Page 118 of Faded Rhythm

“AJ told me,” Sable says with a grin. “But the better question is, why didn’tyoutell me?”

She’s being playful because she’s not really upset by this. Just curious.

“You know how I am about birthdays,” I say with a shrug. “I learned to stop expecting people to celebrate me. I lowkey forget sometimes myself. It’s whatever.”

“Not anymore,” she says with a grin. “We celebrate everything around here. Especially you, my love.”

I nod because I don’t have the words. But I don’t need them. Some moments are so perfect, words would only ruin them.

So I just feel.

Later, I open my presents at the kitchen table. The girls can’t stop bouncing—too much sugar, I suppose—and Sable is adorably impatient as I unwrap each gift slowly and carefully. Kelice gives me cologne. Rae gives me new AirPods. Sable gives me a sleek silver watch and a DVD player. She remembered me talk about missing my movie collection.

“Thank you,” I say. “But y’all don’t understand.” I look into Sable’s eyes. “Having a family is the best gift I’ve ever received. I love you. All of you.”

The girls throw themselves into my arms. “Love you, too, Papa J!”

Sable watches with tears in her eyes, and I’m legitimately living inside an old family sitcom.

It’s lit.

“You ready? It’s almost four.”

Sable nods.

We walk down the hall together to the study. She sits in front of the computer and clicks into a video meeting. A woman’s face appears, smiling and sharp-eyed.

“I’m Carmen Watkins,” she says. “Nice to meet you, Sable.”

They make a little small talk, then get down to business.

“Alright, I’m recording,” Carmen says. “Sable, why do you want to do this?”

Sable lifts her chin, her voice steady. “I know the police will never be able to do much with the evidence I sent over to you, Carmen, but I want the story told. I want everybody to know that The Texican didn’t kill Redd Clay. He’s been living under a cloud of suspicion for sixteen years. It’s time to give that man his life back.”

“Why did you reach out to me specifically?”

“You run the biggest hip-hop themed website in the world. You have credibility with your audience. And journalism has the power to sway public opinion. I just want my dear friend to be vindicated, and I know you know how to write a compelling story.”

Carmen nods. “Then let’s get started.”

I kiss Sable’s forehead, squeeze her shoulder, and step out quietly.

I’m so proud of her. She took what could have been a life-altering secret and dug deeper to find a way to help somebody else. That’s what I love about her. That’s truly her gift.

Carmen agreed to redact any mention of Mila and the paternity. There was enough damning information in the files to prove Dime’s involvement without it.

In my room, I open my safe and pull out the small velvet box sitting on the top shelf.

The diamond shines almost as brightly as Sable.

I was supposed to propose today, but her birthday surprised trumped me.

I pull out my phone and text Ebony.

Pushing it to tomorrow

She replies immediately.

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