Six months later
“I still can’t believe you picked this ring out yourself and planned a whole engagement in days.”
Gina held her hand out to admire the five-carat Versailles oval-shaped diamond ring I’d put on her finger. It had been six months since I asked her to marry me, and my baby was still in shock. I was just happy she agreed to put up with me for the rest of her life.
“Gina, I been planning the engagement since I met you, sweetheart. Wasn’t nothing hard about it.”
“You really love me, don’t you?” she asked, reaching over the middle console to rub my face.
“More than life.”
“You nervous about seeing your parents after so many months?”
“Nah, not really. They know they are the reason things are the way they are between us. I’ve been talking to them and allowing things to get better. This is just the first time we are going to be doing it in person.”
“Well, I’m glad you accepted their invitation. I know my parents have been dying to meet yours, so they will probably beat us there.”
I never saw myself having a good relationship with Gina’s parents, but after they made a way for me to get on that stage and ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage, we were bonded for life. I had even been to a couple of football games with her pops. Now, all I had to do was make sure I was on the same page with my own.
“They all excited about this engagement. I know my mama think she about to help plan the wedding.”
“Well, she can join mine because I’m pretty sure she already has a vision board completed and contractors on speed dial.”
It was good to see Gina back on good terms with her people. I could tell how much being without them had affected her over the years, and now that she was mine, I had no plans of letting her be attached to anyone who didn’t see her worth. Playing with her emotions was the same thing as playing with me, and I wasn’t having it.
By the time we made it to my parents’ place, dinner was already done, and the table was set. Just as Gina had expected, her parents had, for sure, made it before we did, and they all seemed to be getting along. My pops opened the door for us, and I could see Gina’s people sitting in the living room, having a full conversation with my mom, who was smiling from ear to ear.
“Son.” My pops greeted me by pulling me into a hug before moving on to Gina. “And my soon to be daughter,” he said, grabbing her hand to admire the ring before hugging her too. “That’s a gorgeous ring. My boy did good.”
“Thanks, Pops.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“No problem. I missed Mom’s cooking anyways” We both laughed.
“Gina, do you think I could borrow my son for a second? I think my wife has some things she wants to say to you as well.”
“Of course. I’ll leave you guys to it.”
Gina kissed me on the cheek before heading toward the living room with everyone else. My father led the way out to the backyard, and I followed him. I knew we both needed the fresh air for the talk we were getting ready to have.
“I won’t keep you back here long, because this dinner is to celebrate your engagement, but I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for how your mom and I acted over that sham of an engagement between you and Lacy.”
He got straight to the point, and I was happy he did. Both of my parents had already let go of the idea they once had about my life, but this was the first time I was getting an actual apology. I could respect my pops for wanting to do that face-to-face.
“Thanks, Pops, and I appreciate you for standing up for me when Lacy’s people tried to come for me.”
“I would be less of a man if I let another man disrespect the child I raised. You are not only my blood son; you are my heart and soul. Your mother and I should have never lost sight of that.”
“We’re still amongst the living, so that mean we got time to right the wrongs,” I said before dapping my dad up and pulling him into another hug.
“Well, we better get back to make sure your mother is not running your wife off with all kinds of wedding talk.”
“Oh, trust me. Her mother is just as excited.”
The rest of the family was already seated at the table when my dad and I walked in. I walked over to hug and kiss my mother, then I spoke to Gina’s parents before taking a seat next to her. My pops sat at the head of the table.
“Your mother apologized about our first meeting. All is forgiven,” Gina said, smiling from ear to ear. She couldn’t hold agrudge if she tried, but that was what I loved most about her. She had so much grace for the people she cared about.
