Page 60 of Always Been You

Epilogue

Dyami

I could see why Chante and Chubby eloped because planning a wedding was stressful as hell. Too many times, I looked at Marcos while we lay in bed and told him, 'Let’s take a flight and do it in Vegas.' Every time he was with it, if I was.

Before he pulled the trigger, I'd talk myself off the ledge. Mainly for Trina's sake. I wanted her to see this. What she had to look forward to. All the different ways a man could and should show love, Marcos modeled, and I wanted her to see nothing less.

Finally, the big day was tomorrow. It was really happening.

I was on my way to breakfast with Marcos, and we were keeping tradition by not seeing each other for 24 hours before the wedding.

Leaving him today would make it real. We were inseparable over the last six months, only growing closer each day.

We even drove different cars to drive the point home. I was going over to Chante’s and him with Chubby. Our circle was still close. No friends were added, but it was still more than enough.

When I pulled to a stop, Marcos was at my driver's side door, opening it. He pulled me out, and as soon as I got into his arms, I started crying. I didn't even lie to myself and say I wasn't going to cry at my wedding because every time I thought about it, the tears flowed.

“I'm sorry, I'm a baby,” I said between sobs.

“You my baby,” he replied and kissed my lips

“I can't believe this is happening tomorrow.”

“You damn right it is, and I can’t wait.” He looked into my eyes, and I attempted to dry mine.

We walked into the diner hand in hand. We didn’t talk much. Mostly stared at each other because I knew my whiny ass was about to start hyperventilating as soon as I left. I picked around my food, and he did as well. When he paid the bill and the waitress came with our boxes, we stood.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“One more thing.” He said.

“I thought we were,” I started to speak, but he gave me a look that stopped my sentence in its tracks. His look said clearly, I got this. I just nodded and followed him outside the restaurant.

“Am I riding with you?” I asked.

“No. Follow me.”

He opened my door, and I slipped inside. I followed him closely on the 20-minute drive. Excitement coursed through me. Marcos was full of surprises, and each one filled me up in ways I never thought possible. He had my trust. I believed in him to my core.

When he pulled down a gravel street, I sat up, knowing we were close.

I stopped behind him in front of a gate.

He leaned out the window and punched in a code.

When we entered the gate, we drove for another three to four minutes before coming to a stop at a house.

It was so massive that I had to step out of the car to take it all in.

Stepping out, my words caught in my throat.

“What did you do?” I cried, knowing the answer. As soon as he walked up, I jumped into his arms.

“Wait, don’t you want to look inside first?”

“No, it’s beautiful!” I said, clinging to him tightly. He sat me down on my feet.

“Hold on. I have more.”

“More?” I questioned. I looked out, and in the distance I saw more houses on the vast piece of land.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“Come on.”

He tugged my hand and led me inside the door. When I walked in, everyone was there.

“Surprise!” They all yelled in unison.

Chante, Chubby, Trina, Ma Lyn, MJ, and my mother were there.

“Wh-What?” I stammered.

“This yo house, girl!” Chante squealed, and she was the first person to come and hug me. I was stunned.

“And guess what? We neighbors!” She said.

“That’s y’all house back there?” I said, it all hitting me.

“Yes! This is our compound! Gavin and Marcos have been working on this for months.”

“Wow!”

“Yep! We're all here, sweetie.” Ma Lyn said with MJ’s hand in hers. I crouched down and looked at MJ. Wet eyes and all, I still teased him.

“I thought we were besties. How did you keep this from me?”

“Daddy made me pinky promise, and all a man has is his word!”

We all burst out laughing. My heart was so full.

“And Marcos bought me a house too!” Trina came up.

“What? I know he didn’t.” I looked around for Marcos, and he laughed.

“She gets the keys to the house when she graduates from college. Oh, and I need at least a 3.0 or above.” He pointed in her direction.

“Already know I got ya bro.”

“The way you can get me is by showing me you have yourself.” He tapped her forehead. She nodded. My mother stepped forward, and somehow everyone else stepped back, as if they were too busy. I knew that was deliberate.

She hugged me so tightly.

“Who knew the boy that was running behind you all those years ago would be the one you’d end up marrying? I am proud of you, baby girl.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

“I know I haven’t been the best mother.”

“No, mom. We are moving forward. All that matters is right here, right now.”

“That’s right, and as soon as you finish your program, you have a place right here with us.” Marcos stepped up and said.

“It’s more than I deserve.” She spoke quietly. She was still dealing with the shame of her decisions.

“You deserve to live. We all do.” Marcos turned to everyone. “Alright, fellas, I gotta borrow Dyami for one last thing, and we are moving out.”

Again, I was pulled by the hand and led through the house.

There were so many rooms for me to look through.

I would soon become well acquainted with the home.

He opened the patio doors, and we stepped into a vast backyard.

We walked what seemed like the length of a football field, then a large Garage came into view.

The closer I got, the more I saw a fleet of 18-wheeler trucks.

On the side of each, the name Jones Distributors was affixed.

“Oh my God!”

“Yeah, I did it. I guess I’m still the plug, but the product is legal now.”

“How?” I asked, mouth still agape.

“Hard work and some street smarts. The prices they were charging our old restaurant had me doing some digging into the business. I identified areas where they were falling short and recognized opportunities for my own success. I bought out a company and changed the name. Picked up their distribution routes, and we start delivering under the Jones name starting on the first. Our name.”

“I always believed in you, baby.” I looped my arms around his neck. I was a walking bucket, so there was no use in trying to wipe a tear away.

“This will be amazing for the four of us,” I said.

“Four?” He questioned.

I shook my head and rubbed my belly. He picked me up and spun me around. I was going to tell him on his wedding night, but he was bringing out so many surprises, I felt like I needed to bring out one of my own. I stopped birth control six weeks ago because we wanted to expand pretty quickly.

“I love you so much! I promise I’ll be everything this family needs. Y’all are forever safe with me.”

“I know.”

He kissed my lips again. When we parted, he checked his watch.

“Until tomorrow, baby.”

“I love you,” I said quickly.

“I love you both.” He kissed my lips, kissed my belly, and walked away.

Until Tomorrow.