I pulled back and hissed, “Daddy!” People at tables near us laughed.
“I’ll be back. I need to use the restroom,” Naijhel announced, standing.
“You need some help?” I asked, looking at his crotch.
“Girl, you’re gonna get you and me both in trouble by your daddy. Keep playing. That man has his eye on us.”
“But it’s my birthday.” I pouted.
“And you will be very well taken care of tonight. I promise. But in the meantime, I’ll be back.”
He disappeared and people took turns running up to me and wishing me a happy birthday. I made small talk with several other people as I maneuvered around the room until the lights dimmed.
“What’s going on now?” I asked Aria, who stood beside me as we spoke with my aunt and uncle.
“Girl, your guess is as good as mine,” she stated, looking all around.
“We have one final prize to be auctioned tonight, ladies and gentlemen. This is the grand prize, and it will go to the highest bidder. It’s not a prize to share, but only one person can own it.”
I was really curious as I looked at Damaris across the room, who also shrugged in confusion.
“We’ll start the bidding at a grand on this prize. Whoever wins the bid will become Mrs. King,” the auctioneer announced.
The curtains opened, and my man stepped out on that stage with that BDE swagger, wielding his cane so smoothly.
“What the hell?” I asked as paddles around the room started going up, and the auctioneer kept calling out prices.
I looked around the room for an extra paddle but could not find one; even my mama was throwing her paddle up. She was catching major side-eye from my father, but that didn’t stop her. Aria, Damaris, and Tanika were all in on it.
I was getting more upset by the minute as I rushed around looking for one. Finally, not finding a free paddle, I snatched the one from my mama’s hand and lifted it in the air at the price of five grand as I rushed to the front.
“This young lady’s eager to claim her prize, but one minute.”
He kept driving the price up, and everyone kept bidding. It didn’t stop until the price reached one million. I threw my paddle down and snatched the microphone from the auctioneer’s hand. He stared at me in outrage and then started laughing.
“Listen, I know it’s my birthday and that I’m supposed to behave. But y’all might as well put your paddles down because that man on that stage isn’t going home with anyone but me. I will be the next female in line to carry the last name King. I will be the only woman to say ‘I Do’ to that man on stage, and I will be the only one to carry his babies. Now, if you chicken heads thought something other than that, pick up your feelings, ’cause it ain’t happening, sis.”
Everyone started laughing, and Naijhel slow pimped his ass off the stage and headed toward me. He was as cool as he had been all night, but only I could tell just how nervous he was. I could see it in his eyes and the slight moisture along his hairline when he stood in front of me.
“Delaney, your journey to a road of happiness was not an easy one. It was littered with broken glass, shards of rock, and dirt along the way. But God saw fit to not only help you find healing and wholeness, but he cleansed you, refined you, and made your light shine so brightly that it couldn’t help but shine into the darkness in my life.
“I suffered heartache over losing my father, and after that, I didn’t think I was capable of loving anyone other than those I already held in my heart. But watching your strength and your passion for life forced me to take a deeper look within. I not only wanted what you had, but I wanted you. I wanted to protect and love you, push away everything that meant you harm, and care for you all the days of my life.
“I love you, Delaney. The fact that I can stand here and say that when I didn’t think I was capable of loving anyone, it shows how powerful your love and beauty is. You are an amazing woman who touches the lives of all those you come in contact with. What some meant for your tragic downfall turned into a beautiful blessing for you and I.”
He laid that cane down on the floor beside us, kneeled, and reached inside of his pocket to pull out a jewelry box. I gasped. Sure, we had talked about it, but I still couldn’t believe that it was finally happening.
He opened the box and showed me the ring. The ring that he pulled out was exquisite. It was oval shaped with a large, pink center diamond surrounded by dozens of tiny, pink diamonds.
“A king and his empire is incomplete without his queen ruling by his side. I need my queen. Would you fill that void in my heart and my life and marry me?”
My mother’s tears suddenly made sense. She knew this moment was coming.
“Yes!” I nodded as the tears fell and my hands were clapped over my mouth. He reached up for my hand, and I heard Aria shout from the back, “Girl, give that man your hand!”
Everyone laughed again, and I held out my hand. He so graciously slid the ring on my finger, and then he stood. Naijhel pulled me closer in his embrace and slowly kissed my lips.
“I wanted to ask you this long before now, but I refused to rush it. I wanted to make sure that your heart was completely healed, and you were ready to take this journey again, but this time forever. I love you so much, girl. You make me happy every day that you open your eyes and look at me. Every day that you call me your man feels too good to be true.”
