy and said, ?°I wanted to be sure before I told you, but I?ˉm four days late.
” The look of pure joy that took over his eyes made all Sloan?ˉs nerves dissipate.
She was weary to announce this news prematurely because she knew how high risk her pregnancy would be, but his happiness brought her so much relief she didn’t regret it at all.
“Oh my goddddddd!” The girls shrieked so loudly you could barely make out what they were saying. Sloan’s girl tribe swarmed her, pushing Cassidy out of the way as they celebrated.
Cassidy shook his head and smiled. He knew their dynamic, and he laughed as they fawned over Sloan.
“You’ve wanted this for so long,” Ellie crooned. “I’m so happy for you. I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt.” She turned to Cassidy and hugged him so tightly. “Mama would be so proud of you. Are you going to tell Papa?”
Sloan stood, and Cassidy pulled her close.
“I wasn’t even ready to tell Cass yet. I need to take a real test, Ellie. I need to take so many tests. I’m almost 40 years old. So much can go wrong. I don’t want to get excited too fast. What if something happens? What if…”
“Nothing’s going wrong, sis. This baby is a gift.
Don’t let fear take this moment away from you.
You didn’t have to find a donor. You didn’t have to do IVF.
No frozen embryos. None of that. I know you’re a doctor and you put your belief in science, but I believe God.
This baby was made from love. This is already happening for you.
You don’t have to pray for it anymore. You don’t have to worry about it anymore.
” Ellie wrapped her arms around Sloan one more time, and Sloan broke down.