Epilogue
Alijah
AYear Later . . .
Life can’t be any better for me than it’s been in the last year.
Deshona and I moved out of our apartment into a house that we purchased together.
Thankfully, the timing of our closing and our temporary lease synced, so we didn’t have to delay our move or extend our lease.
Our families are at our house for our first cookout, but I needed a minute to take it all in.
Seeing Ms. Roslyn having a good time with Deshona and everyone has my brain going back to the private conversation she and I had.
“Can I talk to you, Mrs. Roslyn?”
My heart feels like it’s about to beat out of my chest as I stare into the older version of the woman I love. Even with the light bruises on her face, I can see Deshona in her mom. It gives me a candid glimpse of what my lady will look like when she’s older.
“Sure thing.”
“Privately,” I say before I turn to look at the steps where Deshona is in an upstairs bedroom taking a nap.
“Oh.” The word hangs on her lips as she nods before I assist her with going out to the back deck.
While Deshona hasn’t given me all the intimate details of her upbringing, I know enough to realize the importance of this conversation.
“What’s on your mind?” Mrs. Roslyn asks once she sits and gets comfortable in one of the lounge chairs.
I sit across from her with one eye on her and the other on the sliding doors so I can ensure this discussion isn’t intercepted by Deshona.
“I want to marry your daughter. But I need something from you.”
A small smile upturns Mrs. Roslyn’s lips seconds before she speaks.
“For all of her life, I have made Deshona eat my bad decisions as it pertains to men. I have pushed my bullshit on her and never once considered how hard I made things for her. You want to know what happened as a result?”
“What?”
“My only daughter up and moved out of her hometown to a place where she didn’t know a soul.
A piece of my soul hit the highway with her, and it was my son who made me see the error of my ways.
I pushed her away simply because I was unhealed.
But you want to know the moment I knew I didn’t ruin her? ”
Again, I give a one-word reply as I hang onto her words, interested in where she’s going with her spiel.
“The day she walked into my hospital room with you. I saw the love in her eyes before she opened her mouth to confess her feelings for you. You not only healed my baby’s heart but a piece of my soul as well, Alijah. I’d be a fool to stand in your way. You have my blessing.”
“Did you hear me, bae?”
I turn away from the window, and joy springs in my heart when I look at my wife.
Deshona and I got married six months after I proposed to her because I didn’t want or need a long engagement.
Our wedding was an intimate one that brought together the few Edmonds family members with my large Dawson tribe.
It was beautiful, and I can’t wait to share it with our future grandchildren.
Deshona was jaw-droppingly gorgeous in her cream wedding dress, and I shed tears that will definitely be omitted from the recount of our special day.
“I’m sorry, mama. What did I miss?”
“People are asking where you are. Did you forget that we have a backyard full of people?”
“Kinda.” I grin and make my way to her, and my hand automatically lands on her small pudge.
Deshona is four months pregnant, and although she’s barely showing, I know her body and can see the changes. I’m obsessed with touching her body as my son or daughter grows inside of her.
“You ain’t right. The least you could have done was bring me with you.” She shakes her head as a lazy grin forms.
A light whimper sounds once we leave our master bedroom, and Deshona immediately halts our forward progress.
“What was that?” Her wide eyes search the empty hall, and I chuckle lowly before I take her hand.
“It’s the second part of my surprise for today.”
I lead her to what used to be an empty room next to ours and turn the knob as we enter.
“Oh my God. A nursery? Oh, wait, you got me a puppy.” Deshona’s eyes bounce from the carrier with the dog inside to the room, where it’s been transformed into the living space for our unborn child.
“Yes. To both. I wanted to gift you something special for today. The little dude is for our baby. But for now, you get to babysit until he or she is able to do so.”
Deshona turns to me with water in her eyes, and I shake my head because it doesn’t take much for her to cry. I’ve learned to simply go with the flow when it comes to Deshona Dawson.
“Aw, you’re so sweet. This is why I love you.”
“You don’t have a choice but to love me. Hell, I need to receive some type of compensation for the torment you put me through.”
Deshona laughs before she rubs her stomach as her eyes sparkle. “You already have. Now, let’s get back to this gathering before they send a search for us.”
Deshona and I walk out of the room and descend the steps as a goofy smile rests on my lips. It takes us minutes to return to our backyard where our family is mingling and having a good time.
“I thought y’all snuck off and forgot we were out here,” Ms. Roslyn teases.
“No. I had to see if my husband was good,” Deshona says.
My heart leaps at that word that I never expected to become my reality so soon. Deshona leaves my side as she and Ms. Roslyn walk toward the table where Ma, my aunties, and Korrena sit. My eyes stay fixed on Deshona until she’s safely seated, and then I head toward my dad who’s on the grill.
“You did good, Son,” Pops says with a smile that reaches his eyes.
“Thanks. You were the blueprint. Thanks for showing me what real love looks like. Although you forgot to enlighten me on one thing.”
Pops turns to face me head-on with a spatula in his right hand. “What’s that?”
“I didn’t know about the temptation or the torment that love can sneak up on you with.”
“Ah. Well, some things are worth learning on your own, Son. Looks like your torment is coming this way.” Pops’ eyes look over my shoulder, and I turn to see Deshona walking toward us.
“Hey, Pops. Are the brats done?”
“Not quite. But you’ll be the first to get one when they are,” Pops says.
“Come on, let’s see what else my baby wants to eat in the meantime,” I say.
Had anyone told me that this would be my life in Kaigood, I would have called them a liar.
Yet here I am with my wife as our family turns up in our backyard.
Deshona is the whispered promise fate let me find when heartbreak kicked my ass.
With each new day I get to spend with Deshona, I get to give torment the middle finger. Love won.
The End