Epilogue
Four and a half months later…
“BK, I don’t care how tempted you are, you better not call my baby no damn BJ neither,” I told him as I watched him holding my Peanut. We were enjoying our private family time until our welcome home kickback started.
Yes, Hollis found another reason to throw an additional party and this one I didn’t hate.
It would help to control the traffic of family trying to stop by to meet Berkley since daddy shut down the visits when we were in the hospital and even waited two weeks before he opened our doors to anyone who wasn’t the main crew.
“C’mon now, baby. I’ma do better than that generic ass name. She forever gon’ be my Peanut since her mama is my M&M.”
“Alright, I’m just giving you the heads up when these people get here and you forget what her name is.”
“Oh for the world, she’s gon’ be Minnie. I’ma let them have that. Besides, she might be named after me, but she looks just like Mickey.”
“And thank goodness,” I mumbled to myself as I moved in front of him with my back facing him so he could zip me up.
I’d never expressed my concern for who Peanut would look like when she came out.
My fear though was that man or his kids.
But I thanked God the moment BK confirmed she was my mirror as soon as she came out, thick curly hair and pretty brown eyes.
Her dark complexion matched Burkeley’s though, which he loved to say Peanut got from him.
“You said that like it would be a bad thing for her to look like me, M&M. Like we won’t have my twin one day.” I turned to face him, giving him a stoic expression as I shook my head.
Long gone was the stepdaddy title if it ever was in place because Burkeley set the tone that Peanut was his from day one. The best part for me was his name being on the birth certificate above the father line.
“Are you ready?” I ignored his crazy ass, going for my baby instead, but was blocked immediately.
“And now you’re trying to take her. I don’t even know who you are right now.
You got me questioning everything. And just think, I was ready to give you my last name, but naw, you just fucked up.
” I kissed my teeth as I walked out of the room, headed downstairs to the rest of the noise.
Because the mess Burkeley was saying, I wouldn’t entertain.
The girls, including Amber, came early and set up everything. Pictures of Berkley hung on the walls along with our family photos.
If you asked me, it was a post baby shower. They even had a gift table and a card box.
“Aw, there my goddaughter is. Let Auntie Hollis see you real quick. I need daddy’s help.” I went to grab her, but was yet again thwarted.
“Ugh, I said let Auntie. Bye, Mickey. Johnni needs both of you in the backyard real quick. Something about your workshop or something. Shit, I don’t know.”
With the season changing here, I welcomed the warmer temperatures as I stepped out first with Burkeley right behind me. I walked out to see Tino standing by snapping pictures and didn’t think too much of it until I noticed a big ass screen on display near my garden.
“What is that for? Are y’all planning to do a slideshow of Peanut or something?” I asked Johnni, who wore a cheeky smile that had my face slightly twisting up.
“Or something?”
“Yeah. I had another idea. I wanted to make this as private as I could, M&M. Thank you, Johnni.” Burkeley jumped into the conversation as he took my hand and led me closer to the screen to a chair I hadn’t even noticed.
She turned to walk back inside, leaving just me, Burkeley, and Tino who was still taking pictures.
Burkeley cleared his throat then pulled out a clicker along with cards. My eyes grew wide and my mouth fell open, already knowing what this was.
“Okay, now before I get started, you have to promise not to ruin my hard work and let me get through this. I put a lot of time and effort into this project, M&M.”
I snapped my mouth shut, smirking.
“I haven’t even said anything, baby. I know the rules of presentation night.” He squinted one eye but continued.
“Top four reasons you should marry me.” I watched my overly confident boyfriend hit the button with shaky hands, then went to the next card.
“Reason one, the obvious. You’re in love with me as deeply as I am with you. This one is pretty much self-explanatory, but still. When two people are together like you and me, the next level is to step this up.”
I sat quietly as he continued.
“Reason two, Berkley Jr. and the other three kids. We went out of order here, but when grown people start families, giving their children a two-parent household, the obvious is my last name being not only with our kids, but their mama as well.”
“Reason three, and the most important. McKay Marie, I don’t want to do anything else in life without us being on an eternal journey of loving each other. Adding my last name to your name has been my goal from the beginning since you had my heart forgetting how to beat when you weren’t around.”
“Reason four, another self-explanatory one but I know you need this one more than anything. You already agreed.” That one had me laughing as tears welled up.
“Perks and bonuses, see your future husband for those details in private. Oh shit, I wasn’t supposed to read that one out loud.” That had me chuckling as he moved closer and dropped to one knee as he hit the button, displaying the last slide with the words, “She said yes!”
“Burkeley, you have to ask me first,” I said as he was already in motion, putting the big ass, princess-cut, diamond ring on my finger.
“Why? Did you change your mind?”
“No, but still.”
“Damn, M&M, you must want to marry me that bad, huh? You want to hear me ask?”
“Ugh, yeah never mind, I change my mind,” I said as I pulled my ring finger closer to see the most flawless piece of jewelry I had ever owned.
“So, are we getting married?”
“Yes.”
The End.