Once Benton joins us in this awkward stare off, I decide to dig right in. “Ruby and I are married.” I pause and wait for them to say something, and when they don’t, I continue. “We had a small ceremony at the house, and it was beautiful, but I know she missed having her family there.”
“How long ago?” Tatum asks.
“Almost six months.”
She gives a ghost of a smile before saying, “I’m glad she waited a little bit.”
“I know you see me as this bad guy, but I have never forced her to do anything she didn’t want to do. I told her the day we left that I’d bring her back anytime.”
“All that tells me is that we must have been awful for her to never want to come home,” Tatum reflects, and I feel bad for how she took what I said.
“Ruby is pregnant,” I state with a smile, hoping that may lift the mood a little. “She found out not long after we were married.”
“Congratulations,” Tatum says simply as Benton stays next to her, quiet as he holds her hand.
“She’s been through… a lot in recent months, and she deserves to have everything she wants in her life that makes her happy. She thinks that you, her family, won’t want her after everything that’s happened.”
“Why would she think that?” Tatum asks, looking hurt again. “I know I’m not the softest person, but I—we love her. Unconditionally.”
I nod. “I was hoping that was the case. My mother is putting together a baby shower, and the guest list is basically you. I would like this to be more of a reunion with her family than a baby shower.”
“Why are you doing this?” Tatum asks.
“Because, despite what you think, I love your daughter more than anything else in this world. I’d do anything to make her happy.”
“What happened to her?” Benton asks, speaking up for the first time. “You said she’s been through a lot. What happened?”
“I think that’s for her to tell you. But know that Desmond and I did everything we could to keep her safe. And we’d do it all again and then some.” He nods solemnly, and I’m thankful that he lets it go, not pushing for more from me on the subject.
Reaching into my jacket, I pull out the invitations that my mother had printed, enough for each of her family members. “Feel free to open up the invitation to your extended family. I know all of you are close.”
Standing to leave, I walk out of the room. “Sonny?” Tatum calls before I open the door. Turning to face her, she says, “Thank you. For coming here and for loving our daughter the way she needed when we couldn’t.”
“It’s an honor.”
“I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal about this,” Ruby whines as she tries on her fourth outfit of the day.
Her baby shower, aka King family reunion, is today. I was shocked as shit when Tatum got back to me the next day and said that nearly the whole family would be here. Even the family from Illinois were flying in.
I knew I was taking a risk asking this of them. But it’s an even bigger risk doing this behind Ruby’s back. I just hope it doesn’t backfire with her leaving me or stabbing me in my sleep when this day is over.
My mom and Dez have been setting everything up inside and out. Mom’s decorated every corner of the house and has even more on the back patio. Dez went out to buy as many pool floats and toys and towels and goggles he could for all the kids—big and small.
I’m so happy they’ve been on board with this crazy idea I had. They’ve done everything possible to help and have been supportive from the minute I brought it up, giving me more reason to believe it was the right thing to do.
I watch my wife as she stands in front of her full-length mirror, her beautiful body on display, carrying our daughter so perfectly. She’s never been sexier to me than she has in these recent months watching her belly grow with a life we made together.
Sliding a long dress down her new curvier body, it fits her snuggly, showing off her and our daughter.
Smiling at her reflection, I catch her eye. “You’re gorgeous.” Walking up behind her, I wrap my arms around her, holding my family in them. Running my nose up the side of her neck, I kiss the spot behind her ear that’s still her favorite. “Mmm…you smell delicious.”
With a groan, she says, “Don’t start. It took me long enough to get ready and settle on this dress. You, sir, need to keep your hands to yourself.”
Defying her, I run my hand up to cup her ample breast, pinching her visibly hardened nipple. “Oops,” I whisper in her ear.
Just then, the doorbell rings, breaking our spell. I kiss her cheek before saying, “Let’s go greet your guests.”
“What guests?” She rolls her eyes. “It’s probably just Dez being stupid and going outside to come back in like he doesn’t live here.”
“I don’t think so,” I say slowly as we descend the stairs.
She stops midway down. “Sonny, what did you do?” she asks, and I can see panic in her eyes.
Swallowing, suddenly very nervous about how very bad this could all end, I take her hand in mine. “I went to see your parents a couple weeks ago.”
Her eyes go as big as saucers. “You did what?!”
“And I extended the invitation to your whole family. They’ll all be here,” I add cautiously.
“How could you not tell me this?” she screeches. “Oh, my gosh, I think I’m going to pass out.” She sits down on the step where we stopped. With a hand on her stomach, she practices the breathing she’s been taught for childbirth.
“Hey.” I run my knuckles down the side of her face and take her hand in mine. “They want to be here. They love you, Tink. They love you just as much as I do. And that’s a whole fucking lot.”
She looks at me, and I nearly break seeing the fear in her eyes. “How do I act like nothing happened?”
“Maybe you don’t.”
She lets out a breath. “Sonny, I can’t. I can’t face them. I can’t tell them.”
A tear slips down her cheek, and I kiss it away. “You tell them what you want to tell them. I only told them you had a rough year. And if you don’t want to say anything, don’t. But don’t hide who you are. Because you are so brave and strong and they should see that.”
She leans into me and I hold her, giving her as long as she needs. “Thank you,” she says after a few minutes, and I feel her relax. “I might hate you later for this, but right now I love you for it.” She smiles before kissing me, then stands to finish making our way down to our guests.
Everyone goes silent as we walk outside where they are all gathered, no doubt just as nervous as she is but not showing it. I watch with reverence as she walks with her head held high, shoulders back. She’s the vision of the very girl-turned-woman I fell in love with years ago. Right now, she’s not a Knight or my queen. She is a fucking King.
30
Ruby
Not knowing exactly what I’m walking into has my walls up. Nerves and fear are shaking me from head to toe, but I’m trying not to show it. My hands are clasped over my belly so no one can see how much I’m trembling.