Page 89 of The Devoted Husband

“Is everyone else parked in the back?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“So, what is this? A concert?”

“You’ll see,” he said, opening his door.

Her excitement grew as she stared at the venue entrance, trying to make out the movement. As they made their way inside, she had to keep from skipping. Usually, Sade didn’t like surprises, but she’d been enjoying them lately.

She immediately recognized the blue and white color scheme when they walked inside.

“Kirby High School class of 20—ah!” With a gasp, Sade gripped his arm and bounced from one leg to the other. “You re-created our prom!”

“I did,” he confessed, giving her a sexy smile and wink. “Come on, let’s go inside.”

They entered the double doors, and Sade felt like she’d gone back in time. Everything looked almost exactly the same as their high school prom—the white and blue décor, round tables for seating in the back, light bites and refreshments to the left, and a dance floor in the center of the room. Her eyes zeroed in on the blue and white strobe lighting and silver chandelier.

“Oh my God, Dante. This is absolutely perfect. I can’t believe you did this.”

“I felt like we both needed a redo after what happened at the first one.” He clapped his hands, and several women came from the right. “So, I got everything you’ll need in the back. Dress, shoes, all that. They’ll do your hair and makeup. I’ll see you in a while, beautiful.”

Dante kissed her cheek, and before she could thank him, he headed in the opposite direction to get ready himself. As happytears raced down her cheeks, Sade walked to the small group of women waiting for her with broad smiles.

Sade stared at her reflection in the mirror and tried not to cry. The night of their prom, when Imani doused her with punch, she ruined their mother’s dress. It was Sade’s most prized possession from their mother. Nothing Ava tried could fully remove the stain. Sade was so disgusted that she never wanted to see the dress again. Years later, Dante had the fabric turned into a pale yellow silk shawl that she draped over the white gown he’d gotten her for the evening. The longer she caressed the fabric and looked at her reflection in the mirror, the harder it was for her to maintain her emotions.

For a brief moment, she felt like that eighteen-year-old girl all over again—weak, bullied, taken advantage of, no confidence. Quickly, she reminded herself that was never an identity she should have taken on. Regardless of how her sister tried to dim her light, Sade had no choice but to let it shine. Then and now.

When Kem began to play, Sade knew that it was her cue to leave. She took one final look at herself before leaving the dressing room. A giggle escaped her at the sight of Dante in a chocolate suit, just like years ago.

“Well, don’t you look handsome.”

“And you look beautiful as always.”

“Than—Dante . . .”

As he lowered to one knee, Dante took her hand into his. “I’ve loved you since before I even knew what love was. I made some horrible decisions in my youth that almost cost me you. I’m grateful to God that during the most horrible time in my life, I was finally blessed with the chance to make things right withyou. We have a lot of years to make up for as husband and wife. I want us to start now. Sade Griffin, will you marry me?”

She nodded her head rapidly before she laughed a hearty laugh. “Of course, I’ll marry you. For real this time.”

Dante laughed as he pulled the pear-shaped diamond out of his pocket and slipped it onto her ring finger.

“I love the sound of that.”

Once he secured the ring, Dante kissed it, then stood and pulled her into his arms. The tender, deep kiss he gave her made Sade moan as she held him close. Their bodies swayed to the music in the background as her heart processed what had just happened. Dante Williams had just proposed to her. He would soon be her husband—not just in her head, but from his heart.

They spent the rest of the evening dancing until her feet started to hurt. Then they returned home, where they made love well into the morning.

Dante

A Little Under Two Months Later

As soon as their son’s cheek touched Sade’s, his crying stopped.

“Hi, little one,” she said before kissing him.

“You know your mama’s voice, huh?” the nurse asked.

Dante blinked back tears at the sight. He couldn’t wait to hold his baby boy. The nurse took him away briefly to get him checked out and cleaned up.

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