Finale
. . .
The Grand Opening
“Wow, this is truly amazing,” Sariya said as she looked out to what would be the main lobby to see more than seventy-five people with their attention focused on her. “I am humbled and blessed to share this space with you today.”
Applause began and her heart filled with joy. “Just seven weeks ago I could only imagine what this would look like and now, today, we’re here to celebrate what for me, has been the end of one journey and the beginning of the next.” She cleared her throat and searched the crowd until she found him.
Ro stood between Donyell and Ms. Christine, both women beaming with pride. Ms. Christine had tissue in hand to dab at her eyes, while Donyell smiled brightly. But her focus really was on the man, the one who had believed in her and had fought for her, for them, this time. He looked good, as always, in a navy-blue suit, white shirt and green tie that matched the hue of her green double-breasted pantsuit. More than how he looked or how the way he was looking at her with that huge smile she adored made her heart skip a beat, was the magnitude of all they’d overcome. Time, proximity and drama could’ve created an impenetrable wall to their happiness, this morning she’d awakened in his bed, in a house she’d been given full autonomy to decorate as he’d always planned for it to be their home, the place that they would someday raise their children. The thought made her smile broader and she began to speak again.
“Today we cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the Full Circle Wellness Center.” More applause and her hand tightened on the microphone she held. “What more fitting day than on Four20 to announce our medical cannabis program which will offer recommendations to qualified patients receiving Medicare and Medicaid. In addition to those services, our holistic practitioners and doctors will also offer patients a holistic and natural approach to medical remedies. We also have a specialized team who will provide mental and behavioral health assistance. Our goal is to meet the need in this community by healing the body, mind, spirit and emotions.”
This time as applause erupted, Donyell stepped up to take the microphone while Ro appeared to escort her a couple of feet away to where a huge green ribbon stretched across a set of double doors. Those doors led to the individual treatment and consultation rooms. She grinned as Ms. Christine brought her a pair of green-handled scissors. “Today, as cannabis is celebrated around the world in various ways, I welcome you to the Full Circle Wellness Center,” Sariya said proudly.
Cutting that ribbon absolutely felt like another door opening in her life, a new journey for her to take. She was both excited and nervous but when Ro pulled her into his arms and kissed her, the nerves disappeared and there was only him. Only the love that they’d shared for so very long.
A throat being cleared pulled them apart.
“Um, excuse me,” the woman standing in front of them with the bright smile said. “I just wanted a chance to congratulate you and give you a hug. I’ve got a plane to catch so I’m a little rushed, but I didn’t want to miss your special day.”
Sariya squealed as she moved from Ro’s side and went into her open arms. “Oh, my goodness! I cannot believe you’re here!”
“I told you I would try to make it,” she said when they finally broke apart.
“But I thought you had a lot going on with your family and your other businesses,” Sariya said.
“I did, I mean I do, but you know wherever our name circulates it seems like there’s bound to be drama so,” she shrugged. “I’m actually on my way to New York for another meeting, but I had to stop here first. Had to see you! And you look amazing by the way.”
“So do you,” Sariya said taking a step back to admire the denim jumpsuit that fit her voluptuous curves perfectly which she’d paired with a pair of slick ass cognac colored four-inch heeled pumps.
Another throat cleared and she looked over her shoulder to see Ro using a finger to scratch the back of his head in a maneuver that totally failed to appear unbothered. With a grin, she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. “Ronan Simmons, this is my friend and now second investor/partner, Dakota Donovan. Dakota, this is my banker and, as of last night, fiancé, Ronan.”
“Ooookaay,” Dakota said her grin giving way to the deep dimples in each of her cheeks. She accepted the hand that Ronan extended.
“It’s nice to meet you, Dakota,” he said. “Sariya has told me a lot about the new cannabis strains you’ve developed. Excited to see them rolled out here at the clinic once we’ve gotten the appropriate approvals.”
Dakota lifted a hand to push her wavy honey-gold colored hair behind her ear. “Same here, I’m really pleased to meet you. And even more excited to hear my girl is getting married! Let me see that ring.”
Sariya happily extended her hand and Dakota cooed over the 2.15 carat oval cut solitaire ring. At that exact moment, Donyell approached them.
“Get out!” Donyell screamed. “You two are getting married and I wasn’t the first to know! Mama come over here and see this ring.”
In no time, the ribbon cutting ceremony and light reception had turned into an impromptu engagement party with well wishes, handshakes and hugs going on for the next two hours. Until finally, she and Ro were the last ones in the building.
At her request, they’d done another walk-through of all the rooms, making sure to turn off the lights as they went. The center would officially open for patients on Monday but having the ribbon cutting today had held special meaning for her. As a person who’d never tried cannabis in any of its forms and who had been raised to only believe the negative connotations of it, she was proud to have gotten to see firsthand how much it could be used to ease a person’s pain and give them a better quality of life. From that experience, her heart and mind had been opened and the calling had been placed on her to do more, to do as much as she could to make sure patients who needed this treatment would receive it.
“You did it,” he said as they stood in the lobby once again.
The catering staff had cleaned the space so it didn’t look like they’d just had a party here. The green ribbon she’d cut was now in her office. Donyell was going to buy her a special box to keep it in.
“We did it,” she said wrapping her arms around his neck as he settled his hands on her hips. “I couldn’t have gotten this up and running so quickly without your help.”
He shook his head. “I told you I’d do anything for you and I meant it.”
She leaned in to kiss his lips. “Yeah, you might regret telling me that after a while.”
“Nah,” he said. “Never.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“Positive,” he replied and punctuated his answer with another kiss. Then he pulled her in for a tight hug.
“Not even when I start having cravings that will send you out to the store in the middle of the night?”
Ro pulled back from the hug very slowly. “Cravings?” he asked, one brow hiked up as he stared at her.
She couldn’t contain the smile, had barely been holding on to this bit of news since she’d taken the test yesterday morning. It had been her plan to tell him tonight when they were home alone, after all of this with the center was completed. And when he’d proposed last night while they were lying in bed, she’d considered telling him then, but she’d wanted this moment to be special on its own and now seemed like the perfect time.
She nodded. “Mmmm hmmm. You know what they are don’t you?”
“I think I do,” he said, now blinking slowly like he was still processing the word and its meaning. “But that’s what pregnant women have, right?”
Sariya nodded again. “Yep, that’s what I heard.”
Now, the corners of his mouth lifted in that sexy as hell grin. “You’re pregnant?” he asked.
“We’re pregnant,” she replied.
“Hell, fuckin yes, we’re pregnant!” he yelled and lifted her off her feet to spin her around. “We’re pregnant!”