by Xyla Turner
What a fucking bitch.
I did not even give a shit that it costs me. Cost me to come, cost me to stay, cost me to book the room or anything. I just needed to see his fucking face.
Just when I thought it was over, I turned to leave, but he came back through the doors.
“What do you get out of it?” he asked with a look of confusion on his face.
“Dakota,” I answer, looking at him dead in his face. “I get my family.”
As stupid as I thought he was, he shook his head, scoffed again and left.
“He doesn’t seem to be too bright,” the paternity lawyer said.
“He’s a bitch, is what he is.” I corrected.
“You’d be surprised how many bitches I come across,” he added. “It’s a cruel world. Hoping it works out better for you.”
Looking at him, I opened the door and said, “If I’m lucky enough that she marries me, allows me to be a part of her life for a day, a year or ten, I’m lucky. Please believe, I’m going to make sure I fight for her. This bitch,” I jerked my thumb back towards the hall. “He didn’t know what he had, which is why he didn’t fight for them. I know what I have in both and neither of them can be replaced.”
Nodding my head at both of them, I waved and said, “Send me the paperwork.”
I hadn’t planned to leave until much later, but I decided to hop on the first flight home, so I could tuck in Ella and then tuck in my lady.
By the time I made it back to New York and straight to Dakota’s apartment. One knock and the door swung open and Ella came running to me as fast as her little legs could move.
“Mr. Weeesssttt,” she collapsed into my legs, where I easily swooped her into my arms.
“Hey, Ella, Bella.” I hugged her tight. “How was your day?”
“Great! It was great!” She bounced in my arms. “Guess what?”
“You’re going to make me guess?” I asked her as Dakota stood by with a wide smile on her face.
“Noooo,” Ella laughed. “Momma said that we are getting married next month.”
“We?” I raised an eyebrow and looked at Dakota.
“Yes, you, me and mommy.” She corrected.
Nodding my head as her logic began to click in, while Dakota shrugged before saying, “She’s a bit involved.”
“I love it,” I smiled down at my soon-to-be daughter.
“Also, mommy has a surprise for you,” Ella was still bouncing in my arms.
“That so?” I turned to face Dakota, along with Ella.
“Yeah, Ella can’t keep a secret.” She made the reference to her excited daughter. “This is a key to the apartment, so you don’t have to knock or wait outside if we’re not home yet.”
She shrugged, but I just looked at her and if Ella wasn’t in my arms, I would have…
Fuck it.
“Here,” I murmured, low enough for her to get my meaning.
She blushed and moved into me. Putting my hand around the back of her neck, I pulled her into me and kissed my woman.
“Ugh, Mommy. Y’all are nasty,” the little girl protested and jumped out of my arms, which was fine with me.
I kissed Dakota deeper, as I brought her closer into me. Ella was gone in her room or something, I was sure. She couldn’t stand it when we kissed like that anyways. The little girl would have to get used to it, was our stance.
Pulling away from Dakota, I said, “Thanks, Angel.”
“Of course.” Her smile was aimed right at me.
Wow, I was the luckiest man alive.
Samuel was a fucking pussy ass bitch and I’m glad he was. I was thanking my damn stars.
As soon as Ella went to bed, Dakota was on the couch next to me and cutting off Sports Center.
“Tell me what happened,” she whispered.
This caused me to chuckle as I pulled out both copies of the letters he signed.
“He signed an NDA and contract that he would cease action against suing you or me, because we would counter sue for one million from each of us.”
The second document, I was a bit hesitant to give her, because this was not a conversation I looked forward to having with Ella. I never wanted her to think that she was not worthy or that her own fucking father wanted nothing to do with her. That shit could weigh on you as time went on. She would have enough trauma to deal with in life; I didn’t want her to have to deal with this one. This was another reason why I wanted to make her officially mine.
Her birth father may be a piece of shit, but I’d always make sure my girl would have everything she needed and more. She’d know she was loved and there would be a man in her life to check any other man that even thought about entering her life. He’d deal with me. She’d be protected in every way. Always. God forbid, if things went south with her mother, Ella would always have me.
I gave her the second envelope, with the letter where he signed over his parental rights. Dakota inhaled, then released as she tore the letter open. Then she exhaled and shook her head. Tears began to swell in her eyes, so I pulled her into me, so she could cry in safety.
“Thank you so much!” she exclaimed. “I just can’t thank you enough.”
“You are thanking me?” I chuckled. “It’s my fucking pleasure, Angel. Now, there is nothing hanging over your head. Over Ella’s.”
A smile morphed on her face and then she climbed on top of me and cupped my face.
“Yes, I’m thanking you,” she confirmed. “You are such a good man and I’m speechless. This idea of someone fighting for me...fighting for us; well it’s foreign. I had to figure out everything and to have you here has been a breath of fresh air. Air that I am still adjusting to.”
Looking up at her, I wish I could have turned back the hands of time, so she would never have had to struggle. So, she wouldn’t have been alone. So, Ella wouldn’t have been without a father.
Only if I could go back into the past.
I couldn’t.
So, I just smiled.
18
Dakota Bowers
The week after Jonah returned from my home state, we had dinner with the West Family. Mrs. West was just as I’d seen her at Jonah’s house, warm, elegant and jovial. Mr. West, well, just like his son, was a bit sterner looking, yet open and gave me a heavy hug.
“Nice to finally meet the woman that has captured my son’s heart,” the man’s gruff voice echoed in the foyer, but as he eyed his son.
“Hey, Dad.” Jonah nodded. “Good to see you.”
“Come on in, come on in,” Mrs. West urged the three of us, as she led the way into the dining room. “The food is ready.”
Five minutes later, the doorbell rang and in came Jonah’s sister, Naomi and a handsome man, who looked to be Spanish.
“Hey, Dakota,” she beamed at me while making a beeline towards me.
I stood and gave her a hug.
“Where’s that baby of yours, Ella?” She asked, almost immediately.
“It’s just us tonight,” Jonah interjected. “We’re going to bring Ella next weekend.”
“That so?” Mr. West asked while sitting at the end of the dinner table, made of pure oak.
We sat down at the table as Mrs. West gathered the items and refusing my help.
“Yeah, dad,” Jonah confirmed. “We had other news we wanted to share with you.”
“Y’all are getting married!” Naomi yelped, causing Jonah to groan.
I laughed and put my hand on his leg to calm his ass down. Something about siblings, man: they had the potential to get on one’s nerves.
Truly.
His mom came running back into the dining room with a plate full of rolls.
“What’s that, I heard? Marriage?” Her face was so bright with hope embedded in her eyes.
“Can we just eat dinner, so Dakota and I can discuss what we wanted to talk about with you?” Jonah growled out.
His father nodded, then gave his daughter a stern look.
“Sure, son. Louise, get th
e rest of the food, hon.” He instructed.
She nodded and turned around but with a big smile on her face. Dinner was quite eventful as the two siblings went back and forth, as I made small talk with Javier. He was an engineer and Naomi was running a popular blog that apparently made her a lot of money. Towards the end of the dinner and by the time we went to eat the food, Jonah’s father asked, “So, the news?”
“I’ve asked Dakota to marry me, Dad,” Jonah said with such pride, I squeezed his hand. “She said yes, and we will not have a big wedding nor a long engagement.”
“You’re pregnant?” His mom asked, with more hope in her eyes.
“No,” I shook my head. “We’re not pregnant. We just want to model for my daughter what happens with two people love each other and do that the right way.”
“Wow,” Naomi smiled and leaned into her husband. “Never thought I’d see the day Jonah would do anything traditional.”
“I still haven’t seen the day when you have shut your mouth,” he remarked.
This caused us to laugh, until Jonah’s dad said, “What do you need from us, son?”
“Nothing, just your support. The wedding will be next month at a small chapel. I’ll get you invitations.”
“You got it,” his father assured and then smiled at me. “Welcome to the West family.”
“Thanks so much.”
His mom was up and rounding the table to come and give us both hugs and kisses.
“Ma,” Jonah whined.
I just smiled and received it. Hell, I hadn’t had that since I was eleven years old. Tears actually came to my eyes as I thought at the moment and knew my mom would be proud of me. She would have loved Jonah for Ella and for me. Dad would have too.
That made me proud.
The public launch of Skin for Her was more than I could have ever expected. Just as Jonah said, not only were people coming out of all four corners of the earth to be a part of this, but they wanted to invest in it in every way. The fact that I did stick with my brand of aiming towards women of color, made it exclusive. There was some backlash after one of the commercials included me addressing this.
“Women of Color are always left out of the discussion. We are sloppy seconds. We get a shelf of beauty items for us. I made this, so my daughter and people that have a darker pigment are no longer left as an afterthought. This was for them.”
Well, boy did that hit the news circuits. Every anchor from CNN to Messy Mandy from those Lunchtime Chronicles in my inbox. After Jonah saw it, he said, “You know, Angel. I’m a man that can admit when he’s wrong, but you targeting your market on this group. I felt like it would limit you, but fuck. I think it made it so fucking exclusive, you’ll make more money as people will look for you to make something for them. Genius.”
This caused me to laugh as I kissed him hard. His support was always there, but for him to validate my plan, was a bonus.
“I love you.” I pecked him on the lips.
“Because of that?” He chuckled.
“No, silly.” I smiled. “Just you for being you.”
Our next dinner with the West Family was an Ella-fest. This girl received double and triple love as she charmed that whole family. Even Mr. West grabbed her from everyone and showed her his study and the backyard, with the big tire swing hanging from the trees. Why he told her she could come over whenever she wanted, I do not know.
Every day, she was asking about that tire swing and going to see grandma and grandpa. I laughed, as the girl went from having just her mother to an entire family. This made me extremely happy as I reflected on my childhood and so pleased that Ella would have an opportunity to have so much more. She deserved every bit of it. Even her teacher commented on how chatty Ella had been about her new family. Then she congratulated me on my engagement.
Sure enough, the next weekend, we were back at Grandma and Grandpa’s house for the day. Then Jonah coaxed me to leave and let them have their time. Ella was not worried in the least bit, as all attention was on the little smarty pants. By the time we came back from going on an ice-cream run, the little girl had invited the whole family to Disney World. Get this.
They all said they were coming too.
Jonah looked at me and no words were needed, but then I leaned over and said, “Built-in babysitters.”
He loosened up a bit, but still was shaking his head in disbelief.
“You okay with this?” He asked with a kiss.
“I love it.” I smiled at him. “She loves it.”
“I love y’all,” he murmured in my temple, while rubbing his hand over my belly.
Jonah and I had been having the baby conversation. Well, it was mostly him rubbing my belly, kissing it and asking random questions about having babies. The week before our wedding, I asked him how many children did he want.
Those brown eyes hit me with his fork in mid-air.
“As many of them as you’re willing to give me,” he replied without any hesitation. “You want more kids?”
“I do.”
“How many?” He asked me.
“I’ve always wanted three to four kids,” I shared with a smirk on my face.
Mainly because I could see the wheels turning behind those eyes of his.
“That so,” he exclaimed while putting his for down. “When did you want to start on baby number two?”
Looking up in the air, I tapped my chin with the right index finger. “I’d love to enjoy my husband for a year or so. Then we can start on baby number two.”
“Husband, huh?” His expression changed, and I knew there’d be no more eating that night.
The food was pushed to the side and he made me his dessert for the evening. Again, there would be no complaints from me.
Our wedding was small, just like I wanted with his friends, family and shocker, Sissy Bowers came through. She wasn’t a mother, but she played a part in my life. She loved Ella, who seemed to brighten the woman up. It never really hit me, that she did not have any children of her own and how that probably impacted her. This woman was completely different around the five-year-old. Smiling, laughing, and fucking tickling her.
I’ll be.
Jonah simply pulled me in and kissed my forehead as I watched in awe. Then he murmured, “Kids will do that to you.”
“Yeah,” I chuckled. “I guess so.”
Our ceremony was brief as we exchanged our own vows with each other. Tears in both of our eyes, which had the whole place sniffling. Ella was the best and only flower girl and that was really the only role that anyone had besides Jonah and me. He was glad, because he didn’t want to choose between Cano and Vega to be the best men, so it worked out just right.
Ella stayed with her grandparents, who insisted that this overnight sleepover needed to take place. Jonah nor I could stop any of those people. Then she had scheduled visits with her new auntie and uncle. That West family was fiercely loyal and my girl, Ella, was having the time of her life. My new husband had to stop me from calling every hour. I tried to explain that I’d never been away from her this long. He said he understood, but hid my phone, so he could prepare my ass for his big cock. It was a distraction, I knew, but it felt so good. His process included him sucking on my clit, as he slid another anal plug of a different size.
Ella, to our surprise, did not want to go on the honeymoon with us. She was content with not seeing us kiss and hug on each other any more than she had to.
Her words.
On our trip, we went on a few excursions that involved a hot air balloon over Italy, water skis, and sky diving. Jonah thought I was crazy, but it was so much fun. Soon, we wouldn’t be able to do any of these adventurous things, so that was our time. He turned green a few times, but the man wouldn’t concede. He supported me each and every day. He did say, I had to learn how to swim before we left, so we practiced on a daily basis. By the end of the week, I was able to float and swim for short distances. Ella would be proud of me when we went to Disney World. I could join my
girl on the water rides.
On our way back, Jonah gave me a present while on the plane.
“What’s this?” I asked as I looked up to see him staring at him.
“Open it,” he replied.
It was his initial investment agreement. However, written across the papers, it said void in big red letters.
“Jonah?” I called in confusion. “What’s this?”
“I voided our contract, so you owe me or the company nothing. Your profit will go towards that. Not back to the investor.” He shared.
“Jonah,” I gasped. “This is business, babe.”
“Almost six years ago, you cursed me out, declaring that the world had not heard the last of you or your brand. Angel, you’re in the paper, on television shows, being interviewed by major anchors around the world. Your dream came true and you said it would. The world knows your name. But more importantly, you agreed to take my name and that honor is by far what I care about the most. Therefore, Innovate, Period and Innovate, Period+, will serve as a startup for you, but this is you. It’s been gifted and now, you own the company nothing. You continue to be the success that you have set out to be and I get to watch you turn this world on its head. Fuck, I’m honored.”
A lone tear ran down my face as I thought about that day. It was like everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Yet, six years later, those same things turned out for my good. I had to be rejected by Jonah, Sammy and figure out what my unborn child and I were going to do. Because five years later, I would be sought after by Jonah, for helping me to get my project off the ground, to form a loving relationship to the point that we just married. My daughter is the joy of our lives, including her extended family. Now, the startup money that was invested, was gifted back.
It had to happen.
The good, bad and ugly.
Therefore, I planned to cherish this good.
Leaning up to kiss my husband, I laid my head on his chest, as he pulled me into him and went to sleep, feeling safe, loved and cherished.