Page 38 of U + Me : The Finale
“You got my word on that.” I shook his hand like a man, sealing my promise. “My heart only knows how to love your daughter. Long as I got breath in my body, KK gon be good.”
“I believe that, son. I have no worries anymore, now that you’ve come into our lives and taken care of that. Even with the business, I’m anxious to see you both make it grow into something far beyond what I could’ve done. Oh, and a couple of grandbabies running around in the near future won’t be a bad thing either.” Karl chortled and I gave him dap and laughed.
“You got my word on that too, sir.”
“I’m so grateful that you chose my daughter. Without a doubt, my baby girl is in good hands. You proved that to me a long time ago. You know, I was blessed to have three true loves.Kimmie’s mom was my first true love. And when she gave birth to the second person to take a piece of my heart, there was no way that I could ever stop loving Kimmie’s mom. Even though things didn’t work out between us, I always had love for her, and I believe she still loved me too, that’s why she put me through all that hell. She was just angry because I wasn’t mentally ready to be what she needed me to be. I took for granted that she would be my ride or die, no matter what once Kimmie came… but I learned the hard way to never take a woman’s love for granted. It don’t matter how much she has done for you, if you neglect her and she finds someone to fill that void you’re done. It’s a wrap and you won’t have a choice but to walk away.”
“Just thinking about fumbling the bag scares me.”
“And it should. I take full accountability for not being ready… It was one of my greatest regrets. Though good still came from it, it wasn’t a guarantee.”
“That’s how I feel about KK. That girl over there was down for me from day one. She was my best friend and when our friendship grew into love it scared me to death. The timing was off because I still had a lot of growing up to do while trying to figure out what to do with my feelings for her. I knew I wasn’t ready, and I didn’t want KK to get emotionally attached to me when I knew I couldn’t promise to do right.”
“I totally understand. And this would be your second chance. Sometimes third chances aren’t an option.”
“The time I spent away, and it was a lot of time, I grew through a lot of bullshit. Ion mean to keep cursing,” I apologized.
“We grown men just talking…no disrespect taken.”
“Real shit, I’ve had enough women to not get excited over a piece of pussy. I never allowed myself to emotionally get connected to a female because I always knew who had my heart. I just needed to find a way to get her to know.”
“And it’s crazy that we got linked up through business and had no clue that Kimmie was who brought us together. Let me ask you this. If you never reconnected with Kimmie, do you think you would stay single or eventually start a family?”
“I can’t really say because I never accepted that I would never reconnect with her. I always held out on hope, so it wasn’t an option. And if God had found a way to keep me from her, me getting with and marrying someone would be me settling, and whoever that female woulda been, she woulda never fully had my heart.”
“Understood.”
“You said you had three true loves, if you don’t mind me asking, who was the third?”
“Oh, the third love is extra special because it came with a two for one. Pamela and Claudia both came into my life and have brought me joy and have helped make me a better man when I didn’t think I deserved it.”
“I look up to you and have nothing but mad respect for you.”
“The feeling is mutual, son.”
Having KK’s dad’s blessing to be with her meant just as much to me as my dad welcoming her into his life. As a child my home was broken, I always yearned for a family and now I had one, and everyone last one of them meant the world to me.
The food was all home cooked. Pamela threw down on a large pan of seafood Alfredo, grilled ribeye, plain Alfredo for the non-seafood eaters, a large Caesar salad, and a German chocolate cake for dessert. Everything about the day was special but there was one last thing that needed to happen that everyone was aware of waiting to take place except for KK.
I went inside to use the restroom and as I stepped back outside, I stopped and took in how blessed I was. My boy E had found true love with Claudia. They had hit it off at first sight; they shit was perfect until his past nearly took all he had.They went through something that would’ve shattered most and they are still together, standing strong. I really fucked with that heavy.
Then my pops and Leen chilling with Karl and Pamela was a sight to see. They were making plans for the next visit and Karl and Pamela were making plans to visit Atlanta. Then I looked over at my baby, who was glowing under all the lights, and all was well with my soul. Everything that I had prayed for I was blessed with. The only people missing in our lives were our mothers and although they could never be replaced, those voids were filled with some genuine people and true love.
I locked eyes with Leen, and she winked at me and smiled. I then glanced at Pamela, and she smiled and gave me a head nod. Claudia and Ermias were both looking at me like what was taking me so long, and the last and final confirmation was from my dad and Karl. When my eyes locked with theirs, no words or gestures needed to be had; through their eyes enough was said.
I walked over to KK, who was sitting next to Claudia and Leen. When she looked up at me, I reached out for her hand and asked her to stand up for a second, then I kneeled in front of her. On queue like planned,If It’s Loveby Kem started playing. KK and I sang this song together when we were in Georgia. It had come on when we were riding through the town. When she heard it, it brought tears to her eyes, just as they were in mine.
“D, what is happening?” KK shyly whispered, but it was loud enough for everyone to still hear.
“We ‘bout to make this shit official,” I replied. I reached out to Claudia who handed me the box with KK’s engagement ring. Ermias had been holding onto it, and since Claudia was sitting next to KK, he gave it to her to hand to me.
“Oh my God!” KK started crying, her hand was shaking like a leaf in the wind.
“My KK, I have loved you since the very first day I met you. One thing I know for certain is that God made us for each other. You make me a better man and when we’re not together, I don’t function the same. I can’t imagine not waking up next to you. I hope you ready, so we can start this journey God has set for us.”
“Say that shit, bro!” Claudia cheered from behind KK, causing everyone to laugh.
“KK, will you crown me as your King and be my wife?”
