Jeremy looked at me with a clenched jaw. “Is that cool with you?”
Ignoring the hate in his eyes, I focused on the love in Rosalyn’s. “Of course I’m okay with her being with us for a few months or a few years. But thank you for asking and including me.”
Rosalyn smiled before giving me a slow, tender kiss. No tongue, but I definitely felt all the love she had to give.
“Can y’all not do that in front of my kid?” Jeremy asked as we pulled away, and I laughed when Rosalyn checked him with…
“Boy, stop. You ain’t mad about us doing that in front of Willow; you’re mad about us doing that in front of you.”
He may not have wanted to, but he laughed as he sat back in his seat.
Dinner went off without a hitch, and I can honestly say that by the time it was over, there wasn’t as much tension between me and Jeremy. I was glad that we’d taken the time to talk and have dinner together instead of him just dropping Willow off and going on about his business. I’d called a few people and asked them to join us for dessert, so when they all started filing in one by one Rosalyn was grabbing my hand and asking me what was going on. As usual, I didn’t tell her.
The tables that were around us began to fill with my family and hers. Candy was the last to arrive, and when she did, I told the waiter that he could go on and bring the dessert out. Once everyone had their dishes, he placed the smaller plates in front of Willow and Rosalyn. I’d given him rings for the both of them.
First, I walked over to Willow and gave her the same promise that I gave her father. Then, I gave my baby my attention. At this point, she’d realized what I was up to, so she was rocking in her seat as tears fell from her eyes. I got down on one knee as I lifted the ring from the plate, and flashes from several phones and cameras began to go off.
“Rosalyn Kennedy, you came into my life at my lowest point and was my heart’s savior. Over this past year, I’ve been blessed to finally be the same for you. It took us some time, but I think we’re finally whole enough as individuals to really love each other as a unit. You’ve been a gangsta’s safe haven and paradise when he needed one most, and now, a nigga wanna make you his wife.” I knew her ass was gon’ say yea, so I went ahead on and slipped the big ass rock on her finger before asking, “Will you marry me?”
This was the first time ever I think that she’d been speechless. Her head nodded rapidly before she tugged me closer by my neck.
“Ishmael,” she whispered, holding me tighter. “Of course, my love.”
Loud cheering and clapping sounded off around us as I lifted her from her seat and kissed her. There may have been a few men who could say they’ve had Paradise, but I found great pride in knowing that I was the only man to truly know, love, and now have for forever – Rosalyn Kennedy SwaeLee.
The End