We shared a passionate kiss that almost made me take him down right on the rink. When we released each other, I squealed excitedly. I was a fiancé. “Now, show me what you’ve been working on.” He smacked me on the ass, making me giggle.
I wasn’t even nervous as I skated for Sym. He was my best friend. The answer to all my problems. The reason I was living in an answered prayer. I knew my life could only get better. When Sym came back into my life, I thought I had him figured out. For the first time, I was so happy that I was wrong. I told him to please mean well, and he absolutely did.
EPILOGUE
Symphony
Ten years later . . .
“Papa!”
Lifting my hand, holding the remote, I lowered the volume on the TV. “Yes?”
“I’m ready now!” Doodle yelled from her bedroom upstairs.
I laid the remote on the couch and hopped up quickly. Even though I was a ball of nerves, I knew there was no stopping what came next. It was the way of life. Walking to the staircase, I motioned for the photographer I hired to get into position. He had been wasting time, scrolling on his phone while we waited.
Standing off to the side, I tried to level my breathing, but this was my baby getting ready to go to her first homecoming dance. When I came to Solaire ten years before, I never saw myself nervously standing there to see how beautiful I knew she would be. Then there was a date on his way over here, making it all just a little too real for me.
The second her foot hit the top step, my eyes began to water. Valleigh stood off to the side of her with her hands over her mouth. She was already bawling and likely had been the entire time she helped Doodle get ready. Even though my babywas officially a teenager, I still saw that four-year-old little girl walking toward me. Her first pair of glasses was long gone, but you couldn’t convince me that she wasn’t wearing them right then.
I swiped at my tears and opened my arms for her when she reached the bottom step. She groaned when she realized I was crying. “Oh my goodness, y’all are being so dramatic right now. I’m going to homecoming, not getting married, Papa,” she fussed, stomping her foot for dramatic flair.
Completely ignoring her statement, I hugged her tightly to my body. Seeing her in a full face of makeup was so unordinary, but that occasion was the only time I’d allow it. The short, golden dress paired well against her brown skin that sparkled like they’d oiled her down with shimmer. I was not in a rush to see my baby girl grow up. “First, it’s homecoming; then, it’s marriage.” I shook my head dramatically. “It’s scary how fast you’ve grown up.”
Doodle had long ago ditched calling me Unca Sym for Papa. I felt no way about it because she was my daughter in every way that mattered. Doodle dropped her head into her hands. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you two. Y’all are always crying. Mama, get down here so we can take these photos already,” she said as if she was the boss of somebody.
Leigh came down the stairs with our four-year-old daughter, Harmony, hoisted to her hip. Baby girl was our miracle baby. We were under the impression Leigh couldn’t have children, which was what made our bond with Iylah so special. But low and behold, a few years ago, God showed us the beauty in destiny. Whatever He deemed, so would come to pass. Harmony was the spark all of us needed. She literally made Doodle seem like a saint in comparison.
The second they got downstairs, Leigh placed her on her feet, and she came racing toward me. I scooped her up before kissingher little cheek. “Papa, no,” she complained, trying to ball my lips up. She swore she was a big girl. I laughed at her before we all huddled together for some pictures.
Sometime during the middle of our photoshoot, the doorbell rang. I went to check it out, only to find Rhap standing there with Doodle’s date. He was mugging the little boy without blinking. I could tell the little guy was nervous by the way he kept pulling at his collar.
“Hello, Mr. Sinclaire. My name is Destin,” he introduced himself.
I chuckled. “I know who you are, Destin. Come on. She’s waiting on you.” I stepped aside to allow him access inside. Rhap remained in place, watching him go. “Why you giving Urkle a hard time?” I joked.
“’Cause lil’ nigga think he safe just ’cause he wear glasses and shit. I’ll knock a nigga with glasses out too. I never gave a fuck.”
I started cracking up as he finally stepped forward to dap me up. “You ain’t right,” I joked.
He shrugged nonchalantly. “About my baby girl, it can get like that.”
I tossed an arm over his shoulder before we headed toward the back of the house, where everyone was. “Daddy!” Doodle screamed when she saw her father. I removed my arm so he could go hug his baby girl. I always loved to see them together.
For the last few years, Rhap was finally in a good place with his mental. It took time to find the proper regimen for his meds, but once he committed to taking them, he made significant improvement. Doodle still lived with us, but he was very active in her life. As a matter of fact, he would be picking her up from the dance to keep her and Harmony for the night. I was taking my baby on a little date to the rink since she hadn’t been in a while.
After another twenty minutes of taking photos, it was time for the kids to head out. “Harmony, grab your book bag, mama!”Leigh called out to her. She shook her head with a pout. Her little arms were folded over her chest in defiance. “Girl, you didn’t hear me?”
“I don’t want to go, Mommy,” she replied, refusing to move from where she stood.
Leigh turned to look at me. “You better get your daughter before I do,” she warned me.
I walked over to Harmony and bent down to her height. “What’s wrong, baby girl? I thought you wanted to stay at Uncle Rhap’s house with Doodle.”
“I want to wear makeup and heels too. Mommy said I can’t,” she whined.
I heaved a breath and shook my head. “No, you can’t wear all that, baby girl.”
