Epilogue
SEVENTEEN MONTHS LATER
“If you don’t sit down and let us do this,” Monae fusses.
“Yes! Damn. We got this,” Taj cosigns.
I swear the two of them have been fussing at me all damn day. They are almost worse than Rex. And just like with my husband, I tune their asses out too. My objections are only going to fall on their intentionally deaf ears anyway.
“Ma, sit down,” Daija says and I finally comply. I’ll do whatever she says when she calls me Ma. It warms my heart each and every time I hear it and the best part is I didn’t ask her to. For the first twenty-one years of her life, my mother was her mother. Although I was always there in her life, my role was her sister and she had a mother. For that reason, I didn’t insist or even suggest that she call me anything but her sister. However, in May, at her graduation in Atlanta, she introduced me to her friends as her mother. In that exact moment, the shards from my broken heart when I was fourteen mended. “Where do you want the gifts?”
“In the baby’s room upstairs. Grab Rex, Dax, and Mere before they leave. They can carry them up so y’all don’t have to.”
Today has been absolutely amazing. Monae and Taj surprised me with a baby shower. Somehow, they pulled it off without me knowing. When I say I didn’t have a clue, I didn’t have not one. Even Rex, Daija, and Aryel managed to keep it a secret from me.
After making love to me until I almost fainted last night, Rex woke me up this morning with his soul-snatching tongue. Since my seven-month belly is starting to get in the way, Aryel prepared breakfast in the toaster oven for us then she and I went to the nail salon to get much needed manicures and pedicures. Apparently, while we were away, Haute Events, under the direction of Monae, Taj, and Daija, transformed our family room into a welcome party for our little champ.
In just ten more weeks, our little baby boy will make his grand entrance into the world and into our little family. Apparently, he was conceived during our honeymoon. Last December, in a small, intimate ceremony at the Blue Mountain resort, I said I do to the love of my life. The man who not only saw me through one of the roughest moments but also loved me through it, proposed to me on my birthday in June, and we wed six months later. I didn’t think my life could get any better but God saw otherwise.
“You want the envelopes in his room too?” Daija asks.
“Yeah. Everything. I’ll go through it all later.” Taj walks out and returns with the men. With loaded arms, Dax and Mere head to the staircase but Rex walks over to me. When I see that devious smile on his handsome face, I grimace, knowing he’s about to do the one thing I despise. The moment he’s directly in front of me, his large hands palm my stomach. “You know I hate that,” I scoff. “It’s not a basketball, baby.”
It's two against one because our little boy seems to enjoy when his father palms my belly. I feel a slow roll in my stomach then a slight jolt. My hand covers Rex’s and I move it right under my ribs. When I do, our son moves again.
“That’s a jab, strong too. He’s going to be a boxer, beautiful,” he says proudly. Excited barely describes how he feels about having a boy. While he loves being surrounded by his ladies, he’s undeniably ecstatic about having a son. “When we finish getting all of this upstairs, I’m taking you to bed. It’s been a long ass day.”
“A beautiful, amazing day. I don’t know how you managed to pull this off and keep it from me, but thank you.”
He doesn’t respond. Instead, his lips delightfully crash into mine and he kisses me lovingly. Then, he plants a gentle peck on my forehead and walks to Monae for directions. I am tired but I don’t want to miss a minute of this, not even this part. I’m staying downstairs until the last person leaves.
Aryel comes around the corner and walks directly to me. Without saying a word, she presses the control on the arm of the recliner. She holds it until my legs are elevated then joins me on the sectional.
“Your feet are going to get big if you don’t keep them up,” she says.
“Who told you that?” I question.
“I heard you and Daddy talking.”
“It’s too late. They are already swollen but this definitely helps. Thanks for lifting it. Were you upstairs?”
“Yeah with Justice but they about to leave. Can she spend the night?”
“Maybe this coming weekend. I’m tired tonight but she can come back and stay Saturday.”
“Okay,” she says before resting her hand on my stomach.
Similar to her dad, Aryel loves to touch it. She’s so excited about being a big sister. Half of his life has been planned out by her and she actually reads to him all the time. When I grab her hand to move it where he’s still acting up, I admire her beautiful, heart-shaped diamond ring. It’s a small replica of mine. When Rex and I got engaged, along with my two-karat princess cut diamond ring, he purchased a ring for Aryel and a diamond pendant for Daija, representing the union of us all. I wanted to marry him that night.
“I’m leaving, ladybug,” Daija says when she walks into the family room. The guys have cleared it out and the cleanup crew is leaving. Aryel hops up and hugs her. “You take care of Ma and don’t let her go in that room tonight.”
“I won’t,” Aryel promises.
Then Daija steps to me, motioning for me not to get up. She leans in and hugs me. “Thanks for today. I still can’t believe you two kept this from me.”
“That’s what surprise means. You can’t know everything. I’ll call you after work tomorrow.”
To my surprise and delight, Daija moved back home after graduation. She’s using her degree and is the Project Manager of Assistance & Performance in the Office of County Administration, in City Hall. She also lives in my condo.
“Did Daddy leave? He didn’t say goodbye.”
“Yeah, he been left, right when Rex’s parents left, and he’s already home.”
“Okay. I’ll call and check on him. I love you.”
“Love you too. Good night.”
Aryel follows Daija to the door. Taj, Monae, and Justice come say their goodbyes next and I thank them again for this beautiful surprise. Everything was perfect from the décor, food, and guest list. Everyone we love was here to celebrate our little champ.
When they leave, Aryel heads back upstairs then Rex comes to get me. He’s serious about getting me upstairs in bed. His hands stay planted around my waist, holding me as I ascend the steps.
“You do know I can walk up the stairs. I’m not helpless or clumsy, just tired.”
“I held you before you were pregnant. My hands on you have nothing to do with your condition, it’s strictly my addiction to you. They are always going to be somewhere on yo’ sexy ass body.”
“See, that’s why I’m like this now. You’re always complimenting me and my panties fall off,” I say and he chuckles. “Keyshawn?” I question, starting our new nightly routine of picking our son’s name.
“No,” he says adamantly.
“Darius.”
“Fuck no!” he huffs. “No D’s. I don’t want Dax thinking he’s named after him. Champ?”
“For the last damn time, hell no. He’s not being named Champ.”
“We’ll see. I bet I can convince you once I get you in this bed,” he says before opening our door.
“You no doubt have skills, baby, but not even your tongue can convince me to name our baby Champ.”
“Then what about this?” He presses into me and I can feel his hard dick on the small of my back.
“On second thought…”
The End