20. Faith
Thirty Days Later…
It took forever for me to feel like coming out of the house, but with a lot of persuasion from my sister and a little nudge from Reed, I was going out to a show with my sisters. It didn’t matter that we were going to Cashville. The only thing that mattered was I was getting out of the house.
Standing in the mirror, I checked my reflection for the third time.
My sisters and I were wearing pink. I wished I could show Jada the beautiful dress Reed bought me to encourage me to get out.
There was a grown and sexy R&B show at Cashville that the dress worked perfect for.
If I didn’t think so, my sister’s encouragement sealed the deal.
“Stop looking at yourself in the mirror. You already know you look good. I’m sure that man tells you that every day,” Grace mentioned.
“And he does, hater.”
“I can’t lie. I wasn’t completely on board at first, but I have made a complete three-sixty. I’ll even go as far as to say I was wrong.”
“That’s big of you, short stuff,” Hope interjected as she entered the room. “I hope y’all are finally ready.”
“I am. I’ll just call Granny on my way out.”
“Don’t call that lady again. She already told you to stop worrying about Jada and go shake your ass.”
I howled. “She did say that.”
“Now get out of this mirror and let’s go. I’m not missing this show for you.”
I was grateful that Hope was driving, because I hadn’t even been behind the wheel in over a month. Nevertheless, the drive to Cashville was uneventful. Being so close to Reed made me feel more comfortable.
It had only been a few days since he went back to work, but it was still only for a few hours a day.
Hopefully, me getting out of the house would show him that he didn’t have to be so vigilant about keeping an eye on me anymore, even if I didn’t believe that myself.
Grace and I followed Hope’s lead to the designated ballroom.
“I can’t wait to see this show. I’m ready to dance,” she called over her shoulder.
To my surprise, there wasn’t a line. Either we were late like Grace feared, or everyone else was super early. As soon as Hope flung the doors open, I stopped in my tracks. The first person I saw was my daughter standing at the end of the aisle in front of me. What the hell was she doing here?
On autopilot, I walked deeper into the room and spotted pretty much everyone I loved. Even Cassidy Lee was there. Panic had my heartbeat sounding like a marching band in my ears. I’d always thought I liked surprises, but now I was reconsidering.
I didn’t know what was going on, but it had Reed written all over it. I turned around in the room filled with fifty of my closest family members and friends. I didn’t know whether to flee or stay and figure out what was going on.
“You,” I said, glaring as I looked back at my sisters who were now standing in front of me guarding the door like security.
“We had help.” Grace grinned.
“Baby Love!” Reed called, causing me to turn on my heels to face him.
He looked so good armed with a black-on-black tuxedo, a fresh haircut, and a panty-dropping smile.
Time stood still as he leaned down and kissed our daughter’s cheek.
Standing to his full height, he held on to Jada’s hand.
“Come see me for a minute,” he ordered, motioning toward me with his head.
Although his handsome smile was present, he looked nervous. Reed didn’t get nervous. That made me nervous. Carefully, I took the short journey to stand in front of him and Jada. He reached out and stroked my cheek once I reached them.
“Every time I see you, you’re more beautiful than the last.”
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Marrying the love of my life and committing to our daughter.”
“What?” I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“You and my daddy are getting married today!” Jada squealed, making the room behind me erupt with laughter.
“You turned my baby against me?” I asked, giggling anxiously.
“Marry that man before I do!” Granny yelled from behind.
Reed studied my face as he reached out and took my hand. “If you don’t want to do this today, we can wait, but I don’t want to wait any longer. I felt like it was better to take the stress of planning off you. We can go as big as you want to later. Today, I just want to make you my wife.”
Once I was sure my voice worked, I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded my head. “OK, let’s get married.”
“First, let me talk to my daughter,” Reed said, releasing Jada’s hand as he kneeled in front of her and pulled a box out of his pocket. “Hey, princess.”
“Hey, Daddy.” She waved.
“I know this is all new to you. We’ve been making a lot of changes really fast, but I want you to know that I love you, and I’m never walking away from you. No matter what you do and no matter what I’m doing, I’ll always show up for you. I’m never leaving you and your mommy, OK?”
“OK, Daddy.” Jada beamed, showing every single one of her teeth as he placed a diamond necklace around her neck. I would kill him later for buying her such an expensive gift, but right now, I was getting married.
“Come on, sugar.” My grandma called for Jada to come sit next to her.
Once everyone was settled, Reed took both my hands in his.
“I’ve spent every day for the past seven years regretting the biggest mistake of my life.
I’ve spent every single night for the past seven years praying for this moment.
I’ve spent nine whole years loving you.” His voice cracked ever so slightly, but that was enough to break me.
“I missed precious time with you and our daughter because I was too stupid to fight for the woman I loved. I’m not a fool anymore.
I plan to work every single day to make up for lost time.
I can’t change the past, but I can make sure our future is worth living.
I love you, Faith. Thank you for giving me a chance to right my wrongs. ”
“I love you too. I always have and I always will.”
“I knew it.” He smiled.
“Shut up.”
“Well, will you marry me, baby?”
“Absolutely.”
The man waiting to the side of Reed officiated the ceremony, and just minutes later, I was married to the man who I’d always considered the man of my dreams. The ballroom erupted with cheers and applause as we kissed to seal our nuptials.
“You’re stuck with me now, Baby Love.”
I rolled my eyes playfully, kissing him again before responding. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Not at all.” He agreed, pulling me in for another sloppy kiss and making our guests go wild.
Reed was more than the man who broke my heart. He was the father of my daughter, the love of my life, and the man who’d ultimately helped heal my shattered heart. Forgiving Reed was the best thing I had ever done. I was so glad that I’d given him another chance.
For the first time in forever, I had no fear of what the future held, because the man standing in front of me would show up for me, even when I didn’t know he was coming. With Reed, I was confident that we would live happily ever after.
The End