Chapter 11
The room was dim as Sweetie entered. She held onto Boogie’s hand tightly with a heavy heart.
Boogie squeezed her hand and then let go, gesturing for her to go ahead. She smiled. Sweetie knew he didn’t want to overcrowd her at the moment. She appreciated him. The fact that he was even allowed in her childhood home was a miracle. His presence in this moment meant everything.
“Granny,” she whispered.
Lucille’s eyes popped open, and she squinted. “Sweetie?”
“It’s me, Granny.” Sweetie sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed her granny’s hand with tears in her eyes. This time around, she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep a brave face.
“Don’t cry, baby. I waited for you. I’m still here,” Lucille said as she patted Sweetie’s hand.
Sweetie leaned forward and nuzzled her head into her grandmother’s midsection, just like she used to do when she was a little girl.
“I’m sorry, Granny. I’m sorry I disappeared on you. I love you so much. I need you to know that.” Sweetie lifted her head and searched her grandmother’s eyes desperately for forgiveness.
“Hey, now. Stop that. I know how hard it’s been for you to be a part of this family. I hoped that your time away would provide you some happiness. Has it?”
Sweetie could tell her granny was tired. She wished she could sit here and talk all night, but she wanted Lucille to rest.
She turned toward Boogie and gestured him forward. “It did, Granny. You don’t have to worry about me, okay? I found all the happiness in the world.” Sweetie wiped her tears as Boogie placed his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back into him. “This is Darren, Granny.”
Sweetie saw the faintest smile form on her granny’s face. “Darren. You’re Zander’s son. Boogie.”
Sweetie purposely didn’t say Boogie. Lucille knew all about Boogie because Sweetie confided in her about him a lot. She didn’t think her granny would know his government name.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s so good to meet you. Sweetie has told me so much.”
“I’m happy you two found each other again. Don’t let go, no matter what. Sweetie here has somethin’ real soft in her heart for you. You see to it that you do good by her,” Lucille said before she closed her eye.
“I promise she’s in good hands,” Boogie whispered.
Sweetie watched her granny for a few moments before she whispered, “I love you so much, Granny. You’re my best friend.
You always have been, and I’m going to miss you so much.
Promise me you’ll leave me love notes as I move through life without you?
Butterflies, soft breezes, the right song on the radio at the right time.
Remind me that you’re still here.” Sweetie sobbed as she kissed her granny’s hand repeatedly.
“I promise. I love you, my sweet child.”
Sweetie allowed herself a few more moments, but because she could feel the time nearing for her grandmother to transition, she decided to allow her mom the room. She kissed her grandmother one last time before she turned quickly and rushed out of the room.
Boogie followed her, and as soon as they left the room, she collapsed into his arms. Valarie and Audra were there to help Boogie calm Sweetie, which wasn’t easy. They stood in sort of a group hug and soothed each other as they cried, allowing Boogie to be their anchor.
Finally, Sweetie pulled away and looked at her mom. “You should be in there, Mama.”
Audra had already had her time, so it was Valarie’s turn, and it was sort of understood that she would stay with her mother until it was time.
They watched as Valarie disappeared into the room before Audra said, “We can wait in the living room.”
She turned and disappeared from the hallway.
Sweetie looked at Boogie. “Is it okay if we stay until . . .”
“We can stay as long as you’d like.”
Relief filled her. She knew it had been a long few days.
It had been a whirlwind, really. Their entire worlds had been turned upside down, but he was still willing to sit with her to the bitter end.
She loved him so much for that. More than he would ever understand.
They shared a quick kiss, which felt like a violation under her father’s roof, before they walked through the house and into the living room.
Her father and sister were in there, sitting quietly on the couch. Vernon glanced up at them but averted his gaze quickly. He looked uncomfortable, but Sweetie was glad he didn’t say anything.
They sat down on the couch opposite her father and sister and fell into a comfortable silence.
They stayed well into the night. There wasn’t much conversation. Everyone pretty much kept to their own thoughts.
Eventually, Valarie came into the room red faced and puffy eyed and whispered, “She’s gone.”
Sweetie buried her head into Boogie’s neck and sobbed.
Knowing it was coming didn’t make it any easier.
Hearing those words and understanding that it was final hit her right in the gut, and the pain traveled straight to her heart.
She wasn’t sure the wound her granny’s death created would ever heal.
Two weeks later . . .
“Boog, I can’t see a thing,” Sweetie whined.
“That’s kind of the point of a blindfold, my love,” Boogie joked as he led her to some top-secret place.
She giggled, and it felt good. The past couple of weeks had been extremely hard on her. She found herself feeling guilty for smiling and being happy because she felt like she should have been grieving. And she was. But it was hard not to be happy in Boogie’s presence.
He and Denzel officially took over the DeLuca empire after their father stepped down.
Audra had done the same with the Bishop empire after a lot of negotiating with their father.
He and her mother had left the day before for Bali.
They needed to spend some one-on-one time together and figure out what they were going to do with their marriage.
Although Sweetie had a large dislike for her father, she hoped they worked it out.
As for Sweetie and Boogie, they spent as much time together as possible. He had a lot more responsibility on his shoulders now, but he did his best to balance work and home.
Sweetie kept busy by redecorating their home and spending time with her sister and Chloe. They’d all fallen into a comfortable routine, and despite the gaping hole in her heart from her granny’s death, Sweetie was happy.
A door opened, and Sweetie was encouraged to move forward a little bit more before Boogie said, “Stop.”
The air smelled . . . sweet. Like cotton candy and chocolate. She tilted her head to the side. “Where are we?”
The blindfold was suddenly removed, and Sweetie blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust. When they did, she gasped.
She stood in a candy shop. That explained the sweet smell.
The beautiful flowers decorating the space caught her attention.
The rose petals under her feet were a cute touch.
But the flower bed hinged to the wall in front of her with lollipops, cotton candy, and chocolates mixed in with the colorful flowers captivated her.
In bright letters, the sweets and florals spelled out, Sweetie, will you marry me?
She whirled around to face Boogie, but she had to drop her eyes because he was already down on one knee. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears clung to her lashes.
“You said we were going on a date,” she whispered with a laugh.
“This is a date.” He had the nerve to actually look confused.
She laughed. Boogie wanted to get her out of the house and go on an actual date because they had yet to do so due to all the chaos. She figured they would do dinner, a movie, something like that. But of course, Boogie had other plans.
“You don’t do anything half-assed, do you?” she asked with emotion building in her voice.
“When it comes to you? No.” He grabbed her left hand.
“Baby, listen, I know this is all happening fast, but to me, it feels like a lifetime. Since I was a lil nigga, I knew what it was wit’ you.
I don’t see any use in delaying this anymore.
I want to have the honor to be your husband.
What do you say? Will you be my forever? Will you marry me?”
Sweetie’s head swam, and she swooned. Boogie must have anticipated that, because his strong hand held her in place. When he was sure she was steady, he let go and opened the ring box. It was breathtaking and huge and something every woman would love to wear every day.
“Yes,” she whispered around the lump in her throat.
Things were moving fast, but it felt right.
She was comfortable. Sweetie spent so much of her life being unhappy, and that ended the moment Darren DeLuca re-entered her life.
The answer, to her, was obvious. “Yes,” she said louder this time and with more confidence.
Boogie slid the ring onto her finger and stood, dwarfing her with his height.
“Thank you,” he murmured as he gazed into her watery eyes.
“For what, baby?”
“For making me the happiest man in world. I love you so much, Sweetie Bishop.”
“And I love you, Darren DeLuca.”
They shared a kiss that would lead to her being bent over the gummy worms if she didn’t pull back, which she did.
“Why this place?” she asked as she looked around.
“Needed some place as sweet as you, love. You like it?”
She grinned before she twirled around. “I love it.”
“Good. It’s yours.”
“What?” she whirled around to face him once again.
“It’s yours. I bought it for you.”
Sweetie beamed. “It’s so cute, Boogie. Thank you!”
She hugged his neck and kissed all over his face.
She couldn’t believe she owned this little spot.
She’d never owned anything before. As if he could sense her mind overthinking already, he said, “Don’t worry.
People already work here and run the place.
All you gotta do is sit back and collect the funds and get some free candy whenever you want. ”
She giggled. “What even made you think of this?”
He shrugged. “A sweets shop for my sweets shop.” He patted her pussy through her jeans and bit his bottom lip.
She giggled and slapped his shoulder. “You’re too much.”
“There’s more for you over by the register.”
Her eyed widened. “More is crazy, Boog. This is already so much.”
Still, she was curious, so she walked over to the register and picked up an envelope. When she opened it, she gasped. It was a welcome packet for The Riptide cheerleading team. She looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Congrats, baby. You done leveled up to the big leagues.”
“No fucking way!” She jumped up and down as she stared at the packet in front of her.
He chuckled, and she dove into his arms. This time, she would kiss him and allow it to take them as far as they wanted.
Hell, she owned the place. If they wanted to spread their love all over the place, then they damn well would.
There was absolutely nothing to stop Sweetie from getting everything she wanted in life anymore, and for that, she was eternally thankful.