16. Kalm Alexander Savage
KALM ALEXANDER SAVAGE
Oasis stood on my right, barely able to stay still because of how excited she was. Charisma was on my left, holding my hand tightly to make sure I was secure. Meanwhile, I stood there with my head held high, but deep down inside, my stomach was in knots, and my thoughts were a fucking maze.
With each minute that ticked away of us waiting, it felt like something had possibly gone wrong, and that was the cause of the long wait.
If it weren’t for all the other people standing near their vehicles, waiting to see their loved ones too, I would’ve walked up to the front and demanded they send my brother out.
But unfortunately, this was one of those situations where I had to follow the rules, or else I would make everything worse.
Finally, the doors opened, and the first set of people walked out. “Is that him?” Sissy questioned while on her toes and stretching her neck to get a better look.
“Not yet,” I said lowly. My eyes were pinned on that door every time it opened, and another group came out. Finally, I saw my brother’s familiar gait and knew it was him. “There he goes.”
Sissy took off running while Charisma kept her hand in mine as we trailed behind her.
Kaos smiled widely when she crashed into him.
It was hard on him having to be away from us, especially while Sissy was battling cancer.
He stayed as present as possible while being behind the wall, but I knew he felt much better, being able to not only see her but embrace her while he told her how much he loved her.
By the time she finally let him go, they both were bawling. His attention shifted to me next, and I smiled. I was the one opening my arms while he crashed into me showing the hierarchy between us. “I ain’t never been so happy to see your black ass in my life,” he said through his tears.
I held him tightly, fighting back my own tears. Finally, everything in my life was coming together. Now, all I needed was for Sissy to be cancer free once she finished her chemotherapy sessions in a few weeks. But for now, having my brother back home was enough for us. “You’re free now, baby boy.”
“Thank God.” When I released him, his attention shifted to Pretty. “Sis, was it your prayers that did the magic trick?”
She laughed, showcasing her beautiful smile. I reached a hand for her that she accepted. “Two, let me officially introduce you to your sister-in-law Charisma.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” she said timidly, holding out a hand for him. I’d finally shared the details of his case with her, so she wasn’t left out. Like Sissy and me, she wholeheartedly agreed that he was done wrong, and justice was finally ours.
Kaos shook his head then snatched her in for a hug. “You can drop all that polite shit with me. I know everything you’ve done. We are family, and I thank you for taking care of my people when I couldn’t.”
“It was nothing.” She was being humble, but we let her slide. Sissy held Kaos’s hand while we made our way back to my truck and piled inside.
I couldn’t stop smiling as I made the drive back to the city. “Man, it feels so good to be free,” Kaos said more to himself than to us.
“What’s your plans, bro? Anything you want to do?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I’m staying lowkey. I am ready to get back into boxing though.”
I nodded, expecting nothing less. My father had signed him up for the same lessons as me, and he took a liking to the sport too. “You know you have my support, but just know I’ll never fight you.”
“Never,” he repeated, having the same sentiments as me.
Glancing over at Charisma, I found her watching me with stars in her eyes. “What?”
She shook her head. “I’m just happy for y’all and that Kaos is back home before the holidays.” Her bottom lip poked out, and I knew she was trying to hide her tears when she turned to glance out of the window. For the time being, I let it slide because I had something special planned for my baby.
Walking into the house from the backyard, I went to search for Charisma.
I found her sitting on the couch in the living room with her feet tucked underneath her.
She was so deep in her phone that she didn’t notice me peeking over her shoulder.
There was some buff nigga on the screen, showing off his dick print.
I mushed her head to the side and sucked my teeth.
“Fuck you looking at that greased-up nigga for?”
She yelped loudly, placing a hand over her heart like it’d really jumped out of her chest. She laughed nervously, sitting her phone to the side. “It’s not like I asked to be in his close friends. I was just tapping through stories, and it came up, baby.”
She tried to reach for me, but I took a step back with a shake of my head. “It’s not like you unadded yourself or tapped through it though. You was watching like you want that nigga or something.” I folded my arms over my chest, pinning her in place with a glare.
“True.” I watched her pick up her phone, but I didn’t stick around to see what she did next.
I heard her calling after me as I headed to the backyard. “Baby, look. I’m not looking no more. I took myself out,” she explained behind me.
I cracked a smile and dropped to my knee quickly. By the time she stepped into the yard to chase me down, I already had the ring box popped open. A beautiful, princess-cut diamond ring sat waving at her every time it sparkled.
She gasped, and her hands covered her mouth while her eyes drank in the setup behind me. There was a huge marquee sign asking if she would marry me, along with roses, candles, and balloons. Sissy and Kaos stood close by, watching it all unfold, and they looked equally as happy.
“Come here,” I said when I realized she was in shock.
Her tears dropped in time with every step she took to close the distance between us. “Kalm,” she whispered my name.
I took her hand in mine and squeezed it for reassurance.
“Charisma Rae Jones, the day you came into my life is the day I truly knew God was real. Even though I know you had your reasons for approaching me, I’m so happy I was worth your time.
So happy that I was your choice in a store full of other patrons.
The way you show up for me and my siblings is more than I could ever ask for.
I’ve told you plenty of times that you have been my anchor since we met, and I would like you to be for the rest of our lives.
For the first time in my life, I don’t have to hide the darkness inside.
I don’t have to pretend to know all the answers or even like everything is okay.
All this time, I thought I was trying to save you, without realizing I was the one in need of saving too.
” I swallowed the joy trying to escape and took a deep breath.
“When I look at you, I see a girl the world forgot about, and that’s something I could never do.
Would you do the honor of marrying me and becoming my pretty lil’ gangsta for life? ”
She jumped up and down excitedly screaming in glee. “Yes, yes, yes!”
I eased the ring on her finger then stood to wrap my arms around her. I felt so grounded, standing with her, knowing we were going to spend our lives together. She was my choice in every lifetime, no matter what her background was. I was thankful that she felt the same way about me.
“We’re getting married?” she whispered in awe, staring at her engagement ring.
I nodded. “Hell yeah. I’m yours for life.”
“And what about afterward?” she questioned, gripping my chin.
I smiled, ignoring the sound of thunder from above. “I’ll be yours in heaven too, and if we get reincarnated, I’ll love you in that lifetime too. No matter the time, dimension, or universe, just know that my soul will find yours and will always belong to you.”
Her lips crashed into mine at the same time it began to rain.
I laughed against her lips because it felt so dramatic, like some movie shit, but it didn’t matter.
Other people had their fairy tales, and this one was mine.
I might’ve taken on a lot of responsibility at a young age because of the loss of my parents, but thankfully, God gave me a partner who could not only handle it but be my peace amidst the chaos.
I was committed to this woman until death did us part, and I didn’t need vows at a big, fancy wedding to know it.