Chapter 32
“C ome in,” Brooklyn called, her voice scratchy with sleep.
She and Davion lay fully clothed on top of the bedspread, limbs tangled, their bodies barely stirring beneath the soft hush of the morning. They blinked themselves awake as their parents entered the room.
Sunny’s eyes softened at the sight of them. Two young people caught in the chaos of love and life, still holding onto each other, two soft places for the other to land.
Davion sat up slowly. Brooklyn next. “We fell asleep talking,” she said, but Mark held up his hand.
“You don’t have to explain, Brook.” He sighed, taking a seat at her desk as Sunny sat on the bed. “We need to talk.”
“We owe you an apology,” Sunny said. “Both of you. For last night. For…a lot.”
Mark nodded. “We met in college. Fell in love. Deeply. Then life took us in different directions. But we never stopped loving each other.”
Brooklyn’s face softened. “So she was the other woman you were in love with.”
“Yes. And that doesn’t diminish my love for your mother,” Mark added. “Please don’t think—“
“I don’t,” Brooklyn said.
“When I saw her… here …it felt like fate,” he continued. “So we reconnected.”
To Davion, he said, “We didn’t plan it. I didn’t plan it. I wasn’t plotting on your mother, son. I just saw her and fell right back in love.”
Davion was silent.
“Back then, in college, I…” Sunny trailed off, looking over at Mark.
“I got her pregnant,” he finished.
Brooklyn’s eyes bucked. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. And I made the decision not to go through with it.” Sunny cleared her throat, clasping her hands together in her lap. “It wasn’t the right time. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t see a path forward for us…for me, with a baby. So…” she blew out a breath. “There you go. That’s the whole truth."
Brooklyn looked at Davion, her mouth slack. “Is it possible…is there any chance at all that me and Davion are—“
“No!” Sunny said firmly. “Absolutely not. The math on that makes it impossible.”
Brooklyn’s shoulders sagged with relief. Dav grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.
“We’ve been talking,” he said, speaking up for the first time. “We’re not getting married.”
Sunny shook her head. “Why not, sweetie?”
“We’re too young,” he said. “We love each other, but maybe that’s not enough. All this mess that popped off…I don’t know.” He looked at Brooklyn. “Maybe we’re not ready.”
Sunny put a hand on Davion’s leg, her eyes brimming. “When you have real love, you have to fight for it. Don’t waste it. And don’t walk away from it just because life gets messy.”
Mark chuckled. “The mess ain’t even yours. All of this,” he gestured wildly with his hands. “It’s our fault. We’re the messy ones. Yall got your heads on straight.”
He looked right at Davion. “On the boat. I told you I know a good woman when I see one. Remember that?”
Davion nodded.
“You agreed with me. You said you know a good woman, too. And what I’m telling you, Dav, is that you gotta hold on when you get one. You might not get another chance.”
He and Sunny locked eyes, exchanging a look so soft and intense, Brooklyn groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.
“Ugh. Stop looking at each other like that.”
“Please,” Davion agreed.
The two couples sat in silence for a moment until Mark cleared his throat.
“Alright. Here’s how it’s gonna be.” His voice was sharp with frustration. “I done shelled out a significant amount of money on this damn wedding. Somebody’s getting married today.”
“Kez,” Sunny warned.
“Nah. Six figures. Six .” He stood and gently pulled the cover off Brooklyn. “Young lady, are you listening to me?”
“Daddy, I heard you.”
“Cool. Get on up and start getting ready. Somebody’s walking down that damn aisle.”
His eyes shifted over to Sunny, his eyebrows raising slowly, eyes glinting.
It took her a minute to realize. “Wait.”
He smiled.
“No,” she said firmly.”
“Why not?” he challenged. “It ain’t gotta be them.”
Sunny scoffed. “That’s your problem, Kez. You’re either rigid and meticulously planned, or you’re completely unhinged. There’s no in between with you.”
Brooklyn giggled softly. “Read, Ms. Sunny.”
His gaze stayed locked on the love of his life. “Are you saying no? I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time, but I need to know.”
“You didn’t propose back then,” Sunny laughed. “And you’re not proposing now. Where’s my ring?”
Mark smirked as he stood to his feet. “Yall are welcome to stay in here and talk amongst yourselves. Figure out who’s doing what. I’ll be in my room being unhinged, I suppose.”
When the door closed behind him, the three looked at each other, barely able to hide their smiles.
“He’s so…different around you,” Davion said. “I’ve been around that man plenty over the last couple of years and I’ve never seen that side of him.”
“He loves her,” Brooklyn said softly. “He must feel safe enough to let the other parts of himself show.”
Davion cupped Brooklyn’s chin, staring lovingly into her eyes. “That’s how you make me feel.”
She smiled.
“I know I ain’t been at my best these past few days, but you’ve been loving me anyway. You just don’t understand how much I appreciate that.”
“I’ll always love you anyway,” she said. “That’s my job. That’s what a good wife does.”
Dav pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I know a good wife when I see one.”
Sunny pulled out her phone, delighted that they were making progress. But when she pulled up Mark’s number, she didn’t tell him that. She texted something else.
Mark stood on his bedroom balcony, staring across the ocean, his phone dangling in his hand. A breeze ruffled his shirt, the salty wind cooling the heat simmering on his skin.
He’d made some decisions.
Now, he was nervous.
When his phone buzzed, he closed his eyes, praying for a miracle.
Ok fine. I’ll marry you
He stared at the screen, reread it multiple times, then let out a slow, disbelieving laugh.
Miracle accomplished.
He dialed a number.
Daisy picked up on the first ring.
“Hey,” he said, his voice light as air. “Slight change of plans.”