Page 91 of No Remedy for Love

“Thousand!” Blaze, Vinnie, and Tracy sounded like a choir as they asked the exact same question at the exact same time.

“Yes. I can’t believe it. It looks like the furniture cost more than that.”

Her father’s attorney explained to her that anything that he got for the house was a gain for him since he didn’t put anything into it. He could have gotten three times that amount, but she was more than grateful for his generosity.

“Where do we send the check?” Blaze asked, making them all laugh.

“I know that’s right, Blaze. I’m so excited. I’m gonna be a fairy Godmother and my bestie is gonna be living like royalty not too far from me. I couldn’t ask for anything more.” Tracy was so happy and it showed.

“I can,” Blaze said as he got on one knee in front of Remi. She put her hand over her mouth because she already knew what was up.

“Yes, baby, I’ll marry you.” A lone tear rolled down Remi’s eye when she answered before he could even ask.

“Damn, Remi, tell us how you really feel.” Vinnie joked.

“He already know how I feel. Remi LaRue, right?” She smiled, repeating something that he said to her a while ago.

“You damn right.” Blaze stood up and pulled her up with him.

“Yay, and I’m on ring duty,” Tracy said as she clapped dramatically. Blaze had just asked her to help him pick out a ring for Remi, but she didn’t think he was gonna propose right then and there.

Tracy and Vinnie smiled as they hugged and whispered in each other’s ear. Remi was happy and Tracy was happy for her. Remi had a heart of gold and Blaze seemed to have one too. They both deserved happiness, and she prayed for a lifetime of it.

“Congrats again, baby! I’m so excited! Welcome to the family, Blaze!”

Two months after he proposed, Remi and Blaze got married at the courthouse and closed on their house the day before. They reserved a room in a restaurant and had a small dinner party for their family and close friends. They had just come back from their honeymoon in Jamaica two days before and were making their rounds to see her family. Remi had on a fitted maxi dress and Lollie was a ball of tears when she saw her daughter’s growing baby bump.

Lollie was on cloud nine and so was Marva. They were getting everything that they’d been praying for and it allhappened much sooner than they thought. It seemed like only yesterday when Remi introduced them to Blaze, but she wasn’t complaining. She just couldn’t stop hugging and congratulating the newlyweds. Remi knew how she was, but Blaze was probably sick of her. He was so sweet and he never looked annoyed or complained.

“Thank you.” Blaze smiled, as Lollie pulled him into yet another hug.

“No more tears Ma, you’ve cried enough.” Remi wiped her mother’s cheeks for the second time since they’d been there. Lollie should have been fresh out of tears but she always managed to find more. She cried so much when Remi first told her that she was pregnant. She cried even more when she saw the house and the huge ring that Blaze put on her finger the day after he proposed.

“I’m sorry, baby but you just don’t understand how happy I am. This is what every mother wants for their child. A good man, a beautiful home, and a baby on the way. God answered all of my prayers, bigger and better than I asked for.”

“Your daddy would be so happy. This is exactly what he would have wanted. I’m so proud of you.” Marva teared up, and showing emotion was something that she rarely did.

“Thank you, Mae. You’ve been on this journey for a long time and I appreciate you so much. This baby is gonna be so blessed.” Remi wasn’t big on social media but she had posted more in the last two months than she’d ever posted in her life. She was happy and she wanted the world to know it.

“We’re getting a grandbaby, Marva!” Lollie pulled her up into a tight hug.

“We surely are and y’all know that a babysitter will never be a problem. I’ll come to the Northshore every day if I have to.” Marva felt so blessed to have them as her extended family. They never made her feel anything less than that. She felt like her life had purpose and she was gonna give their new bundle of joy all the love that she had in her heart.

“Blaze’s barbershop is in the city, so you won’t have to. Needless to say that both of you are welcome anytime,” Remi said.

“Definitely.” Blaze nodded his head in agreement.

Unlike with Reanna, he was happy that he married into a family who actually had their shit together. He didn’t have to worry about them calling to borrow money or needing a place to stay. Reanna seemed to be embarrassed about her upbringing, so he was never really around her family very much. He never really bonded with them but that wasn’t such a bad thing.

“Your granny is so happy. She said we better make sure that this baby knows who their grandfather was,” Marva said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. They’re gonna know about all of their loved ones in heaven.” Remi smiled.

“Did you go see her yet?” Marva asked, speaking of her grandmother who was right up the street.

“Not yet but I’m about to before we head back home.”

“Did you ever decide what you’re gonna do with your grandmother’s house, Blaze? I’m always available to help you pack it up if you need me to,” Marva offered.

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