Page 49 of The Devoted Husband

Simone’s situation tugged at Sade’s heart. “Well, if I get out of this, I will help you get out too. Maybe we can get an appeal. It makes no sense that they gave you twenty years with proof of his constant abuse.”

“Don’t waste your time,” Simone grumbled as Officer Brooks stepped into their doorway.

“Pack your shit, Sade. You’re out.”

“Huh?” Sade stood.

“You want to stay?” Brooks asked with a teasing smile.

“N-no!”

“Then pack up and let’s go.”

Sade wasted no time packing the few items she’d collected during her time there. She wrote her number down for Simone and told her to keep in touch. As they hugged, she told Simone, “I meant what I said. I’m going hire you a lawyer and get you out of here.”

“Just...Just pop in on my girl if you can. I don’t care if you have to just sit in your car and watch her come out of her school. Take a picture and mail it to me. That’s truly all I need.”

Seeing as Simone hadn’t seen her daughter for the entire five years she’d been there, Sade understood that request. She agreed before they hugged again, then finally, she was on her way out.

Dante figured Sade would want to leave Vanzette when she was released, but that wasn’t the case. At that moment, all she wanted to do was rest and be in his arms. He got them a hotel room at the only four-star hotel in town. As they looked around the suite, he told her, “This is cool, but I’m tired of hotels and guest rooms. I want to buy us a home, Smiley. I know you got approved for the apartment in Memphis, but...” He hesitated, causing her to look back at him.

“But what?”

“It’s not something we need to talk about now. Why don’t you get freshened up? I’ll order room service, and we can—”

“You’re hiding something from me.” Sade walked over to him and took his hands into hers. “What is it?”

“Your grandparents . . . They want you to stay away.”

Sade’s head tilted, and her brows wrinkled as she struggled to process his words. “Stay away?” she repeated. He nodded. “Theydon’t want me around?” He shook his head. “They think I did it, huh?”

“Well...They said there’s been a lot of drama since we got together. I think they are conflicted about whether you did it, but they don’t want us to bring any more issues to them or the twins. I tried to convince them that you were innocent, but they weren’t trying to hear me out.”

“Oh.” Gritting her teeth, Sade released a shaky breath as her eyes watered. “Okay. Then I guess me wanting to be close to them because of the baby doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Hey . . . You don’t need them. You have me.”

Though Sade appreciated the sentiment, it wasn’t the same. Losing her parents before her last year of high school started and having a toxic relationship with her sister caused her to rely on her grandparents even more. They were her anchor. Without them, she worried she’d feel unsteady.

“Thank you, baby. I’m, uh...gonna go ahead and take advantage of having a bathroom with a door and freshen up.”

She gave him a quick kiss before scurrying off to the bathroom, trying not to focus on all she’d lost just to gain and help Dante.

One Week Later

Dante had been doing everything he could to make Sade’s transition back home smooth. He’d paid for her to have a day of pampering, including a massage, facial, and mani-pedi. He’d paid for her to get her hair done and taken her on a shopping spree. Because she had a few weeks before her next doctor’s appointment, he offered to take her to her island or anywhere else in the world, but Sade insisted she was most comfortable in Vanzette with him.

She decided to stay in Memphis, at least until after she gave birth since she liked her new doctor. But Sade didn’t plan to return to Memphis until it was time for her next appointment in a few weeks. As she and Dante had dinner at her favorite restaurant, he said, “Can I convince you not to move into that apartment? If you’d prefer something small, I’ll find us an apartment that has more space. But I think the one you chose would be a bit tight for us and the baby.”

Sade smiled as she wiped the corners of her mouth. Her meal of steak, spinach, and broccoli had been divine. She did try a little of Dante’s smoked gouda mac and cheese, but after her brief stay in prison, she’d still been craving vegetables.

“You’re serious about us, huh?”

Dante chuckled. “Yeah. Were you not serious about me?”

“I did leave you,” she teased, and they both shared a light laugh.

“Nah, that don’t count. I feel like you were on some get-back shit with that. Punishing me because of your sister. I know you want to be with me, though.”

---