Chapter 24
Zoe
A Little While Later
“Surprise!”
“Ah!” I yelled as I stepped inside my home. I had an idea Haji was up to something, but I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be this.
Tears immediately started to pour as the weight of what he’d done settled in. “Aww, Precious. You’re such a big baby.”
“Thank you, GG. I’m so happy!”
Haji laughed as he hugged me. He waited until my tears were done falling to dry my face. When he told me he wanted to celebrate me finally selling my home and officially being a new resident of Jasper Lane, I didn’t think he’d invite our family and friends to do it.
As I said hey to everyone and thanked them for coming, I saw family from Memphis that I hadn’t seen for years.
And he didn’t just throw a party together so people could eat and drink in my honor, but there was a gift table covered with stacks of cash and gifts.
It had been so long since I’d felt celebrated and loved in this capacity, and I had to keep myself from crying over and over again.
Daddy and Mr. Young were manning two grills, and I couldn’t wait to stack a plate high with barbecued meat.
Mama and Mrs. Young were responsible for the sides, and Bianca had hooked up the desserts.
Jessica had taken care of the planning and décor, and my heart was full the more they shared with me how much thought and effort had been put into the party.
I stepped further into the backyard and was tickled at the sight of the water slide and bounce house.
If Haji did nothing else, he put forth effort to heal my inner child.
Maybe inner child was incorrect. Maybe young adult with scars who was pushed out into the world too soon was a better description.
I couldn’t wait to put on my swimsuit and have some fun.
While Mama asked me if I wanted to open gifts or eat first, I didn’t give a fuck about none of that shit.
I wanted to take a shot and go down the waterslide.
My girls wasted no time coming with me so we could put on our swimming suits, and all Haji did was laugh and shake his head as he sipped his beer.
I dropped a quick kiss to his lips and thanked him again before rushing toward the waterslide.
For a brief moment, I thought about how bored, lonely, and depressed I would have been if I went back to my old life.
Then, I looked around at the backyard of the home I shared with the man I loved. It was full of people I loved, blasting music, and good smelling food. This was what life was truly all about, and I had to silently thank my sister for urging me back home and reminding me of that.
Losing Zina destroyed my heart. I didn’t think life was worth living without her in it. But even without her here, she inspired me and reminded me to live, to love, to embrace community, and to spend my days doing what I was passionate about, and I’d forever be grateful to my big sister for that.