Page 54 of This: Blake & Emon

Jacques might’ve been willing to break a window for them, but he’d raised his sisters the right way. They didn’t carry their hardships like a weight seeking pity. Just love. Just protection. Blake couldn’t help but think how different things could’ve been if someone hadn’t taken a chance on them that night. If Emon hadn’t seen past a broken window to see brokenhearts that just needed help. The kids were teaching her lessons, and that was why she’d give them anything they wanted.

“Miss Blake?” Lauren asked, playing with her straw. “Can we do this again sometime?”

“Of course, baby. Any time you need me.” Blake reached over to pinch Lauren’s cheek. “That’s what fairy godmothers are for.”

“We never had this before,” Miesha said quietly.

“Well, you got it now, and a whole family behind y’all.”

By the time they finished shopping, each girl had new outfits, shoes, and accessories. More importantly, they had someone in their corner. Someone who understood what it was like to need people.

When they pulled up to Vicey’s, Emon was playing basketball with Jacques. Blake watched through the rearview mirror as the girls gathered their bags, their faces glowing with excitement.

“Thank you,” Aaliyah said, giving Blake a quick hug before darting inside to show Vicey their haul.

Emon approached the car as the other girls followed, eager to display their new things. “You spoil them?” he asked, but his smile was warm.

“You know I did. I always wanted to be a big sister or something. Brooks ain’t made me an auntie yet, so somebody gotta get my money, wisdom, and love,” Blake replied.

“And we got that in abundance.”

“Damn right.”

Blake often felt like she was living a dream. Even though it kept coming in unexpected ways, she felt blessed. Nothing could take her smile away.

Chapter 23

Blake stared at herself in the mirror, adjusting her graduation cap for what felt like the hundredth time. Her hands trembled slightly as she smoothed down her white dress under her graduation gown. This was it, the moment she’d been working toward for so long.

“You look beautiful,” Brooks said from her doorway. She turned to find her brother leaning against the frame, already emotional. “Daddy would be so proud of you.”

“You think?” she asked, her voice small.

“I know.” He crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug. “Both of them would be. You did exactly what they always knew you could do.”

Blake buried her face in her brother’s chest, grateful for the waterproof mascara she’d chosen. “I miss them.”

“They’re here,” Brooks assured her.

A knock on the door interrupted their moment. “Y’all ready?” Emon asked, looking sharp in a tailored suit. “We got a whole crew waiting downstairs.”

And they did. ViceAnne had insisted on hosting a pre-graduation lunch, so their entire extended family was gathered in their home. Paige and Taylor were there with matching“Nurse Bishop is my Bestie!” T-shirts. Jacques and his sisters had made a banner.

“There she is!” ViceAnne exclaimed as Blake descended the stairs. “My baby girl about to be official!”

“Thanks for doing all this, Vicey,” Blake said, hugging her future mother-in-law.

“Girl, please. This is what family does.” ViceAnne pressed something into Blake’s hand, a delicate gold chain with a small angel pendant. “This was my grandmother’s. She’d want someone with a heart like hers to have it.”

Blake’s eyes welled up again as Emon helped her fasten the necklace.

“Now hurry up and eat something before we’re late,” ViceAnne instructed, ushering everyone toward the dining room where she’d laid out a spread that could feed half the neighborhood.

Lunch was a blur of laughter, photos, and more tears.

“Speech!” Paige called out as they finished eating.

Blake stood, looking around at the faces that had become her world. “I don’t even know what to say except thank you. To my brother for always having my back. To my girls for being the best support system. To love. To new beginnings. To new family.” She turned to Emon, who watched her with that smile that still made her heart skip. “And to you. Thank you for being everything, my everything. For believing in me, for making things easier for me. For making sure I ate. I’d be here all day trying to speak about how good you’ve been to me. This day ends one chapter so another can begin. I don’t know what’s next for us, but I know with you by my side, I can do and have whatever. I love you.”

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