Chapter Fourteen
Things slowly began to calm down.
After everything that happened, Alliyah asked for a few days off from work. She had just been given more responsibility again, this time helping with banquet prep and operations support, and part of her felt guilty stepping away so soon.
But her heart needed rest.
Her mind needed quiet.
And Hamilton needed to heal.
For the next few days, she visited him at the hospital.
She brought her girls once he was stable enough for visitors. She was nervous at first, unsure how they would respond to him or how he would respond to them. But Hamilton surprised her.
He treated them like he had known them forever.
He joked with them, asked about school, listened to their stories, and somehow became the favorite uncle from a hospital bed. The girls laughed around him, and watching that did something to Alliyah’s heart she was not prepared for.
She did not bring up the kiss.
Not once.
She wanted Hamilton to be his bright, light-filled self again.
She wanted him laughing, teasing, and breathing without fear.
So whenever she came by, she made sure she was not the only one in the room.
His mother was usually there. His father came in and out.
Exodus stopped by with jokes. Before long, the hospital room felt less like a place of fear and more like a family gathering.
By discharge day, the whole room was full.
First Lady Hamilton was there, still protective but softer now. Pastor Emmanuel Hamilton stood near the window, calm as ever. Exodus was making everyone laugh, and Alliyah finally met Auntie Maelie — the auntie Hamilton had spoken about so many times.
Alliyah liked her immediately.
She had warmth, spice, and authority all wrapped into one woman. Within ten minutes, they were already talking about food like they had known each other for years.
“You cook?” Auntie Maelie asked.
Alliyah smiled. “I do more than cook.”
Hamilton laughed from the bed. “Auntie, don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m starting,” she said, pointing at Alliyah. “Me and you are going to have a cooking battle one day.”
“I accept,” Alliyah said.
The room erupted with laughter.
A few of his family members mentioned how consistent Alliyah had been, how she kept showing up, how she brought peace into the room. First Lady Hamilton did not say much, but Alliyah noticed she did not correct them either.
That was progress.
Then Hamilton looked around the room and said, “Can Alliyah and I have a minute?”
Alliyah’s eyes widened.
“No,” she said quickly. “That’s okay. I’ll see you later.”
Hamilton looked at her. “No.”
His voice was calm, but firm.
Before Alliyah could argue, First Lady Hamilton surprised her.
“Come on, y’all,” she said, waving everyone toward the door. “Give these young folks the room.”
Alliyah blinked.
Young folks?
Pastor Hamilton smiled like he had been waiting for her to soften all along.
One by one, everyone walked out. Auntie Maelie pointed two fingers at Hamilton before leaving.
“Behave yourself. You just got discharged.”
Hamilton grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
When the door closed, Alliyah stayed near the chair instead of moving closer.
Hamilton watched her carefully.
“You know I’m on medication, right?” he said.
Alliyah folded her arms. “That does not make me feel better.”
He smiled, but then his expression softened.
“You didn’t cause what happened.”
Alliyah looked away.
“Hamilton…”
“No,” he said. “Look at me.”
She did.
His eyes held hers.
“You did not cause it.”
Something in her loosened.
He reached out his hand.
She hesitated, then walked over and placed her hand in his. The calm that rushed through her was hard to explain. It was like her body remembered what her heart had been afraid to admit.
Hamilton’s thumb moved gently over her fingers.
“It’s been eight months,” he said softly.
“I know.”
“Eight months of you running.”
She gave him a look. “I was not running.”
He smiled. “You were power-walking away from your feelings.”
Alliyah laughed despite herself.
Then he tilted his head. “So what do you think of my family?”
She exhaled, grateful for the lighter question.
“I love Auntie Maelie,” she said. “And apparently, we’re having a cooking battle soon.”
Hamilton laughed.
“And your mother…” Alliyah paused.
His brow lifted.
“She’s warming up to me,” she said carefully. “Slowly.”
“She likes you.”
“She yelled at me in the hospital.”
“She was scared.”
“I know.”
“And my dad?” he asked.
Alliyah smiled. “Your dad is a saint.”
Hamilton nodded like he already knew that.
Then his expression shifted again.
“My auntie is hosting an all-white party in two months.”
Alliyah raised an eyebrow. “Okay…”
“I want you to go with me.”
Her heart gave a quiet jump.
“Hamilton.”
“I’m not asking you to hide,” he said. “I’m not asking you to sneak around. I’m asking you to stand beside me.”
Alliyah looked down at their hands.
The invitation felt bigger than a party.
It felt like a doorway.
“My girls?” she asked.
“They’re amazing,” he said without hesitation. “And I know they come with you. I’m not confused about that.”
Alliyah looked back up at him.
There he was again.
Steady.
Certain.
Far younger than her, and somehow not afraid of the weight she carried.
“You really want this?” she whispered.
Hamilton’s eyes softened.
“I wanted this before you were ready to admit you wanted it too.”
She shook her head, but she was smiling.
He squeezed her hand.
“So? Will you come with me?”
Alliyah breathed in slowly.
For once, she did not feel panic rise in her chest.
Only peace.
“Yes,” she said. “I’ll go with you.”
Hamilton smiled, and for the first time since the beach, Alliyah let herself believe that maybe they had not lost their moment.
Maybe they had only been given time to understand what it meant.