Page 60 of Betrothed To Love

“We getting married, Daddy?” Niya asks, to both mine and my wife’s surprise. Mireya’s eyes are as wide as golf balls.

I guess my easing Niya into all of this isn’t working. My baby girl picks up on everything.

“Why’d you ask that?”

“Cause I heard Nana say it,” Niya reveals.

“Do you know what married is?” I ask and Niya shrugs. I glance up at Mireya and she nods, letting me know she approves of this conversation. “Mireya and I are already married and tonight we are having our wedding dinner. Mireya’s my wife just like Auntie Sade is your Uncle Ace’s wife.”

Niya tilts her head toward Mireya. “So, you my mommie now?” she asks and I swear my damn chest constricts. The tightness instantly subsides when Mireya answers though.

“I’m your bonus mom, if you want me to be,” she says and her words penetrate my skin.

“I want you to,” Niya says before wrapping her arms around Mireya. When Mireya embraces Niya and kisses the top of her head, my entire body warms.

This is all I ever wanted for my baby girl.

“Then, I am,” Mireya says and I can’t help myself. I lean over in my seat and kiss my wife passionately and Niya giggles.

As Niya’s father, I try my best to give her everything she needs and wants. I loved her before she even came into this world. Since the day I first heard her heartbeat on the monitor during a doctor’s appointment, I’ve loved her. She’s my world and my heart. As much as I am here for her and my family cares for and loves her, deep down I know she’s been missing a mother.

Niya’s desire for a mother became clear when she started school, and on day one, she asked about all the mothers dropping their children off. I was one of few fathers present but all mothers were there except Niya’s and that was the first day she asked about her. Taken off guard as hell, I froze. The day Niya was born, Janis told me I could tell my baby she was dead. She reiterated that she wanted nothing to do with my baby and didn’t want Niya trying to reach out years later. That shit hurt my heart but I agreed.

Honestly, I agreed with my words but not with my heart or mind. I couldn’t even think straight, because at the moment, I was totally enamored with the tiny little beauty in my arms laying on my chest. Honestly, I had forgotten Janis’s words until Niya’s question. That shit hit me hard and I hated myself when I looked down at my baby and told her that her mother was in heaven with the angels. I didn’t want to lie to her but also didn’t want her spending her life searching for a woman adamant about not being found.

“Daddy,” Niya squeals, breaking our kiss. “You messing her up,” she says and Mireya laughs.

“Is my lipstick gone?” she asks Niya.

“A little bit,” Niya admits after examining Mireya. “It’s still pretty though.”

“Good ’cause we’re here,” Mireya says.

The golf cart slows and we pull up behind the other two. When it stops and the driver opens the door, Niya excitedly hops out first. She’s so giddy about this dinner, her dress, and her hair. The moment she’s out, I reach for the door handle.

“Baby, go find your nana. We’ll be right there,” I tell Niya then look at the driver. “Give us a minute, my dude.” When he nods and steps back, I close the door.

With a curious look on her pretty ass face, Mireya asks, “What’s going on?”

“I need to do something.” After moving to the seat with her, I gently grab her left hand then take the ring out of my pocket, keeping it closed in my hand. “In my hand is my promise to you. Before I woke up with you in my arms that morning after the ball, my life was good. My practice was thriving. My baby girl was happy and I thought I had everything I needed. I was dead ass wrong though. I didn't know how beautiful life could be with someone else in it, with you in it.

“We got married unexpectedly and I don’t regret anything about that. I’ve fallen for you and I’m serious about you being mine and in my life. Just now, when you chose my baby girl, you solidified your position in our lives. Seeing the way you are with her and how you accept her is everything to me. Because of that, as I place this ring on your finger, I promise to honor, cherish, and love you until you love me back. Cause I do love you, Mireya, already. That shit came easy, natural, like it was meant to be. You are my wife, my kyau, and mine and Niya’s missing piece. I promise to make this work, take care of you, and win your heart.”

Her eyes are misty and there’s a smile on her beautiful face. When I open my hand and slide the ring onto her finger, tears fall from her eyes.

“My God, Quintus. How did you do this? Where did you find this? My God,” she whimpers through tears. After raising the ring closer to examine it, her tears pour out. “How?”

“I took a picture of your grandparents’ portrait and the ring. I knew how much it meant to you. Of course, it’s not your grandmother’s, but I found a jeweler to get as close to it as he could. I just wanted you to have wh⁠—”

My words are cut off by her soft lips on mine. With so much damn passion, we kiss and I feel her body relax into mine. When we finally stop, she stares into my eyes, pecks my lips a few more times, then smiles.

“This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. God, I can’t believe you did this.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Oh, this is everything.” Her smile returns and she kisses me again. “Thank you. Thank you. You did this and it’s perfect, just perfect. I love it and I love you,” she says before lovingly kissing me again. “Are we crazy for feeling like this so soon?” she asks after the kiss.

“If we are, I’m straight with it,” I say and she kisses me again. Three rapid taps on the door interrupts our moment. “Yo,” I call out.

“Y’all coming out?” Shiro asks.

“Yeah. Give us a minute,” I tell him, then turn back to my beautiful wife. “You ready?”