Sylas’s Epilogue
Six Months Later
After we got engaged, we decided to get married on the anniversary of the day we met, which was Valentine’s Day, giving us nine months to plan. About three months into the planning, Khiya changed her mind and wanted to get married on her birthday.
I was surprised when she suggested it because most women preferred not to overlap their special day with anniversaries or holidays, but not Khiya. I suggested other dates, but she stood her ground.
Her thirty-fourth birthday and our wedding day had arrived, and now that the day was here, I was happy as hell that I didn’t have to wait three more months to marry the woman I loved.
Our wedding party was small, with Maison as my best man, and Blaine and my cousin, Brooks, who’d just moved back to Chicago after being gone for five years, as my groomsmen.
“You ready?” Blaine asked.
“We could’ve gone to the courthouse the day after I proposed,” I told my soon-to-be brother-in-law.
“And all the brownie points you got with my mother would’ve been null and void. She’s been waiting thirty-four years for the day to dress her baby up like a princess and watch her marry the love of her life.”
“Yeah, there was no way my wife would’ve allowed that, but my pockets wouldn’t have been mad,” Mr. Reid said jokingly.
“Your mother wouldn’t have been too happy either,” my father added.
“I know. They both made that very clear when I showed them the ring.”
“I feel like I should give you some kind of warning about treating my sister right, but I know you will. I could tell how much you loved her the first time I saw y’all together. So, welcome to the family.”
“Thanks, bruh.”
We exchanged a one-armed hug just as Maison entered the room. He came over and put his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s time. You ready?” he asked.
“I’ve never been more ready.”
He gave me a small, long, gift-wrapped box and said, “This is from Khiya. She wants you to open it before you go out there. We’ll be in the hallway.”
All the men left me alone, and I opened the box from my future wife. Inside, there was a folded piece of paper placed on top of a piece of cotton shaped like the box. I took the paper out, placed the box on a table, and unfolded the paper.
To the sweetest man on earth,
If someone had told me I’d meet my husband on my first night as a flight attendant, I would’ve looked at them sideways, but here I am, about to marry you. I just wanted to thank you for being you and for loving me the way you do.
There hasn’t been a moment since we met that I didn’t feel every word you said, or every action you put forth to make sure I knew that I was seen and heard. I’ll love you to the ends of the earth and back, and I can’t wait to meet the bundle of joy that we created from our love.
There’s one more thing in the box
With love, your future wife.
I reread the last few lines of her letter as I processed what she’d said. I let the letter fall to the floor as I picked up the box and pulled away the piece of cotton. Underneath it was a positive pregnancy test.
I released the most emotional roar of excitement, causing the men who’d just left to rush back into the room.
“What the hell is going on?” Blaine asked with concern.
“My baby is having my baby!” I shouted.
How she kept this secret from me, I’d never know, and I didn’t care. I didn’t know how far along she was or when she’d found out; all I knew was that my baby, the love of my life, the only woman who made me feel better than flying, was having my baby.
“My baby girl is having a baby? I’ll be damned!” Mr. Reid exclaimed.
“Oh damn! Congratulations!”
“Congrats, bruh!”
“That’s wassup!”
Everyone congratulated me and gave me pats on the back.
“Let’s get this fucking show on the road!” I shouted.