Page 117 of Faded Rhythm

I frown at him.

“I hear love makes you do crazy things,” he says. “Look atme. I know where babies come from, but I’ve been fucking you raw since day one.”

“You didn’t love me then.”

He’s quiet for a while before he says, “Maybe I did.”

I lean in and press my lips to his.

“Thank you for telling me.” I sigh, already in the acceptance phase, and filled with a new resolve.

“I know exactly what I’m gonna do with this.”

50

Epilogue

Two months later

The sun hangs low over the horizon, casting warm streaks of gold over the Atlantic. The waters off Gros Islet are as clear as glass and as blue as the sky. My yacht bobs gently with the tide, anchored just far enough from the beach to feel like our own little paradise.

The girls have been here for two months and they’ve already taken to their new lives. It’s amazing to see. But kids are resilient. I know that better than most.

Sable never went back, not even to pack. I hired people to do all that, and we sent for Ebony to bring the girls. She spent a week here and fell in love, so I know we’ll be seeing her again soon.

Right now, the girls are fishing with me off the back of the boat, their little rods clutched tight in eager hands. They squeal every time they feel a nibble, and Rae, half-excited, half-scared, always looks like she’s ready to bolt. I guide their hands, trying not to laugh too hard when Kelice reels in a clump of seaweed and declares herself the winner.

But my attention is divided.

Sable’s floating on her back in the surf, her yellow bikini gleaming against the water, her belly curved like a sunlit mountain. Her hair fans around her like a dark halo, dancing in the ripples. She looks like every dream I’ve ever had come true.

I snap a photo and make it my new lockscreen. I feel like I change that thing four times a week. But my life is picture perfect right now. How could I not?

She’s been my peace since the day I first saw her, but this is a new level. She’s glowing. Full of life. Full of love.

I remember the first picture I ever took of her. She was on her back then, too, but she was anxious, scared, and upset. Gone are those days. Never again. As long as I’m breathing, she’ll have the life she deserves.

I must have dozed off. The deck is hot under my back. The sun is above now, and too bright to open my eyes.

But my ears are working just fine.

I hear Sable’s voice. “Girls, come on. Let’s do it now. Shhhhh.”

Their excited giggles echo around me, followed by the pitter-patter of little bare feet on wood.

And not a minute later, Rae screams, “Wake up, Papa J!”

I sit up, blinking myself conscious as Kelice and Sable appear carrying a birthday cake like it’s a sacred treasure.

They set it down on the deck and start to sing. The girls are off-key, but my lady sounds perfect. I stare into the tiny fires, my eyes welling up. When they finish, Kelice tells me to make a wish.

I close my eyes and realize I don’t want anything else. So I simply thank God for answering my prayers. The blessingsdidn’t come right when I wanted them to. They came when they were supposed to.

I open my eyes just as Rae adorns me with a pointy birthday hat. I blow out the candles, and they erupt in cheers. I blink the tears away and give them all hugs.

Sable lingers, whispering, “Happy birthday, baby,” in my ear. I give her belly a kiss, smack her ass, then cut into the cake.

“How’d you know?” I ask as I hand Rae a small piece.

---