Epilogue
about six months later
“Bruh, you said a crib,” Kadean huffs, standing in the door frame of the twins’ room.
“We’re having twins. That means two cribs and two bassinettes. Stop yapping and come help. You’re late anyway.”
“Looks like I’m not late e-damn-nough. Don’t look like you’ve done shit but open the boxes.”
“Shit, that’s a start. Grab a screwdriver and get to work,” I say and he grabs a screwdriver from the stack of tools on the floor.
“What’s first?”
“These bassinettes. They look the easiest,” I suggest. “How much you get today?” I ask.
“Damn, nigga. All in my pockets,” he huffs with a smile.
He must have done good.
“I see you.”
“Just trying to be like my big bro,” he says and I smile.
Six months ago, I couldn’t even dream of this moment.
Me and Kadean, like this, no tension, no arguing, just love and finally mutual respect.
His attorney, Angela, was able to get the driving a stolen vehicle charge dismissed and she negotiated his DWSL down to six months.
With time served, he was released right after Thanksgiving.
He missed the birth of his son by eight days but he’s been there for Peaches and Kadeuce since.
It was rough at first, even with Peaches, but after I visited him, things started to shift.
I kept his books full and he would call at least once a week.
I took care of Peaches and I was even at the hospital when my little nephew came into the world.
Shit with us is straight and I’m so proud of the man he’s becoming.
He even started his own little business and it ain’t no damn box truck.
When he got out, I let him stay at my place since I moved in with my three beauties.
This month will be his first month paying rent since he’s getting his shit together.
He’s back at Clean Ridez and making his own legitimate moves.
I’m not sure when, but one day, he took over the vending machines at both locations.
I didn’t realize it until Trista brought it to my attention that we hadn’t spent any money at ShopSmart in two weeks.
Turns out it was Kadean, so I let him have it.
He surprised me by completely taking the shit over: collecting the money, restocking, and servicing the machines.
He even switched items up and was actually making a nice profit.
When he came to me with a solid business idea and plan, I fronted him the money to buy two more vending machines.
He found places for them and bought another machine on his own.
“You can never be the original but I’m proud of you, for real,” I tell him.
“’Preciate, bro. For real.”
He grabs the directions from the floor and hands me a sheet. I pretty much remember from when I did Kadeuce’s, but I’m not taking any chances for my boys. I’m going to follow them step by step.
“It’s better to save the top for last. Build the foundation first,” I tell him and he nods.
“Got it. Where’s sis?” he asks.
“In bed. Her doctor put her on bedrest until her due date. She’s pissed but she knows it’s best. My boys are going to be big as fuck.”
“Two more and we can have a team,” he says.
“I’ll let you and Peaches have those. We good over here with four.”
For the next hour and a half, we knock out both bassinettes and start the cribs.
I have to finish them on my own, because around seven Peaches starts calling and raising hell.
He had to dip and take care of his girl and son.
He dapped up the girls before leaving and they just giggled like they always did with him.
“Y’all ready to eat before I get back in the room to finish the cribs?” I ask and they answer in unison.
“Yes.”
“Pizza or pizza and wings?” I ask.
“Both,” Averi answers but Romi doesn’t respond. I step to her and lift her head.
“You good, lil mama?” I ask and she shakes her head. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s sad,” Averi says, so I sit down between them.
“’Bout what? Something happened at school? I need to beat somebody up?” I ask, joking, trying to make her smile, but it doesn’t work. It’s serious. “What’s up? I ask again but still Romi doesn’t say anything. “What’s going on with her?” I ask Averi.
She hesitates for a second then finally says, “When the babies get here, they gon’ call you daddy, not us. We don’t call you that.”
My damn heart drops at her words.
After draping my arms around both of them, I pull them to my sides.
“Ay. I love you two very much. You’re my babies just like the boys.
When they get here, I’ll have two handsome boys and two very pretty and very smart little girls.
If you want to call me Daddy, you can, because I am your daddy, okay?
” I say, meaning every word. They are as much a part of my life as Adora and the twins.
“Okay!” they sing, then smile.
“Don’t ever forget that I love you and that ain’t gonna change when your brothers get here. My heart is big,” I assure them.
“The babies gon’ have little hearts,” Romi says.
“They’re going to be small. We’re good now?” I ask and they nod. “Bet. I’m gonna put the wings and pizza in the air fryer and go check on your momma.”
“She was in the bathroom,” Averi says and I rush down the hall. Adora is hard headed and stubborn as hell. I don’t want her doing too much by herself.
When I make it to our room, I hear her voice. She’s on the phone. To give her some space, I start to back out, but when I hear my name, I naturally stop.
“He’s great, Momma, and the girls love him. He’s the daddy they’ve always deserved. I wish you could see them with him. You would have loved him,” she says.
She’s leaving a message for her mom.
She hasn’t turned the service off on the phone.
According to her, she isn’t ready to let go, not now, and I understand.
Everybody grieves differently. No one can dictate it and there’s no prescribed timeframe.
This is what she needs. She doesn’t do it all the time but has her moments where she just wants to talk to her mom.
“I’m on bed rest. These stupid doctors are making me stay in bed until your grandprinces arrive.
God, I wish you were here. Xai is really good about taking care of me but he’s driving me crazy too,” she says, then laughs.
“I love him though, so much. He just doesn’t rub my back like you did when I was carrying Romi.
I swear that’s why she loves back rubs when she’s sleeping.
They miss you so much and so do I. I do every day and that’ll never stop. ”
The toilet flushes and when I hear the water running in the sink, I continue toward the bathroom. “Talking to your momma?” I ask from the door.
“Yeah. I had to tell her about these dumb doctors. Just so you know, she would be on my side, unlike you,” she scoffs.
“I doubt that, love. From what you’ve told me about her, she didn’t play about you either and she would want you to do what the doctors said,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes.
“Doing that only makes you look cute. Now, come over here and get back in bed,” I say as I wrap my arms around her big ass belly and walk backward toward the bed.
“It’s bad enough I look like a whale. Now I have to be stuck in bed for six weeks and get even bigger,” she huffs when she sits.
“It’s modified for three weeks, full for three,” I correct.
“Same difference. Either way, I get bigger. I can’t even see my feet.”
“But I can and they’re cute. You look beautiful. I can’t keep my hands off your fine ass,” I admit before kissing her passionately.
Big belly and all, Adora looks so pretty. Her skin is smooth as cocoa butter and she really has a glow. I’ve heard people say that shit but I didn’t know it was real until her. My baby is sexy and the fact that she’s carrying my sons only makes her sexier.
“You are such a liar,” she hisses.
“I’m telling the truth. You look good, love.” I kiss her lips again then say, “I’m warming dinner. After we eat, we can come back in here and you can let me make you feel better.”
“Xai, my stomach!” she huffs.
“I’m not talking about your stomach. I’m definitely going to kiss it but it’s not the final stop. I’m going for gold and not stopping until you wet my whole face up.”
She laughs, then lightly pushes my chest. “You better enjoy it, because after they get here, we’re never having sex again. This is the last time I’ll be pregnant.”
“Never? You sure about that? Like never, ever, ever.”
“Yep. Never, sir. Sex leads to pregnancy, so we’re cutting out the middle.”
“Never touching yo’ fine ass again? Yeah, no. That’s not happening. I gotta change yo’ mind ’bout that,” I say, then get upright.
“There’s nothing that can change my mind,” she says sternly.
At her words, I smile then reach into my pocket.
I’ve been looking for the right moment to do this and it’s now.
Real shit, I should have done this a while ago.
I’ve known from our first night together that she’s it for me.
Some shit a man just knows and this is one of those.
There’s no me without her and it’s time to make this official.
After getting down on one knee, I hold up the ring I’ve been carrying around for weeks and say, “Maybe this can change it.”
“Yes!” she exclaims before I can ask.
The End