Chapter 23
B lake stared at herself in the mirror, adjusting her graduation cap for what felt like the hundredth time. Her hands trembled slightly as she smoothed down her white dress under her graduation gown. This was it, the moment she’d been working toward for so long.
“You look beautiful,” Brooks said from her doorway. She turned to find her brother leaning against the frame, already emotional. “Daddy would be so proud of you.”
“You think?” she asked, her voice small.
“I know.” He crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug. “Both of them would be. You did exactly what they always knew you could do.”
Blake buried her face in her brother’s chest, grateful for the waterproof mascara she’d chosen. “I miss them.”
“They’re here,” Brooks assured her.
A knock on the door interrupted their moment. “Y’all ready?” Emon asked, looking sharp in a tailored suit. “We got a whole crew waiting downstairs.”
And they did. ViceAnne had insisted on hosting a pre-graduation lunch, so their entire extended family was gathered in their home. Paige and Taylor were there with matching “Nurse Bishop is my Bestie!” T-shirts. Jacques and his sisters had made a banner.
“There she is!” ViceAnne exclaimed as Blake descended the stairs. “My baby girl about to be official!”
“Thanks for doing all this, Vicey,” Blake said, hugging her future mother-in-law.
“Girl, please. This is what family does.” ViceAnne pressed something into Blake’s hand, a delicate gold chain with a small angel pendant. “This was my grandmother’s. She’d want someone with a heart like hers to have it.”
Blake’s eyes welled up again as Emon helped her fasten the necklace.
“Now hurry up and eat something before we’re late,” ViceAnne instructed, ushering everyone toward the dining room where she’d laid out a spread that could feed half the neighborhood.
Lunch was a blur of laughter, photos, and more tears.
“Speech!” Paige called out as they finished eating.
Blake stood, looking around at the faces that had become her world.
“I don’t even know what to say except thank you.
To my brother for always having my back.
To my girls for being the best support system.
To love. To new beginnings. To new family.
” She turned to Emon, who watched her with that smile that still made her heart skip.
“And to you. Thank you for being everything, my everything. For believing in me, for making things easier for me. For making sure I ate. I’d be here all day trying to speak about how good you’ve been to me.
This day ends one chapter so another can begin.
I don’t know what’s next for us, but I know with you by my side, I can do and have whatever. I love you.”
“Didn’t do nothing but love you like I said I would,” he said softly.
“And that was everything,” she replied. “More than I could’ve ever dreamed of.”
They all cheered, happy for Blake and her accomplishment, before heading out to the graduation.
On the ride over, she felt her nerves rising.
She had declined to give the speech because she just wanted to be in the moment.
Her career would be starting soon, and she couldn’t wait to be done with this formality.
“I’m proud of you, baby.”
“I know. I’m still in shock that it’s here.”
“And you thought I was joking when I said I would be here. I knew.”
“You did say that. I had a feeling you would too.” Emon and Blake pulled up to the venue. She squealed with excitement.” I did it.”
“Yeah, you did it, but I knew you would. Never doubted you.”
***
The ceremony itself was a sea of faces, hurt feet, drawn out speeches, and flashing cameras, but Blake heard them, her family’s cheers as she crossed the stage. Loud and proud.
As she accepted her diploma, Blake touched the angel pendant at her throat and sent up a silent prayer of gratitude. For her parents, who’d given her the foundation to dream big. For the strange twist of fate that brought Emon to her door.
After the ceremony, as they gathered for photos, Blake felt a familiar presence behind her.
“Proud of you, love,” Emon whispered, slipping something into her hand. It was a small box.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“I know you said not to go crazy, but hear me out. I wanted you to have something that’s always yours because there’s no ceiling for you.”
“Emon, what is it?”
“Key to that building next to the pantry. Hear me out,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “I figured you might want to open your own clinic someday or do something for the community. Hell, open a salon. I don’t care, it’s yours.”
Blake stared at him, speechless.
“You ain’t gotta decide nothing now,” he added quickly. “Just wanted you to know the space is there when you’re ready. I’d been thinking about buying it anyway.”
Blake didn’t respond. She exhaled. She was dreaming, had to be. The family had gathered to take more pictures before heading to Blake and Emon’s. It was time for the after party and real celebration to happen.
They pulled up to the house and balloons and signs littered the yard and house. Her friends had gone all out on the party decorations. She smiled, appreciating the celebration.
“You did it, girl. How do you feel?” Taylor asked as the girls found some peace and quiet in Blake’s bedroom. She needed to change before continuing the party.
“Done but accomplished. I did it.”
“Now what?”
“I chill for a bit and then do something with the building he got me.”
“Wait, he got you a building?”
“Yeah, next to the pantry. I want to put my degree to use but also be my own boss. But I got time.”
“Yeah, don’t rush into anything. Enjoy life a little. Work, love, eat, pray, get tangled in sheets,” Taylor said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“Girl, stop.” Blake laughed, “But you’re right though. I have been going nonstop since forever.”
“And now you got a man who wants to give you the world. Let him.”
Blake heard what her friends were saying and felt the same. She wanted to be on some eat, pray, love ish, but with Emon included. She wanted to sleep in, curl up for a few days, and catch up on her shows. She wanted to go on vacation and she wanted to say I do.
“I guess we should join the party,” Blake mentioned.
Truthfully, she didn’t want a party. She wanted to curl up with a blanket and fall asleep with the TV on.
She’d been so tired lately that all she wanted to do was sleep if she could.
Her family loved her, so she played along, knowing this day meant something to more than just her, but she was tired and ready for folks to go home.
Back downstairs, Blake set out to find her honey.
She wanted to tell him that she was ready for the party to be over.
He’d clear the house out in an hour hearing that.
Blake found him reclining in a lounge chair out back.
The spring air was perfect for stargazing, and they loved to chill outside if the weather permitted.
She had to thank Lauren for their enjoyment in stargazing.
Blake couldn’t remember the last time she’d stopped and gazed at the stars, the vastness, the beauty, the wonder.
Now they often took the time after a long day to look up and see the beauty in creation.
“You good, bae?” she asked, sitting beside him.
“Yeah, perfect. Just reflecting and appreciating life. You?”
“Yeah, just thinking about you. I’m going to do something with the building one day, but not right away.”
“Ok, I respect that because I been rolling Blake Bishop-Dowlen, Blake Michèle Dowlen off my tongue all day. I’m ready to make that name real. What you think about that?”
Blake smiled at the sound of her future name. “Yeah, I like the ring that has to it. Big or small?”
“Intimate but extravagant. I don’t need anything but you.”
“Just me and you?”
“If that’s what you want. Blake, I don’t care. I’ll call a minister and offer his ass a stack right now to pull up curbside service and make you my wife. I don’t need to wait.”
“I love you,” she whispered, knowing he was dead serious.
“I love you more,” he replied. “No take-backs.”
Blake laughed, the sound carrying into the night air. “No take-backs needed.”
Above them, stars dotted the sky like glitter scattered on black velvet. The party continued inside, but out here, in their own little world, time seemed to stand still.
“You ready to go back in?” he asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Nope.” She settled deeper into his arms. “Let’s just stay here a minute.”
Emon smiled, knowing his woman. She hadn’t said it, but he knew. “Why you ain’t tell me you didn’t want a party?”
“How’d you know?” She laughed, thinking he would breeze over her wanting to stay outside longer.
“I always know. Not much you can get past me. It’s been my mission to learn you from day one. Now why didn’t you tell me you didn’t want a party?”
“Because everyone else was so excited about celebrating. I love a good party, too, but this is all I want to do tonight. I didn’t know how to say that without disappointing the people that have been in my corner.”
Emon looked at her and stood up. He swiped his face and walked back into their home to be the bad guy, but he didn’t give a damn.
Slowly but surely, he let the few people in attendance know that they didn’t have to go home but they did have to get the hell up outta there.
Blake watched on as people waved and got ushered out. He smiled, coming back to the door.
“Come on, it’s just us. Popcorn and sweet tea?
” he asked. Blake nodded. Together, they walked into the kitchen.
Blake sat on the island and wished she could pour herself a glass of wine.
Emon made the popcorn, seasoning it how she liked: butter seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Blake climbed on his back, and he carried her to the living room.
On her feet, Blake took all the pillows and made them a padded area on the floor, and turned the TV on.
“Can’t believe a dice game led to this,” Emon joked, causing Blake to swat at him. “My bad, my bad.”
Blake laughed. “And you stole my couch and left a note. Ghetto.”
“Best decision I ever made.” He kissed her temple. “That couch got me the baddest nurse in the game.”
“You ain’t neva lied.” But she couldn’t hide her smile. That day had changed her life, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit. She couldn’t wait to tell her grandkids the love story.
Emon’s hand drifted to her stomach and landed on the small bump she now sported. They hadn’t told anyone yet, wanting to keep this joy to themselves a little longer. The baby growing inside of her was the reason she was so tired and honestly not in the mood.
“You think it’s a boy or girl?” Blake asked, covering his hand with hers.
“Don’t matter. Long as they got your heart and my hustle, we good. They’ll be good.”
Blake closed her eyes, overwhelmed with gratitude.
“You ever wonder what would’ve happened if you’d found the right apartment that day?” she asked.
“Nah,” Emon replied without hesitation. “Because I did find the right apartment. Found exactly where I was supposed to be.”
She was his universe, his everything, and now that she was having his child, he knew he had to make her his wife and soon.