Epilogue
Ruby was a vision of joy and love in the sleeveless red pantsuit that cupped her breasts and butt the way I liked them. I couldn’t wait for everyone to leave my Christmas party so I could finally feast on the real guest of honor in my home.
She didn’t pay attention to me watching her as she spoke in an animated way with her friend Nick. He was a cool, somewhat eccentric guy who made Ruby laugh, so I had no problem adding him to my guest list.
Malcolm dabbed me up at the punch bowl as I openly ogled the object of my affection.
“Man, what really happened during that snowstorm? You weren’t this caught up with Lise, and that was your wife. Did Ruby Starks put some kind of voodoo on you? I know folks who can unhook dudes if she’s got you sprung too tight.”
I chuckled at my goofy friend and slapped him on his back.
“Keep living, bro. One day, you’ll see what’s up for yourself. When you meet the one God created for you, logic isn’t logical anymore.”
“It’s like that?” Malcolm took a bite of his oversized cinnamon roll and chased it down with a big gulp of Diet Coke.
Before I answered, Ruby sashayed toward me with an oversized sprig of mistletoe in her hand.
“Excuse me, Malcolm, but could I pull my man away for a minute?” Ruby lifted her hand high and waved the mistletoe near my face.
Before Malcolm answered, I reached behind Ruby’s neck and bent down to kiss her with passion that had become our norm since she got back from North Carolina. She reached for my neck and hung on tight as I reached for her butt and rested my hands on her cheeks.
Whoops, hollers, and whistles filled the room as I dived in deeper and took what was undoubtedly mine.
“Get a room, Unc.” My teenage nephew coughed the words into his hand as everyone around us laughed.
When I released Ruby, I frowned and pointed at my guests.
“Y’all are the ones who need to get a room. This is my house and my woman.”
People laughed as Ruby shook her head in mock disapproval. I loved that she was already comfortable with our public displays of affection and my big personality. I warned her that once she was mine, the entire world would know.
“For those who are new here, Ruby Starks and I are a couple.” I said the words for the third time since everyone arrived at my house.
“Everybody in the city knows it by now.” My mother teased me with a pleased look on her face.
Scattered applause cascaded across the room as Ruby and I walked hand in hand among my guests.
She was the perfect hostess, as she spread her light to each person with whom she spoke.
My friends and family hovered around us as if they’d never met a more beautiful couple.
When we answered each of their probing questions about us, they didn’t hesitate to give us advice for our new relationship.
Every member of my family loved Ruby, giving her hugs and not-so-subtle hints that I make her an official member of our tight-knit family.
Each time someone alluded to marriage, Ruby blushed and squeezed my hand.
In her touch, I absorbed the peace that she radiated.
In the right environment, she blossomed like the most fragrant of flowers.
Before, during, and after marriage, I silently vowed to nurture her so she would thrive no matter what came her way.
That night, we lay in my bed after an extended lovemaking session. I placed gentle kisses across Ruby’s stomach as she lay on her back naked and rubbed my temples.
“Thank you, love, for your patience.” She spoke the words with precision.
I stopped my motions and held her waist.
“Thank you for opening yourself up to me.”
“You’re easy to love, Amari. Everything about you screams honesty. I’d be a fool to run away from the blessing that you are.”
My ears perked up.
“Love?”
Ruby blushed as if she had just realized what she said.
“Yes. Love.”
I inched up the bed and kissed Ruby’s lips gently before she reached for me and held me steady. When she devoured my mouth, I came undone.
“Can I let you in on a little secret?” I kissed her cheek and peered into her chocolate diamond eyes.
Ruby’s eyes widened as she nodded.
I leaned toward her ear and spoke directly into it.
“This time next year, your Snow Day Santa is going to put a ring on your finger. Don’t act surprised when I wine and dine you every day until then to convince you to say yes.”
Ruby stroked my chin, then pulled my face to hers for a kiss.
“I can’t wait. If things go as I think they will, could you move your proposal date up? I’d like to get started on the honeymoon so I can give you more babies.”
“I’ll think about it.” I winked at her and rolled on my side and hugged Ruby tightly.
She wrapped her arms around my back as I rested my hand over the belly where our child would grow. We lay like that until our soft breathing was the only thing filling the silence of the room.
“This is what life is all about,” Ruby said.
Her words confirmed that we were in the right place doing the right thing to fulfill our purpose together.
The End