46. 🍸 Blastaway

**KEKE**

Shock doesn’t even begin to describe how I am feeling. It takes a minute for me, and for my family as well, to react. A squeal of surprise peals from my mouth the same time my Mom claps her hands and Trey nearly falls from the arm of the couch. My dad slowly unfolds his arms and stands. Even at his age, he’s still got his width and his height and he can look downright mean when he wants to, like now. “Son, did you just ask my daughter to marry you in some half-assed way?”
My mouth flies open. It is the first time in my life I’ve ever heard my father curse. Even my mother looks aghast. Trey, however can’t stop shaking in silent laughter.
Justice looks duly chastised, his face a flushed red. He stands and then falls to one knee. In front of my family, he takes my hand and looks deeply into my eyes. “I told you from the beginning, K, that I’m bad at this. I hope that with you as my wife, you will help me grow into the man that I need to be.” He looks down at our hands and lets out a deep sigh. “I can’t do that, though, until I tell you the truth.”
I stop him before he blurts out what he did in front of my father. I may be forgiving, but I’m not so sure about Daddy. “Justice, I know what you did. And I know you blame yourself. Please don’t. It wasn’t your fault.”
“What?” my father shouts, “What’s this?”
“Raymond,” my mother says in her soft voice. “Sit down and be quiet. Let them have their moment.”
Daddy, looking sheepish, he does as she asks.
“K, I—”
I put two fingers over his sweet lips. “I was going to say, ‘yes’, Justice. I love you and I don’t need any convincing.”
The smile he gives me is breathtaking, beautiful in its sincerity. I know we will have to discuss my ability to carry a child and the guilt he carries about the shooting, but as long as he continues to look at me like that, we will always work things out.


Leaving Justice to talk cars with my dad and brother, I follow Mom into the kitchen. I flatten the two pizza boxes and put them in the recycle bin while mom places the glasses and plates in the dishwasher.
The two pepperoni “pies” were surprisingly enough for five adults. I could only eat a slice while Justice had two. My guess is the giddiness filled up our stomachs with air and left little room for food.
Me. *Engaged.*
I don’t have a ring to show off, but I already feel taken. I’m off the market and on the married shelf.
Who would have *thunk* it?

“I already know the answer, but I wouldn’t be a good mother if I didn’t ask: are you sure?”
I wrap my arms around my mom and hug her, damn glad that we have made up and even happier she is back in my life. I’m determined never to have my parent’s out of it…ever again.
“Mom, I never been so sure of anything as I am of that man.”
She laughs, a sound I have truly missed.
“I’m glad to hear it, Kiara. I’m glad you found the one.”
Justice comes into the kitchen, followed by my laughing dad who slaps him on the back. “Hehe-haw!” my dad wheezes. “You are right about that son-of-a-biscuit Mercedes 600 Grosser. That is one mean motherquacker to work on. I once broke the trunk trying to close that bastick shut.
Justice looks perplexed at his soon-to-be-father-in-law’s lack of cursing.
While my dad’s eyes are squinted shut in another bout of laughter, I mouth to justice that I will fill him in later. He gives me a grateful smile.
A few minutes later, the guys have beers in their hands and mom and I have wine. We catch up on family matters as Justice listens in, his arm wrapped around my shoulders, squeezing my right one every so often. I fill him in on the backstories of each person that my parents, Trey or I bring up. He seems to take it all in stride, comfortable just to hear us talk. The light begins to fade and my parents reluctantly stand to make their exit. As with all families, the conversations that begin when one leaves, turn into full blown discussions. While my dad makes plans with Justice to visit us in New York, mom pulls me to the side and slips a long white envelope from her purse.
I recognize the handwriting immediately. It is from Krish.
“Um…this came for you over a year ago. I can’t tell you how many times over the years, I’ve wanted to pick up the phone and hear your voice, especially after I received this letter from the man who broke your heart. Now that it is healed, I think you are strong enough to read it.”
I fold it under my arm. I will read it later…with Justice. There will be no more secrets between us.
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One more chapter and then the Epilogue. I hope to have it wrapped up by Sunday. Thanks so much for reading!