Page 20

Happy Birthday

Three Months Later

We had come a long way from me being shot and Alexis being kidnapped. She finally went back to work about a month after the kidnapping. Initially I watched her so closely that if she left the room I would be on alert. I never took another painkiller because that was the reason I didn’t hear Alexis leave the house that night. My arm healed and I went back to work as well. It felt good to get back into my routine. Alexis and I found our rhythm with our opposite schedules. She worked nights at the hospital and my schedule was all over the place.

Alexis didn’t want to go back to her apartment, so I hired movers to pack her stuff up and place it in storage. Whatever she needed we picked up and brought to my condo in the city. When Alexis was off from work, we would go out to the house to relax. She learned to love the quietness of the country as much as I did. I think her therapist helped her appreciate the serenity the country offered. She started sessions a week after the kidnapping. I encouraged her to talk to someone because she needed to talk out her feelings concerning everything that happened. Alexis also wanted to heal past her parents’ death as well. Even though therapy was her thing, I would accompany her whenever she asked me to.

Abel and I had gotten back on track as well. I invested in his retail property like I offered. Tonight, we were heading to the grand opening. The space held five different businesses and one restaurant. I was really proud of my friend. It was also Alexis’s birthday so I secured the party room of the restaurant so we could celebrate. I had a surprise for Alexis, and it was killing me keeping it from her. Since we had gone to therapy together, we really improved our communication. I wasn’t used to sharing my day-to-day movements with someone. It was easy for me to communicate with Alexis, but there were still things I would never share with her.

I heard the door to our condo open as Alexis came in from work. She had her scrubs on, and her hair was in a bun. I loved it when she wore her scrubs. Something about it screamed she was ready to save lives. My lady was a doctor, and I was so proud of her. She cared so much about her patients. Her big heart made her perfect for the job.

“Hey, baby, give me an hour then we can head out,” she said as she hurried past me to the bathroom to shower.

“Okay, babe,” I yelled from my spot on the couch. I would wait until Alexis put on her makeup before I got up to get dressed. A quick shower before I threw on my suit wouldn’t take that long. Alexis would say she needed an hour, but it could have been longer if she decided she didn’t like her hair or her makeup at the last minute. Twenty minutes later, I heard the shower turn off. I waited another ten minutes so the water could warm up. Another thing I learned while living with Alexis was her love for steaming hot showers. I tried to shower behind her and was met with ice cold water one too many times.

I finally headed to get ready. After I showered, I put on my suit. It was custom for tonight’s surprise. I felt myself break out into a sweat and went to turn the air conditioner up. Perspiration stains on my shirt weren’t going to look good in our photos for tonight. It was my nerves getting the best of me, but I refused to let that happen. I took a series of deep breaths while I put my shoes on. Alexis came into my view and spun around in her fitted black dress that matched my suit.

“You look beautiful, love.” I gushed over her.

“You’re very sexy in your suit, baby,” she spoke softly. I stood up and kissed her lips.

Alexis picked up her phone and snapped a photo of us.

“Come on, Lexxy, we don’t want to be late. Abel will have a fit if we miss his ribbon cutting ceremony,” I explained.

She checked her lipstick in the mirror next to the door. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, we grabbed the elevator down to the parking garage to get in the car. I opened the passenger side door for Alexis to get into the car. My chest filled with pride as I looked at Alexis smiling and all dolled up. I had to be the luckiest man to have her on my arm. I got in the car and made the short drive to the retail property.

Alexis chose the music while I focused on the road. I appreciated the silence of the drive. If we engaged in conversation, there was a chance I would accidentally let the surprise slip. By the time a few songs were played on the radio, we entered the parking lot. Abel pulled out all the stops tonight. He had valet and the local news to witness the grand opening. We pulled in front of the restaurant, and I put the car in park. Alexis and I exited the vehicle as the valet driver approached the driver’s side door. I passed him my key fob before going to Alexis.

We walked over to the crowd and spotted Abel and Joy. Joy waived us over as Alexis noticed Abel engaged in conversation with a familiar face.

“Gina, what are you doing here?” she asked her work bestie Gina.

“Abel was kind enough to invite me. He kept bragging about how good the food at the restaurant was when he brought you lunch yesterday,” she explained.

“Oh, great. We’re having dinner there as well. We can all sit together. Have you met my cousin Joy? Joy, this is Dr. Gina Mallard. We’ve been friends since our residency. Gina, this is my favorite cousin Joy,” Alexis said as she introduced two of her favorite people.

While the ladies continued to converse, I made my way over to Abel. He looked as nervous as I felt.

“Bro, you ready to get this business off the ground?”

“I’m so nervous. I have put so much money into this place,” he said.

“It will be successful, and if it isn’t we will touch it for the insurance money,” I assured him.

That got a laugh out of him, but he knew I was serious. We stepped back from the club business, but we still had plenty of connections. I looked around to see if any of our brothers from the club had arrived yet. Uncle Will was bringing my mother, so I’m sure Tone was going to ride along with them.

“It’s showtime. Let’s get this ribbon cut so you can surprise my sister,” he said.

Abel walked to the front of the unit that held his office where the ribbon was placed. One of his employees handed him a large pair of scissors. We listened as he said a few words about the business and his hope of creating jobs for the community. It was all very touching, and I knew he meant every word. Abel and his sister were two of the kindest people I knew despite their rough upbringing. When Abel finished his speech, we all applauded as he cut the ribbon. Alexis found herself right by his side, and they hugged after he put the scissors down.

Abel and Alexis made their way toward me together, and we all walked into the restaurant. Abel greeted the owner as a hostess showed us to a section in the back of the restaurant. We noticed a large crowd of people filling the space behind us. It would be a busy night here. Once we reached the back area, some of the people closest to us stood up and shouted “surprise” in unison. The area was decorated with balloons and a banner that said happy birthday. Alexis looked around in disbelief from me to Abel trying to figure out which one of us was responsible for the party.

“Happy birthday, Lexxy,” I whispered in her ear.

“Wolf, I can’t believe you did this. How did you pull this off without me knowing?” she asked.

“Oh, it was hard as hell believe me. I almost slipped a few times and told you,” I said jokingly.

Alexis walked around and greeted everyone. Gina helped Abel get some of her colleagues from the hospital to join us. A number of club members were in attendance including Uncle Will and Tone. When Alexis went to speak to my mother, she made my night. I loved seeing my favorite girls interact. I let everyone enjoy their dinner, and after dessert I stood up to give Alexis another surprise.

“Hey, everyone, can I get your attention for a moment? I wanted to thank you all for joining us here tonight to celebrate Alexis. She deserves this and so much more. Lexxy baby, come here please.”

She walked over to me with a look of uncertainty on her face. I grabbed her hand as I bent down on one knee. She covered her face and tried to fan away the tears that were forming.

“Alexis, I have loved you for years but was too afraid to say it. These past few months being with you every day has been amazing. I want to know if you would do me the honor of being able to wake up to you every day for the rest of our lives. Alexis Jackson, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

Alexis squealed. “Yes, Wolf, I will marry you. Nothing would make me happier than being your wife!” she exclaimed.

The room erupted in applause as our family ran over to hug us as we kissed. Today was the first day of the rest of our lives. I couldn’t wait to make Alexis my wife.

The End