Page 41 of Desperate Measures
“What about my boutique?”
“It’s four walls, Crim. Four walls that mean nothing without you in them.” He pulled something from his suit jacket and handed it to me. It was a check, with lots of zeroes, and it had my name on it.
My eyes widened. “Four hundred and twenty thousand dollars? What is this?”
“Brynlee wants the fashions. Ramsey wants the space. The check covers both.”
“Jah… are we really doing this?”
“Shit, you tell me…”
I swallowed. My heart raced. “What if I don’t like the new boutique? What if they hate my designs overseas? What if Scarlett is the only Black girl in her class and the other kids are mean?”
He tilted my chin up. “Or what if…you marry me? Then we can take it from there.”
I stared at him, speechless. All this time, I held it together, thinking he might come back. I built a whole world just to survive the days he didn’t. But now he was here,really here, and everything I thought I’d need to say vanished.
Tears of relief slipped down my cheeks. This shit was happening, and my mind was finally clear.
“Yes,” I whispered, “Yes, Jah-” He cut me off, kissing me hungrily.
“Let’s go get our girl,” he mumbled against my lips.
Ten minutes later, Slim had us out the back and secured in the black SUV. The wedding still went on. I temporarily felt bad because I was really ready to get to know Brynlee better. I suppose we’d eventually get a chance since Jahsir was family.
When we arrived at the hangar, Ramsey’s jet was waiting under a sky full of stars, and so was Scarlett, laughing in Zahara’s arms.
Scarlett squealed when she saw him. She violently thrashed in Zahara’s arms, desperate to get to Jah. “Dada!” She screeched again.
Jah lifted her high into the air, spinning her around. I’d never seen him smile so wide. I gave them their moment while I made peace with everything.
I looked back one last time as the last year flashed before my eyes. The struggle, depression, and anxiety, growth and strength overwhelmed me, and I was flooded with emotions. I hugged Zahara, scared to let go. I wasn’t sure when I’d see her again.
Then I looked forward to my family and my future.
“I hate to cut the reunion short, but you gotta go, cuz. Desperate Times calls for Desperate Measures. Y'all ready?” Samson asked, nodding toward the jet.
“Yeah,” I said, lacing my fingers with Jahsir’s. “We’re ready.”
The End