21. Dynastie
“It’s my understanding that you two have been avoiding a very hard conversation. Are you sure you’re ready?” Dr. Simone asked.
Major and I were seated beside each other on the couch, facing the TV. We looked at each other, and he nodded his head for me to go first. I released a deep breath and calmed my nerves because I knew this conversation would be a hard one.
“I’m ready to say all the hard things so we can put it behind us.”
“Good. I’m here to listen and, if needed, guide you through the hard parts. You can start when you’re ready,” Dr. Simone said.
“The night everything came to a head, I sat in the car, hurt, confused, and angry as hell, listening to the conversation between Major and Dontrell. When I met Major, the unfortunate situation involving Freya and Dontrell had already occurred. By the time we were close enough for him to feel comfortable sharing the details, years had passed. I’d seen pictures of Dontrell online when I searched the story for more details, and he looked nothing like Jordan, so I had no idea I was dealing with the same person. ”
“There was no way you could’ve known, Dynastie, but how does that make you feel?” Dr. Simone asked.
“Words can’t describe how sick I feel knowing I was intimate with the man who brought so much devastation to a family I hold near and dear to my heart. It literally makes me nauseous to think about.”
“Are your feelings about this causing you to feel differently about Major?”
I looked at him, and his eyes were already on me.
“No. I love Major more than I thought possible. It’s just . . .”
“Take your time,” Dr. Simone encouraged.
I tried to forget what he said that night and how he looked at me, but every so often, during the quiet moments, when we were in the same room but not talking, or when I caught him looking at me, I assumed he was thinking the worst.
“That night, he said something—” I began before Dr. Simone stopped me.
“Talk to Major.”
“That night, what you said continues to haunt me because it’s true. He was the enemy, and I was in a full-blown relationship with him. Most of the time, I can push it to the back of my mind, but sometimes, I don’t know how you can stand to touch me.”
He took my hand and brought it to his lips, placing a soft kiss on my fingers.
“I can’t lie, baby. Knowing you were . . . in a relationship with him fucked with me for a minute, but Dr. Simone has helped me understand a few things. You were a victim who was in a relationship with someone who pretended to have your best interest at heart, not my enemy.
If you had known who he was and still entertained him, our story would’ve ended that night.
I can’t blame you or be upset with you for something that was completely out of your control.
Had I handled things the right way years ago, none of this would’ve happened.
I waited too long to right my wrongs with you, Lovie, and I meant it when I said there’s nothing you could ever do that would cause me to let you go again. ”
Of course, I was crying. It was a miracle I had any tears left with all the crying I’d been doing lately.
“Thank you for that, baby. You don’t know how much I needed to hear those words.”
He moved from the couch to the floor and maneuvered himself between my legs. Usually, when he did this, especially when I was wearing a sundress with no panties underneath like I was right now, he buried his face between my thighs.
“Umm, Major, what are you doing?”
“Lovie, my love for you ain’t itty bitty, this shit is major, and I’d be the luckiest, happiest, and most blessed man in the world if you would do me the honor of being my wife.”
He pulled a box from his shorts pocket and presented it to me. I was crying so hard that everything in front of me was a blur, except that big-ass diamond ring.
“Oh my God, baby. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger and cupped my face. As soon as our lips connected, cheers and applause erupted, scaring the living daylights out of me. I wrapped my arms around Major’s neck as I turned around to see who was behind me.
Clearly, I needed to work on being more observant because when we came downstairs, we were the only ones in the house. How in the world our families were gathered behind us was beyond me.
“What, who, how, when did y’all get here?” I asked, still in shock.
“Don’t worry about all that. Congratulations!” my mother cheered.
Organized chaos erupted for a few minutes as hugs and kisses were exchanged, and congratulations were offered. When I saw Zena and her husband, I almost passed out.
“Zena!” I screamed.
“Now you know I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Congratulations! And girl, I still can’t believe the man who’s had your heart all this time was thee Major Lloyd. Look at my husband over there acting like a groupie.”
I looked in the direction she’d pointed and could do nothing but laugh. While we were in Onyx City, getting my affairs in order, she and Major met, but her husband was out of town for work.
“My fiancé is kind of a big deal,” I stated proudly.
I happened to glance at the TV and noticed Dr. Simone still on the screen, smiling like a proud mother. With all that had happened, I’d forgotten all about her.
“Oh, damn! Dr. Simone, I forgot you were here. I’m so sorry,” I said, rushing over to the TV.
“Don’t apologize. This was beautiful. In all my years of therapy, I’ve never had a couple get engaged during a session. I’m honored to be a part of this.”
“Were you in on it?” I asked.
“I sure was.”
“Wow. This means everything.”
“You’re most welcome. You’ve come a long way from the heartbroken woman I met at our first session. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world, and I believe Major is the man who will make sure you receive it. That man loves you in a major way.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Simone.”
I felt someone tugging on my dress and looked down. Maja looked up at me with a smile, and even though she was five years old and tall for her age, I picked her up and wrapped her in a hug.
“When you and Daddy get married, you’ll be my bonus mom," she said excitedly before kissing my cheek.
“I sure am, and I can’t wait. When did you get here?”
“My mommy just brought me. She said we missed the proposal because she had to pick up Taj.”
She pointed across the room, and Rahkia smiled. I waved her over, and she headed in our direction. Over the past two months, we’d become friendly. Although I couldn’t say we were friends just yet, I was confident that our relationship was moving in that direction.
“Congratulations,” she said, and we exchanged a quick embrace.
“Thank you.”
“You’ve been the missing piece in his life, and I’m glad the puzzle is now complete. He’s my daughter’s father, and his happiness is important to me.”
“I appreciate that, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of Maja’s life.”
We embraced again, and this time, Maja put her arms around each of our necks and kissed both our cheeks. When we separated, she shouted, “Yay, I get to have two mommies!”
I put her down as the three of us shared a laugh. Maja ran off to Mr. Lloyd, and I wasn’t sure how Rahkia felt about Maja’s declaration.
“Doesn’t that bother you?” I asked.
“What?”
“What Maja said about having two mommies.”
She shook her head. “Not at all. The more people she has to love and guide her, the better. It looks like she might have gained another set of grandparents too.”
I looked toward my parents, and I could see that Maja had already won them over.
“Let me go find my man. He had no idea that Major was my daughter’s father until I introduced them. He’s a huge fan and might talk Major’s ear off. Congratulations again.”
“Thank you.”
Rahkia walked away, and for the first time since Major proposed, I had a few minutes to take it all in. There was a time when my mind wouldn’t allow me to believe that this moment was possible, but my heart always knew.
Every time thoughts of Major invaded my mind, I worked overtime to push them away, but my heart held on to him as if loving him was what gave it the strength to keep beating.
A set of strong arms around my body and a kiss on the cheek pulled me from my thoughts. I let my head fall against his chest and angled my head to look up at him.
“Hey, fiancé,” I greeted with a smile.
“Hey, fiancée. What are you over here thinking about?”
“How much I love you.”
“Good, because I love you too, in a major way.”