Epilogue
A Year Later . . .
“Milan Kensington, if you don’t get down from there, I’m gonna show you what happens to hardheaded little girls.”
My hands rest on my waist as I watch Milan jump from the empty clothing rack she was treating like a monkey bar.
All I saw was her falling and breaking something that would require us to spend countless hours at Kaigood Children’s Hospital.
Milan pokes her lip and crosses her arms over her chest, and I contemplate the cost of giving her an attitude adjustment.
“Little girl, you’ve got a second to get you some act right.”
“Daddy!” Milan runs past me, and I have to close my eyes to recenter myself because I already know what’s coming.
Five, four, three, two . . .
“Why aren’t you listening to your mother, Sweet Face? I could hear her yelling at you from the office.”
“I am listening, Daddy.”
I sigh heavily as I practice the breathing that got me through thirteen hours of labor several months ago.
One of the highlights over the last three hundred and sixty-five days is the changing of not only my last name but Milan’s as well.
But one of the downfalls is Sincere’s ability to calmly talk to our daughter.
It’s a skill I’m not sure I understand and one that irks me occasionally.
Then Milan responds in the same tone and happily does whatever he says without any rebuttal.
The hours that I went through to bring her little tail into the world should have given me that advantage.
Yet, it’s my husband who is still putty in Milan’s hands.
To make matters worse for me, I gave birth to another little girl who I know will share Milan’s sentiments about Sincere.
Like now, Sincere was supposed to be keeping an eye on Milan while I restocked the shelves at the boutique.
But he made a mad dash to my office when Serena whimpers through the baby monitor.
All negative thoughts evaporate when I feel a light kiss on my cheek.
I open my eyes, and my lips upturn when I see Serena strapped to Sincere’s muscular chest. Marrying Sincere four months into my pregnancy was the best decision I could have made.
But I couldn’t resist when Sincere told me in no uncertain terms that his child would never be born as a bastard.
I also didn’t know that he had been working on the paperwork needed for him to adopt Milan.
Sincere had been strategic and determined in his plans for our future.
The night before our intimate ceremony of family and friends, Sincere asked for my permission to make Milan the first Kensington.
“Don’t let Sweet Face stress you, baby.” The smirk Sincere displays makes me shake my head because he will always be the man in the middle between Milan and me.
“I’m not. But I’m ready to go. Between you and your children, I can see that I’m not going to get much done today. I’ll just come in early tomorrow to finish.”
“Okay. I’ll drop the girls off so you don’t have to worry about that. Now, let’s go home so we can have a family movie night. Got us in here on a Sunday, knowing it’s the Sabbath. You should be ashamed of yourself.” Sincere shakes his head as he walks off with Milan hot on his heels.
I can’t even dispute his words because I usually don’t come into the boutique on Sundays since it’s our family day. But when I mentioned it, and Sincere agreed to come with me, I figured it would be a quick, smooth process. I guess that’s what I get for thinking.
“You know what I haven’t ever said to you?”
My brows wrinkle as my gaze shifts from the TV screen to Sincere.
“What?”
“Thank you for being the one my heart desired. You’re the exact opposite of what I expected to get in a woman. I needed you.”
Oh my God! My heart leaps in my chest, and my breathing slows to a crawl as my past evaporates from my present and my future pumps its fist. There are only so many responses that can be said to Sincere, and I say the only thing necessary.
“Aw, Sincere. I love you.” Tears rapidly fall from my eyes as I take in his passionate words.
“I love you too, baby.”
I didn’t think I was worth being loved after dealing with BN.
But the patience Sincere has for me and the way he talks to me have given me more than the disappointment my past relationship left me with.
Healing is when you can see your past while sitting in your present and embracing every cloudy day.
Not to mention the love I have, which has narrated the peace I rest in every night.
I didn’t understand that the man I thought was mine would force me to readjust the cloudy lens I saw love through.
Now I can say that the pain I experienced with BN was worth it. As I lean against my husband’s left side, Serena sleeps on his right, and Milan slumbers in my lap, I can’t help but send up a silent prayer of gratitude. God did his big one by sending Sincere to Milan’s aid.
The End!