Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
I sat beachside watching Neha and our kids running along the shore.
A smile played on my face as KJ’s little legs carried him as fast as they could away from the waves.
Neha laughed as she scooped him up and kissed his cheeks.
He pointed at the water and shook his head.
A small wave had already knocked him down, and he just wasn’t feeling that shit.
Nayelli, on the other hand, was loving it.
She was on her little bodyboard, trying to catch every wave.
This was officially our first family vacation.
After the year we had, a getaway was much needed.
As soon as school let out, we were looking for a place to get out of the city.
The last couple of months, things had been great.
The kids were growing and thriving. Business was going great for me.
Neha finished out her contract with the state and was now actively diving into planning for Mind and Motion, her wellness center.
I was so damn proud of her.
Her excitement was radiant. Every time she spoke about her vision, it made me happy.
Once the center opened, I was moving my after-school self-defense class there.
Many of my kids came from single parent households, and the services she was offering could greatly benefit them.
I just wanted them to win in every season of life.
Of course, the family was super supportive of her.
Since Shar was working with the charity, she’d come up with an initiative to sponsor the center with a food and clothes pantry for those in need.
Senior and my brothers gave five hundred thousand each for Neha to do with as she pleased for the center.
When they presented her with the checks, my baby almost passed out.
She cried for thirty minutes after that, only stopping when Smoke jokingly told her she had to wrap that shit up.
It was safe to say that things were moving in positive directions, and I was ready to keep up the momentum.
My girls were officially moved in with me and KJ on a full-time basis.
Dinah had moved in with Kaylynn. Their parents had relocated and were now living in their old house. It was nice having them around.
They fit in well with both sides of my family, and I could see just how crazy both the kids were about them.
Just like Neha, they had taken to KJ. In their eyes, he was just as much their grandson as Nayelli was their granddaughter.
They didn’t replace the grandparents he lost, but they were an amazing addition.
Speaking of additions, we were currently five months pregnant with a baby boy.
Jaeda was also expecting a boy, while Shar was expecting a girl.
In a not so surprising turn of events, Romi was also expecting again.
The way my brother was trying to slide up in her every chance he got, we knew it was coming.
He’d put us out of his house on more than one occasion so he could have alone time with his wife.
That nigga was slowly but surely trying to outdo his daddy with all these damn kids.
“Daddy!”
The sound of KJ screaming my name as he ran full force toward me broke me from my thoughts. When he slammed into my chest, I pretended to fall back from the blow.
“Dang, Fat Man! Just knock me over.”
He grinned as he climbed into my arms and gave me the sign for drink. I smiled as I handed him a juice box. Quaid and Jaeda had taught my boy so much. He could easily communicate with his hands what he couldn’t with his words.
Neha and Nayelli came over to join us under the tent.
“Did you see me riding those waves, Daddy?” Nayelli asked, grinning.
“You were tearing them up, baby girl. We gotta get you a surfboard next.”
“Uh, absolutely not!” Neha exclaimed. “My baby is not getting on one of those things to give me a heart attack.”
“Mommy, surfing would be fun!” Nayelli gasped with wide eyes. “Daddy, if I learn to surf, will you take me to Hawaii?”
“Of course I will.”
Neha shook her head. “This is why she’s spoiled now.”
“And you aren’t?” I countered, rubbing her stomach.
She scoffed. “We aren’t talking about me.”
I kissed my teeth. “So you don’t wanna be in Hawaii shaking what your mama gave you in a grass skirt and coconut bra? We can have a lot of fun with that.”
She grinned, and I leaned in to peck her lips. KJ put a stop to that by grasping my lips between his little fingers.
“No! My mama!” he declared, scrambling into Neha’s arms.
I shook my head. Since he started calling her mama, it became an even bigger fuck you to me whenever I tried to show her some love in his presence.
I’d been slapped, had my ears and nose pulled, and my lips twisted more times than I could count.
Right now, he was looking at me with a mean mug while he pressed his face against Neha’s. She was eating this shit up.
“Baby, it’s enough of mama to share,” she said, kissing his cheeks. “Daddy can love on me too.”
She leaned in to kiss me, but again, I was met with a mush to the face. I playfully mushed my son back and stole the kiss I wanted.
“You don’t run me, lil’ boy. I can kiss my woman if I want to.”
He shook his head and proceeded to give Neha a kiss on the lips.
All I could do was laugh. Their relationship was beautiful, and I was forever grateful that she stepped in to mother him.
She was exactly what he needed, and I knew Donna was happy with my choice.
I dreamed of her for the first time in months the other night.
She didn’t say anything, just smiled at me and gave me a nod of approval.
That was all I needed.
I had the life and the little family I always wanted.
Now it was time to make it permanent.
Neha
Santo Domingo had been wonderful to us.
We’d spent the entire week in nothing but peaceful bliss with our kids, and I was dreading having to leave in a few days. It was so beautiful here. The resort we were staying at was right on the beach and had breathtaking views. I loved the compound, but I could get used to waking up like this.
Tonight, we were headed to dinner in the city.
I’d been in nothing but swimsuits and maxi dresses all week long, so I was excited to get a little dressed up to go in.
When I emerged from the bedroom and saw both Kerrion and the kids dressed in all-white, I was confused.
They were about to fuck up that all white attire sure as shit at this dinner.
“Baby, why would you put the kids in white?” I asked. “And when did they get this? I didn’t pack this.”
KJ was wearing the cutest white linen two-piece that matched his father, and Nayelli wore a white whimsical looking dress that stopped at her ankles with a white floral headband in her curls.
“Don’t worry about all that,” he said, pecking my lips. “You look beautiful.” He gently rubbed my stomach. “My baby has you glowing.”
I blushed. “Thank you.”
“You ready?”
“Yes. We are starving. I think the baby is craving empanadas!” I did a little shimmy as I rubbed my stomach.
“Don’t put that on my son.”
“He likes what I like. Sue me.”
Kerrion shook his head. “Come on here, woman.”
Hand in hand, we left the villa and headed up front to where our car was waiting.
Our personal concierge had been a godsend this entire trip.
She recommended so many different places and things for us to do and even arranged a few.
She made the arrangements for dinner tonight, so there was nothing for us to do but get dressed and head out.
The entire ride, I admired the scenery. The place was beautiful in the daytime, but at night, it came alive.
As we drove through the streets, I took in the sights of the nightlife. Music could be heard flooding the air. People were out laughing and having a good ol’ time. One of these days, we would have to come back here without the kids to see what this place was really about.
We pulled up in front of a cute little restaurant, and the car came to a stop. The driver vacated his seat and opened the doors to let us out. My brows furrowed as we stepped out.
“Are you sure the place is open?” I asked Kerrion. “I mean, the blinds are closed, and the lights look like they are off.”
He smiled. “They’re open. Trust me. Come on.”
He grabbed my hand and led us to the door. The moment he knocked, the door opened slightly. I could see that the place was dimly lit, so I assumed it was for romantic elements.
“You trust me?” Kerrion asked, handing KJ over to his sister.
“With my life.”
“Good. Close your eyes.”
I didn’t hesitate to close my eyes, even though I was nervous as hell. He covered them with a hand and led us into the space. It smelled amazing, and my mouth was already watering for whatever was on the menu.
“You know how much I love you?” Kerrion asked lowly in my ear.
“Yes.”
“You know how much I love our little family?”
I sniffled. “Yes.”
“I made you a promise a long time ago, and I want to make good on that.”
He removed his hands from my eyes, and when they opened, I gasped at the sight of our family seated at the tables before us.
Everyone was dressed in all white. Huge bouquets of red roses adorned the table while the petals littered the floor.
The space was dimly lit with candles, creating a warm atmosphere.
“When did . . . how did . . . Kerrion!”
I spun around to look at him, only to find him on one knee with a beautiful emerald-cut diamond ring in his hand.
“Kerrion,” I whispered.
He reached for my hand, and I placed a trembling palm into his.
“Neha, I’ve loved you since the moment I laid eyes on you all those years ago on campus.
We shared something that I didn’t know would last a lifetime.
Even as a young man, I knew I wanted forever with you then.
Life, . . . it got away from us. We both made some mistakes and decisions we can’t change, but we’ve come such a long way this past year.
“We’ve learned to communicate, respect, love, and trust each other all over again.
It hasn’t been an easy journey, but we’re here.
Our children are here, and the life we created will be here soon.
I don’t want to spend another day without the promise of forever with you and those babies.
Here me when I say I will always put the four of you first. I will always honor, respect, love, and protect you.
And I will always, always, make it home to you.
“I love you. Through everything we’ve been through, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our children.”
He choked up for a moment as tears slipped down his face. I reached out and swiped them away. He took a deep breath as he continued.
“Will you do me the honor of finally becoming my wife?”
I nodded. “Yes. I love you so much. Yes.”
He slipped the ring on my finger. As he stood to his feet, our family and the staff erupted with cheers and applause.
Kerrion pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
This time, KJ wasn’t there to mush him, and he took full advantage of the moment.
The man forgot all about our kids and family being there as he grabbed a handful of my ass while tonguing me down.
“That’s how y’all got that one!” Smoke yelled.
“I know you ain’t talking,” Deuce shot at him. “Ol’ I’m competing with my daddy for the most kids head ass nigga.”
“At least all my kids are by one woman.”
“I didn’t even say shit!” Senior exclaimed. “How am I catching a stray? Don’t make me take off my belt.”
Smoke laughed. “How you mad at me for telling the truth?”
They started going back and forth like they always did.
Kerrion shook his head. “Can’t take these niggas nowhere. Even out the country, they gotta show their ass. You ready to be a part of this forever?”
I giggled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “There is nowhere I’d rather be.”
The End