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sixty-two

. . .

“You’ve got to be careful with the zipper. She literally stitched the dress on me to make sure it was belly-friendly.”

“Whoever did it did a great job. Same shorty that did moms’?”

“Yes, she’s still down there taking selfies?”

Maximus chuckled. “All by the pool, throwing her hair in the wind and posing like she’s going to prom.”

“I don’t think she went to prom, for real,” Eden hummed, hearing Maximus’ phone chime. “Handle that, I’ll be on the ottoman waiting for you to put these shoes on.”

“You spoiled.”

“Mmhmm, you did it, DJ Two Tymes,” Eden hummed, switching away. “I can’t wait to see you on that screen.”

“Oh yeah?” Maximus asked, picking up his phone and checking the text. “Give me a second, baby.”

“Okay,” Eden hummed, checking her face in the compact mirror. No uneasiness rested with Eden as Maximus stepped out on the veranda. His mother was snapping away and taking in the fruits of her son’s labor.

About two minutes later, he walked back in and closed the door behind him. “Let me ask you something.”

“What’s up?” Eden quizzed, rubbing her lips together.

“When we got arrested, who was your one call to?”

“Big Rod. He’s who I should’ve called years ago to avoid all this shit,” Eden spoke, without batting an eye.

“So, the detective is gone. The case is closed.”

“That’s good, right?’ Eden asked, finally looking at him, fine as ever in his tailored suit.

“Yeah, it’s cool, but he was found in a Trae Way trap house, a needle in his arm. How that happen, E?”

“I made a call. A call I was too afraid to make all those years ago because I didn’t want to be like Poppi, Mama, or my mother.

But as time went by and I came into myself and I was taught to be sure of and confident in myself, I confidently made a call.

If you can wipe out someone for missing me with a bullet, I can wipe out a case. You understand what I’m saying to you?”

“Eden…”

“Listen. You asked me if I was going to love you, and I told you I was. And I meant that. We will always be Trae Way. We can’t run from that, it’s etched on our skin, it runs through our blood.

We will always make sure that Trae Way stays as peaceful as it is now.

And if that meant I needed to make a call to keep my sister okay and my man home with me, that’s what I did. And I’ll do it again.”

Maximus groaned and bit his knuckle.

“You mad?”

“Hell yeah. Mad I can’t bend you over without fucking up your dress and make up. I knew you loved my ass when you wiped my snotty nose and made me that terrible ass soup. But this,” he waved his phone back and forth. “Tops it.”

Eden smiled. “Bend me over after dinner. For now, strap me into these heels, please.”

The premier went beautifully, and to celebrate, Staysha made sure that Eden was celebrated at dinner with flowers and matching sister tennis bracelets.

“I know you said you just wanted dinner without all the glitz, but there was no way I was going to let this moment pass by like it was regular. Nothing you have done this year has been regular. You bounced back just like…”

“Poppi taught her!” Maximus chimed in.

“Like Poppi’s daughter. Like my big sister.

Like the protector of my spirit. Like that amazing human you are,” Staysha said, her voice breaking.

“No one at this table can say you haven’t touched them, covered them, and looked out for them.

So tonight is all about you, E. Congratulations on your first of many premieres. ”

Everyone raised their glass in cheers, Eden sipped her nonalcoholic Prosecco, and swiped tears of her own.

“While we are celebrating this beautiful creation,” Maximus spoke up. “There was a moment months ago when I sat on the steps of Poppi’s place that solidified something for me.”

He handed her an envelope. “I wanted to make sure that her home went back to the women who held memories there. Poppi’s place has been bought, and the deed has been placed in yours and Staysha’s names.”

“Aww,” Eden and Staysha crooned.

“I ain’t done,” Maximus stated, getting up to retrieve a plaque from the waitress. “Poppi’s Girl is registered under Eden Sage. All proceeds from the single are yours, royalties forever, and it’s gold. It’s yours.”

“Max,” Eden cried.

He leaned in and kissed her. “Are you going to love me?”

“Forever, heard me?”

“Heard you, baby.”