Chapter 15
“Lea-Lea, why didn’t Noah come to the birthday shindig?”
Leah took a sip of wine as she sat at her uncle’s dining room table surrounded by him and her two sisters. Atop her head was a rhinestone tiara and the pink sash across her shoulders read ‘Birthday Girl’. They’d spent the last couple of hours enjoying cake and wine, a tradition they’d carried out for more than a decade, no matter where they were at the time. This time last year, they were in Mykonos on the beach enjoying the same treats. “He said that because he’s been monopolizing so much of my time, he wanted to let us have the celebration we’re accustomed to.”
“That man knows that soon enough, he’ll be in charge of your birthday get togethers.”
“And he will do it with a smile,” Damaris giggled. “That man worships you.”
Leah rolled her eyes as Damaris pinched her arm. “I need all of y’all to get men so you can stay out my business.”
“Girl, speaking of business,” Damaris said, placing down her small plate of cake, “Daddy got me after church and asked me about ‘Leah’s White boy’.”
“And just what did he want to know?” Leah asked with a blink.
“I don’t have a clue. I told him I didn’t know anything about any White boy and asked where he met him. When I tell you he got to stumbling and fumbling. He said forget it and went on about his business.”
Miriam and Dayo didn’t try to contain their laughter, the pair collapsing into each other. “It would not have done for me to see Dad and that other woman out at ‘Driftwood’. Baby, God knew which one of his angels to let witness that. I would have broken no contact just for the opportunity to wreak havoc on his life.”
“I don’t want to spend anymore of my celebration talking about Dad.”
“Yeah, let’s get back to Big Country. I’ll be glad when he makes an honest woman out of you so your Daddy can have a coronary.”
“Uncle D, that sounded a bit misogynistic,” Leah chided. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Honey, I didn’t mean it that way. That man is going to marry you. I’m just waiting on when.”
“Well, it’s too soon for that. We’ve only been together about seven months.”
“Says who?” Miriam asked from the sink as she washed her dishes. “There’s no hard and fast rule saying when a couple should get married.”
“I would have never expected to hear that from you, Ri-Ri. As much as you poo-poo on Daddy’s foolishness.”
“As much as I abhor the way him and that dummy wife of his live their lives, I want to be married. I love the thought of being in love. I value relationships and can’t stand to see people treat them like trash. That’s the reason I don’t fuck with Daddy.”
“Well, if y’all would have told me when we were sitting in Mykonos that I would be involved with someone as good as Noah, I would have laughed in your faces.”
“And to think you almost let him get away,” Uncle D said as he walked by fluffing her afro puff. “You’re welcome by the way.”
“Thank you, Uncle D.,” She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “I guess I owe you one.”
“Yes, you do.” She felt him drop a kiss on top of her head. “I prefer cash.”
***
“Did you enjoy your time with your sisters and Dayo?”
“I did,” she said as she sat next to him in the cab of his pick-up, intertwined fingers resting on her thigh headed for parts unknown. He’d picked her up from Dayo’s place and while her sisters placed her gifts into his truck, Dayo decided they would show Noah his urn. After the morbid reveal, Noah bundled her in the truck, and they were off to see her birthday surprise. “Thank you.”
“For what, Foxy?”
“For being consistent. For letting me be me. For accepting my wacky family.”
“Why wouldn’t I? They love you. And being consistent is easy. Being inauthentic is tiring. I don’t know how people do it and maintain healthy blood pressure.”
As Noah continued to drive into the dark night, Leah realized they were headed back to the clearing. “Are we star gazing?” Leah squeezed his fingers, barely able to stay in her seat. She shouldn’t be so excited by such a small act.
“Yeah. I thought you might like that.” Soon they were in the large open field and Noah had again arranged the truck bed for their comfort. It was hard to believe it had been nearly eight months since the first time he’d brought her to this spot.
“You’re gonna have to bring me here in daylight,” she said. “This would be a lovely spot for a picnic.”
“I will absolutely do that.” Leah peered through the telescope as she sat on the tail of the truck, watching the celestial bodies overhead. This was the perfect way to end the day. Even though this was the way most of her days wound down now that Noah was a part of her life, him by her side, today was special. She loved how the people closest to her had embraced him and vice versa. “Are you ready for your gift?”
“You mean there’s more than this?” She dropped her view from the night sky to look into his face, softly illuminated by a cordless lantern.
“Of course there is.” She watched as he folded back the edge of the blanket just behind him and removed what appeared to be a piece of laminated cardstock. “Happy birthday,” he said, handing it to her.
“What”s this?” Leah”s eyes scanned the card which depicted an outline of a couple dancing obviously in formal attire. Shifting closer to the lantern, she read the card. “It’s an invitation to a charity ball.”
“Yes, it is, Foxy. This is its first year, but plans are for it to be thrown annually to fund prom attire for needy high school seniors in Sanderson County.”
She continued to read the card, finally spotting the name of the event written in soft gold lettering. “Foxes and Fireflies.”
“Yeah. I don’t think I told you, but my mom never got to attend her prom either. Her parents couldn’t afford it. I know your reason for missing the prom wasn’t the same as my mom, but I see how important it is to you and I wanted to help you help as many kids as possible. We hired Ginny to do the event, so things are already underway. Wesley Premier is the main sponsor, but we have quite a few donations and only expect it to get bigger as the years go on.”
As the words sank in, Leah felt her eyes grow heavy with tears. “You’re doing this for me.”
“Yes. And every year there’ll be a ball so that my baby gets to flutter around in beautiful gowns looking like the queen that she is.”
Leah clutched the card to her chest. This would help so many kids. Not that she would stop mentoring. She loved the time she spent with her girls, but helping more kids not miss out on a highlight of their school career…Just when she thought she couldn’t love the man any more. “Why?”
“Didn’t I tell you when you care about a person, you want what makes them happy? I love you, Foxy. It is my goal to make you happy.”
“I love you too, baby.” A fat tear dropped from her eye and he kissed it away. “But Noah this is too much.”
“No, it”s not. Nothing”s too much for you.”
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know I didn’t. I wanted to. Now, the first year might be small but-”
His words were swallowed by a kiss and when she finally let him up for air, she continued to dot his cheeks and chin with kisses. “I love you so much, Texas.”
“I love you too, Foxy.”
Her arms looped his neck as she rested her forehead against his. “But, how’s it gonna look, you throwing this extravagant event for your girlfriend. It’s a bit much. I mean, it’s a huge commitment.”
“It’s funny you should choose that word,” Noah said, digging into the pocket of his jeans. When his hand reappeared, his fingers held a ring box. “By the time your birthday rolls around next year, I’d like us to have the same last name.”
When he snapped open the box and dropped to one knee, the air was sucked from her lungs. Nestled in the satin lined box was a three stone marquis diamond ring. “Noah…”
“Will you marry me, Foxy? Allow me to spend the rest of my life worshipping you.”
This was all so surreal. In the pitch black of the night, illuminated by only a lantern and nature’s light show overhead, Noah Wesley knelt before her, ring in hand, choosing her. She felt her left hand float up, as if guided by an outside force. “Yes, Noah,” she said softly. “I’ll marry you.” It wasn’t until the ring was guided up her finger and Noah had gathered her up in his arms, spinning her as he kissed her lips, did the gravity of what just happened hit her. “We’re getting married!” she squealed, hugging him tight. “I can’t wait to tell Uncle D! Oh, Damaris and Miriam won’t believe it!”
“They already know, Foxy,” Noah chuckled, placing her on her feet.
“What?”
“I asked Dayo for your hand a few days ago. He was the one to give me your ring size and stone suggestion. Months ago, whilst in his hospital bed, I might add.”
“What!” she repeated.
“I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I see how important you are to each other. It seemed appropriate. And let me tell you, he was thrilled. And I told your sisters where to look for the ring when they put your gifts in the truck.”
“That old queen didn’t breathe a word and neither did my sisters.”
“I begged them not to.” Noah took a seat on the bed of the truck and pulled her onto his lap. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Mission accomplished.” Leah took another look at her engagement ring, holding her left hand with her right to contain the trembling. Perfect. Everything about it was perfect. Leah leaned in, pressing a kiss on his lips. When she raised her head, a flickering light caught her eye. Leah fixed her eyes just past Noah’s head, her face slowly splitting into a grin. “Noah, look.”
“I think she approves,” Noah said, hugging her close as they watched the lone firefly flutter through the night sky.