Epilogue
FOUR MONTHS LATER
“Oh my god, they are absolutely gorgeous.” Tatum cooed as she and Nadine stared down at the tiny, brown bundles swaddled in matching Dior layettes.
Nadia Tate and Nicholas Franklin lay sleeping side-by-side in a massive, custom bassinet, a gauzy material canopy hanging from the ceiling draped over it. They didn’t stir or move an inch as family and friends peered at them in awe.
Since Alisa had gone into labor so early, she and the twins had to spend a significant amount of time in the hospital.
In lieu of a baby shower, the family opted to have a sip-and-see just for family once the babies came home and were settled.
Alisa swore she would keep it simple. Tatum and Nadine knew that was a lie as soon as she declared it.
It wouldn’t be a Bishop-Miller function without some level of lavishness.
There was a full buffet spread, flower arches as far as the eye could see, and massive photos of the babies on easels all over the house. Alisa laughed as she told the girls about Deacon stopping every five minutes to wipe his teary eyes between shots of the kids.
Christophe’s parents, Ambassador Valencia Bishop and her husband, Clayton flew in from Kyoto, armed with unique Japanese gifts that the babies didn’t need.
Christophe tried to tell them to chill, but they refused, saying that they were going to spoil their only grandkids.
Even Mother Miller, despite the objections of her husband, the Bishop, came.
At first, she was her usual stuffy self.
She was more than perturbed that the babies had two last names.
But once she laid eyes on the twins, she couldn’t stop crying and hugging Kadeem, Christophe, and Alisa, declaring the little miracles to be a blessing from God.
“I swear, they get more gorgeous every time I see them,” admired Nadine as she gently adjusted the hat on her goddaughter’s head.
“Nadine, quit fussing over the baby,” admonished Alisa, who came to stand next to them. “This is a sip and see. You’re supposed to be relaxing, enjoying them, not babysitting. You are relieved of your godmother duties to Nadia and Nicky for today.”
Nadine rolled her eyes. “Please. I’ll never be relieved of my duties. The spoiling will never stop.”
Tatum huffed. “You are forgetting that they have two godmothers.”
“No, I’m not,” Nadine smirked. “I am just the best one.”
All three of them started laughing just as Cassidy brought over several glasses of champagne.
“Thank you baby,” Tatum said, taking the glass from Cassidy.
“You’re welcome, mama.” Cassidy said, before placing a searing kiss on her lips.
Nadine and Alisa looked at each other, wide-eyed and amused. Tatum and Cassidy kissed as if there weren’t a house full of people around them.
“My bad,” said Cassidy, finally pulling back from their kiss. “I mean, look at her. She’s too fine not to kiss.”
Tatum’s dark brown skin went flush at the compliment. “He’s exaggerating.”
“Nah, he’s not, cuz,” teased Alisa. “Being a fiancé again looks good on you. You've been smiling a lot these days. Props to Cassidy for picking the perfect ring. It’s totally you.”
Tatum held up her hand. It was basically a meteor on her finger. Very fitting.
Cassidy scratched his fluffy beard. “Actually, Miles helped me with the ring. He basically threatened me and said that if I didn’t get her something perfect, don’t even do it at all. He acted like I had no clue about rings. I study rocks for a living.”
“Space rocks,” clarified Tatum with a chuckle to which Cassidy shrugged.
“So I take it he took the news of the engagement well?” Nadine asked.
“Yeah,” Tatum said. “Especially when we explained that nothing has to change. Well, except living arrangements. After the wedding next spring, we’ll be looking for a new place. Just Cass and I.”
“You’re selling the house?” asked Alisa, surprised.
Tatum looked at Cassidy, then Nadine and Alisa with a smile. “Yeah. It’s time.”
Nadine and Alisa knew that Tatum must really be in love with Cassidy for her to sell the home she shared with Franklin. It was a place that held so many memories, good and bad. Change was good. Something they all realized.
“I bet Deacon was elated,” Nadine nodded toward the corner. They all turned to look at Deacon, who was snapping pics.
Deacon looked up from his camera. “I sure was. Ya’ll wasn’t about to break up my happy home. I can’t deal with a miserable ass Miles. And he can’t deal with a miserable me either.”
Everyone laughed at his admission, but he was right. Miles and Deacon, though together, were miserable without Tatum. It was an unconventional yet symbiotic relationship that was only balanced with Tatum being there too. Alisa could relate. And now Nadine understood what they meant as well.
“He’s downplaying it. He and Miles had to show me…all night.” Tatum laughed as Cassidy shook his head.
Alisa whistled. “Wow, so Tatum gets to have her cake and eat it too. Lucky girl.”
“Ain’t nobody eating cake, but I am eating…” Cassidy began before Tatum put her hand over his mouth with a giggle.
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” she warned.
Miles and Christophe walked up, curious about what all the laughter was about.
Christophe put an arm around Alisa. “What y’all over here laughing about? It better not be my babies. They’ll grow into their heads.”
“No,” Nadine laughed. “We were talking about cake…”
Miles pushed up his glasses, confused as he looked over at one of the dessert tables. “But I thought Nadine brought cupcakes? There’s a cake?”
Tatum smiled, kissing Miles on his cheek. “Honey, please don’t pay these nuts any attention.”
“And thank you, Miles, for releasing my husband back to me,” teased Alisa as Christophe kissed her on the lips. “You two have been holed up in a corner talking all afternoon. I know it was about work.”
“My bad, princess,” Christophe said. “Miles and I were discussing a case. It’s our biggest one since he made me a partner. And I just wanted to go over the logistics.”
“Chris and I were getting our plans together, Alisa. That’s all. We got this.” Miles gave Chris a fist bump.
Miles making Christophe a partner was such a natural progression.
With the way they ribbed each other over schools and fraternities, one would have thought they had been friends for years.
In a short period of time, they’d become close.
They got along great, bouncing ideas off of each other, and winning tons of cases.
Miles said Christophe was a valuable asset, especially after he was able to lure his buddy Dedrick over to the firm.
Miles said that Christophe wasn’t a replacement for Franklin, but now that Deacon left the firm for good, he was grateful to have a close friend.
He said Franklin would have loved him. Everyone agreed.
“Not today, sir,” Alisa pouted as she poked Christophe. “Today is about your son and daughter, not work.”
Christophe smiled. “You’re right. But why am I getting all the smoke?” He nodded toward Kadeem, who was chopping it up with Eddie. “Eddie and Kadeem have been talking sports all day and sneaking off to watch the game in the theater room.”
Alisa’s neck snapped in their direction. “Is that right?”
Christophe pinched his brow, instantly regretting snitching. “Alisa, baby, seriously, let the man have a friend to talk sports with. God knows I damn sure don’t wanna talk about sports all day.”
“Hmpf,” Alisa handed Christophe her champagne glass. “Hold this.”
The group watched as Alisa marched over to Kadeem and pinched him on his arm.
All he could do was laugh as he picked her up, gave her a quick peck, whispered something in her ear, and put her back down as if she was a petulant child.
Alisa shook her head and giggled as he smacked her on the ass as she walked away.
It still baffled Nadine that not one, but two men had been able to tame the very feisty Alisa.
Like her father would say, every pot had its lid.
In Alisa’s case, she had two lids that fit her perfectly.
Nadine shook her head in amazement. “Alisa is just so blessed and happy. I love this for her.”
“I can say the same for you, sis,” Tatum nudged with a smile. “You look much happier and lighter these days.”
“I am.” Nadine’s eyes found Zaire in the crowd.
She watched as Zaire teased EJ, making his icing-covered face giggle.
When their eyes met, Zaire winked. Nadine calmed the heat she felt simmering before continuing.
“Now that I’ve quit PharmaDigital, I can focus on the things that truly make me happy. ”
“Like the bakery!” Tatum excitedly said. “I am so glad you’re finally doing it! About damn time!”
After telling Mitchell and PharmaDigital to kiss her ass and settling her discrimination case for an undisclosed amount of money, Nadine had a long talk with both Eddie about the next phase of her life.
Eddie was more than supportive, totally thankful that she was finally putting herself first. Two weeks after their conversation, Nadine met with a realtor and found a small, commercial kitchen space in an industrial area not far from Deacon’s photography studio.
Zaire was also on board, too. It took some convincing, but Zaire quit her job at Club Titanium and moved in.
She could focus on school and help out with EJ when necessary.
Zaire hadn’t had stability and a sense of family like that in a really long time.
“This feels like home,” she declared. And Nadine agreed.
Deanie’s Decadent Desserts was still in its infancy but gaining some popularity. She was a viral sensation on social media, her posts on Instagram getting thousands of likes and reposts. Nadine was nervous, but with Eddie and Zaire’s support, she knew she would be fine.
“Thanks,” smiled Nadine. “The bakery is just a small part of that happiness. Everything’s changed so much, though. I feel…a lot. But in a good way. I can’t explain it.” She bit the corners of her lip.