“Yes, ma’am. It’s so good to meet you. Sweetie has told me so much.”
“I’m happy you two found each other again. Don’t let go, no matter what. Sweetie here has somethin’ real soft in her heart for you. You see to it that you do good by her,” Lucille said before she closed her eye.
“I promise she’s in good hands,” Boogie whispered.
Sweetie watched her granny for a few moments before she whispered, “I love you so much, Granny. You’re my best friend. You always have been, and I’m going to miss you so much. Promise me you’ll leave me love notes as I move through life without you? Butterflies, soft breezes, the right song on the radio at the right time. Remind me that you’re still here.” Sweetie sobbed as she kissed her granny’s hand repeatedly.
“I promise. I love you, my sweet child.”
Sweetie allowed herself a few more moments, but because she could feel the time nearing for her grandmother to transition, she decided to allow her mom the room. She kissed her grandmother one last time before she turned quickly and rushed out of the room.
Boogie followed her, and as soon as they left the room, she collapsed into his arms. Valarie and Audra were there to help Boogie calm Sweetie, which wasn’t easy. They stood in sort of a group hug and soothed each other as they cried, allowing Boogie to be their anchor.
Finally, Sweetie pulled away and looked at her mom. “You should be in there, Mama.”
Audra had already had her time, so it was Valarie’s turn, and it was sort of understood that she would stay with her mother until it was time.
They watched as Valarie disappeared into the room before Audra said, “We can wait in the living room.”
She turned and disappeared from the hallway.
Sweetie looked at Boogie. “Is it okay if we stay until . . .”
“We can stay as long as you’d like.”
Relief filled her. She knew it had been a long few days. It had been a whirlwind, really. Their entire worlds had been turned upside down, but he was still willing to sit with her to the bitter end. She loved him so much for that. More than he would ever understand. They shared a quick kiss, which felt like a violation under her father’s roof, before they walked through the house and into the living room.
Her father and sister were in there, sitting quietly on the couch. Vernon glanced up at them but averted his gaze quickly. He looked uncomfortable, but Sweetie was glad he didn’t say anything.
They sat down on the couch opposite her father and sister and fell into a comfortable silence.
They stayed well into the night. There wasn’t much conversation. Everyone pretty much kept to their own thoughts.
Eventually, Valarie came into the room red faced and puffy eyed and whispered, “She’s gone.”
Sweetie buried her head into Boogie’s neck and sobbed. Knowing it was coming didn’t make it any easier. Hearing those words and understanding that it was final hit her right in the gut, and the pain traveled straight to her heart. She wasn’t sure the wound her granny’s death created would ever heal.
Two weeks later . . .
“Boog, I can’t see a thing,” Sweetie whined.
“That’s kind of the point of a blindfold, my love,” Boogie joked as he led her to some top-secret place.
She giggled, and it felt good. The past couple of weeks had been extremely hard on her. She found herself feeling guilty for smiling and being happy because she felt like she should have been grieving. And she was. But it was hard not to be happy in Boogie’s presence.
He and Denzel officially took over the DeLuca empire after their father stepped down. Audra had done the same with the Bishop empire after a lot of negotiating with their father. He and her mother had left the day before for Bali. They needed to spend some one-on-one time together and figure out what they were going to do with their marriage. Although Sweetie had a large dislike for her father, she hoped they worked it out.
As for Sweetie and Boogie, they spent as much time together as possible. He had a lot more responsibility on his shoulders now, but he did his best to balance work and home.
Sweetie kept busy by redecorating their home and spending time with her sister and Chloe. They’d all fallen into a comfortable routine, and despite the gaping hole in her heart from her granny’s death, Sweetie washappy.
A door opened, and Sweetie was encouraged to move forward a little bit more before Boogie said, “Stop.”
The air smelled . . . sweet. Like cotton candy and chocolate. She tilted her head to the side. “Where are we?”
The blindfold was suddenly removed, and Sweetie blinked a few times to let her eyes adjust. When they did, she gasped. She stood in a candy shop. That explained the sweet smell. The beautiful flowers decorating the space caught her attention. The rose petals under her feet were a cute touch. But the flower bed hinged to the wall in front of her with lollipops, cotton candy, and chocolates mixed in with the colorful flowers captivated her. In bright letters, the sweets and florals spelled out,Sweetie, will you marry me?
She whirled around to face Boogie, but she had to drop her eyes because he was already down on one knee. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears clung to her lashes.
