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Okay. They were ready to begin Christmas carols?
From my vantage point, I could see Raj behind a keyboard and two men with microphones. One was the pastor.
“Okay, guests. Can I make a request of no recording of the next few minutes? We have a videographer here for this very reason. Please.” There was a practiced authority in his tone, yet it was supplemented with humility. “Please. No pictures or videos. Just be present in the moment. Thanks.”
Then the pastor looked over to the other guy—a short fellow, whose wife was a riot earlier when they’d arrived. Heavy in stature, she rocked the dopest bleach-blonde mohawk. He motioned toward the instruments.
Seconds later, I heard a soft, timid tenor. It was a man, singing about falling in love on a special day. There were a few encouraging responses from the guests. I tried scanning the room for the mild, yet passioned-filled voice. Raj was my first guess, but he was playing with a closed mouth. The pastor and short guy with mics had unmoving mouths, too. Who was that singing?
Then, out of nowhere, the short guy with the mic animatedly demanded, “Up, Tobe!” while yanking his arm in the air as though directing a choir.
Tobe?
I leaned over my lap to crane my neck to see the keyboard hidden from my view. Indeed, it was Tobias singing, big body curled over the board tensely as he sang.
Shit…
My heart swelled protectively. Tobias didn’t like singing publicly, only for work. It was a talent he was known to hide. Why would he put himself out there like this?
Then there was a shift in the keys and the pastor, Raj, and the short guy began harmonizing.Damn!Even the pastor could sing!Again!This crew was different. A free concert was happening here.
The pastor took a seat next to Tobias on the bench. He placed the microphone on the keyboard while Tobias sang about being all he needed and never thought he’d fall in love on Christmas Day. He seemed to fixate on Tobias’ hands and eventually played alongside him. Strange until there was another chord shift, and Tobias abandoned the keyboard, leaving the pastor to play and sing.
The short guy continued to direct even when singing background. When the crowd opened for me to have a direct view of Tobias, my pulse began to bang in my neck. He sang about how Christ came down on Christmas and it was the same day he’d fallen in love. When his hand lifted my way, I couldn’t breathe.
In this moment, it was clear. Tobias was serenading me in front of his friends. I knew this was not easy for him, but he sounded pitch-perfect, and was so damn handsome. I stood, wanting to run to him protectively, however couldn’t. It would embarrass him. But I needed to touch him for comfort.
Then Tobias fingered me to come to him. My feet moved before my brain. I was at his big body, trembling with glassy eyes. He was doing this for me, and I felt his passion. I got the message. Tobias was telling the world he was in love with messy me. Yes, I was still married, but his love for me had been heightened on Christmas Day, my birthday. The tears fell, and suddenly, so did Tobias as he riffed fluid notes. He took to one knee.
My knees buckled, heart pounded.
The short guy came over to take Tobias’ microphone while using his own for background vocals. I trembled in my heels at the sight of Tobias pulling a box from his pocket. With shaky hands, he opened it to a diamond so radiant, I couldn’t make out the size or shape with the tears welling in my eyes. Completely sobbing, I fell to my knees to join him. I didn’t give a damn about the ring; I just wanted him. To hold, protect, and secure his heart for the rest of my life. I’d never get bored inside of his arms. There was so much space there, I could stretch out, and even share with Elia.
“You’re such a fool,” I cried in his chest.
“I know. I am,” his thick croak picked up in the mic. “Only and always for you. I know you didn’t expect this, but I wanted to make your first birthday with me one you’ll never forget. How lucky am I to have friends who could help me do it in such spectacular fashion?” The room laughed, moved by his humor. “I also know right now may not be the best time to make this type of commitment, but I can’t wait anymore. I need to know…when the time’s right.” He pulled my face up to meet his intentional gaze by the hair on the back of my head. “Will you marry me, Lennox Alexis Curry?”
The short guy had taken over Tobias’ riffs, creating the most romantic backdrop as everyone waited with anticipation.
I tried getting my sobbing under control. “I hate I waited this long to love you,” I admitted. Tobias kissed my wet lips encouragingly. “I’d marry you tonight if I could.”
“Ut!” the short guy broke his notes to trill. He glanced around animatedly. “We’ve got one, Bishop!”
A gravelly voice spoke into a microphone and rasped, “It would be my pleasure.”
My attention was fastened to the love of my life. I nodded. I cried. And continued to nod. Of course, I’d marry him once I got my affairs in order. Deep inside, I felt spiritually joined to him for years. We’d just have to work on the legal part of it.
“Here they come,” Charlie murmured from behind the wheel of the sprinter rental.
I glanced up from the back, and through the tinted windows, I could see her small frame take down the stairs in one hundred-twenty-millimeter heels. It was a beautiful November day in North Carolina, where the weather was still mild. She stressed about her outfits down here for months before the divorce proceedings were scheduled. I understood why, but hated having her worry. Seeing her in cropped dress pants with anAsè Garbmonogram print, sleeveless cape helped me note the compromise. It covered her well as she strutted with the sun beaming in her face.
Behind her was her father, O.G. Chino. He’d been with her these past three days as Lennox’s divorce was being finalized. Richardson didn’t make it easy on my girl. He didn’t want to just sign the fucking papers and go about his life. Nah. He wanted to fuck with her, demanding spousal support.
Bitch…
Seeing Chino’s short, but stocky ass following behind Lennox to the sprinter, I was happy I made the call of having him down here with her all these days. Another compromise. Lennox’s father and I had words about me not having told him about our affair. It wasn’t as explosive as it could have been. Maybe because Smite was there to host it. I was able to get him off my back by assuring I’d aide in him and Lennox establishing a relationship finally. Having him involved this week was a demonstration of that effort. Unfortunately, I had work, leaving her to the proceedings without me.
I’d flown in from Detroit, filling in my dates for Dale’s promotional tour. The album dropped less than a month ago, and he’d been spreading the word, touching major, and some local, radio stations as well as podcast shows. I’d been asked to do a few as the executive producer on the project. It was worth the effort. The album streams were unbelievably high, and it had been number one onBillboardfor weeks now.
