The Monarch Room
Page 28
Epilogue
June 3rd …
Balloons lined the ceiling. Blue and white. Zuri’s favorite colors. Her mother was in the kitchen finishing up jollof rice and it smelled amazing. I wanted her recipe.
“She’s going to be so excited, Roman,” she grinned. “She’ll never suspect a surprise birthday party.” Once Zuri came clean to her mom about us, she took a while to fully accept our relationship. But then she saw how in love we were and let her apprehensions go. Her daughter was happy, so she was too.
“She’s going to flip the fuck out,” Krissy chirped once Miss Okolo wasn’t listening anymore.
“I hope so,” I sighed. I was nervous. There was no way around it. My mother walked up and gave my hand a squeeze.
“You’re so sweet for all of this, Roman.”
“Thanks, Mom. I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it weren’t for you and Miss Okolo.”
“So, am I just chopped liver?” Matt frowned.
“Eh, a little.” Krissy giggled, bumping him with her full hips and he followed behind her to the other side of the room.
“She’s coming!” Krissy squeaked, running away from the window.
“River!” I called out. He came thundering into the living room, wearing the shirt I picked out for him. “Riri is here.”
“She is?” He beamed. “Is it showtime?”
“It’s showtime,” I winked at him just as Zuri walked in.
“Okay, you guys ready to go out and eat?” I heard her say from the foyer. I walked behind River and he ran over to her. She picked him up and kissed his cheek as usual. Then, her eyes fell to his shirt.
“What’s this shirt you have on, River?” She looked at me, then set him down so she could read it. River was a pro. He tugged on the hem so she could see every word. “Will you marry my daddy ?” The words came out slowly and then I watched as recognition crashed into her.
Her hands trembled. Water filled her brown eyes and her bottom lip wobbled. “Roman…” She could barely breathe once I lowered to one knee.
“Zuri, I’ve never believed in love at first sight but from the moment I saw your eyes in my dream, I knew it existed. I knew your love would ruin me, and I knew it would be worth it. Will you please grant me the honor of being my wife and starting a new life with me?”
“Oh my God, I…can’t breathe.”
“I need you to breathe, princess. You can’t say yes if you can’t breathe.” I opened up the ring box and showed her my mother’s engagement ring. She put a shaky hand over her mouth and nodded in silence.
“Yes, Roman!” I took her left hand in mine and slipped the newly resized ring on.
“You’re my mommy now!” River exclaimed. “Riri is my mommy!” He hugged her legs and I picked him up, hoisting him onto my shoulders.
We walked into the living room and everyone shouted surprise and sang happy birthday. “You guys…” Zuri sniffled, holding on to my middle.
“Happy birthday Zuri, my beautiful girl,” her mother hugged her. “Congratulations. You deserve to be happy, baby.”
“Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, everyone.” She turned to me and kissed my lips, “Thank you Mr. Clermont.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Clermont.” We shared a kiss while everyone cheered and clapped. I’d never felt more proud before in my life. Zuri was going to be my wife.
Our rebirth had already begun. She was enrolled in college and she was majoring in English with a minor in creative writing. Meanwhile, I was busy drawing pictures daily for new commissions.
We’d long since put her father and principal Palmer behind us. Not surprisingly, neither of them bothered us after dinner at my parents’ house. Okolo did give Zuri free reign and he also asked her about me constantly like I was the key to his success. If my father had anything to do with it, he’d never evolve in his career.
None of the mattered though. I was sitting back on the couch, watching my fiancé play with our son and we were surrounded by people we loved. I was at the height of happiness. This was my pinnacle. Things would only get better from here.
The End.
AUTHOR’S NOTE…
Thank you for reading Roman and Zuri’s beautiful love story. I hope these characters found their way into your mind and heart the way they did with me. I thoroughly enjoyed writing about them.
While their story is complete, there are other stories that are just getting started. Matt and Krissy have a lot to say and they’ll get to tell you all about it in my next book: The Moreau Estates.
I appreciate my readers so much! More than you guys will ever know. Thank you for sticking with me.
Please stalk me online. I welcome it!
Visit my website…
http://www.missdaniellejames.com
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Other books by Danielle James
Twisted Series:
The Twisted Series (Books 1-6)
Flowers Behind the Gates Series:
Flowers Behind the Gates
Sleeping Monsters
Power Trip
Death of a Rose
Garden of Secrets
LUCY Duet (Books 1&2)
Naughty R&B (A six story anthology)
Have Mercy
Dangerous Territory