ONE YEAR LATER
Our wedding was held in the same place that we first met—on the rooftop of his building. It had been my idea, and he had only wanted to give me whatever made me happy, as he did with most things.
Our family and friends were in attendance, along with our closest staff like Frankie, Creed, Riann, and Val.
I wore a cream colored jumpsuit with a fully lace top.
It was long-sleeved with floral appliqués on the bodice and the sleeves.
The jumpsuit tapered into cigarette pants that molded to my body and stopped above my ankles.
The train of my jumpsuit attached at my waist and was silk and tulle and flowed out around my feet.
Jabari had ordered me a pair of designer silver high heels decorated with Swarovski crystals on the heels.
They matched the silver tiara on my head, which had Swarovski crystals and a little beaded diamond drop down onto my forehead.
I knew that I looked stunning today, and no one could tell me differently.
I hadn’t wanted a dress and a large wedding.
Although I hadn’t had that the first time around with Nick, I was okay with that.
I knew that I would never be the large wedding type of girl, and I definitely didn’t want a frou-frou dress that wouldn’t look good on me.
My mother wasn’t happy with my decision, but when Courtney pointed out that at least she was getting an invitation this time, she shut up and went along with it.
We had exchanged our traditional vows only twenty minutes earlier, and since we were having the reception here as well, there was no need for us to leave the venue.
“Cami, baby,” my mother cooed as she and my father walked up to Jabari and me.
I noticed they were holding hands, and that was one thing I could always credit my parents with—they showed each other love and affection, and they were committed to their marriage and each other.
“Hey, Mommy,” I greeted, hugging her and kissing her cheeks.
“Your dad and I wanted to come up and tell you that we’re so very proud of you, and we pray that you have a beautiful, long-lasting marriage, a beautiful family, and happiness to last a lifetime,” my mother professed.
My heart felt like it was about to explode. I hugged and kissed both of my parents on the cheek and thanked them for being here.
“Mommy and Daddy, I love you two so much. I want you in my life more, and I want to share every step,” I confessed.
“We want that too, baby,” my mother cooed as she kissed me on the cheek and then squeezed me to her.
“You are truly my gorgeous princess, pretty princess,” my father declared, beaming down at me.
“She looks breathtaking today,” Jabari observed.
“Thank you, sweetheart. You look handsome too.” I pushed up and kissed my daddy on his cheek. “Thank you for everything that you did, Daddy. If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure that Jabari and I would even be together.”
“You would’ve been. God has his way of bringing people where they need to be in life. Just trust Him to direct your paths, and you’ll always find a way.”
I danced with my father first, and then Jabari and I danced the night away.
We danced three dances before we were pulled away to take plenty of photos for a spread.
Some of the pictures were on the rooftop, but many of them were around the building and in his office.
The ones that were taken on the rooftop were exclusively for our wedding photos.
The ones that were taken in his office and around the building were for his photo shoot.
Jabari had decided that he was ready for his first interview, and he wanted it to be with me. I was honored that he had chosen me to do the exclusive interview about his journey in my magazine. We had even agreed to share one or two of our wedding photos in his spread.
I stared up into my husband’s eyes. “Are you certain that you’re okay with divulging your truth to the world?”
“I am, baby. The parts about my brother and those other guys, we’re leaving that out.”
“Yes, of course. The story will only focus on where you came from, what you used to do for a living, and how you got your first properties. Is Kanaan still okay with sharing that he and his mother invested in your dreams?”
“Absolutely.”
Kanaan was supportive of Jabari’s decision, as was Regent.
Jett was still apprehensive about it, and I figured it might be related to whatever secrets he was hiding.
All four of them had things in their stories that they didn’t want the world to find out.
I figured most wealthy people did, and I respected their decision no matter what.
They weren’t going to tell what Kanaan did by setting his father up, just that he and his mother invested in real estate with funds from their trucking business to expand their wealth.
“I just want to be sure that you’re okay.”
“I’ve got nothing to hide anymore. The bones that are hidden need to stay that way to protect other people, not me.
I have no problem owning my past, but it does link to other people and might be damaging to them.
As long as you’re writing my story, I know that it will be amazing because you can help the world see me through your eyes. ”
My heart swelled at how much he loved and trusted me.
“You did the right thing with your dad too. I’m so blessed to get to know him in a different capacity,” I declared, looking at his father where he danced with Val.
He glanced over to his dad and smiled. His dad caught his eye and smiled and winked back at Jabari. “He looks good and healthy,” Jabari observed.
“I’m proud that we chose to support him by only serving mocktails tonight.”
“That’s my woman. Always looking out for the needs of others.” He kissed my lips, and we danced slower as the music slowed down more.
Samuel had been out of rehab for seven months, and he had gone into therapy for grief, and not long after, Jabari had joined him.
“I can think of another great deed that you did.”
“What’s that?” he asked, looking into my eyes.
“Buying out Mike Sullivan’s business and discrediting him as a businessman.”
“That’s thanks to you uncovering his mismanagement of funds and ruining all those people’s life savings,” he stated.
I had wanted to stop Mike from trying to ruin Jabari since he had vowed to find someone who would.
In my efforts to prevent him from moving forward with his threat, I had uncovered years of misappropriation of funding.
Not only had I done a story on it, but the impacted clients I spoke with had proof that they turned over to the authorities.
I was so thankful that everything that was designed for our downfall was the exact things that built us stronger and brought us closer.
Jabari made me happy, and his love strengthened me and showed me that I didn’t have to spend my life chasing other people’s stories when I could create my own by living my life to the fullest.
In turn, my love had helped Jabari to find the healing that he needed and assisted him in opening up his heart to receive love and intimacy, which were ultimately what healed his broken heart.
It may have been a story that set me on the path to sniffing him out, but it was fate that brought us together, and love that kept us together.
THE END