Chapter 45 - Epilogue

~Four months later~

William

“Hey, beautiful! Almost ready?” I asked. She turned to face me, and I could immediately tell something wasn’t right.

“No, no, I’m not almost ready! I’m not ready at all,” she said, throwing her hands in the air.

“I just read over the speech, and it’s horrendous! I have to start over, there is no way I’ll be reading this at graduation. I don’t have time to write a new speech, let alone memorize it. I’m going to make a fool of myself,” she continued to ramble.

I leaned back against the wall, watching her pace around the room. It had been a crazy few months after she had been taken, between the press, the tension with her family, finishing school, and figuring out her future, not to mention dealing with the traumatic experience she went through.

I was proud of the woman standing in front of me. She had shown to me time and again just how strong she was, and I loved her all the more for it.

Walking up to her, I wrapped my hands around her waist from behind, stopping the pacing she had started.

“Babe, I’ve read your speech. I’ve heard you say it a dozen times. It’s a good speech. Scratch that, it’s a great speech. Now, will you quit doubting yourself and put on your robe before we start running late?” I reassured her, simultaneously cutting off her rambling.

Shifting in my arms, she turned around to face me. I looked down into her doe sweet eyes. How did I ever get so lucky?

“You really think so?” she asked. Her eyes harbored the worry she was feeling.

“I do,” I answered confidently.

“You’re not just saying this so I get a move on?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at me. I couldn’t help the chuckle that left my lips. Bending down, I pecked her on the lips.

“No, I’m not,” I unwrapped myself from her, I added. “Now get a move on,” I teasingly slapped her ass as she walked away for good measure.

“Hey!” she protested playfully, earning another chuckle. She had me wrapped around her finger, and I don’t think she even realized it. I was completely in love with Harmoni Pearson. This was my girl, and I couldn’t be more proud.

Harmoni

My nerves were shooting sky high by the time we reached the school. My hands were holding my speech so tight, I was surprised it hadn’t ripped yet.

William gave me a gentle squeeze before letting me walk to my seat. Everything after this seemed to fast forward, and before I knew it, the dean of the school was welcoming me to the stage for my valedictorian speech.

As I stood there speaking, my eyes passed by each student, trying my best to give them the confidence and strength to reach for their dreams and elbow anyone who tried to put any type of roadblock.

My eyes landed on Emily, who smiled at me brightly. I would miss her like crazy next year. She had been accepted to Stanford University on a scholarship, and I would be damned if she didn’t take it. One day the world would know her name. I was sure of it.

I continued to travel the rows, and my eyes landed on Jessie. He gave me a small smile before looking back down at his fingers.

“Surprised he’s here?”

He took a deal with the feds and ended up with community service for giving up each member of the Diamond crew.

His testimony was enough to put all of them behind bars for the rest of their lives. Turns out Jessie had kept out of the business for the most part and didn’t have a record, which was why the feds were so willing to make a deal with him.

As for us, he and Emily were no longer together, and they weren’t on speaking terms either. I, on the other hand, decided to forgive him.

Yes, he had betrayed me, and no, I wouldn’t be friends with him anymore, but I forgave him because he knew he had done wrong by us and he had tried to rectify it.

I visited him when he was in the hospital, the bullet he had taken put him in a coma for a few weeks, which gave me time to put it all into perspective. We were kids, and we made mistakes, some bigger than others.

When I finally stopped speaking, the room erupted in cries and whistling while the loud claps assaulted my ears. Thank God I didn’t completely tank this. I thought with a smile.

I think the people cheering the loudest were in the back of the room. My father stood beside my mother, both of them whistling, making me laugh.

They were so embarrassing, yet I loved them so much more for it. I had a long talk with my dad and my mom after she had come back from DC.

A lot of secrets were revealed and it was a lot to swallow, but I was glad to finally understand why my mother left and why she didn’t have a choice.

She had repeated how much she regretted it and how she always tried to check up on me even if I didn’t know she was there. My mother was the Catwoman in my room that night. I think I cried for the entire conversation. I had missed her so damn much.

Finally, next to them, was the love of my life. The man that had been there for me through all the ups and downs, who had fought for me, protected me, and taught me how to fight.

I watched William smile brightly while holding his niece Cindy in his arms. Damn, that did something to my lady bits. I couldn’t imagine a life without him and I couldn’t wait to move in with him.

My dad had organized private education with the top professors of the country. I had decided to take over the business after all.

Looking at all the people close to my heart, my eyes glazed over. I was happy. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with them. To laugh with them, cry with them, and fight for them.

I hadn’t realized at the time how wishful these thoughts were and how far from reality they would be not even ten years later.

^End of Book One^