Page 121 of Crash: Love in Scrubs
“Maybe, but I want to start practicing when we get back home,” she whispered kissing my lips again until we heard Samaj come up behind us.
“Y’all see that slide into home?” he asked, grinning. Samaj’s team won 8-3, and after the game, he jogged over to us, still high off the adrenaline and covered in dirt.
“We saw everything, baby,” Sametra said, reaching up to hug him with her free arm. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Let me see my little sister,” he said, carefully taking Summer from Sametra’s arms. Summer immediately opened her eyes and started making happy noises. “Hey, beautiful girl. Your big brother just put on a show for you.”
Watching this young man who’d been through hell and back hold his baby sister with such gentleness and love always did it for me. This was the family I’d dreamed of my whole life, without knowing who they’d be.
“Aye, Maj,” I said, pulling out my phone. “Let me get a picture of y’all.”
As I snapped photos of Samaj and Summer, with Sametra laughing in the background, I thought about everything that had brought us to this moment. The accident that could have taken them both from me. The secrets and fights that almost tore us apart. The baby daddy drama that forced me to choose what mattered most. All of it had led us here, to this baseball field on a hot July afternoon, complete and whole and happy.
“Babe, take one of all of us,” Sametra said, flagging down another parent to take our picture.
We huddled together, me, my wife, my son, and my daughter, with the summer sun setting behind the baseball field. As the camera clicked, Summer let out a little laugh, and Samaj grinned down at her.
“Perfect timing, baby girl,” I said softly.
Walking back to the parking lot, Samaj carrying his gear bag and me pushing Summer’s stroller while Sametra held my other hand, I realized this was what winning looked like. Not trophies or championships or even successful businesses. This. Family. Love. The daily choice to show up for each other, no matter what.
“What you thinking about?” Sametra asked, squeezing my hand. I brought her closer and tucked her under my arm.
“Just appreciating the moment. And thinking about how good God has been to us.”
“Real good,” she agreed. “Even when we didn’t deserve it.”
“Especially then.”
As we loaded up the car, Samaj’s gear in the back, Summer’s car seat secured in the middle, Sametra settling into the passenger seat with that satisfied smile she got after good days, I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude. For second chances. For healing. For love that was strong enough to survive anything. For the family that chose each other and fought to stay together.
As we drove through the summer evening, Summer sleeping peacefully in her car seat and Samaj napping next to me, I caught Sametra’s eye in the rearview mirror. She blew me a kiss, and I felt that same flutter in my chest that I’d felt the first day I saw her.
Some things never changed. And some things, the best things, just kept getting better.
SAMETRA
The house was finally quiet. Summer was down for her evening nap, Samaj was in his room on FaceTime his teammates going on and on about tonight’s game, and Malik was in the shower washing off the day’s heat and stadium dirt. These were the moments I treasured most, the peaceful in-between times when I could just breathe and take in everything we’d built.
I settled into the rocking chair in Summer’s nursery, the same one Lorana had bought when Samaj was born, now reupholstered in soft yellow fabric. My baby girl was sleeping peacefully, tiny fists curled near her face, completely unaware that she was the center of our entire universe.
Four months old and already ruling the house with an iron fist. Malik was completely wrapped around her finger, and Samaj? That boy would drive across town if she so much as whimpered. She was going to be trouble, just like her mama.
My phone buzzed with a text from Halo.
Halo: Sis, I saw the pics from the game on Samaj’s story. Summer is getting so big! And you look amazing. I miss y’all.
Halo was busy working toward advancing her career. She, too, loved being a firefighter, but it wasn’t supposed to be a forever thing. So, she was focusing on business classes and perfecting her product of natural healing balms and stuff.
Me: Thank you, babe. She’s perfect. How are you doing?
Halo: I’m good. Might have a mess on my hands.
Me: Davinci? He’s still trying to win you over, right? No crazy shit?
I smiled, remembering how things had evolved since Malik’s grand opening. After months of him pursuing her, flowers, surprise visits, even showing up at her job, Halo was finally starting to let her guard down.
Halo: Girl, yes. But I gotta slide on you to tell you the tea.
