Page 365 of Kentrell

By the time the dust settled…

And his divorce was finalized?

He went on the news again… sitting in those tailored suits… giving exclusive interviews with just the right mix of remorse and power in his voice…

And when the time came?

With Zoe’s blessing…

He went public about her being his daughter.

And now… here she was…

Walking toward me… head held high… belly showing just enough to make it clear we weren’t wasting no time growing our family tree.

My woman.

My soon-to-be wife.

And every single person in this room?

Was watching history.

I’m not gon’ lie… I felt a little heat singe the back of my neck the closer Zoe got to me.

At first, I blamed it on the candles burning low along the aisle… flames flickering just enough to make the air feel heavier. But nah… that wasn’t it.

It was her.

Zoe… walking toward me… draped in that lace veil like she was a Christmas gift I’d been begging for since I was a kid… backwhen I used to sit up at midnight, waiting for my parents to tell me I could unwrap my presents.

That same itch. That same anxious, wild anticipation…

Except this time… my gift was a whole wife.

And even though my heart was punching at my ribcage… I kept it cool.

Didn’t flinch. Didn’t fidget.

I stepped down as she and Darius reached the end of the floor runner—right as the song hit its final note.

Darius held onto Zoe’s hand a second longer, lifting it with slow, deliberate care… waiting on Reverend Keys to give him the cue.

“Dearly beloved…”

The Rev’s voice rolled through the room… deep, steady, full of that church-boy-turned-grown-man grit that made everybody sit up straighter.

“We are gathered here today in the presence of God, family, and friends… to witness and celebrate one of life’s greatest moments… the joining of Zoe LaShay Davis…”

The Rev paused… looked right at her when he said her name…

“…and Kentrell Jakari Caldwell…”

Now his eyes landed on me.

“…in holy matrimony.”

Behind Zoe, I caught a glimpse of Zora—standing there with her hands locked tight around Zoe’s other hand, both of them trembling.

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