EPILOGUE
It was the annual Webster BBQ at the family estate on Martha’s Vineyard, and all of the official Websters were there, as well as the unofficial ones. And everybody was having a ball.
Including the former bride-to-be Amber Webster, whose fiancé called off the wedding once her father postponed it and she was too afraid to go against her father.
She ended up dumping him and meeting another guy.
But this one, unlike the last one, was an ambitious young man who any fool could see only wanted her as his come-up in the world. But that was her life.
Janita and Von were there too, as Hawk’s guests, enjoying their new life. And they were amazed at how easily they fit in.
They still lived with Hawk in L.A. and was loving it, and they were still officially his “security team.” Although he wouldn’t allow them to do any security work. Because unofficially, they were his family.
And that was why, after all of the unofficial Websters were long gone and it was only the official Websters still hanging around the table, it surprised absolutely no one when Hawk stood up at the long table, hit his fork against his glass, and got everybody’s attention.
“It’s been a rough few months,” he said and everybody laughed.
“Our chief of police is in jail awaiting trial where he thinks he’s going to get lesser charges because he ratted out the guys that ambushed Janita and DeVontay.
But the DA has already assured me that his ass is going to get the book thrown at him. ” Everybody cheered.
“And our mother,” Hawk went on, “pulled off an overnight kidnapping caper that would make James Bond proud.” The family booed and laughed all at the same time.
But Reecie, who sat at the head of the other end of the table from where her husband sat, was smiling too. “You laugh,” she said, “but it achieved what I had hoped.”
“Which was?” Matty asked his mother.
“No bastard of my husband’s was going to be the first to marry in the Webster family.”
Von, who seemed to be the only one who hadn’t already figured it out, was floored. “Wait a minute. Are you admitting you staged that kidnapping?”
“I am admitting it, yes.” Reecie said it proudly.
“But you almost gave Mr. Webster a heart attack. He was so scared for you.”
“That’s because he thought one of his bitches had snatched me and would do me harm. But that worked in my favor too.”
“How so?” Matty asked.
“He broke off every relationship. He’s glued to me now. I can’t get rid of his ass to do what I do!” They all laughed.
Including William, who shook his head. “That’s a sick bitch,” he said, and they laughed even harder.
“But getting back to me,” Hawk said. “This isn’t about you, Mother,” he added to laughter and applause. Reecie playfully bowed to her son.
But then Hawk’s look turned serious. “Janita,” he said as he fought back his emotions. Then he began walking around the table to the side where she and Von were seated.
Von and Janita were already holding hands.
But when Hawk began walking around that table, Von started squeezing her hand.
It was, for Von, the moment he had been waiting for.
His sister took care of him all of his life.
Now somebody was going to officially take care of her. It felt like his moment of truth too.
And when Hawk finally made it to Janita’s side, and he got on his knees, the family held their collective breath. But Von’s heart was pounding.
And when Hawk pulled out a small box and opened it, revealing a big, fat, sparkling diamond ring, Von thought he was going to collapse.
Janita had it more together. She knew this day would come, and she was determined to keep it together. But she couldn’t stop the tears from welling in her big, beautiful eyes.
But Hawk knew he couldn’t give a speech or he would fall apart. He kept it simple, the way he had planned. “Janita Cooper,” Hawk said to her, “will you marry me?”
But Von jumped up excitedly. “Yes!” he screamed out. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” He was pumping his fists and everything. And everybody were rolling in laughter.
It was only then, when he heard the laughter, did Von realize he had lost it and had put on a show. A show that should have been his sister’s to put on. Embarrassed, but still overjoyed, he sat back down.
Janita and Hawk were laughing too, but they were laughing through their tears. Because they knew where Von was coming from.
But Hawk remained on his knees and tried again. “This is for the other Janita Cooper,” he said, looking sideways at Von, which caused even more laughter. Even Von couldn’t hold back and was laughing too.
But Hawk turned serious again. “Janita Cooper,” he tried again, “will you become my one and only bride? Will you marry me?”
This time Janita stood up, nodding and crying. “I will,” she managed to get out. “I will,” she said again. And then Hawk stood up, put that ring on it, and pulled her into his arms. The family applauded loudly.
Then Hawk reached down and pulled Von into his arms too. Which was so touching that it caused Von to break down crying too.
Reecie was in tears as well. She knew this day would come. She had been praying for it.
William was watching her. He was filled with so much regret over his callous actions down through the years, and how deeply he hurt and scarred her, that he got up, went to her, stood her up and pulled her into his arms too.
And then it was a free-for-all.
Nat, ever the nightclub owner, got the party started by putting on some music. Only Nat, being Nat, put on loud, hardcore rap music, which made them all laugh.
Babs and Dray got up and started dancing.
Minka, really playing around, grabbed Von away from the couple and they started dancing too.
William and Reecie, though neither understanding a word of that rap song, was dancing too.
Matty remained seated and looked at his watch. This was definitely not a thing to him. He had work to do.
But Hawk and Janita were in their own little world. A world where, although that music Nat was playing was so fast that only very frenetic dancing could keep up, they found themselves slow-dragging and staring into each other’s eyes. Dancing to their own beat. Determined to live on their own terms.
And as the family was dancing faster and faster until they were getting dizzy, and were laughing harder and harder until they were getting headaches, Hawk and Janita kept slowing it down. Slower and slower. At their own pace. Their own way.
Hawk was determined to be the anti-William Webster and make his marriage, his life, his family be like a family was supposed to be. He was determined to make it work.