Epilogue
Ten Years Later
“ G od, I hope this works,” Jayla said, voice stronger than it had been all day.
She’d given birth to our third biological child last night, and he was our fifth in total.
After Miley and Mateo, we had Kayne Jr., who was eight years old, Jaden, who was three years old, and now .
. . Koa Mathis. Baby boy was going to be our last child, though I wanted to shoot for one more so we could even it up with another girl.
Jayla wasn’t going for that, though, so I was grateful for the five we had.
Mateo was twenty two and had recently graduated with his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He said he admired how I was there for him as a guidance counselor and wanted to offer himself to children in need but with his own family counseling clinic that would work alongside our city’s schools.
Miley was fifteen and enjoying the summer before her sophomore year of high school. She was my first princess and every bit as sweet and innocent as she was when she first came into our lives.
Kayne Jr. was slightly wild and hyperactive like my brother, and I was praying Koa had a calmer spirit like me.
Jaden was the perfect mix of me and Jayla, and she was spoiled as hell, because we thought she was going to be our last baby.
We were a little concerned about how she’d take to our new bundle, so Jayla had the idea to introduce her to her baby brother separately from everyone else.
It was important to us that she understood this baby wasn’t replacing her or taking any love and attention away from her.
“I’m sure it will,” I promised her before placing a kiss on her forehead then nose. “You ready for me to get her?”
“Yes. Please bring me my baby girl.”
I went out to the waiting area to get Jaden.
“How they doing?” Mateo asked, quickly jumping to his feet. “Ma good?”
“She’s good. Koa is too.”
He smiled and nodded his relief. “Aight, cool. I’m going to take them to get something to eat. Text me what you and Ma want.”
“’Preciate that, Son.”
“Can you buy me these shoes for school, Daddy?” Miley asked, showing me her phone.
“Y’all can talk about that when we get back,” Mateo said, playfully shoving his sister away from me. “I’m hungry.”
“Shut up. You’re just mad because you gotta buy your own shoes now,” she teased, tossing her arm around KJ’s shoulders as he shook his head at his older siblings’ shenanigans.
“Now you know that ain’t true. Pops will buy me whatever I want,” Mateo countered.
“Big brother, can we get tacos from the food truck by the beach?” KJ asked, shifting their conversation as they walked down the hall.
“Of course, little one. Whatever you want,” Mateo agreed, palming the top of KJ’s head just like I used to do his when he was younger, filling my chest with even more pride.
“Daddy, is it time for me to meet him now?” Jaden asked sweetly, gaining my attention.
“It is, my love. You ready?”
“Yes!” she cheered, hopping down from her seat, but I quickly scooped her up and carried her down the hall.
I opened the door of Jayla’s room, and as soon as she saw Jaden, she reached for her. “Gimme my baby,” she hummed, and Jaden wasted no time making her way into her mother’s arms. “Hey, pretty girl. I missed you all day today.”
“I missed you too, Mommy,” Jaden said as I made my way over to Koa, finding him still sleeping peacefully.
“Your baby brother is here, but before you meet him, Daddy and I just wanted to remind you that we love you so, so much.”
“That’s right, my love,” I said. “We know you’ve gotten used to being the baby of the family, and you’re going to get the same love and attention from us as always, but you know what?”
“What?” she asked excitedly.
“Now you get to be a big sister to Koa like your big brothers and sister are to you.”
Jaden gasped and clapped her tiny hands once. “I will?”
“You will,” Jayla replied before hugging and tickling and kissing her at the same time. Her laughter permeated the room. Koa shifted but he didn’t wake up completely.
“Yay! I’m excited to be a big sister. Where is my baby?”
I picked him up and carried him over to the bed. Jayla held Jaden close to her side as I lowered Koa for her to see. She gasped again.
“He’s so small,” she said before covering her mouth as she giggled.
“You were that small too when you were born,” I told her.
“I was?” she asked in disbelief as her head twisted and mouth frowned.
“You sure were,” Jayla said.
“Can I hold him?”
“Here . . .” Jayla shifted Jaden slightly so her back was on her side and stomach. Then, she rested Jaden’s arms on top of hers.
“Alright, baby girl. Be gentle,” I directed as I lowered Koa into their arms.
She looked at me with more emotion than I thought she was capable of then back at her brother. When she kissed his forehead, my eyes watered.
“Hi, Koa,” she greeted him before kissing him again. “I’m your big sister Jaden. I’m gonna be the best big sister ever ! I love you.”
I wiped my tears quickly before telling Jaden how proud of her I was. Jayla and I locked eyes, and I wiped her tears since her arms were still under Jaden’s. Resting my forehead on hers, I moaned a shaky moan when she said, “I love you, pookie.”
“I love you more, pooh,” I declared before kissing her sweetly.
I wasn’t sure what I’d done to have this lot in life. In fact, most days I didn’t think I deserved the beautiful marriage and family I had. But in that humbleness, I committed myself daily to loving them and caring for them in a way that proved to God I was worthy.
The Beginning
Because true love has no end.
(Swipe for character visuals & more reads)