Epilogue
“ A ye, you see your brother out there, Summer?” I whispered to the four-month-old baby girl nestled in my arms, her tiny fingers wrapped around my thumb. “That’s your big brother about to show out.”
Summer looked up at me with those big brown eyes that were a perfect mix of mine and her mama’s, gurgling something that sounded like she was agreeing with me. Baby girl was alert as hell, always looking around like she was taking mental notes on everything.
“She’s gonna be spoiled rotten,” Sametra said, sliding closer to me on the bleachers. Even in the July heat, my wife was glowing. Pregnancy had been good to her, but motherhood had her looking like a straight goddess. “Look at how she’s got you wrapped around her finger already.”
“Man, look at how she got all of us wrapped,” I said, adjusting Summer’s tiny onesie jersey, hat, and sunglasses. “Mama been video chatting every day just to see this little face.”
“Because she’s perfect,” Sametra cooed, reaching over to stroke Summer’s chubby cheek. “Aren’t you, baby girl? Yes, you are.”
The crack of the bat echoed across the field, and we looked up to see Samaj rounding first base, his leg pumping strong as ever.
Kid had not only made a full recovery, he’d earned a full ride to the University of Alabama and was tearing up their summer league.
Today we were in attendance for an exhibition game the city put on to raise money for misplaced families.
“That’s how you do it!” I called out, standing up carefully so I didn’t jostle Summer. “Let’s go, Maj!”
“Sit down, you’re embarrassing him,” Sametra laughed, but she was clapping loud as hell too. “Go Samaj!”
“Nah, he loves this shit. Look at him grinning.”
Sure enough, Samaj was beaming as he slid into second base safely, pointing up at us in the stands. He’d grown into himself completely. Confident on and off the field, mature beyond his years, and the best big brother Summer could ask for. Her whole face would light up whenever she heard his voice.
“I thought his baseball career was over,” Sametra said quietly, now bouncing Summer on her knee.
“But I told you we weren’t claiming that,” I said, wrapping my arm around my wife. “And now he’s back on the field and thriving.”
I kissed her temple, breathing in that scent that still drove me crazy after all this time.
“Mrs. Holloway, you happy?”
“The happiest Mr. Holloway. I can’t believe that’s my name for real. From day one you said you’d change my name.”
We’d gotten married in January, on New Year’s, with just family and close friends at Sheena’s.
Nothing fancy, nothing over the top, just us doing us, promising to love each other forever and a day.
She’d already been my wife before the ring, the paper, the vows.
From the moment I saw her, I made vows to protect and cherish her.
I hadn’t let up yet. The smile on her face every morning told me what I needed to know.
My wife looked beautiful in her cream off shoulder gown. I cried as she made her way to me. Honestly, there wasn’t a dry eye. My Mama cried through the whole ceremony, and so did John-Dale as he walked Sametra down the aisle.
“I never say shit I don’t mean. I said you’d be my wife, and I meant that shit. There was no way I was letting your fine ass be with someone else.”
“Here, take your spoiled child,” she said, passing me Summer as she started fussing, and I stood up to bounce her gently.
I did have her spoiled, and I wasn’t going to deny that.
Summer was my entire world. I wanted her with me all the time.
I called about her all the time. I was even worse than the doctor’s office now that she was here.
“What’s the matter with daddy baby?”
Her little lip poked out, and it was the same one her mama had. I groaned because between the two of them, I was wrapped around their finger. I kissed her cheek before turning the fan on her. The summer heat was probably getting to her, even with the little sun hat my mama had crocheted.
“See, when the hell did you get a portal fan, Malik?” Sametra asked, reaching for her. “Come here, mama’s baby, and give me that fan.”
“When I knew my baby was gon be in the heat. She don’t like being hot and shit.”
“You are ridiculous, but good idea.”
“Baby, you got one too; it’s in her bag. This one is hers. See, I wrote her name on it.”
She shook her head at me. My baby would and did have it all.
I watched my wife settle our daughter against her chest. She was a natural at this.
Not that I worried but, it had been seventeen years since she had a small baby.
One that depended on your twenty-four seven.
Whenever I stood back and watched her, I knew she’d been meant to have this baby, at this time in her life, with me.
Summer made her so happy. She made us all happy.
“Y’all are so beautiful,” I said, meaning every word. Summer immediately calmed down, making those little content noises that always made me grin and relax.
“Love you, daddy,” Sametra said, but she was smiling that smile that still made me want to risk it all.
“LT baby, you tryna get fu-”
“Aye, Dr. Holloway!” I heard behind me stopping me from saying some nasty shit to my wife. I rolled my eyes while she grinned and turned around to see Coach Miller jogging over from the dugout, sweat dripping down his face in the July heat.
“What’s good, Coach?”
“Man, I’ve been meaning to ask you, you still interested in that team physical therapist position? Because watching that boy play,” he pointed to Samaj, who was now stealing third base, “I need whatever magic you worked on his recovery.”
I glanced at Sametra, who nodded with a knowing smile. We’d talked about this already. Pressure Points was thriving, booked solid for the next three months. She was so proud of me and that kept me going. Her support meant the world to me.
“Let me think about it, Coach. I got my hands full right now,” I said, gesturing to Summer, who was now fast asleep in her mama’s arms being kept cool by her fan.
“I bet you do. That’s a beautiful family you got there, Doc. But it wouldn’t be until next year.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. Things change in a year.”
I knew that more than anything. I would’ve laughed in someone’s face if they came to me with this prophesy. After Coach Miller walked away, I settled back into my seat, watching Samaj slide into home plate. The kid was on fire today, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
“You want to do it, don’t you?” Sametra asked, reading my mind like she always did.
“Maybe. Part-time. When this one gets a little older.” I stroked Summer’s tiny hand with my finger. “Right now, I just want to be here. With y’all. I want to be home while you study. While we cook dinner. Being with my family is the most important thing to me. Not filling my time away from y’all.”
“We’re not going anywhere, baby.”
“Good.” I looked around at the baseball field, at my son celebrating with his teammates, at my wife holding our sleeping daughter, at the summer sun beating down on all of us. “This is everything I ever wanted and didn’t know how to ask for.”
I leaned over and kissed her, but when I pulled back, her eyes were still closed, that satisfied smile on her face. “You tryna get pregnant again ain’t it?”
“Maybe, but I want to start practicing when we get back home,” she whispered kissing my lips again until we heard Samaj come up behind us.
“Y’all see that slide into home?” he asked, grinning. Samaj’s team won 8-3, and after the game, he jogged over to us, still high off the adrenaline and covered in dirt.
“We saw everything, baby,” Sametra said, reaching up to hug him with her free arm. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Let me see my little sister,” he said, carefully taking Summer from Sametra’s arms. Summer immediately opened her eyes and started making happy noises. “Hey, beautiful girl. Your big brother just put on a show for you.”
Watching this young man who’d been through hell and back hold his baby sister with such gentleness and love always did it for me. This was the family I’d dreamed of my whole life, without knowing who they’d be.
“Aye, Maj,” I said, pulling out my phone. “Let me get a picture of y’all.”
As I snapped photos of Samaj and Summer, with Sametra laughing in the background, I thought about everything that had brought us to this moment.
The accident that could have taken them both from me.
The secrets and fights that almost tore us apart.
The baby daddy drama that forced me to choose what mattered most. All of it had led us here, to this baseball field on a hot July afternoon, complete and whole and happy.
“Babe, take one of all of us,” Sametra said, flagging down another parent to take our picture.
We huddled together, me, my wife, my son, and my daughter, with the summer sun setting behind the baseball field. As the camera clicked, Summer let out a little laugh, and Samaj grinned down at her.
“Perfect timing, baby girl,” I said softly.
Walking back to the parking lot, Samaj carrying his gear bag and me pushing Summer’s stroller while Sametra held my other hand, I realized this was what winning looked like.
Not trophies or championships or even successful businesses.
This. Family. Love. The daily choice to show up for each other, no matter what.
“What you thinking about?” Sametra asked, squeezing my hand. I brought her closer and tucked her under my arm.
“Just appreciating the moment. And thinking about how good God has been to us.”
“Real good,” she agreed. “Even when we didn’t deserve it.”
“Especially then.”