Epilogue
“East, how do you feel about what your mother just expressed?”
This was why he didn’t want to be here. East had declined the invitation to be a part of his mother’s recovery as long as he could but had recently given in based on the conversation he had with Dr. Abbot, Priscilla’s appointed mental health specialist. Abbot’s credentials stated she was a Doctor of Psychology with fifteen years’ experience but Priscilla referred to Dr. Abbot as her mental health specialist. It made her feel less broken.
Dr. Abbot informed East that he was the last stage in his mother’s recovery and because he loved his mother enough to want her happy and healthy, he showed up.
Despite his feelings about discussing the past he was trying to forget, he was there for his mother.
Dropping his eyes to his lap to prevent himself from speaking irrationally, East moved his hand across his hair then down to his beard before he gave his mother one last glance and answered Dr. Abbot.
“Truthfully, I’m tired of discussing it. I love her more than anybody but discussing what that muthafucker did means remembering and I don’t want to keep giving it power. That’s why I don’t talk about it.”
Priscilla’s eyes misted at her son’s words and East noticed. Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, he covered her hand with his.
“Ma, don’t do that. You can’t ask me to be honest if you’re not ready to hear what I have to say.”
Priscilla nodded and smiled. “I’m just glad that you’re here.”
“That’s what’s most important.” Dr. Abbot smiled at them both. “East, what I hear is that you would rather block it out versus talking about it?”
He laughed sarcastically, shaking his head. “There isn’t anything to talk about. It happened. I can’t change it. It doesn’t control me and she’s learning not to let it control her. Isn’t that why she’s here? This isn’t about me.”
“In a sense, it is. Part of your mother’s healing is knowing you’re not conflicted by the things that happened in your past. Knowledge of your conception has the potential to shape who you are, how you think, and how you see yourself… if you allow it to.”
East looked at Dr. Abbot with a blank expression before releasing a cocky laugh.
“The only thing my conception has the potential to do is make me catch a flight and unload a clip in that muthafucker. For the record, he’s still breathing.
I learned how to manage it. I don’t need your help to handle how I manage it.
” Once he spoke his piece to Dr. Abbot, East turned to his mother.
“Ma, I’m good, trust me. If I wasn’t, you would know.
If that’s what you need to be okay, then I’m giving it to you right here, right now.
I would never lie to you. Let that shit go and be happy for me and Kels.
You deserve that and it’s been a long time coming. ”
Priscilla stared at her son briefly before she snorted through a laugh mixed with a cry. “I’m happy, baby. It took a lot to get here but I really am happy.”
“Remember what we talked about?” Priscilla and her son both gave their attention to Dr. Abbot, with Priscilla nodding slightly.
“I’m only responsible for my feelings and actions. I have to allow everyone else the ability to be responsible for theirs.”
“Exactly. What East wants you to understand is that he’s processing and dealing in a way that’s necessary for him. If you try to carry his load, you’re right back where we started. Trust him to be responsible for his feelings and actions.”
That was a tall order. For years, Priscilla lived with the darkness of her past and carried the guilt of hiding it from her son. Now that he knew, she carried the guilt of knowing that she allowed it to….
It’s not my fault. It was never my fault.
“I trust you.”
“Good. Keep doing so and you’ll be just fine.” Dr. Abbot smiled at Priscilla, knowing she was still battling her demons but also satisfied that she was in a much better place than she had been a year ago when the two first met.
“Well, that’s our time. Priscilla, I will see you next week, and Eastland, it was a pleasure to meet you.”
He stood along with his mother. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for her.”
“Doing. It’s a continuous process but she’s doing the work.” Abbot smiled, causing East to nod again. “And I would be happy to see you as well if needed.”
Priscilla glanced at her son, who only laughed arrogantly. “If I decide I can no longer control the urge to catch that flight, then I might take you up on that offer.”
Dr. Abbot tensed slightly at the thought but managed to force a smile and extend a hand to East.
“If that day comes, then I will be here.”
Priscilla set her next appointment and the two left her office. East was happy that his mother was in a much better place but was also ready to get back to his life. She had her coping methods and he had his. Joi.
“Damn, it’s packed in here. We need a bigger spot.” Chuck looked around the room, which was filled to capacity. Every table was crowded with men and women who were either up or down on their balances pending their skills.
“Nah, this is good like it is. You fuck up the history if you try to change it.” East tapped the table, signaling for the dealer to give him a card.
“Bad move.” Chuck was behind him and had seen the two cards East was holding. He smirked, waiting to see what the dealer would add to the right of diamonds and eight of spades East was sitting on.
“Same thing I was thinking but I’ve learned to trust him.” A smile stretched across East’s face as Chuck stepped out the way to leave. Joi eased into her man’s lap but she wasn’t alone. Their three month old son was in her arms, resting peacefully against her chest.
After greeting Joi with a kiss on the neck, East kissed the top of their son’s head.
“Why you just getting here?”
“My last appointment was at eight.”
East flexed his jaw, angling his head enough to meet Joi’s eyes. Her business had picked up a lot, and he was happy for her, but he wasn’t feeling the late appointments. Especially not when she had their son.
“Stop looking at me like that. It was a special request and we had eyes on us.”
“Cameras can’t do shit if someone runs up in there, Joi. What I tell you about that?”
“But I could. They were straight.” Vega walked up with Nyelle tucked under him and dapped East.
“I told Ny to wait, but we fly out in the morning and she had to get them damn Lamb Chops put on her eyes.” Vega chuckled and Nyelle rolled her eyes at the reference to her lashes.
“Don’t do me. Mine have a natural look and feel to them.”
“Keep talking about my work and watch what I do,” Joi added.
“Y’all heading out again? Didn’t you just get back?”
“It’s business. Nick’s with his sperm donor babysitter, so we’re about to make a quick trip to New York to check on my club.”
Nyelle rolled her eyes at Vega calling Reese a sperm donor babysitter, even if it was true.
He had gotten better at spending time with Nick but lately Vega was more of a father to Nick than Reese.
When Nick spent time with his father, Reese would just take him to do a bunch of stuff, trying to outdo the things he knew Vega was doing.
It was childish but Nyelle was just happy Nick got to spend time with him.
“We’re trying to get in as many trips as we can before he gets here.” Nyelle rubbed her stomach, causing Vega’s smile to stretch wide. She was halfway there with her pregnancy and he couldn’t wait to meet his firstborn.
“Fuck that. Even after he gets here, we’re catching flights. I might just have to buy a family jet though.”
Nyelle groaned at the thought. Being with Vega was an experience.
She realized he was true to his word when it came to certain things, like the yacht and home they had in Miami.
Most days it made her head spin but she was slowly getting used to it.
After a quick trip to a private island with a few family members and friends two months ago, she was stuck with him. Nyelle was officially an Orr.
“A whole jet? Must be nice,” Joi teased. East would give her anything she wanted but they were both kinda simple with things. They lived good but kept a low profile.
“You can have one too. Just ask your fiancé slash baby daddy.”
East chuckled while Joi rolled her eyes, adjusting their son in her lap. “He’s neither of those things.”
“That baby in your lap and that ring on your finger say otherwise, sis.”
“He is my son’s father and we’re not engaged. East never asked me to marry him.”
“Man, here we go with that shit again,” he mumbled, causing Joi to shrug and Vega and Nyelle to laugh.
“We’re gonna let y’all have that. I’ma about to let Pretty Ny help me take these fools’ money.” Vega dapped East and ran his hand across their son’s head. “Keep it G, little man.”
East chuckled as Vega and Nyelle made their way to the poker table. After they were gone, he lifted the card the dealer had given him, not bothered at all that the entire table was waiting on him. They could wait.
Nodding at his hand, he tossed the three cards down and tilted his head to the dealer. “Run that shit.”
Almost everyone at the table cursed under their breath when they noticed the five of clubs, putting East at twenty-one.
He motioned for Joi to get up, which she did and East took their son from her.
“Ay, put that up for me. We’re out,” he then said to Chuck who only nodded from across the room before he and Joi headed to the back.
“So I can’t get the title of fiancé?” East questioned after the two were away from the crowd.
“Nope, you didn’t ask me to marry you.”
“Then what’s this?” Lifting her hand to expose the three carat diamond she was sporting, they both looked down. Joi with a smile while East kept a tight expression.
“It’s a very beautiful ring.”
“And…”
“And you brought it home and said ‘put this on’. Not once did you ask me to marry you.”
Joi flashed back to the day they found out she was pregnant.
It was more or less bittersweet. It was a few months after their trip to Miami.
After watching a news story about them never finding the person who killed a local detective, she turned to East and asked if he was the one they were looking for.
He didn’t deny it and seconds later she was throwing up everywhere.
He assumed it was because the thought of him killing Patterson made her sick, but they found out later it was because they’d made a baby that same weekend.
Most likely on Cabo’s yacht. After the official test was done with Joi’s doctor to confirm, East came home the next day with the ring Joi was now wearing.
With a cocky grin, East backed Joi against the wall, their son now a barrier between them as he leaned over the baby’s head to allow his mouth access to Joi’s. “You put that shit on too, didn’t you?”
“It was pretty.”
“And it was confirmation that there are no outs with us.”
“Not until you officially ask me.” This time Joi was the one with a cocky smile.
“Why is your mama so difficult?” East looked down at their son who smiled.
“Why is your father so stubborn?” This time their son pushed his little lips into a pout.
“See, he knows you’re tripping.”
“Whatever.”
East kissed Joi again then spoke against her lips. “You gonna marry me, Grinch?”
The name pulled a smile from both of them but Joi smiled the hardest. “I guess, since you finally asked. Even if it was the worst proposal ever.”
“Shawty, stop fronting. You were gonna marry me whether I asked or not. Now bring your ass on so we can get him home and asleep then I can remind you of one of the reasons you said yes.”
Joi playfully rolled her eyes, considering his arrogance, but was right beside East with a smile bigger than her face and a confidence even bigger than her smile. You’re damn right!