Page 46 of A Trial of the Heart

“Here.” LeeAnn stood before me, handing off a double shot of whatever the hell she’d asked the bartender to give her.

“Really, LeeAnn? We just got here. You couldn’t wait to shove this damn drink down my throat, huh?” I complained, reluctantly taking the shot from her.

LeeAnn smirked. “Damn sure couldn’t. It’s been a long ass year. I’m finally happy you taking a drink since finding out you were pregnant with your cum droppings.”

I couldn’t contain the laughter that came out. I laughed so hard I almost dropped my shot. I knew LeeAnn loved my babies just as much as me and would give her last breath so they could live, so her innocent insults never moved me.

“You’re crazy as shit.” I continued laughing.

Between birthing and breastfeeding the twins, I needed this drink more than LeeAnn knew.

Things had finally wrapped up with Arthur and William.

William was sentenced to thirty years in prison with the possibility of parole after half the time had been served.

Arthur, on the other hand, hadn’t been as fortunate and had been sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years.

Even if he was able to parole out, he’d be shriveled up and old if he lived long enough.

Last I’d heard about Lauryn, she had been admitted to Eastern State Hospital after lying to her boyfriend that she was pregnant, and when it didn’t happen, she tried to steal a baby from the local hospital.

It was crazy how on the surface a person could seem to have the beauty and brains but be bat shit crazy.

I guess once her father was put away, she didn’t have the backbone to make her problems disappear so she had to face them and couldn’t.

“I just missed my friend. That’s all.” She spoke a little softer with a slight smile.

“I missed you too,” I admitted with no hesitation.

LeeAnn and I spoke daily and saw each other often, but things had changed since I got pregnant. It became more difficult once the babies were born.

For a few seconds, LeeAnn stood staring at me with a slight smile, almost as if she had more to say, but her expression quickly faded when her eyes shifted behind me.

“Happy birthday to you.” She extended her shot glass my way without giving me time to see what changed her mood.

“Happy birthday to me.” I raised my glass, clinking it against hers before we simultaneously downed the liquid.

We were on the Spirit of Norfolk celebrating my thirty-first birthday, and though I wished Rashad could have come, I knew I’d have an amazing time with my best friend.

Since having the twins, Rashad and I tried to get out at least once a month with just us.

While most times it was plausible, nights like this weren’t.

Since it was my birthday, and we didn’t want the stress of his parents or my mom keeping them overnight, he just agreed to stay home.

Tonight, I’d spend it with LeAnn. Tomorrow and the rest of the weekend, the twins would be with LeAnn, and Rashad and I would be together.

LeAnn seemed to become nervous right before my eyes, which caused me to become alert. “Girl, you okay?”

She exhaled, parting her deep purple stained lips, and though it took a few seconds, her slight Southern drawl followed.

“I love you so much, Shiloh.” Her voice was low and shaky.

Had it not been for her closeness I may not have understood a word she spoke.

“You have been through so much but have never let it get you down. You’re one of the strongest, most resilient people I know.

I’m truly thankful to call you my best friend, and I’m so blessed to be by your side in all of your life’s ups and downs. ”

My eyes bunched in confusion. I had to look down at my empty shot glass.

Was she already tipsy off that one shot alone?

I mean, she had to be. Why else was she talking like at any moment she’d tell me how much she loved me and would fuck anybody up on the boat that tried me? It had to be the alcohol.

“Girl, you alright? What was in that shot? Damn crack or something?” I joked, and she only smiled slightly, scaring me a bit. “LeeAnn, what is it?”

“You deserve the happiness you’re in and what is to come.” She didn’t bother addressing my question, which further confused me. Unexpected tears started to fall. “Turn around and get your forever.”

I was more confused than before, but she had told me to turn around, so with bunched brows, I slowly turned.

“Oh my gosh!” My knees buckled seeing the huge, lit up, white letters that read Will you marry me? Rashad stood off to the side with a wide Kool-Aid smile. My own tears flooded my eyes.

“Go get your man, girl.” LeeAnn spoke in my ear, taking the shot glass from me before giving my back a nudge to head Rashad’s way.

With heavy steps, a fast-beating heart, shaky hands, and tears flowing freely, I slowly walked toward Rashad. It seemed the closer I got, the baggage or doubt I once had fell off with each step. I was freeing myself from my past to accept my happiness with my future.

So many emotions took over my body as I stood before Rashad.

There were so many I couldn’t fully process one nor contain my tears.

Rashad and I had really built a relationship from a one-night stand.

Throughout our ups and downs, we fell in love.

It was a dope, black love story. Nothing about us screamed normal or traditional, but that’s what had made us… us.

The music seemed to fade, and a spotlight shined on us instantly like Rashad had given someone a cue though he hadn’t moved a muscle. Reaching for me, I placed my hand into his. They continued to shake.

“I won’t stand here and pretend that any part of our relationship has been perfect. This shit ain’t been easy, but we pushed through, even when it didn’t feel like there was a need. Thank you for giving me our children, even if it doesn’t look like you participated." Rashad chuckled, and so did I.

I carried our babies for months, completed a labor I wanted to give up on, breastfed them, yet they looked exactly like Rashad.

“I love you, and I don’t want to do this thing called life without you by my side.” His voice cracked just before he dug into his pocket while kneeling. “Shiloh Renee Monroe, will you marry me?”

The tears were already there, but hearing him ask me to marry him caused them to fall more. I knew the makeup I had taken my time applying was long gone.

“Yes.” My voice cracked as I also shook my head, so he’d know I meant yes. I kneeled with him, not caring that my bare knees were on the floor, while grasping the side of his face and kissing him. I didn’t even give him a chance to put the ring on my finger.

The room erupted. I had been so caught up with the proposal that I hadn’t even noticed that there were people I knew watching us get engaged. I wasn’t sure how they had done it, but they’d pulled it off, so I had been oblivious to seeing who was on the boat.

“I love you,” I cried, breaking the kiss enough to speak.

“I love you more.” Rashad pulled further back, placing the ring on my finger.

“Oh my gosh.” I beamed, looking down at the sparkling, two carat, princess cut, platinum engagement ring. He’d done well.

My family and his family had given us our moment. Once we stood, we were bum-rushed by them with congratulations, hugs, and lots of love.

After the many hugs and realizing my mom and both his parents were there, I looked around in confusion.

Everyone Rashad and I trusted to watch the babies were with us, so where were the twins?

My question was quickly answered when LeAnn stepped in front of me with both of them in her arms. They had truly crossed every T and dotted every I.

“Hey, best friend…” LeAnn drawled in a mocking tone.

“How the hell did you keep this a secret?” LeeAnn told me everything, even when she wasn’t trying to.

She dropped her head to the side with a smile “I have my ways.” She popped her lips.

“Whatever.” I playfully rolled my eyes, reaching out to grab Kai since he was reaching my way. K’nai barely looked my way. She was normally unbothered by me until it was time to eat, a stranger was near, or she was tired. Otherwise, she was unfazed.

“Congratulations, boss lady.” I knew that voice to be Isla’s, even if my eyes were closed.

Her voice was distinct and could be picked out in a loud room.

About three months back, when I still couldn’t find work, I opened my own firm with Isla as my personal assistant.

We were a dynamic duo that paired well together.

“Thank you.” I hugged her with my free arm after adjusting Kai to one side. After a smile and a slight pinch of the cheek to both twins, Isla sashayed away.

Standing beside LeeAnn, my eyes scanned the boat, finding Rashad almost instantly.

He stood next to his brother with his arms folded across his chest, resembling a bodyguard in a packed club.

He was all mine. Probably aware of me watching, Rashad’s eyes shifted right to mine.

When they met, he winked, causing a huge smile and butterflies to take flight.

“That smile never gonna fade, huh?” LeAnn smiled widely, interrupting my gushing.

I quickly glanced her way before my eyes shifted back to Rashad. He was my safe space; he was the best verdict to the case of a lifetime. I’d won in life.

“Nah. It’s never fading.”

The End