Prologue #2
He placed the bouquet in my hands. “Hey, wife. I had to come lay these flowers in your hands while you in here blessing everybody else.”
The lilies brushed my chin when I took them.
Jamal tapped the card tucked under his arm.
“You can get your sentimental card later. I wrote too much in it, and you’re definitely gonna mess up your makeup.”
I blinked hard. “My makeup’s already ruined.”
His grin widened. “And I ain’t come alone.” He stepped aside.
Our babies spilled through the doorway carrying gift bags, and grins too wide to hide anything.
The moment I opened my arms, all five of my children folded into me. Someone stepped on my foot. Skye buried her face against my stomach. Zuri wrapped herself around my waist. Maya squeezed my shoulder. Kayden gave me one of his careful teenage half hugs, and JJ bent to kiss my cheek.
The shop broke into oohs, awws, and applause.
Jamal clapped his hands once. “Alright, team. Operation Make Mama Cry is officially underway.”
“Daddy, you are so embarrassing,” Maya groaned.
“And yet, I’m effective. Scripture first. Then why you chose it.” Jamal pointed toward the kids.
JJ stepped forward first, clearing his throat.
“Proverbs 31:28. ‘Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.’ Thank you for loving me as your own from the very beginning. You never made me earn a place in this family. You just made room. I wouldn’t be the man I am without you.”
I kissed his cheek. “Thank you, baby.”
Kayden cleared his throat. “Romans 12:12. ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ You are all three, Mama. When I mess up, you don’t give up on me. I hear you praying for all of us even when you think we asleep.”
I pulled him into my side until he made that familiar annoyed teenage sound.
Maya stepped forward. “Psalm 46:5 says, ‘God is within her; she will not fall.’ You show me I don’t have to become hard just to stand tall.”
Ms. Brenda pressed a hand to her chest. “Whew. You better preach, Maya.”
Maya ducked her head, smiling. I reached for her hand, and she slid her fingers into mine.
Zuri bounced into place. “Matthew 5:16. ‘Let your light shine before others.’ Mama, your light is really bright. Even when you’re tired, you still make everybody feel pretty, and you make our house feel like warm toast.”
Laughter filled the shop.
“Warm toast?”
She nodded. “Because toast be cozy, Mama.”
Even Ms. Daphne laughed.
Skye hugged her little Bible tight. “Psalm 91:11,” she whispered. “‘For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.’ I asked God to send you lots of angels, Mama. A whole bunch.”
The sound that left me was a half-laugh, half-sob as I scooped her up into my arms. “Amen,” I whispered against her curls. “A whole bunch, baby girl.”
Jamal smiled before reaching for the first gift. “Celestial Crowns Hair Haven is finally getting the purple lighting you’ve been talking about.” He held up the rendering.
My mouth fell open. “You were listening?”
His voice dropped. “Always, Mama.” He grinned. “And since the Plant Doctor’s been talking about that rare, variegated snake plant for months, . . . it’s already been delivered.”
I gasped. “You found one?”
“I listen.” The room laughed softly as I wiped my eyes. “And because your books are multiplying faster than rabbits, I bought you two sturdy bookshelves.
I laughed.
“You’re still talking about my Trap Dollar shelf?”
“It was leaning like it had given up on life and your paperbacks.”
The shop howled.
Finally, he held up an envelope. “One more thing. Next weekend. Houston. That R&B concert you’ve been talking about. Just the two of us.”
The room filled with oohs.
Ms. Daphne threw both hands in the air. “Lord, I have seen what You’ve done for others.”
Ms. Brenda closed her eyes. “Do it again, Father.”
Jamal laughed. “Y’all gon’ get me in trouble with y’all husbands.”
Fifteen years later, he was still finding new ways to choose me.
The envelope stayed in my hand while I stared at it. A concert. A night in Houston. A dress. His hand at the small of my back. Fifteen years in, and he still found new ways to choose me.
Jamal grinned. “And don’t worry about the kids. Leilani and Onyx got it. I’ve already arranged backup.” My heart softened. “See? I make sure my woman’s village stays tight. I thought of everything.”
I shook my head as tears slipped down my cheeks. “God definitely knew what He was doing,” I whispered. Jamal stepped close and kissed my lips, my cheek, then my forehead. “Jamal.”
He looked at me like there wasn’t a room full of women watching.
“I like loving you in front of witnesses, but I like loving you in private even more, baby.”
The shop squealed.
Zuri made a dramatic gagging noise. Kayden looked toward the ceiling like he was asking the Lord for teenage endurance. Maya smiled. JJ shook his head.
Jamal kissed my knuckles and slipped the card into my palm.
“I know better than to let you read it now,” he teased. “You’ll have mascara all over this shop.” He turned toward the room. “Y’all mind if we pray right quick?”
Ms. Daphne lowered her magazine.
“Baby, this your wife’s place. Wherever she is, the Lord got room to show up.”
We joined hands near the front desk. Skye leaned against my leg while Zuri squeezed in beside Kayden. Jamal reached for my hand, his callused palm settling around mine.
“Alright, Coleman family prayer time. Huddle up for Big G.”
We drew close.
“Heavenly Father, we come to You with grateful hearts. Thank You for another year of marriage, another day of breath, and another chance to love the way You commanded us to. Thank You for Celeste, for her heart, her light, and the faith that holds this family together. Cover our children. Guide Jamal Jr. as he grows into the man You’ve called him to be.
Give Kayden wisdom. Let Maya find her worth in You.
Protect Zuri’s joy. Help Skye grow in kindness.
Keep Your hand over this family, bind us together, and let our love reflect Yours. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.”
“Amen.”
For a moment, nobody moved.
Ms. Brenda sniffled. “Y’all done made me cry, and I just got my lashes done.”
Jamal smiled at me. “Blame Celeste. She’s easy to love.”
The words settled deep inside me.
Before he left, he made his rounds. A one-armed hug for Kayden. A kiss on Maya’s forehead. A tap on Zuri’s nose. A quick lift that made Skye squeal. One of those shoulder-to-shoulder hugs with JJ that said everything without saying much. Then he came back to me.
“I’ll see you tonight, baby. Call me before you head home.”
“I will.”
He gave me the look that said he knew I planned to stay late anyway.
Then he smiled.
One last kiss.
One last squeeze of my hand.
One last look.
He stepped into the morning sunlight, and the bell chimed behind him.
For a few seconds, the shop kept looking at the door like love had just walked out wearing cologne and carrying my heart in its pocket.
Slowly, the day found its rhythm again. The day eased back into motion by degrees.
Dryers hummed. Combs moved. My children hugged me one more time before JJ gathered the younger ones.
Kayden paused at the door just long enough for me to blow him a kiss he pretended to dodge before his smile gave him away.
Bythe time the last client left, the salon had gone still. Evening settled against the windows, and the flowers Jamal had brought me rested on the front counter beside the gifts our children had scattered throughout the shop. The room still carried traces of them.
Bestie Boo:
Onyx already said we got y’all. Go be in love. Happy Anniversary, Bestest!
I smiled down at my phone so hard my cheeks hurt. I tucked it beside my station and kept working, carrying the sweetness of the day with me from chair to chair.
I smiled. “Lord, this man.”
I picked up the card. Even the envelope felt precious. Jamal’s handwriting looked just like him: strong, slanted, moving faster than his hand could keep up.
I slipped one finger beneath the flap and eased the card open. My chest tightened so quickly I had to sit.
To my Proverbs 31 and my peace,
You’ve been my answer in every season, my laughter when the world gets loud, my still water when my soul gets tired, and my home that always smells like vanilla, cinnamon, and grace.
I love you in the morning, but I love you even more amidst the mess, when you’re humming over somebody’s twist-out, answering a child’s question, checking inventory, and praying for everybody all at once.
Thank you for choosing me every day, my love. I choose you right back. In every lifetime God would allow, I would find you and marry you again.
Tears blurred the page.
Jamal never let ordinary life make our love ordinary. We kissed in kitchens, prayed in bedrooms, laughed over broken shelves, and chose each other in the middle of noisy days. We protected what God had given us.
I smiled through my tears.
“I can’t wait to see you when I get home.”
I folded the card carefully and held it against my heart before setting it beside Skye’s little stone.
The phone rang. The sound sliced through the quiet.
“Celestial Crowns Hair Haven, this is Celeste.”
“Mrs. Coleman?” The man’s voice trembled. “This is Mr. Donnelly from Jamal’s job. Your husband collapsed. The ambulance just left, and they’re taking him to Self Ridge Memorial Hospital. You need to get here right away.” His voice was laden with emotion.
“Collapsed?” The word barely sounded like mine.
No . . . he was fine. He was just . . .
I could still see him standing in my salon with flowers in his hands, kissing my forehead like he’d always have another chance.
Mr. Donnelly said, “I’m sorry. That’s all I know.”
The line went dead.
My phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a hard little crack.
I stared at it. The flowers still sat on the counter. The card was still in my hand. Nothing in the room had changed. Everything in my world had.