Colony Miles
One year later . . .
I couldn’t stop crying as I watched Kehlani walk across the stage.
It was her kindergarten graduation, and I’d been a wreck all week preparing for it.
Demetria and I had taken her on a pampering day.
Our girl looked so pretty with her cap sitting on her fresh twist-out, her purple names she insisted on having, and her kitten heels her father fussed at me about.
When they called her name, our section was the loudest. Leave it to the Black people to cause an uproar, but we couldn’t help it. That girl was loved by so many. We made sure to show up and show out for her.
My gaze went to Keondra who had silent tears soaking into his beard. I handed him a few tissues and giggled. He swore up and down that he wasn’t going to cry, but I knew he was. That was his baby, and she’d just completed a milestone.
Once the ceremony was over, we all went to find Kehlani who was giddy. She skipped over to us with her diploma and jumped into her daddy’s arms, who peppered kisses all over her little face.
“Look! I’m a big girl now.” Kehlani squealed, showing off her diploma.
“You are.” Demetria smiled. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, Mommy!”
My heart melted every time I heard her say that.
The way their relationship had blossomed over the last year was exactly what Kehlani needed.
Demetria had officially moved to Maven Falls and found a job close to the center.
She and Keondra had come to an agreement where they switched weeks.
One week, he would have her, and the next, she would.
It worked out perfectly. If they needed to switch anything up and neither of their schedules aligned, I’d step in.
One thing I made clear was that they were the parents, and I was a bonus. I didn’t try to deicide things for them unless they consulted in me, which was often. Keondra and Demetria constantly let me know that Kehlani had three parents, not two. It made me feel valued and loved.
After all the pictures and more tears, we headed to Daily Fix for a special celebratory dinner. Kehlani opted to ride with Demetria, leaving me and Keondra alone.
Something was off with him. From the moment we got inside his truck, he’d been tapping his fingers against the steering wheel and massaging his beard without speaking.
Whenever I asked him what was wrong, he only shook his head.
No verbal response meant there was something going on, but he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.
Once we arrived at the restaurant, Kehlani came skipping over to my side of the truck. I didn’t even wait for Keondra to help me out, because I wanted to love all over my baby. She hopped into my arms and rested her head on my shoulder.
“Mommy said it’s okay if I call you Mama.” She popped her head up and looked at me with so much love behind her eyes that I instantly teared up. “Is that okay with you?”
“It’s more than okay with me, Kehlani. I’ll wear that title proudly.”
“Good! Because remember when Daddy said th—”
Keondra cleared his throat, and Kehlani instantly snapped her mouth shut with a mischievous smirk. My brows raised, but I didn’t question it. The two of them were sneaky, so it wasn’t unusual for them to act like that.
Grabbing my hand, Keondra led us inside the restaurant.
“Why is it so dark in here?” I wondered out loud.
Kehlani giggled, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed my cheek. “I love you, Mama.”
As the words left her mouth, the lights came on, and I sharply gasped.
I wasn’t sure how everyone had beat us to the restaurant, but both our families were there with phones out.
My eyes scanned the place, trying to figure out what was going on, when I saw Q coming out the back with something on a tray.
When he got closer, I realized exactly what it was.
My heart skipped a few beats when Keondra thanked him and took the velvet ring box off the tray and got down on one knee. I looked back and forth between him and Kehlani, shaking my head.
“No, this is her day. It’s about Kehlani,” I whispered in utter shock.
“But this is the best gift ever!” Kehlani screamed and squeezed me tighter, causing everyone to laugh.
Keondra chuckled. “I tried to tell her that, too, when I talked to her about this, but KeKe insisted it happen today, so . . . Colony, will you do me the honor in becoming my wife? Every day, I realize how my life can’t be lived without you in it.
I’m honestly not sure how I lived so long without you.
You and Kehlani are the first people I pray over in the morning, the first people I thank God for having in my life.
The impact you’ve made on our lives has been nothing short of amazing.
You gave me a reason to love again, and for that, I want to give you the world.
I want to give you the love and peace you deserve.
“Whenever your cup is empty, I’ll fill you with mine. Whenever your laughter fills the room, it fills my heart. You feed my soul something food nor water can provide. I love you so damn much, Colony.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Even Kehlani had tears streaming down her little cheeks.
It was amazing how God worked. In the last year, I’d gained so much in life I never thought I’d have. Looking at Keondra and Kehlani as we stood there in our own little bubble, I was made whole.
Wiping Kehlani’s cheeks and kissing them, I held my hand out to Keondra and expressed, “There’s nothing more I’d love than to be your wife.” I turned to Kehlani, “And to be your mama.”
The room erupted into cheers and applause as Keondra placed the ring on my finger, stood up, and engulfed me and Kehlani with his unwavering love.
Colony Daily.
Yeah, that had a nice ring to it.
At Last.