by Tee Jae
After soaking in my misery for a while, I went downstairs and made a list for Mila to go out to the grocery store to get the things I needed for tonight. I was giving everyone the night off, including her. I would be cooking for my man tonight. I didn’t need anyone in the house when I told Khadi about the baby and also that I knew it was Gator behind these hits.
I decided to cook his favorite: pork chops with a side salad and I had his D’usse on chill for him when he walked in the door.
“Where the hell is everybody?” I heard him making his way to the kitchen. He stopped at the entryway when he laid eyes on the candles that filled the entire dining room, there were rose petals all over the floor and table and the smooth sounds of Babyface “Two Occasions” played softly in the background. “Uhhhh what’s today?” he laughed looking around at everything that I had done.
The red balloons spelled out I love you on the wall and I was dressed in a red strappy laced bra with the thong to match. My garter belt hugged my waist holding up the red knee-high stockings that covered my thick thighs. I dropped the see thru robe to the floor once he walked closer to me.
“It’s a special occasion,” I grabbed his hand, walking him to the head of the table put a little extra switch in my ass because I knew we was watching.
“Damn ma,” he whispered under his breath. “You damn right it’s a special occasion.” He licked his lips, never taking his eyes off me as I walked over to the bar to pour him a drink. I handed him his drink and sat down taking the top off of both of our plates, as he side eyed me, “You not drinking?” he asked suspiciously.
“Not tonight, babe.” I smiled unrolling the silverware out of the napkin. “I cooked your favorite.” I laughed since he never looked down at his plate, keeping his eyes on me.
“Marry me,” he blurted out.
“What? Baby, it's just dinner,” I laughed at him until he stood-up, pulling out a black velvet box from his pocket.
“Marry me,” he said again dropping down to one knee, tears immediately filled my eyes as I stared down at the 10-carat, emerald cut diamond ring.
“Baby, are you serious, right now?” I dropped down to my knees crying tears of joy.
“Get up woman…I'm the man” he said laughing.
I quickly stood back up, “Yes baby! Yes, I will marry you,” I cried as he slipped the ring on my finger and hugged me lifting me into the air.
“I'm sorry baby, I really wanted to do it with your grandmother and Kassidy here but tonight in this moment, it felt right.” He kissed my tears away, “Stop crying baby, I love you! I told you what we have is different.”
I stared at the huge rock on my finger in disbelief trying to catch my breath.
“Now what is it that you wanted to share with me?” he asked taking a bite out of his pork chop.
I stared back down at my ring, “Nothing baby,” I stood up and straddled his lap dismissing the food. Tonight, my fiancé would get the fuck of his life, everything else would have to wait.
Chapter 25
Gator
“Well, looks like they can't find the key witness to your case,” Strickler sat across from me digging through some papers in his briefcase. “The DA has pushed your trial back long enough, so the judge granted a dismissal. I just need you to sign these papers here and you should be released by midnight,” He slid the papers across the table to me.
I picked up the pen that was on the table with a smirk on my face. I'm pretty sure Blue’s ass was floating up the Chattahoochee river by now. Having his baby kidnapped proved to be the right thing to do since he snuck out and tried to meet up with his baby mama to give her ransom money. Justice followed his ass and murked him and the officer that was on duty at the home, they had him held up in about three hours outside of Atlanta. Now, in a few hours I will be walking free and able to get my old life back. And when I said old, I mean Brooklyn. I signed the papers and retreated back to my cell waiting for my release.
*****
“Daddy!” Bella yelled running into my arms. I picked her up a hugged her little body so tight. I truly missed my kids. Yani stood by the car holding CJ up on her side. I walked up to her and kissed her cheek, taking CJ from her.
“What’s up? Ion get no love?” I asked her as I threw CJ in the air and catching him as he laughed.
“Don’t think I don’t know where your head is at Gator. But let me give you a reality check.” She said as she slid in the back of the Tahoe buckling the kids in their seats. “You need to stop chasing your past.” I rolled my eyes pissed off a nigga ain’t been out a good twenty-four hours yet and here she was bringing up Brooklyn. “We are your present and your future. I’m your wife so you need to start respecting me as such.” I kept my head straight ahead sick of the bullshit already. “Besides, I heard Brooklyn is getting married in a couple of days. Having some big, extravagant wedding, compared to our secret wedding at the courthouse with four people to witness.”
I leaned over in her seat, “Fuck you telling me that bullshit for, huh?” I damn near spit in her face. I couldn’t help the anger that was boiling up inside once those words left her lips.
“Get the fuck off of me before I have Raul put your ass down right here.” She angrily spat back. “I’m tired of chasing my own damn husband.” She looked at me with so much pain in her eyes, for a minute I thought of making things work with her. I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes for a second to think. Hell, maybe Yani and my kids were where I was supposed to be. I sat quiet for the rest of the ride back to Yani’s penthouse in deep thought.
*****
“Welcome home!” everyone shouted as we walked into the house. A smile fell upon my face as my eyes landed on all my goons, Justice, and Strickler. Yani went all out decorating the place and having it catered with my favorite foods and liquor. The welcome home banner hung from the ceiling and my name spelled out in the gold ballons were front and center. I looked back at her giving her a genuine smile, I mean that was the least I could do.
“My nigga!” Justice walked up handing me a glass of Hennessy. He pulled me off to the side, “Drink up, nigga cause I got some exciting news.”
“What could be better than me coming home? A new connect?” I asked, looking around to make sure Yani was nowhere in earshot of us.
“Nawl,” he rubbed his hands together like Birdman.
“Then what, nigga? spit it out.” I urged him getting irritated with the beating around the bush shit.
“Remember ole boy lil brother, Khaza?” he asked with a sly grin on his face.
“The nigga died?” I asked
“Nope the nigga lived, he reached out to me. Wants to speak with you. He on some other shit; he wants to work with us against his brother.” He grinned looking in my face for a reaction.
I pulled away looking at him like he had two heads, “What you mean work with us? Sound like a setup to me.” I took a sip of my drink looking around at everyone gawking over my kids.
“See, I thought about that shit too and I looked into it and my informant over in Miami confirmed it. Khadi disowned this nigga. Now for what, ion know.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But the nigga definitely not down with the Santana’s.”
I smiled full of pure satisfaction, “Get the nigga on the line…lets fuck some shit up.”
Chapter 26
Brooklyn
I nervously tapped my perfectly painted pink fingernails on the vanity set as Khali’s makeup artist, Twan worked his magic on my face. It was taking longer than I imagined, “Don’t put too much, I don’t want to look caked up.” I tried to raise up and look at myself in the mirror.
“Girl, sit back!” Khali pulled me back, “Twan knows what he doing, you said you wanted a natural beat and that’s what he gone deliver. Right, Twan?”
“Yes child,” they high fived each other.
Khadi flew into Haiti last night to check on Khaza and called this morning telling me he was flying back into town with his mother for dinner. I was a ner
vous wreck ever since I received the phone call. I’d been running around all day making sure everything was set for the dinner tonight. They were due home any minute and I wanted everything to be perfect. Gator’s mother died when he was nine, so he was raised by his father. I never had a mother-n-law before, so I didn’t know how she would receive me.
“Khali, make sure Mila put the fresh flowers in the Villa for your mother, please.” I smiled as she rubbed her protruding belly.
“Brooklyn, chill out please, my mom is going to love you. Don’t overdo it cause Roselina Santana will call you out on your bullshit. Just be yourself, please.” She called over her shoulder before walking out of the room.
I sighed, maybe I was overdoing it a little bit. Things had been going so smoothly with Khadi and I lately I didn’t want anything to mess that up. I’ve heard about how mothers can be overprotective of their sons.
“All done, I didn’t put any lipstick on because this natural beat only requires lip gloss honey,” Twan’s sweet ass snapped his finger.
“Oh my goddddddd, it's so pretty, Twan, your hands are blessed baby” I admired myself in the mirror. “Thank you so much,” I paid him plus a tip for coming on short notice.
“I guess I’ll let myself out.” I heard him mumble as I rushed to the huge walk in closet that Khadi and I now shared.
A slew of emotions took over my body staring at the his and hers closet once again. I knew Khadi and I haven’t known each other that long but the connection we shared was starting to scare the hell out of me making me think that I was back here again too soon. I mean, I was with Gator for ten years and look what he did to me. I truly believe everything happens for a reason and maybe it was destiny how I met Khadi and fell for him or maybe I was putting myself back in harm's way.
“Here, drink, this champagne this will calm you down,” Khali walked into the closet breaking my train of thoughts. I grabbed the flute from her and gulped it down in one swallow ignoring that I was pregnant. “I’ll see you downstairs everyone is waiting on you.” She turned and walked away.
I slipped into a floral, floor length, long sleeve Gucci dress. Khadi didn’t say anything to me, but I knew better than to dress crazy in front of his mom. I was the bitch you can bring to the strip club and home to your mama, so he had nothing to worry about. I slipped my feet into my black leather Gucci Marmont thong sandals, did a once over in the mirror and headed downstairs. I fluffed my curly mane as I followed the laughter towards the cocktail room.
“There’s my girl,” Mrs. Dee spoke up loud enough that everyone stopped and turned around once I entered the room making my armpits sweat.
Khadi smoothly walked over to me planting a simple but sensual kiss on my lips before taking my hand and bringing me over to his mother.
“Mother, I would like you to meet Brooklyn. Brooklyn meet my mom, Roselina Santana.” She playfully slapped Khadi’s hand.
“Everyone calls me Rosa,” she said while pulling me in and kissing both sides of my cheeks. “She’s beautiful, Khadi, how’d you pull this off?” She chuckled right before Mila came in and announced dinner was ready.
“Before everyone makes their way to the dinner table, I have something to say.” Khadi spoke up stopping everyone in their tracks taking my hand and leading me to the middle of the floor.
“Khadi, what are you…”
“Hush, girl my brother has something to say.” Khali said and everyone laughed.
“Brooklyn Trase, ever since I laid my eyes on you I’ve had this warm fuzzy that I don’t ever want to go away. You bring a certain light to the Santana household without even trying. I treated you like shit when you first came into my home and gave you every possible reason to walk out of here and you took that shit like a champ. You put up a fight and demanded respect effortlessly, my brothers are crazy about you and my sister adores you. I must admit when I first laid eyes on you I fell for your beauty but after getting to know you, it's your heart that I'm in love with. Thank you for letting me love you the right way baby and allowing me to make a woman out of you.” He held my hand in the air high, announcing our engagement.
I thought I saw a disgusted look on his mom’s face but my eyes were filled with so many tears I couldn’t see straight. My heart was full and I always wanted my fairy tale ending but was this it? I was so afraid of giving everything in me to a man again, but I was more afraid of losing the man who unknowingly picked up the pieces to my heart. I wiped my eyes with my free hand and looked around at everyone in the room. I pulled him in for a passionate kiss.
“Get a room,” Biggs yelled and everybody fell out laughing.
Khadi pulled away from me smiling “Now I know I asked already and you said yes but I need to ask you the right way.” He said before whistling and the doors to the cocktail room swung opened and in walked Kassidy and my grandmother, Mimi. I was at a loss for words as I rushed over to them with tears in my eyes. This man was pulling all of my emotions out of me tonight.
“Mimiiiiiiiii!” I squealed hugging her as tight as I could as she pulled away from me.
“Oh, Sweetcakes, we have all night to catch up. That fine gentleman is waiting for you.” She ushered me back towards Khadi where I turned and found him down on one knee “Go on gal,” Mimi nudged me towards him.
“Yesssssssssssssss,” I hollered before Khadi could ask me to marry him again.
Epilouge
Brooklyn
5 p.m.
The sun was setting as I walked down the all-white floral walk way that led up to where my soon-to-be husband was waiting for me. Chrisette Michelle sang “A Couple of Forevers” off the side with a live band. I fought back the tears that were threatening to fall from my face as I made my way up to my superman. Kassidy was my only bridesmaid draped in a beautiful black custom dress she seemed eager for me to make it up to the alter. Khaddo stood behind Khadi in his all-black tux, smiling as well; everything was perfect. The venue had white candles lit everywhere making my dreams of a white candlelit wedding come true. Everything was decorated top of the line thanks to Cotessa Nichole Events, she delivered on everything I asked for. While Khadi spared no expense on our wedding, I would’ve married him down at the courthouse.
I looked up into Khadi’s face smiling with butterflies swarming in my stomach. Who would’ve ever thought I would be standing here with the man who basically forced me from my home to pay off a debt? His lips were moving but I wasn’t hearing a thing he was saying, I was too busy thanking God for blessing me with a love like this. In the short time that I’ve known this man, I’ve falling head over heels for him and this was a feeling I never wanted to go away. He wiped a tear that slipped from the corner of my eye as I focused on what he was saying.
“Brooklyn, I've needed you since the day I laid eyes on you.”
“He ain't lying!!!” Biggs said co-signing, and everyone started laughing. Khadi put his hand up silencing everyone’s laughter. He was so serious about today it was cute.
“Like I said, I needed you since the first day I laid eyes on you. Your smell, your touch, your love; I yearned for it. My home was an empty nest before you came along. You bring so much light, positivity, and fun. There is never a dull moment with you, ma. My brother and Biggs are crazy about you and my sister adores you.” He winked at me. “I’ve become a better man since you came into my life, I promise to cherish and respect you and always protect your mind, body, and soul. Make it real for me, ma…that family life that we talked about on many late nights…make it real for me,” he folded up the piece of paper his vows were written on and slipped it back inside his tux.
The officiant nodded his head at me giving me the ok to read my vows.
“Khadi…my superman…my hero! It's no mistake that you came into my life at the time you did. You repaired my broken heart while showing me what real love feels like. When I first met you and saw how over protective you were over Khali I thought, wow I wish this man felt this way about me…and you do…you do feel that way now
and it’s the best feeling in the world, please don’t ever stop. I promise to love you in good times and bad. I promise to cherish you and hold you in highest regard. If you have to carry the world on your shoulders, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. And that family life that we’ve talked about on those late nights…” I paused letting another tear slip from eye getting choked up, not caring that I spent three hundred dollars on this beat today. “That family life is here,” I took his hand and rubbed it against my stomach and watched his eyes widened in shock.
“You serious?” he questioned, pulling me in and kissing me lovingly. “You for real?” he pulled away asking me. I was so overwhelmed I could only shake my head, yes.
“Ahem,” the officiant cleared his throat, “Shall we continue?” he asked and everyone laughed.
“My bad my man, go ahead,” Khadi smiled at me giving me a look that let him know he was feeling like he was on top of the world.
“Do you, Khadi Santana Jr. take this woman, Brooklyn Trase to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health?” the officiant rattled off as Khadi plastered a sly grin on his face looking down at me.
“I do,” he intertwined his hands with mine as he slipped the diamond studded band in front of my ten-carat emerald cut ring.
“Brooklyn Trase, do you take this man, Khadi Santana Jr. to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health?”
“I do,” I said sliding the David Yurman three row diamond band on his finger.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss”
Khadi didn’t even let him finish, before he was kissing me all over my face. “You having my baby?” he kept asking in between kisses.
Everything was beautiful from our all white candlelit ceremony to the glamorous over the top reception, everyone was having a great time, drinks were flowing, people were dancing nonstop. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this happy. I was dancing on the floor with Kassidy and my grandmother to Candy by Cameo until Khadi grabbed the mic from the DJ
