41
There’s nothing more to explain.
What’s left of this story, is for me to obtain.
Two Years Later
“Will you stop fidgeting already?” Serene reprimanded.
“I’m sorry.” Khalani stopped patting her leg, trying not to glance out the back door again. “But what if he hates it?”
“He’s going to love it,” Serene insisted. “You could serve that man worms for dinner, and he’d still tell you it’s amazing.”
Khalani opened her mouth to argue, but a little cry echoed from the second bedroom. She immediately raced over and scooped up the baby standing in the crib, reaching for her.
The little girl had black curls, dimples, and the greenest eyes. She was the most beautiful thing Khalani had ever seen.
“Come here, darling. Don’t cry.” Khalani pulled her daughter into her arms and kissed her cheeks. The sweet girl let out the cutest laugh, her tears drying up as Serene swept into the bedroom.
“There’s my precious niece!” Serene cooed, leaning forward to kiss the little girl’s belly. “You know who your favorite auntie is, right?”
“You’re her only auntie, Serene.”
“Don’t listen to her, baby Elise,” Serene continued. “I’m your favorite person, I just know it.”
Baby Elise giggled in her arms, truly the most loved girl in the world.
“You know,” Khalani said with a smile, “you might have to work a little harder to be her favorite. She laughs the most with Brock.”
“Ugh. That’s because he knows how to get on her level mentally.” Serene rolled her eyes. “He shows this brutal side to everyone else, but at home? He acts just like a kid, I swear.”
“And you love it.”
A flaming red color crept up Serene’s cheeks.
“Lord help me, but I do. At first, I wasn’t sure how moving in together would be, but he’s so attentive. He doesn’t want me doing any work around the house. And at night.” Serene fanned her face.
“I know.” Khalani laughed. “We can hear it.”
“You do not!” Serene gasped, slapping her arm. “We keep the windows shut.”
“I still hear the walls bang sometimes.”
“Okay, and what about you?” Serene exclaimed. “I swear, last night I heard screams coming from this house. I almost jumped up and came to check on you, but Brock laughed and pulled me back into bed.”
Khalani blushed, remembering exactly how Takeshi had her tied up last night. He was true to his word that anyone who knew what they were doing would make her scream with pleasure.
The front door jingled open, and Winnie’s voice rang out.
“Khalani dear!”
Winnie entered the house, wearing a new blue dress she’d made with tiny yellow stars speckled all over. Her white hair was pulled into a bun, and when she saw spotted Khalani holding Elise, she burst with joy, dancing toward them.
“How’s Winnie’s beautiful grandbaby doing today?” Winnie carefully lifted Elise into her arms, snuggling her face as Elise made adorable baby sounds.
“She finally slept through the night for once.” Khalani smiled as Winnie bounced Elise on her hip. “How’s the writing coming?”
After the battle, they’d returned to Braderhelm Prison to retrieve Winnie’s typewriter and the rest of the books from her library.
Just like Khalani had promised.
“Winnie’s nearly finished with the book!” she exclaimed. “She’s still thinking of a good title, though. What do you think of Falling Up?”
“Falling up?” Serene echoed.
“Yes! She wants it to be about humanity’s lingering hope after collapsing underground. How we rose past the lies and crawled back to the surface. Falling Up.”
“I like it,” Khalani stated.
“That makes Winnie so happy,” she squealed. “How’s your brother doing, Serene?”
“Still in Vegas helping the Aces build their casino. But I think there’s a girl he likes.”
“Bright and handsome young man he is.” Winnie winked.
“Don’t let him hear you say that. Goes straight to his head.” Serene mimed shooting her brain.
“Is that a poopy diaper Winnie smells?” Winnie sniffed Elise’s butt, and her nose wrinkled as Elise smiled coyly. “Oh, yes, it is. Let’s get you all cleaned up.”
“I can do it, Winnie,” Khalani said.
“Nonsense! Grandma Winnie is on duty. That’s right,” Winnie sang in a high-pitched voice as she took Elise to the bedroom.
Moments later, the back door opened.
Brock, Derek, and Takeshi stepped inside. Their T-shirts and sweatpants were stained with black dirt from the mysterious work they’d been doing for the past few months.
Khalani immediately ran to her husband, who lifted her into his arms, kissing her without a care who was watching.
“All right, all right. You guys don’t have to be so cute all the time,” Serene grumbled.
“You’re one to talk.” Brock pulled Serene into his arms and kissed her soundly on the mouth, shutting her right up. But from the blush on Serene’s cheeks, she loved every second of it.
“God, I’m so single,” Derek grumbled.
“What about that new mechanic from Apollo?” Khalani asked as Takeshi reluctantly put her down, his arm still banded around her waist.
“Sam? I don’t think he likes me.” Derek rubbed his head, shifting his weight nervously.
“No way!” Serene said when Brock finally let her breathe. “I saw him giving you the dewy eyes the other day. You should definitely talk to him.”
“You really think so?”
“Won’t know unless you try,” Brock added, most of his attention still fixed on Serene.
Derek pursed his lips, nodding slowly. “I’ll think about it. Anyway, I gotta go help Penny with the new farms. Same time for family dinner tomorrow?”
They nodded, and after hugging everyone and saying goodbye, Derek left for his white one-story house in their cul-de-sac.
“We’re gonna head out too,” Brock said, clasping forearms with Takeshi.
“Thanks for all the help, man. I really appreciate it.”
“No sweat. You down for training in a couple of days?” Brock asked with an expectant spark in his eye.
The two of them still practiced fighting in Desert Spring’s old combat yard. Sometimes they used knives. Other times, they wrestled. Khalani and Serene often brought chairs to watch.
Occasionally, she’d worry when they hit each other too hard, but deep down, she knew fighting was their way of bonding and releasing tension after years of violence.
“If you want to get your ass handed to you again, I’m always down.”
Takeshi smirked as Brock punched him in the shoulder before leaving with Serene, who kissed Khalani goodbye on the cheek. When they were all alone, Takeshi pulled her closer as she looped her arms around his neck.
“Where’s Elise?” he asked, the soft spot and love for their daughter a million miles wide.
“Winnie’s with her. Don’t worry.” Khalani bounced on her feet, anticipation driving her crazy. “Are you ready?”
Today was their anniversary.
Not for their marriage, but for the first day they’d met in prison three years before. Most people would want to forget that horrible day, but not them. The day they’d entered each other’s worlds was the day their lives had changed for the better.
Khalani had tirelessly worked on her surprise for the last couple of months, but Takeshi had been working on his gift for the last six.
She had no idea what it was, but under no circumstances was she allowed in the backyard.
And every other day, Brock and Derek came over to help with the mystery project.
“I’m ready.” His lips curled. “You want to go first?”
“Yes.”
She pulled on his arm and led him up the stairs, past all the pictures of them together with Elise in their arms as a baby.
Her gaze slid to the photos of Winnie and Serene waiting for her by the altar.
Derek and Adan waited on the other side, with Brock as Takeshi’s best man.
But her favorite photo was of Takeshi, with tears in his eyes as he stared at her in a white dress.
She stopped at the end of the hallway and turned to him in a flourish.
“Okay, close your eyes.”
Takeshi instantly obeyed, very good at following directions.
She carefully guided him into the room, positioning him in the perfect spot. Khalani took a step back and inhaled a deep breath, suddenly nervous.
“Okay…you can open now.”
Takeshi opened his eyes, his jaw slackening.
Sunlight poured through the wide-open windows into a pale blue room. The sounds of birds chirping in the breeze echoed around—more and more animals having returned to the surface every day with the help of Project Helix.
But his eyes locked on the center of the room.
Standing before Takeshi was a large easel, with a blank canvas resting on top. Next to the easel was a desk filled with paintbrushes, pencils, and every paint color imaginable.
The surprise took considerable time for Khalani to put together, but Penny and Winnie were invaluable in helping her get the right supplies.
Takeshi was silent as he studied the room, his expression unreadable. She swallowed, her heart racing. Tingles of anxiety raced up her fingertips as she tried to explain.
“You told me how much you loved to paint growing up, so I built you your own studio.” She shuffled side to side, biting her lip as Takeshi stood frozen, barely moving.
“If you don’t like it, i-it’s okay. We can find some other use for this space—”
Takeshi turned with incredible speed and had her up in his arms before she could even blink. He captured her mouth, kissing her like it was his last chance. She tasted salt on his lips and pulled back.
“Are you okay, my love?” she asked, cupping his face as he held her in his arms, eyes shimmering.
“No one’s ever done anything like this for me,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“You like it?”
“I love it. I fucking love you.”
His mouth captured hers again, and she felt him harden against her. Smiling into the kiss, she wrapped her legs tighter around him, pushing her hips closer.
“Not yet, Kanes. I still need to give you your present.” He carried her out of the room, refusing to put her down as they bounded down the stairs. She laughed as he skipped a few steps and reached the back door at lightning speed.
“Okay. Now you have to close your eyes.”
He slid her down his legs. And when he covered her face with his hands, she frowned. “I have my eyes closed!”
“Just making sure you don’t cheat.” He chuckled.
She heard the door open as he carefully guided her down the walkway. Her bare feet met soft grass as they walked through the backyard.
Her brows pulled together as another door creaked open. Takeshi helped her up a few steps, and her toes suddenly touched dirt. The air was considerably warmer, and she licked her lips.
“Where are we?”
“You’re about to see. Are you ready?” he asked, a nervous anticipation in his voice.
When she nodded, he removed his hands.
She gasped, covering her mouth.
Khalani stood in a breathtaking garden.
She slowly walked along the dirt in a complete trance. Plants of all different shapes, colors, and sizes were housed in the fresh soil, protected by a greenhouse. The floral scents drifted around her in a refreshing breeze, and she inhaled the rich aroma.
It felt like she was in one of those dreams she used to have as a child. One she never wanted to wake up from. But this was real.
Takeshi had built a whole garden for her.
It was overflowing with life and was the size of the entire first floor of their home. She turned back to Takeshi, and her muscles froze.
In his hand, he held several roses. His warm eyes never left her awestruck face as he gently handed them to her.
“I told you I would find some flowers for you.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks. She stared at him with more wonder than when she’d gazed up at the sun for the first time. She pulled him into a reverent embrace, wrapping her arms around him.
They held on to each other for dear life in that garden.
Basking in their forever.
And if the story of them contained every emotion they felt in that moment and all the seconds thereafter, these pages would bleed for eternity.