Epilogue
MAUI
TWO MONTHS LATER . . .
“Seven, be careful with that! You gon’ scratch the wall!”
He rolled his eyes, and I could have snatched them right out of the sockets and threw them in Uncle Kenny’s hog pin.
We were moving into our house today, and everyone was helping out.
I was so happy. We would be able to have Caleb’s first birthday party here next weekend.
I hated that we weren’t here for Christmas, but we’d have plenty holidays to celebrate here in the future.
“Where do you want this, sis? It’s the last box.”
I smiled at Treasure and directed her to the kitchen with it.
She’d come a long way in a short amount of time.
I was extremely proud of her. Karima had been helping her through things as well.
She could still be a little jumpy and didn’t like being alone, but she wasn’t nearly as clingy with Mythic as she was.
I hoped she could handle him leaving her to move to Nome.
She was still living with her parents. Every weekend, Mrs. Harper would take her to her house and stay overnight, trying to get her used to being there again.
Vanessa’s trial had come and gone, and I knew that probably offered her a little closure.
Mythic was front and center, staring at Vanessa the entire time she was on the stand trying to defend her reasons for doing what she did.
I could tell she was nervous as hell. I would have been too, if I would have had to stare into Mythic’s face that day.
It was like his rage was dying to break free and have a field day with her ass.
If he could have gotten away with it, he would have killed her ass while she was on the witness stand.
When it was all said and done, the judge didn’t buy a single thing she’d said.
She would be locked up for thirty years, since she was found guilty of kidnapping, torture, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder.
I believed the judge tacked on time to her sentence simply because she was sitting there like she didn’t give a damn.
Plus, she got charges the deceased perps probably would have gotten.
She didn’t kidnap Treasure, but she sure in the hell knew about it and participated.
The torture charge stuck because of the involvement of law enforcement officers.
He should have given her life without a chance for parole.
The issue with what she said she did to our baby was still being investigated but would probably get thrown out.
The cameras were conveniently not working inside the pharmacy.
Since it had been so long since I’d taken the medication, it was no longer in my system.
When Treasure revealed what she said, it had been about two months since we’d lost Indigo.
We were somewhat upset about it, but I knew she would suffer from what she did.
God could handle her better than the justice system could.
Mythic, on the other hand, promised to see her the day she stepped foot out of prison. I believed every word of that.
I looked around and smiled. We were finally moving into our house next door to my best friend, and seemingly, Mythic’s best friend these days.
Ashanni was just cool like that. The family had taken to Mythic like nothing had ever happened.
I loved that so much. It made him feel extremely comfortable these days.
I hadn’t seen that razor blade in his mouth in weeks.
That was saying something. Daddy Mayor noticed, too, and didn’t fail to let Mythic know he noticed.
I had to chuckle when Mythic said he should probably start having it again.
“This house is so beautiful, Maui. Hopefully, Seven didn’t mess up your walls.”
I chuckled and turned to see Iesha looking around with a smile on her face. “Thanks, Iesha. If he scratched my walls, he won’t have a chance to finally grow up to your standards. Triflin’ ass nigga.”
She slowly shook her head. That nigga was skating on thin ice.
She was gon’ mess around and find somebody else if he didn’t get it together.
She’d gotten used to our foolishness, and I’d gotten comfortable with her being around Mythic.
He repeatedly assured me that I was the only woman he wanted through word and deed.
I had to trust that, especially since he hadn’t given me a reason not to.
I went over to the recliner where Shani was seated, with her feet up.
She was six months pregnant now and had been having a rough time with her feet swelling.
They thought she was retaining fluid, but her blood pressure was normal, thankfully.
I surely didn’t want her having to go through what I did with preeclampsia.
When we found out she was having a little girl, we couldn’t help but pick with her about her little princess having an attitude and personality as big as hers.
We’d also had an emotional moment because we knew our daughters would have been best friends.
Asad had been catering to her constantly, and I loved watching every minute of it. My girl deserved every moment of that.
Once I was closer, I saw she was reading a book. “Who’s the new author of the month?” I asked as I sat next to her.
“Girl, you know I been on my male author kick. So this month, it’s Lamartz Brown.
I’ve been hearing great things about him.
So far, they are right. I’m loving Blank Canvas of You.
When you gon’ be ready to join the podcast?
I’m tired of doing that shit by myself. It was supposed to be the both of us. ”
“I know. Let me get settled into the house and get past Caleb’s birthday party, then I’ll be ready. So a couple of weeks. I heard about Lamartz too. Oh, and Blake Karrington!”
“Girl, you late. I tapped into him a few months ago.”
I giggled. I used to be the one keeping her up on books and who our next read would be, but now we’d switched roles.
My life’s journey had put a pause on that, but I was about to be back in action.
When Mythic saw my library, he’d frowned.
He was like, “You have that many books to where you need a damn library?”
I laughed and assured him that I did. When he saw all the boxes labeled books, he became a believer.
“See, we could get through a lot faster if your body was working as much as your mouth was.”
I shot Seven the finger and kissed my girl’s cheek. When I stood from my seat, I saw my daddy telling people where to put stuff. It was just like him to be telling people what to do. “Daddy Mayor, you keeping these niggas in line for me?”
He chuckled. “Hell yeah. That’s what I specialize in, baby girl.”
“Well, one of your workers done slipped through the cracks,” I said as Seven walked by with an Arizona Fruit Punch.
He turned to look at him and snatched the bottle right out of his hand, causing me to laugh. “You ain’t got time to be breaking, nigga.”
Seven frowned so hard until Daddy chuckled. He snatched his drink back and went to the kitchen.
“This house is beautiful, baby. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”
When I felt arms slide around me, I knew it was my man.
He’d gotten his cast off and was still going through therapy.
That nigga barely made it though. The doctor had said that he should probably keep it on another two weeks, and Mythic cussed that man out and threatened to take it off himself.
The doctor was glad to cut that shit off after that.
It was doing well, although it was still weaker than he could stand.
He stayed in the gym, trying to force it to get better before time.
He was so damn impatient. Once I told him he was going to reinjure it and slow the process down, he heeded the therapist’s instructions.
I turned around in his arms and hugged him around his neck. “The day is finally here, Mythic. I get to wake up to your gorgeous face every day, baby.”
“Hell yeah. I’m way too excited about that. I’m sure my parents are too. They ready to get my ass out of their house, especially my dad. I get on his ass all the time about groping my mama in my presence.”
I slowly shook my head. He was on Mr. Legend’s last good nerve. When I saw Cachet walk through the door, I pulled away from him to go hug her. “Hey! I didn’t know you would still be in town!”
“Yes, ma’am! I had to see Mythic finally being grown with my own eyes.”
She laughed as I slightly frowned, trying to figure out what she meant. She’d seen Mythic since he’d been on the straight and narrow. I chuckled slightly, not really wanting to get into a full-fledged conversation about it. “Well, come on so you can see the house!”
She smiled as I turned around to lead her to the kitchen and stopped dead in my tracks. Mythic was on one knee with a single rose in his hand. My face heated up tremendously as I glanced around, seeing everyone smiling.
“I didn’t want to spend a single night in this house without taking us to the next level, Maui.
We’ve overcome so fucking much. I don’t even know where to begin.
You’ve proven how much you love me time and time again, and despite my shortcomings, I’ve done my best to show you how much I love you as well, baby.
You are my angel, and I’d be a fool not to lock you down.
Shiiid, knowing that I was the typa nigga you wanted had my chest puffed the fuck out.
So, I want to give you all the things you desire in life. I know this is one of those things.”
He handed the rose to me, then pulled the ring box from his pocket and opened it. My lips parted when I saw the diamonds sparkle. “I love you so much, baby. Will you do me the honor of joining the best family around these parts by being my wife?”
“The fuck you mean, the best family?”
“Set that nigga straight, Daddy Mayor,” Bali said as Noni rolled her eyes.
I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip. Mythic said that shit on purpose to get my daddy riled up. I realized he liked doing that shit. My mama elbowed him as I said, “Yes, baby. I would love to be a part of one of the best families around these parts.”
Everyone mumbled and cheered. The Semiens were outnumbered, so Mythic had better tread softly. That wasn’t his style though. He never gave a fuck about being outnumbered. He slid the ring on my finger as my daddy said, “Set that shit straight, baby girl.”
Mythic smiled big as he hugged me. After kissing my lips, he lifted me in his arms. “I’m so happy, baby.”
“Me too, Mythic. It’s been a long time coming. Hopefully, we’ll be married before Caleb’s sibling arrives.”
He frowned. He missed the entire thing. Surely, he didn’t think he had another child out there that would show up somehow. Finally, his eyebrows lifted. “Maui! Are you saying what I think you are?”
I nodded, and he spun me around while kissing my neck.
I giggled as I held onto his braids. This life was going to be everything I desired it to be.
I was so happy I didn’t give up on it prematurely.
Our relationship was proof that if you were sure about what and who was for you, you couldn’t allow others to dictate your choices.
I knew Mythic was the man I was supposed to be with, and I almost missed out on something beautiful by listening to logic instead of my heart.
Through all the adversity, we were still standing.
That alone was evidence that this union was predestined, despite the naysayers.
Mythic Semien was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I didn’t regret a single moment with him.
Watching him flourish into the man he was destined to be was the most rewarding, and now, building our family together would be the icing on the cake.
The End
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