Epilogue One Year Later
Channing
I looked down at the speech in my hands for what seemed like the millionth time. I’d written and rewritten it until it felt right. After being in the industry for so many years, I was finally taking the biggest step of my career. Tonight was the grand opening of Capo Music.
While I’d purchased the building and had it completely renovated, I took my time in selecting engineers and my roster of artists. Some were new and unheard of, some came from being independent, and a few had been in the game for a long time. Either way, I appreciated them for trusting me with their careers.
“Baby, I know you aren’t reading that speech again.”
I looked back to find my beautiful wife standing at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips. Damn, she looked good. Tonight, she was sporting a sexy little black dress that stopped right above her knees and black stilettos. Her hair was pulled into a sleek, low ponytail, and she was laced in diamonds.
I licked my lips as she approached me. I was one lucky man. We’d gotten married three months ago in a lavish ceremony on the beach. I’d flown her family out and put them up in hotels so they could be a part of our special day. It didn’t take me years to know what I wanted with her.
While our union might not have a fairy-tale beginning, we’d shared many fairy-tale moments, our wedding being one of them. Seeing her walk down the aisle with her father stirred up so many emotions in me. I’d never been against getting married, but to actually get married hit different. I cried at the altar then took her to consummate halfway through our reception.
“I just wanna make sure I said all I needed to say, baby,” I defended.
She shook her head. “You crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s. I know this because I’ve read every version of this speech.” She cupped my face and softly kissed me. “You’re gonna do great, understood?”
“I hear you,” I said, pulling her into my chest. “You’re looking like tonight might be the night I get my son.”
She giggled. I’d been trying to get her pregnant for what seemed like forever now.
“Tonight might be your lucky night,” she replied.
“Then let’s get the hell outta here so we can get back. Go on and walk up ahead of me and give me a little inspiration.”
She laughed but obliged me by adding a little extra sway in her hips as we walked out the door.
Twenty minutes later, we were pulling up at headquarters. I parked in the back of the building, and we entered through the private entrance. Hand in hand, we made our way to the area where I was supposed to meet my publicist, Keri. She was a mogul in the industry, so snagging her had been a must.
She stood on the balcony that overlooked the entrance, talking on the phone. When she saw us, she smiled and ended the call.
“There you are! Congratulations!” She hugged us both before jumping right into business mode. “You have quite the crowd. Every news outlet in the area is here. Every major blog is asking for interviews. There is also quite the gathering of people hoping to give you their demos. The doors haven’t even opened, and you’re in high demand. How are you feeling?”
“Nervous,” Rhythm answered. “He’s gone over that speech fifty times tonight alone.”
“It has not been fifty,” I defended.
“It’s close enough, Keri.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you’ll do great. I’m gonna head down and talk them up before you come give your speech.”
“Are my mother and grandmother here yet?”
“Yes. They got here about fifteen minutes ago.”
“Is Grams good?”
“She’s calm. Her nurse is prepared to make an exit if she gets overwhelmed.”
I nodded. Over the last year, Gram’s dementia had gotten worse. Her moments of clarity were very few and far between. Her aggression had gotten worse as well. The day she attacked my mother because she didn’t know who she was, was the day we realized that we couldn’t do this with just me and my mama anymore.
It broke our hearts to put her in an assisted living facility, but that was what it came to. We made it a point to visit her at least three times a week. Most times, she didn’t know who we were, and the visits didn’t last long. By the grace of God, she’d been having clarity for the last day.
When I went to see her yesterday, I told her all about Capo Music. She asked me if she could come tonight, and I couldn’t say no. She was a major factor in me being where I was. Dementia or not, I wanted her here.
“I’m gonna go join everybody,” Rhythm said, squeezing my hand.
I was sure she was going to be an extra set of hands in case Grams needed her. Even though she wasn’t her client anymore, she still played a major role in her care.
“Okay, baby.”
She cupped my face and kissed me sweetly. “I love you. You’re gonna do great.”
“I love you too.”
“Get ready,” Keri said. “It’s almost time!”
She patted my shoulder before she and Rhythm headed downstairs. I looked over the balcony at all the people waiting for me to make an appearance. I said a silent prayer, thanking God for His grace and mercy. The thing I’d contemplated for the longest was finally coming full circle. Rhythm “Is he nervous?” Ms. Watson asked from beside me.
“You know your son. He’ll say he’s not, but he is. I’ve been telling him it’s okay to be nervous. This is a monumental moment for him.”
“It is.”
Keri had taken center stage and was talking to the crowd. There were so many people here and still more waiting to come inside. Aside from me, his mother, and Grams, Nique was here with her baller bae, my parents flew in, and of course, Emerald and Rhyon were here. I knew it was nothing but God that gave Grams clarity to spend this night with him.
I smiled at the thought of everyone showing up to support my husband.
I was still getting used to calling him that.
Never did I imagine a one-night stand turning into this. His proposal was beautiful. Not only had he asked my father’s permission, but he flew my parents out to be a part of the moment. I was shocked the morning I woke up and found both of them sitting in his kitchen eating breakfast.
He’d flown them in the night before and had a car bring them to the house. I was so happy to see them that I’d cried. He told me he wanted to take us out for dinner and send me and my mother shopping for something to wear, courtesy of him. I didn’t even think anything of it when Nique came along. We spent hours shopping and being pampered while he and my father hung out with Nique’s man.
That night, we all got dressed to go eat. Turns out, he’d rented out the entire restaurant for our dinner party. When we walked in, there were rose petals leading into the dining area which was flooded with even more roses and a huge marry me sign. I started crying, and it lasted all the way through his speech and putting the ring on my finger. It was a moment with him that was added to all the other moments with him I wouldn’t forget.
“And now, without further ado, I present the man of the hour. The owner, founder, and CEO of Capo Music, Channing Watson!”
The crowd erupted with cheers and applause as my man made his way down the stairs to the podium. I beamed with pride as he took center stage. The crowd quieted down as he took the mic.
“Good evening. Now, if you know me, you know I don’t do too many speeches, so we are gonna keep this short and sweet.”
Chuckles and murmurs of agreement went up from the crowd.
“I appreciate everyone for coming out to support the grand opening of Capo Music. Unbeknownst to many, this had been a dream of mine for a very long time, so tonight is special for me. To Keri, thank you for taking me on as a client. I know you’ll have big shit poppin’ for us. To my engineers, thank you for bringing your talents to the new mainstage. To my artists, thank you for trusting me with your careers. We’re finna touch major money over here.
“To my mother and grandmother… thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for believing in me, praying for me, and keeping me on the straight and narrow. Everything I am is owed to the both of you. I love you, and I thank God every day that he blessed me with two beautiful, strong black women to teach me everything I needed to know about being a man.”
Ms. Watson and Grams both blew him kisses. His eyes settled on me, and he smiled.
“To my beautiful wife… damn I’m lucky to have you.”
I couldn’t help but to grin and blush.
“God broke the mold when He made you. Thank you for allowing me to love you. Y’all have no idea the work this woman puts in behind the scenes. You may not see her at the forefront day in and day out, but know she is always right by my side with everything I do. Many of the artists under Capo, she helped me discover. The details you find in this building are all her. Background or forefront, Mrs. Watson is a big part of Capo Music. I appreciate you, baby. I adore you, and I love you with my soul.”
I mouthed, “I love you too,” and blew him a kiss.
“All right, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. I’m sure you’re all anxious to party and do a tour, so I won’t hold you up. Welcome to Capo Music.”
The crowd clapped and cheered as he descended the stairs and came over to us. I waited patiently as he greeted everyone before coming to me. My smile widened as he pulled me into his arms.
“Congratulations, baby,” I said, cupping his face. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you, love. Y’all ready for the tour?”
Everyone agreed. The crowd had already broken off into groups to follow the guides giving the tours. For the next thirty minutes, Channing showed our family the ins and outs of his new venture. The smile never left his face, and I couldn’t wait to get him home to give him a whole other reason to smile.
We finally migrated into the venue portion of the building where the party was. He said it didn’t make sense to pay for a venue space to host events or album releases when he could have his own. The building he bought was huge, so why not take advantage of the space.
Currently, we were on the dance floor, vibing to music from one of his up-and-coming artists.
We were in our own world when someone approached us.
Looking up, I was surprised to see Raheem.
I hadn’t spoken to him since he apologized to me in the parking lot at work.
When Channing and I got married, fans never let him live that shit down.
They were tagging him in pictures and videos.
People asked him about it in interviews, and he always elected not to comment. I wasn’t sure if it was the label or if he was over it, but I appreciated it.
Channing wrapped a protective arm around me and pulled me into his side. Raheem raised his hands in mock surrender.
“I just wanted to congratulate you,” he said. “I know you’re bringing the competition.”
“Ain’t no competition. It’s enough room for all of us to eat.”
“I respect that.” He swallowed hard.
“I um… I know I spoke to Rhythm, but I don’t think I ever apologized to you back then, Channing.
I was on some other shit, and my ego was bruised.
I sincerely apologize for the way I acted. Rhythm is and has always been a good woman. She deserves the world. I couldn’t give her what she needed, but I see that you can. I’m happy for you both.” He extended his hand. “Man to man, I’m sorry.”
Channing looked down at his hand for a moment before shaking it.
“Thank you.”
“Maybe I can get you on my next album?”
“You pushing it.”
Raheem chuckled. “I’m joking. Even though we make magic, I completely understand. Y’all have a good night. Congratulations again.”
He nodded before disappearing into the crowd. I looked up at Channing.
“Well… I wasn’t expecting that,” I said.
“Me either. I wonder who let that nigga in. I should fire their ass.”
I playfully slapped his chest. “Don’t. Everything’s good. You got me, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Damn right you ain’t.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed my lips. A smirk spread across his face.
“Mrs. Watson?”
“Yes, Mr. Watson?”
“I do believe my office hasn’t been broken in yet. What do you say we dip outta here for a little bit?”
I smirked. “I knew that was coming, and I’m ready for you.”
“Oh, really?”
I leaned in and whispered in his ear. “I’m not wearing any panties.”
He chuckled. “Easy access. Bring your ass on.”
I didn’t hesitate to follow as he grabbed my hand and led me out of the venue space.
Honestly, I wouldn’t hesitate to follow this man anywhere.
He made me the happiest I’d ever been.
To go from crying and fretting over a nigga that was too busy doing him to think about me, to having a man that didn’t play about me in any capacity was a blessing.
My connection to this man was the most natural thing I’d ever experienced.
I wasn’t forced to be or act like anyone other than myself.
My identity wasn’t wrapped up in his career, and neither was my image.
Yet and still, at the end of the day, I was his woman and his wife.
He was as loyal to me as I was to him.
He saw me for what I brought to the table whether I was in the background or the forefront.
That was the difference between him and Raheem.
He understood that support from any end was still support, and he appreciated it.
I was showered with love and affection.
My heart was safe and well taken care of, and I was immensely respected.
My days of having the blues over a man were long gone.
These days, I sang love songs at the top of my lungs because I felt every word, and it was all because of him.
The End