by AC Arthur
“I knew that you needed to hear her tell you that what happened to Hiari was not your fault and not your responsibility,” he replied. “I knew that seeing her would make you happy, Zera. And that’s all I ever want is for you to be happy.”
She was crying again and Zera swore she must be making up for all the years that she’d refused to let a tear drop. But even seeing Dane through bleary eyes she knew what she felt and she did not hesitate to share it this time, with him and anyone else listening.
“I love you, Dane. I love you so very much,” she told him.
His smile widened and he wrapped his arms around her. “Then I’m guessing this affair is officially over because I love you too, Zera. I love you and I want to spend every day of the rest of my life with you in my arms.”
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
Oloolaimutia Hills, Kenya
Dane never thought he’d end up here. Not physically in Africa. That was a trip he’d always planned to take. He was referring to the fact that he was getting ready to marry someone.
Three weeks after he’d returned from the extended trip to Paris, Dane sold his house in New York and permanently moved into his house in San Francisco. With Cade and Necole’s recommendations and a call from the Secretary General of Interpol, Zera had been transferred to the FBI’s San Francisco office where she had been promoted to a transnational organized crime program.
Today, Dane stood by the pool at the Masai Mara Sopa Lodge. He wore all white—Gucci loafers, pants and matching dashiki with intricate gold embroidery around the collar, down the front and wrapping around both wrists. He’d put on his shades as he’d walked from the cottage on the left side of the resort’s public area, where all the men had been told to stay. His hands were in his front pant pockets, his legs spread slightly, gaze intent on the breathtaking glimpse of nature stretched out before him.
The resort was located on the Maasai Mara National Reserve situated in south-west Kenya which ran alongside the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Together these two wonders formed Africa’s most diverse and spectacular eco-systems, with possibly the world’s top safari big game viewing eco-system. That’s what the tour guide had told them as they’d wrapped up the 2-day safari that the event planner had arranged for the bridal party and family.
Zera wanted to combine her family’s Maasai heritage with her own contemporary style. So today was their traditional wedding and sometime during the next year, they would have another ceremony—a Western ceremony as her mother had called it—to legalize their marriage in the States. Initially there had been a tug-of-war over who would pay for the wedding. Dane’s desire was to give her whatever she wanted, regardless of the cost. But Zera insisted on paying for as much as she could on her own. She’d apparently been saving for this day. Her mother, Jacinta, had also saved. In the end, Dane had let the women have their way. He’d also added Zera’s name to his bank account so that whatever else she needed would be at her disposal without them having to discuss the matter again.
All that was important to Dane was seeing Zera’s smile. Knowing that she was safe and that each night he would climb into bed beside her. There was a time, not too long ago, that Dane hadn’t been sure that would happen. He was beyond grateful for this moment.
“It is beautiful here,” Bernard said coming to stand beside Dane.
He clapped a hand on Dane’s shoulder and Dane nodded.
“It is,” Dane conceded.
“And your wife-to-be is beautiful.”
Dane’s head snapped in Bernard’s direction. “You’ve seen her?”
Bernard chuckled, his broad shoulders moving with the action. He wore the same white outfit as Dane, but his dashiki had a different gold embroidered design. Dane’s two groomsmen also wore the white and gold outfit. It was what had been designed for them and approved by Zera, so no one had complained.
“No. But I’ve already seen her, remember? She’s a beautiful woman inside and out, Dane. And she loves and respects you. When you get down to it, that’s what really matters.”
“I love her,” Dane admitted. “I didn’t think I would ever be in this place emotionally. But here I am.”
“Here we both are,” Bernard continued. “You in love with the woman you are planning to marry. And me, glad to be standing up for you. I’d say we’ve both come full circle on our journey.”
Dane suspected that a big part of Bernard’s declaration came from the fact that Mary Lee had accompanied him here. She’d been staying in one of the cottages with Brynne and Keysa, but she was here and from what Bernard had told him previously, the two of them were spending more and more time together. So yeah, Dane guessed, Bernard had come full circle.
“It’s been one hell of a journey,” Dane said. He’d never thought he would have so much emotional upheaval by the time he turned forty-two. Nor could he have imagined the happiness he would find at the end of all the turmoil.
“I have just one bit of advice for you and I know you’re going to be hesitant about taking it considering all that you and I have been through,” Bernard said. “But I want you to always cherish her, Dane. Second only to the Lord, she is your highest priority in this life. Respect her. Protect her. Be honest with her. Love her.”
Dane listened to the words. He heard the hitch in Bernard’s voice as he said the last and that final barrier that had still been lingering between them shattered. He turned so that he could face the man and removed his sunglasses. Their gazes locked, father and son, and Dane nodded because at the moment the emotion welling up in him was so thick it clogged his throat.
“I thought I loved Jocelyn,” Bernard continued. “In the end I don’t think I did. Not enough anyway. And your mother—” He sighed. “That was an unfortunate situation. One that you should have never had to suffer for, Son. I should have done better by you and Jocelyn, and even Mary Lee. But I didn’t. I’m not ashamed to admit that now.”
“You did your best,” Dane said. He wondered where those words had come from. For so long Dane had thought it best to hate whichever one of the Donovan men had actually fathered him. He’d thought it was better to hate them all. But that hatred had eventually dissipated when Dane realized it would never cause the past to be erased. Everything happened as it was supposed to, good and bad, just as Aunt Birdie said. What mattered now was this moment in time.
“I’m proud to have you standing with me today…Dad.” That last word almost broke him.
Bernard’s strong arms going around Dane’s shoulders and pulling him in close for a tight hug, could have physically and emotionally crushed him. Instead, they empowered him. Filling him with pride and confidence that could only radiate through the bond of black men.
“I’m proud of you, Dane. You’re my son. My son,” Bernard repeated as he clapped his hands over Dane’s back. “My son.”
Zera came to a stop at the end of the sparkling gold runner that had been stretched down the twenty-foot aisle. Brown chairs with the backs covered in red and blue shuka cloth were in straight lines, rows of six across, fifteen going down.
A few feet behind her, women whom she had grown up calling aunts, but were only related by their shared culture, sang and danced. They were dressed in colorful dresses and wearing lots of jewelry. Their songs were a celebration for the creation of a new family. The words to each song meant to encourage Zera to be active in her new home and to overcome all the troubles that might come. Zera thought she and Dane had already done enough overcoming.
Zera took a step, staring down at the tip of her new polka dot tennis shoes peeking out from beneath the white gown and matching cape she wore. The outfit was beautiful and had been specially made for her. All white jacquard fabric flowed into a three foot train that followed her as she moved, the cap stopping at her ankles. Small circles of Maasai beads lined the edge of the dress’s bodice and along the edges of the cape. A larger circle of beads held the cape closed and rested at the center of her chest. Therefore she
was not able to wear a traditional wedding necklace. Instead, her grandmother had made Zera a special headpiece with fine Maasai beads and two thin silver chains that draped low on her forehead.
Her mother stood to her right at Zera’s request, her grandmother to her left. They were both dressed in traditional Maasai dresses, matching headpieces wrapped to sit high on their heads. As Zera had never known her father, she wanted to be presented to Dane anyway. She saw him waiting for her, his all white attire accented his rich mocha skin tone. Beside him was his father, Roark and Cade Donovan. They all looked debonair and serious. But Zera’s heart only beat for Dane.
Look how far they’d come. It had taken them four years to get to this point. Four years, her kidnapped cousin, two deranged and obsessed men and a direct connection to a Russian bratva, to be exact. Damn, she loved this man. It had begun in those first days all those years ago, but in the last nine months that feeling had truly blossomed to the point that Zera thought it might actually overtake her.
But Dane would never allow that to happen. He loved her and because of that loved, he’d moved across the country so that she could accept a promotion to a unit that would focus on bringing down the Belyakov bratva and any other organizations like it that thought human trafficking was just a quick get-rich scheme. Dane had even supported her desire to have a traditional wedding ceremony first, even though it would not be a legal joining. Zera would most happily marry Dane again, and again.
Her smile was bright as she made her way down the aisle to finally lock hands with Dane.
Behind her, Ines and Dane’s sisters—Brynne and Keysa—walked wearing white mermaid skirts and sleeveless gold lace applique tops. He held her hand and together they watched as the ladies came dancing down the aisle. They were joined by a group of men who made their way across the front of the altar, to join the ladies going back up the aisle. It was at that point that everyone joined in with the singing and dancing. The words and dance steps had been taught last night during the family dinner.
More members of Dane’s family than Zera had imagined had come to the ceremony. Roark, Ridge, Suri and Aunt Maxine. Aunt Birdie who flat out told Zera last night that she would not be singing or dancing today, sat with her arms folded, a ghost of a smile etching her face. Henry and Beverly Donovan were sitting on the front row. Linc, Jade and the twins were beside them. To some shock, Linc and Jade had announced last night that they would be opening a new casino in Paris. Bailey Donovan and her husband Devlin were also present. As well as Albert Donovan, his son Brock and Brock’s pregnant wife, Noelle.
Zera had been happy to meet them all and was actually looking forward to being part of such a big family.
The significance of this ceremony was for the community to see her and Dane together, rather than them just signing a document. For her people it was more about the union and how the new couple would interact with their community. As Zera and Dane stood at the altar they hugged and shared a quick kiss, before turning to face their guests. But just as more music and dancing were to begin, Zera spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
Necole LeAmbette was there and sitting right beside her was…Zera gasped. She clamped a hand to her chest and felt Dane wrap his arm around her to keep from falling.
“Hiari?”
Necole saw that Zera had seen her and she stood, taking the hand of the woman that had been sitting beside her. They walked down the aisle to audible gasps. Zera could hear her mother and grandmother singing.
“Emmet Parks was a liar and a criminal, Zera,” Necole said. “I never stopped looking for her or any word of what had actually happened to her. We found another girl from their group and she told us that Hiari had been sold to a couple in Malaysia. I promised you I would bring her home and I did.”
“Zera,” Hiari said in a voice that was the best music Zera could ever hear.
She looked the same, but she had grown taller. Her hair was ruthlessly short but her brown eyes were still beautiful and her high cheekbones matched Zera’s and their grandmother’s.
“Hiari,” Zera said and pulled her cousin into her arms.
There was nothing better, Zera thought hours later when Dane was sitting at the table beside her watching as their guests continued to dance, sing and eat until the late hours of the night. Hiari did not dance, but she had smiled as she sat near their grandmother. She smiled and she looked around the room to find Zera’s gaze often.
No, Zera thought again, there was nothing better than this. Her life, her people, and her loves.
The Donovan
Family Tree
The Donovan Family Tree
1st Generation
Elias (d) & Gertrude Donovan (d) – Children: Rowan (m. Adeline) and
Charleston (m. Cora)
Rowan (d) & Adeline Donovan (d) – Children: Isaiah (m. Dorethea), Aaron [d] (m. Sondra), Abraham (never married) and Bridgette a.k.a. Birdie (never married)
Charleston (d) & Cora Donovan (d) – Children: Cephus (m. MingLee), Joanna (m. Johnathan Bowers), Katherine (d) (m. Myles Denton), Della (m. Robert Sats)
2nd Generation
Isaiah “Ike” (d) & Dorethea “Dot” Donovan (d) – Children: Albert (m. Darla[d]), Henry (m. Beverly), Bernard (m. Jocelyn), Everette (m. Alma), Reginald (m. Carolyn) and Bruce (m. Janean)
Aaron [d] & Sondra – Child: Gabriel (m. Maxine)
Abraham “Abe” Donovan – Child: Margo (m. Klevon Whitfield)
Bridgette “Birdie” Donovan – No Children
Cephus & Ming Lee – Children: Charles (m. Brenda), Wen (m. Hugo Norton)
Joanna & Johnathan Bowers – Children: (twins) Loretta (m. Billy Ringgold), Lorraine (m. Jerry Seavers)
Katherine “Kay” (d) & Myles Denton (d) – Children: Myles, Jr. (m. Alice)
Della & Robert – No Children
3rd Generation
Albert & Darla – Children: Brock (m. Noelle), Brandon (m. Amber) and Bailey
Henry & Beverly – Children: Lincoln (m. Jade), Trenton (m. Tia) and Adam (m. Camille)
Bernard & Mary Lee (x) – Child: Keysa (m. Ian)
Bernard & Jocelyn – Child: Brynne
Everette & Alma – Children: Maxwell (m. Deena) and Benjamin (m. Victoria)
Reginald & Carolyn – Children: Savian (m. Jenise), Parker (x Jaydon (d)) (Adriana), and Regan (Gavin)
Bruce & Janean – Children: Dion (m. Lyra) and Sean (m. Tate)
Gabriel & Maxine – Children: Roark, Ridgely and Suri
Margo & Klevon – Children: (triplets) Alexis, Adonna and Amelia
Charles & Brenda – Children: Cadence “Cade”, Dakota
Wen & Hugo – Child: Xia
Loretta & Billy – Children: Maria, Morganna & Hannah
Lorraine & Jerry – Children: Kendra & Cecile “CeeCee”
Myles Jr. & Alice – Child: Myles, III
4th Generation
Brock & Noelle
Brandon & Amber – Child: Serene
Bailey & Devlin
Lincoln & Jade – Children: Torian & Tamala
Trenton & Tia – Child: Trevor
Adam & Camille – Children: Josiah, Jordan
Dane & Zera
Keysa & Ian – Child: Madison Lee
Brynne & Wade
Maxwell & Deena – Child: Sophia
Benjamin & Victoria – Child: Aria
Savian & Jenise
Parker & Adriana
Regan & Gavin – Child: Raleigh
Dion & Lyra – Child: Ilyssa
Sean & Tate – Child: Briana
******Key: m = married; [d] = deceased; x = divorced
The Donovan Series
The Seniors are listed in order by birth and their children are listed below them (also in order by birth)
Senior – Albert Donovan
Brock & Noelle {Book#4 Full House Seduction}
Brandon & Amber {Book#12 In The Arms Of A Donovan}
Bailey & Devlin {Book#14 Falling For A Donovan}
Senior - He
nry & Beverly Donovan
Lincoln & Jade (Children: Twin daughters, Torian & Tamala) {Book#1 Love Me Like No Other}
Trenton & Tia (Child: Son, Trevor) {Book#3 Defying Desire}
Adam & Camille (Children: Sons, Josiah and Jordan) {Book#2 A Cinderella Affair}
Senior – Bernard & Jocelyn Donovan
Keysa & Ian {Book#6 Holiday Hearts}
Brynne & Wade {Book#15 Destiny Of A Donovan}
Senior – Everette & Alma Donovan
Maxwell & Deena (Child: Daughter, Sophia) {Book#5 Touch of Fate}
Benjamin & Victoria (Child: Daughter, Aria) {Book#9 Pleasured By A Donovan}
Senior – Reginald & Carolyn Donovan
Parker & Adriana {Book#11 Embraced By A Donovan}
Savian & Jenise {Book #12 Wrapped In A Donovan}
Regan & Gavin (Child: Son, Raleigh) {Book#10 Heart Of A Donovan}
Senior - Bruce & Janean Donovan
Dion & Lyra (Child: Daughter, Ilyssa) {Book#7 Desire A Donovan}
Sean & Tate (Child: Daughter, Briana) {Book#8 Surrender To A Donovan}
The Donovan Friends
The Desdunes
Lucien & Marie Desdune
Lynette & Brice (Child: Son, Jeremy) {A Christmas Wish - Under the Mistletoe Anthology}
Cole & Loren {Always My Valentine}
Samuel & Karena (Child: Son, Elijah) {Summer Heat}
Sabrina & Lorenzo (Children: Daughters, Delia & Desirae, Son, Daniel) {Guarding His Body}