Page 25

EPILOGUE

“Princess,” I whispered, nudging Roulette awake. “Princess. We have to go.”

“Hmm?” She stirred, clinging to the newborn in her arms.

“We have to go. It’s almost dinner time.”

Her eyes remained closed. Her body remained still. She was in no hurry to leave.

“Do we have to?”

“Yes. We have to, love.”

Slowly, she gained consciousness. Falling asleep wasn’t in her plans but I’d taken much longer than expected in the meeting. It was hard for me to enter the room and it was even harder for me to exit.

“My family is waiting, huh?”

“Yes. And, they’re going to be pissed if we don’t show up.

She breathed out a heavy sigh before stuffing her nose in the baby’s neck.

“She just smells so good and feels so soft. Babies are everything innocent and pure and soft and good in the world,” she whined.

The moment was precious and one that I didn’t think I’d ever witness. It wasn’t the fact that Roulette was holding a baby that had taken me by surprise. It was how quickly she gravitated to the child and who the child belonged to that had me stumped. It defeated any allegations of bad character when it came to her.

Six weeks before the due date of my Godchild, my mentee, Chino, had gotten himself into a nasty car accident. His drinking and depression had coupled, making him lose control of his vehicle and collide with a box truck.

The truck driver walked away with barely a scratch, although his vehicle flipped twice. Chino, however, was left paralyzed from his waist down. The news devastated the mother of his unborn child, sending her into pre-term labor.

The baby stayed in the NICU for two and a half weeks before she was able to come home. Since her arrival, her mother hadn’t gotten more than two hours of sleep between caring for Chino and the baby simultaneously.

Asking Roulette to join me tonight as I made the visit to his home felt more abrasive than it truly was. She didn’t hesitate to put on her clothes and jewels to leave my home two hours before our intended time to make the stop. From the moment she stepped into the home, she reigned supreme.

While my focus was Chino and steering him in the right direction, she was focused on the little girl I’d vowed to father in the event her biological father couldn’t. Right now, he was in no position to do anything but heal.

“You’re right, Princess.”

“Ugh. We should get going but I don’t want to leave her. She’s so stinking cute.”

Aubree Kiara was her name. Her early arrival was unplanned and so was the predicament her father had gotten himself in. While Roulette and I promised to lend a helping hand for the duration of the meeting, I knew that once we left Chino’s home, she wouldn’t think twice about the precious bundle of joy she was holding.

Her maturity level spoke volumes. She’d been wronged by both parties, yet she refused to pass her transgressions to the child. According to her, she was always doing girl’s work and this was the perfect example of the measures she’d take to make sure the work was done.

In my absence, she’d cleaned her nursery, bathed her, got her in some new clothes, fed her, oiled her down, read her a bedtime story, and rocked her to sleep. In the meantime, Kiara was in a deep slumber on the couch, possibly getting the best sleep she’d had since Chino’s accident.

“She is. If you want, we can visit again sometime. I’ll let you say when. This is all on your terms, habibi.”

“I need to get her in bed without waking her up. Help me up from this chair.”

I took Roulette by the hand and waited until she was ready to pull up. When I felt the bulk of her weight, I pulled toward the door. She stood on her feet, still a few inches taller from the pumps she wore faithfully. Caring for a newborn wasn’t the exception to her ritual.

“She’s a good baby,” she whispered, watching a sleeping Aubree.

She’s successfully placed her in the crib without disrupting her sleep.

“You trying to see if we can make a good one, too?” I posed, watching her as I stood against the wall.

She was a natural. And, her handling of a baby that was the product of her betrayal had me wondering just how well she’d do with one made from our love. The possibilities were endless.

“I will remove my womb and give it to a woman who needs it before I grow a baby in it. No thank you. They’re not even all that to be stretching my body out, stressing for the rest of my life, or dealing with their bullshit until I die.

“No thank you, Big Fella. There are enough babies in my family to go around. You want to see how I’d be with a child of our own, then watch me with one of my nieces or nephews. Because, they are mine. All mine. The good part about it is I can give their asses back when I’m ready and that’s how I like it.”

“Come on. Let her rest.”

Roulette followed me out of the room, hand-in-hand with her shoes clacking against the floor. I would never get tired of that sound. It let me know that she was en route and there was almost nothing more exhilarating than knowing she was nearing me.

We passed a sleeping Kiara on the couch. Cautious not to wake her, we tiptoed out of the front door and locked it behind us. There was a monitor on the living room table right next to her. When Aubree woke, she’d know.

I opened the passenger door and watched as Roulette got comfortable inside. I made it to the driver’s seat in a matter of seconds.

“You good?”

She nodded. “Um hm.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank me? For what, Big Fella?” She yawned.

“Taking this trip with me. You didn–”

“When I agreed to take on your mess, I meant all of it, Israel. Even the uncomfortable parts.”

I laced my fingers with hers and brought her hand to my mouth. The Pluto-sized rock on her ring finger that was quick to let motherfuckers know that they couldn’t afford her rested against my lips. I kissed it before leaning over to kiss her.

Soon, she’d be my wife, and I was counting down the days until our visit to the courthouse. Rome was accurate in her predictions. Roulette didn’t care for a fancy, church wedding. She claimed it was the recipe for disaster. As for me, I didn’t fuck with enough people to fill but five seats, so I wasn’t pressed for a traditional wedding either.

“I do have one request.”

“I’m listening.”

“Get her a doula or she won’t make it to month two with both of them needing her the way they do. If I wanted the damn girl dead, I would’ve killed her myself. That was never the agenda.

“And, I don’t want Aubree to suffer because her mother is suffering. Postpartum depression is real and I see it all over Kiara’s face. Either she gets help or everyone in the house will be lucky to make it out of this phase alive.”

“I’ll get on it.”

“Give me the budget and I will make sure it’s taken care of.”

“There isn’t one if it means saving the life of my Goddaughter,” I admitted.

“Alright. I understand.”

We let the stereo do the talking for us. Silently, we journeyed over to her sister’s home. The driveway was flooded with cars totaling a very cool $1.8 million or more. Amongst those was a powdered pink Beetle. I shook my head, realizing I’d allowed Roulette and Malaya to convince me that it was time for her to learn to drive and get her learner’s permit.

As long as she was in the presence of an adult, licensed driver, then she was good to go. For three weeks, day in and day out, Roulette taught Malaya how to handle the wheel. By week four, she was better than most Clarke drivers who’d had their license for over a decade.

“I see you looking at her whip. Don’t be a hater, baby.”

I shook my head, releasing a sigh. Malaya was growing up and Roulette took every opportunity to remind me. Though the Beetle was only a starter car to get her feet wet, it symbolized her independence. I wasn’t quite ready for that or her on the road.

“Come on. You look like you’re about to cry and you’re ugly enough when you aren’t crying. I can’t imagine you being brought to tears.”

“Ugly? Girl, don’t fucking flex. You know what’s up.”

“Um hm.”

I followed Roulette into her sister’s home. The baffling darkness quickly turned into beaming light. Instantly, I was surrounded by the people I loved most.

“Surprise!”

Roulette faced me. Her smile didn’t stop at her cheeks. It didn’t end at her eyes, either. It was all over her. Happiness radiated from her body. She pulled me in for a hug, and whispered in my ear.

“I love you beyond this world. Happy birthday, Big Fella.”

When she pulled away from me, she dangled a set of keys in front of me. I didn’t miss the double Rs on the logo. Neither had I missed the dealer tags on the whip out front. I assumed it belonged to someone inside. However, I had quickly found out that the owner hadn’t made it inside just yet.

“Thank you, Princess.”

“Happy Birthday, Daddy!”

Malaya wrapped her arms around me and was gone just as swiftly. She’s convinced Rome to let her drive to rehearsals and then to dinner. I was the least of her concerns. Her new car and mentor were all she had on her brain.

“Mom–” I greeted the woman who’d birthed me. “Father.”

I kissed my mother’s cheeks one at a time. A handshake and a half-hug suited my father and I just fine.

“Happy Birthday, son,” my father exclaimed. “You’re about as old as me.”

Being surrounded by the people we both loved was so different. Seeing them all gathered in favor of the day I was born did something to me. I was beyond grateful for them all.

But there was one person that stood out more than the others. More than my mother. More than my father. More than anyone else in the room.

Ibrahim .

My brother pulled me into his embrace. It had been so long. Too long. And it wasn’t until my hand touched the top of his and our shoulders collided did I realize I never wanted it to be this long again.

“'Akhi. 'Akhi,” he called out, slamming his hand into my back.

My brother. My brother .

“Haris baladiun,” I responded.

My keeper .

From side to side, we rocked, unable to let go. Ibrahim was four years my junior, but he was everything I’d ever dreamt he’d be. Honest. Trustworthy. Hard-working. Committed. Driven. Smart. Ambitious.

“Happy birthday, old man.”

“Appreciate that, kid.”

“I love you, bro. I love you.”

His words touched parts of my heart that hadn’t been disturbed since he’d left home. Now that he was here with his arms wrapped tightly around me, there was a disturbance like no other.

“I love you, too, Ibrahim.”

Reluctantly, we released one another.

“Roulette, Ibrahim. Ibrahim, Roulette.”

“We’ve met.”

“Good. Good.”

“Thank you for coming. Though he might never admit it, this means the world to him.”

“Ahhhh. It means nothing,” my brother joked, waving us off.

“We both know that’s untrue.”

“Right on.” He nodded.

With my emotions on the horizon, I grabbed my lady and brought her close to me. She smelled so good and she looked even better.

“All for me?”

“All for you, my love. And, this is only the beginning. We’re celebrating for the next two weeks.”

“Yeah?”

“Um hm.”

“So many surprises up your sleeve.” I chuckled.

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all.”

“Good, because there’s just one more.”

As the words left her mouth, Yara parted the small huddle. My lips pressed against Roulette’s face, instantly. She was almost too good to be true.

“Happy Birthday, old man,” Yara blurted.

I pulled her in for a hug. She was still in treatment and had decided to stay for the longest in-patient therapy they offered. She was barely halfway through her six-month stay, but she was already looking better. Feeling better. Sounding better. And doing better.

“You look well, Yara.”

“I feel well. But,” she breathed out, smacking her lips and shaking her head. “Tonight is not about me. It’s about you. I don’t have long, but I did want to stop by and see you on your big day. I’m wishing you many more, Israel. And, congratulations.”

She tipped her head toward Roulette’s ring.

“Beautiful ring for such a beautiful woman.”

“Thank you,” I responded, pulling Princess back into my arms.

Yara jetted off as quickly as she’d come. There was no doubt in my mind that she was off to find Malaya so they could spend as much time together as they could before she was due back at the clinic.

As I stood in the middle of everyone with Princess by my side, I finally understood what completion meant and how it truly felt. Because, at that moment, I’d reached it. And there was no one in the world who could’ve made it happen but her.

My Princess .

The end