Epilogue
Symir stood staring at the tombstone, trying to get his thoughts together. He placed the flowers in front of the tombstone and sighed. He didn’t even know what he wanted to say, he just knew he had to come.
“Umm, Symir Junior is three months old now. He looks just like me…like us. I know I haven’t been here since we buried you, and I’m sorry. It’s just that coming here is never easy for me to do. I promise I’ll get better at it. As you know, I’m out of the game now so I’ll have a lot of free time on my hands which means I’ll be stopping by more.”
Hearing footsteps being him, he turned around and smiled.
“I hate to interrupt, but everyone is waiting for us. You ready?”
“Yea, here I come,” Symir said as he turned back to the tombstone. Placing two fingers up to his mouth, he kissed them before touching the tombstone with those same two fingers. “Alright Pops, I’ll check you later.”
“Here, hand me my little man.” Symir smiled at his son.
“Gladly,” Anika said as she looked at her man and her son.
She looked at the two of them with love in her eyes as Sasha grabbed on to her hand. She didn’t think she would be here, with them, after she flatlined twice in the delivery room. She kept fighting though because she had three reasons to.
“We better hurry. Asia’s been blowing up my phone and if we don’t make it there soon, she’ll kill us,” Symir said as he strapped his son in his car seat while Anika helped Sasha into hers.
“How do you feel?” Anika asked him once they got on the road.
“Good. I know he was happy that I came to see him.” Symir smiled.
Today was the thirteenth anniversary of his father’s death. This was the first time since his father’s funeral that he had been to his grave, and he was feeling bad for it. He knew he didn’t have to go to his grave to talk to his dad, but it felt good doing so.
The sun was starting to set just as they pulled up to the beach. The couple got their kids out of the car and walked over to their family.
“About time!” Asia spat. “How do you show up late to your own wedding?” she asked as she handed Anika her bouquet.
“I had something I needed to do, bossy,” Symir laughed.
Anika and Symir didn’t want to do the traditional wedding thing, they wanted something different. Anika had the bright idea of having a sunset/night wedding on the beach. Since Cookie had dreams of being a wedding planner, they gave her the chance to start with them and set everything up.
She had actually done a beautiful job. She had tiki torches set up that represented the aisle Anika was walking down, sky lanterns that were to be released after the vows, candles that formed into an open heart that Anika and Symir would be standing in. She had even picked out the bouquet that Anika was carrying.
“Can we start now?” Crystal asked.
“Yes, ma,” Symir laughed.
Everyone got into position as they prepared for their first family wedding. Sasha and Serenity threw flowers out and let them blow in the wind before Symir walked down in his little white linen suit, which matched his uncles’, with the rings.
“You ready, baby girl?” Javier, Anika’s father asked.
“I’m too ready.” Anika smiled as she looped her arm in his.
Javier walked Anika to where Symir and the preacher were standing. Anika looked to the man that she loved more than anything besides her children and instantly got teary-eyed. They had literally been through hell and back together but she wouldn’t have changed a thing. Everything they went through was designed to bring them closer together and to make them stronger and that’s exactly what they did; got stronger.
“Who gives this woman away?” the preacher asked.
“I do,” Javier said.
“This family is gathered here to today to witness the vow of everlasting love between Anika Barnes and Symir Wright. With God with them and on their side, let no one or nothing come between their love. The two have chosen the option of writing their own vows,” the preacher said as Anika and Symir grabbed ahold of each other’s hands.
“Anika, I knew ever since I used to chase you around the neighborhood that you and I would have something unbreakable. You gave me two of the best gifts a man could ever have and even though I may not tell you enough, I appreciate you more than you will ever know. I vow that as long as I have breath in my body, I will always put you first and love you unconditionally.”
By now, Anika was crying. She had to take a deep breath before she said her vows.
“Symir, from the moment you first pulled my hair and hit me, I knew I couldn’t stand you. It was also in that moment that I knew we would end up being together for the rest of our lives. You stood by my side and had my back when I felt as if the whole world was against me. You gave me hope when I had none, loved me when I couldn’t even love myself. Yes, we may have had some bad times, but they made me appreciate the good times we’ve had. I vow that as long as I am breathing, I will be loyal and love you until I can’t love anymore.”
“Oh gosh, I so love y’all,” Asia said out loud, which caused everyone to laugh.
“On this beautiful night, two come together to join as one. I hereby pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Symir pulled his new wife into his arms and kissed her like he had never kissed her before. Everyone started screaming, especially Baby Mir, and clapping at the newlyweds.
“I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Symir Julian Wright.”
Everyone gathered near the water to light their sky lanterns. Symir and Anika shared the biggest one and let go of theirs first. After theirs flew away, everyone else let go of their individual ones.
“I love you, Mrs. Wright,” Symir told his wife.
“I love you, too, Mr. Wright,” Anika gushed.
“I love you more,” Sasha told her parents as she hugged their legs.
“We got next?” Knowledge asked Asia as he pulled her close.
“Maybe one day, baby. Maybe one day,” she said before kissing his lips.
The End
Coming Soon
Doing It Wrong
Mickey & Patience’s Story
Charmanie Saquea
-1-
So I placed my heart under lock and key
To take some time, and take care of me
But I turn around and you’re standing here
Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” blasted through the speakers as Patience sat in her bed sipping her Pink Moscato. This song stirred up so many emotions in her that it was giving her a headache. Or is it the fact that I drunk a whole bottle of wine? she thought to herself as she held up the almost empty wine bottle.
She heard a loud knock on her front door and didn’t even bother to get up, already knowing who it was. She turned her music up to drown out the knocking and a few seconds later she felt her phone vibrate.
“Ten missed calls and five unread text messages,” she said out loud to herself.
Mekal: Open the damn door before I kick it in.
Knowing he would make good on his word, Patience finally decided to get out of the bed. She let out a breath of air as she ran down the stairs to open the front door.
“What?” she slightly slurred.
Mickey examined her from head to toe, admiring the black teddy she had on. “We gon stand here all night or you gone move so I can get in the bed and go to sleep?” Mickey asked.
“How about you drive across town to your own house, get in your own bed and go to sleep?” she retorted.
Ignoring her smart mouth, Mickey picked her up by her waist and moved her out of the way. He stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed the rose petals on the floor, the candles that were almost burned out, and the lone wine glass. He also made note of the music coming from upstairs.
“You got company?” he questioned as he looked at her clothes once again.
“I did, but I guess now that you’re h
ere, play time is over. “ Patience rolled her eyes.
“Yo, watch your fucking mouth before I have to pop you in it.”
Mickey didn’t know what to think or how to feel right now. Was another nigga here? he thought to himself. He had called Patience ten times and not once did she answer. He even tried texting her and got the same result. At first he was worried, but now he knew she was flat out ignoring him.
“Fuck you, Mekal! I did all this for you, thinking that maybe, just maybe, you would actually come over at a decent time and we would actually spend some time together. Silly me, though. You never bring your black ass over here earlier than one o’clock in the morning, so I blame myself for getting my hopes up,” Patience said as she ran back up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door.
Mickey stood there scratching his head and feeling stupid. He did promise Patience that he would come over early and spend some time with her. Since Symir handed down the business to him, he felt as if he had to work twice as hard to keep up the work ethic.
He ran up the stairs to the bedroom and cautiously entered. Patience was back on her bed finishing off the rest of her wine and listening to her tunes. He walked over to the bed and took the wine glass out of her hand before placing it on the dresser.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he leaned in to kiss her.
Patience turned her head so he kissed her cheek and continued all the way down to her neck. Patience was about to let out a moan until she was hit with an aroma. Pushing Mickey off of her, she looked at him sideways.
“What?” he asked confused.
“Who is she?” Patience asked.
“What? What are you talking about, Patience?”
“Why the hell do you smell like a damn bottle of Axe?” she asked.
Mickey had never came over to her house smelling like soap. Whenever he came over, he would chill for a hot little minute, take a shower, crash, then be gone early in the morning. Now here he was sitting right in front of her, smelling as if he had just gotten out of the shower.
“Patience, you’re tripping. What, you wanted me to come over funky as hell?” he asked.
“First of all, Mekal, you don’t do shit that would cause you to be funky. All you do is give orders, so you’re most definitely not working up a sweat. Secondly, you’ve never had a problem bringing your black ass over here in the middle of the night and showering here. You know what? Forget this conversation. You’re not even my man, so why should I care?” Patience sighed.
Plenty of times she had to remind herself that she and Mickey weren’t even official. This is why she didn’t deal with men outside of her brother. She didn’t have time for relationships, or fake ones, in the case. Mickey didn’t want to be in anything serious but got mad if he even thought she was entertaining another nigga.
“Look, Patience, whatever is going on in that head of yours, you need to cut it out. You know how I feel about you and I made it very clear what I wanted from the jump and you were cool with that.”
“You’re right, Mickey. I think you need to sleep at your own house tonight. I’m a little tipsy and in my feelings right now and I might say something crazy that I mean but don’t want you to hear,” she said as she grabbed the empty wine bottle and glass to take it downstairs.
“Nah, I’m not going anywhere. You’re going to take your tipsy ass to sleep and I’m going to be right next to you. So hurry back up,” he said as he started to undress.
Patience didn’t even bother to respond. There was no point in arguing with him. For what? She’d be mad at him tonight then love him when she woke up in the morning. She figured that having him in her bed at night was better than not having him at all.
While Patience was downstairs, Mickey’s phone vibrated indicating he had a text message.
Lexi: When are you coming back?
Not bothering to respond, he exited out of the message and turned his phone off just as Patience walked back into the bedroom. He climbed in bed with her and pulled her close to him while burying his face in her neck.
“You know I love you. I don’t know why you be tripping,” he whispered in her neck.
Sure, tell me anything, she thought to herself as she snuggled closer to him and she waited for her sleep to take her over.
Acknowledgements
First I would like to thank God for blessing me with the talent of being an author. Here I am on book number 13, none of this would have been possible without him.
To my mommy Sheree, who has been by my side since day one, you told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I put my mind to it. You have always been my backbone and I would not have made it this far without you. Also my Grammy, you've been there every step of the way and I can't thank you two enough.
S/O to my wonderful bosses Raymond and Envy for giving me a chance. Also David for putting people in a position to go after their dreams.
Much love to the whole #TBRS family.
I definitely have to give a big shout out to my first friend I made in the writing game, Treasure. You welcomed me with open arms since the beginning and we've been tight ever since. I appreciate all the help, feedback and even the yelling because it helped me out a lot. No matter how many times I wanted to give up, you pushed me harder. I love you lots!
Anjela!!!! Thank you for reading all my emails, calling me out when I was just chilling instead of writing and thank you soooooo much for all the love you have shown and being the motivation that needed. I love you hun <3
Tenita, my Gemini Twin, thank you for always being available to read something for me and giving me great feedback.
Erinn, thank you for keeping me laughing when I needed it the most and never believing me when I said my writing career was over.
Julisa, I appreciate all the inboxes I have received from you when you were trying to put things together and figure stuff out. I also appreciate you telling your friends about my books, you are the bomb.com
Alisha, thank your for letting me hit up your inbox your inbox whenever I needed your opinion on something or wanted to know if it was flowing like it should. I really appreciate it.
I definitely can't thank all the loyal fans who have been riding with me since Official Girl. You guys have been my motivation to keep going and busting my pen. All the inboxes, comments, and wall posts have never gone unnoticed and I appreciate them and you more than you will ever know.
Last but never least, my Angels in heaven, Cora (Mom), Romney (Riggz) and Marisa, Uncle Tyrone (Big Shep), and Dad. I pray that you continue to watch over me. I can't forget my cousin Tyrein, keep your head up baby, 2034 will be here before you know it.
More books by Charmanie Saquea
Official Girl
Official Girl 2
Official Girl 3
Official Girl 4
Pursuing The Madam
Pursuing The Madam 2
Pursuing The Madam 3
A Gangster’s Dream (with Treasure Malian)
A Gangster’s Dream 2 (with Treasure Malian)
Married To The Mob Detroit
Feels So Right, It Must Be Wrong
Feels So Right, It Must Be Wrong 2
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Feels So Right, It Must Be Wrong 3 Page 15