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Epilogue
Three months later….
“Oh, my goodness, Gen. She’s beautiful,” Journey gushed as she held her precious niece. “Hey, Zuri Noelle. I’m your Auntie Jay. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Not as glad as I am,” Geneva mumbled and scooted down in the bed. “Why didn’t you tell me how much it would hurt? I almost lost my shit,literally, and the pain…Oh. My. God.Neveragain. No wonder you stopped at one kid.”
Journey sputtered a laugh. “You read like fifty books on childbirth. Surely, one of the authors mentioned that it was going to hurt. Besides, I couldn’t tell you because I forgot. Once you hold all of this cuteness in your arms, you kinda forget about—”
“Something is wrong with your ass if you can forget what I just went through for ten hours.Ten frickin’ hours, Jay!” She rubbed her forehead, exhaustion evident. “Never again. I shouldn’t have let Myles’sfine asstalk me into having sex with him.”
“Girl, you need to quit. Anyone who knows both of you knows that you were probably the aggressor. Also, you’re going to have to clean up your language. Otherwise, this little one’s first words will be curse words. Actually, you and Laz both, because he’s been reverting back to his old ways of every other word being a curse word.
Geneva grumbled something, but Journey couldn’t stop looking at the sleeping baby in her arms. She couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have another child. Her window of opportunity was closing quickly, but there was still a little time. She already knew Laz wanted to try for a boy, but up until a few months ago, there was no way Journey could envision bringing another child into their world.
Now? Maybe.
It was official.
Yesterday was her last day in the DA’s office.
She still couldn’t believe that she’d been brave enough to walk away from a job she thought she couldn’t live without. The days of long hours, stressful cases, and thoughts of being the next DA were gone. She thought it would be hard to leave. Instead, it felt as if an enormous weight had lifted from her shoulders as she closed some pending cases.
The one that gave her pause was the Stratton case. At first, she considered staying until after the trial and the case was closed but instead decided to hand it off to another prosecutor. She’d had enough and knew it was time to move on.
Journey had no regrets. If the last few months had taught her anything, it was that there was nothing more important than family.
When Zuri started to fuss, Journey gave her to Geneva, who immediately started feeding her.
“She really is beautiful, isn’t she?” Geneva said with awe as she fingered the baby’s headful of black curls.
“Yes, she is.” Journey sat in a nearby chair. “Are you ready for all of this?”
“No. Not at all. You’re always talking about how hard it is juggling motherhood, being a wife, and having a career. I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”
“You’re going to do it just like the rest of us. One day at a time, and don’t be like me. Don’t ever forget what’s most important.”
Geneva’s eyebrows dipped. “Which is?”
“Family. Gen, don’t ever take Myles and Zuri for granted. When Laz was shot….” Journey shook off the shiver that went through her. “It scared me to death how close I came to losing him and Ari. Life is so short and unpredictable. Don’t put work before those you love. I learned that the hard way. Yes, there will be times when you might have to, but don’t make a habit of it. They are too precious to come second to anything,” Journey said as she rubbed the back of the baby’s hand.
“Dude, you do realize I played a major part in all of this, right?” Myles was saying when he and Laz entered the room. “Not only that, Zuri looks just like me.”
“Did you not hear me say she’s gorgeous? Except for your mocha skin tone, she looks nothing like you,” Laz insisted. “What you need to be doing is thinking about how you’re going to keep these little peanut-headed boys away from her. You’re a girl dad now. That comes with a lot of responsibility.”
Journey and Geneva shook their heads as the guys went back and forth, talking nonsense.
“How did it go FaceTiming with Collin?” Journey asked Geneva.
“It went well. The book you guys bought him about being a big brother helped. He’s anxious to see Zuri, and he’s already planning on taking her to Disney World with him and Arielle next time.”
Journey smiled at that. Arielle talked about their trip for a month after they returned. To say she and Collin had fun was an understatement. Journey would be forever grateful to her parents. The trip had been timely. She and Laz didn’t have to worry about their daughter while dealing with the situation with Tony. They were also able to work on their marriage and were closer than they’d ever been, and Journey was beside herself with happiness.
“Okay, we better get going so you guys can bond with your little one, and I’m sure Mom is anxious to get back here to her new grandbaby.”
Their mom and Myles had been in the delivery room with Geneva while Journey and Laz looked after Collin. Arielle had been thrilled to have her cousin spend the night, and Journey had been delighted to get a break. When her parents left the hospital, they took Journey and Laz’s place with the kids.
After saying their goodbyes, Journey and Laz walked hand in hand to the parking garage. When they reached his new Chevy Tahoe, he backed her against the vehicle and kissed her.
