Chapter 12
“You want to marry that girl, don’t you?” Uncle Marlon asked as soon as they stepped foot out onto the back porch.
Iskyiah and Brooke were already in bed after a long day of traveling, feeding animals, and stuffing their faces at dinner; they were exhausted. Moolah, however, needed to get some things off his mental, and his uncle was the person he needed.
“Damn, Unc. We can’t even light the cigar first?” Moolah joked.
Marlon sank down onto one of the seats and waved him off. “It’s past my bedtime.”
Moolah chuckled as he sat down next to his uncle. He waited patiently while Marlon fumbled with the cigar and lighter. He sipped from his glass of bourbon and gazed out at the stars above.
Finally, Marlon handed him the lit blunt. Moolah took a pull. After he blew the smoke out, he said, “Yeah, Unc, I do.”
Marlon nodded. “But you ain’t sure you’re husband material?”
Moolah shook his head. His uncle tended to make conversations really easy like this. He always seemed to know what was on Moolah’s heart.
“Well, what you think? Am I?” Moolah asked because he didn’t want to reveal that Marlon was right. Moolah was too confident to admit that he didn’t know if he would make a good husband for Iskyiah. She was such a good girl, and Brooke was perfect. He didn’t want to fuck up.
Marlon accepted the cigar and pulled on it before he responded. “If it was any other woman, I’d be payin’ the poor thing to run. You hear me? Run for the mothafuckin’ hills and then keep on fuckin’ runnin’, but this is Sky we talkin’ ’bout. She ain’t just any woman.”
“That she ain’t,” Moolah agreed.
“I’ll say this, Mo. She’s prefect for you. You need her. Marry that girl.”
“But how do I know if I’ll be a good husband to her? She deserves the world, and you know I have no problem giving it, but I ain’t really wrapped too tight, and I’m stubborn.”
“That’s just to name two of your flaws,” Marlon pointed out, and Moolah chuckled.
“Aight, man. Not too much.”
“I’ma tell you like I told Sky earlier. You’ve loved her since you were a little ass boy who didn’t know nothin’ ’bout nothin’.
I’ve seen that love grow, even when she was gone.
You’re different with her. You ain’t a soft nigga, but you know how to be soft with her.
You know how to listen to her. You relax when you’re with her.
Marry that girl, son. It’ll be the best thing you ever do. ”
Moolah took in his uncle’s words, and relief filled him because all he’d wanted was confirmation that he was on the right track. Bless Marlon, because he’d just given Moolah the green light to his happily ever after.
A FEW DAYS LATER
Like always, Moolah knew Iskyiah had a million questions, but she held them in. He was grateful for that because this surprise was worth waiting for.
When he pulled up to their old spot, he couldn’t help the genuine smile that graced his face. He’d come here many times over the years when he wanted to feel closer to Iskyiah. Today, he didn’t need to yearn for her. His baby had found her way home.
“I’m about to help you out. Hold on,” he said before he cut the car off and got out. For once, he drove himself while he was with her because he wanted the moment to be intimate, just for them.
He jogged around the car and opened Iskyiah’s door.
She was blindfolded and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt that matched the vibe of his joggers and T-shirt.
He wanted the moment to be relaxed and reminiscent of when they were younger and would spend their Saturdays in this very spot, with a few upgrades, of course.
A plane took off above them, and Iskyiah jumped, clinging to his arm.
“Was that a plane?” she asked skeptically.
The corners of Moolah’s mouth turned up. He untied the blindfold and waited for her reaction.
A large sign made of roses spelled out you’re gonna marry me in large letters.
In the grass was a blanket with a picnic spread, similar to the one they had at the planetarium.
Hundreds of fake candles lit up the ground as the sun set behind them.
Iskyiah giggled and turned around. “Really, Lah? That’s how you ask—”
She stopped when she saw him bent on one knee with a ring box in his hand. He didn’t think he’d get emotional when he asked her this question, but tears clouded his vision as he looked up at his Sky.
“Where do I begin, my baby? You know you’re the center of my universe, right?
” Iskyiah nodded as tears fell from her eyes.
Moolah nodded to the sign behind her. “That wasn’t done by mistake.
I ain’t really askin’ you shit, because we both know we gettin’ married.
We know this is it for us. You was always mine, Sky, even when you ain’t know it.
All that’s really left for us to do is to make it official.
Be my wife, baby. Take my last name and give me some babies, fair exchange. Make me complete and marry me, Sky.”
“Yes,” Iskyiah said before he could properly finish. “Yes, baby. Yes. I’ll marry you.”
Moolah allowed one little thug tear to slip from his eye as he slid the rock on Iskyiah’s finger.
He stood and scooped her up into his arms. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and they kissed passionately, completely getting lost in each other.
Moolah couldn’t wait to marry this woman who had always been his best friend and carried his heart with her wherever she went.
She had no idea that she was set for life.
Whatever she needed financially, emotionally, sexually, and spiritually, Moolah would oblige.
The world was officially Iskyiah Nathans Brooks, for the taking.