Say You’ll Stay

Epilogue

VASEY

“ T hose centerpieces need a few more lilies in them.” I gesture toward one of the numerous tables that occupy the outdoor tent we built in our backyard. "Oh, and the cake. It should be between the two ice sculptures.” One indicates the year, while the other displays the university logo that Jasmine has selected.

All the colleges she applied to had accepted her. I was pleased she ended up picking one that was close to home. It’s funny how she used to cling to me; now it’s me doing the clinging. I’m not ready to let her go, but I know she needs to spread her wings and explore the rest of the world.

“I sound snotty, don’t I?” I cringe, looking over at Rebecca, the party planner. I know I’m being particular, but I want everything to be perfect for Jasmine. She deserves it.

Never in my life did I think I’d be talking about centerpieces, ice sculptures, and picking chandeliers to hang in an outdoor tent for a party, but here I am. I remember when West and I would pool our money just to be able to buy ice cream at the local ice cream shop. I couldn’t have imagined throwing a party of this caliber all those years ago.

“You sound like an excited mom.” Rebecca gives me a reassuring smile. I might not be Jasmine's birth mother, but it warms me that people see me as a mother figure in her life. Even Jasmine.

I was worried about how things would go after I moved across the street, but Ware actually stepped up some. I mean, he didn’t do a complete three-sixty, but he definitely put in more effort than he had before. I think he realized it was easier to have a small role in Jasmine’s life than to marry a woman he couldn’t stand. Jasmine still spent a large amount of her time over at our house, but she had dinner with Ware a few nights a week. He’s even insisted on paying for the party. In his own way, Ware cares.

“Sweetness.” West comes up behind me, placing his hand on my small baby bump. This one popped out way sooner than my last, which is saying something because it was twins. Two precious little girls who will be waking up from their nap soon. “I want you off your feet for a while.” I turn in my husband's arms. “We have staff that can handle this.” He’s probably right. My feet do tend to swell, and I’ll be on them a lot tonight when the party starts.

“You just want me off my feet and on my back,” I tease him.

“Now there is an idea. Help you work some of the stress out.” He gives me a devilish smile as he leans down to kiss me. I melt into my husband. I never get tired of his kisses. I cherish all of them.

“I need to shower and change.”

“We can do that.” I let out a small squeal when West scoops me off my feet, carrying me inside the house.

I’d tell him I can walk, but it would be pointless. Instead, I rest my head on his shoulder and let him do as he pleases. The man is always giving me what I want. He does everything for our family. I want to do the same, and if carrying me around is what he wants, so be it.

West doesn’t stop until we’re in the bathroom. “Let me.” I undo the buttons on his shirt. He hasn't lost any of the muscle he'd gotten while in the Army. He'd left a boy and come back a man in every sense of the word. My man.

“It’s me that’s supposed to be taking care of you.”

“You always take care of me.” He’s been watching out for me since the very start. Making sure that I was protected and taken care of. West does the same with our babies. He loves our family with everything in him.

“And?” He drops to his knees to remove my shoes. I rest my hand on his shoulder, allowing him to undress me.

These past years have been some of the best of my life. West had been true to his word when he left for the Army. He’d gone to make something of himself so that he could give us a life we could only dream of. I may not have understood it at the time, but somewhere deep inside me, I knew he would find me again. We've been able to do so many wonderful things because of him.

It wasn't only about finding Jasmine. She needed me, and this path we ended up taking, while not always together, led to that, but also all the other children we have been able to help. I wasn't in love with The Academy at first. I think it was the idea of catering to all those rich families.

That’s when a new idea came to life. Why did it have to be for the rich? West and I didn’t need the money from the school. What about all the bright kids out there that could use a hand? I knew that would be a challenge to pull off, but West had all the confidence in the world in me and encouraged me.

We kept The Academy but changed it to serve underprivileged kids, and helped them get job training or into college, whichever path they wanted to pursue in life. What surprised me was how many other people thought this was a good place for their money too. West and I hold a lot of parties like this because rich people like to be fed and entertained before they write their checks, but I’ve gotten used to that too. Once I got into the swing of things, I flourished.

“Let me love on my wife before our girls wake up.”

West leads me into the shower, having me sit on the bench. He turns the water on, waiting for it to get to the right temperature. He kneels before me, soaping up his hands to rub along every inch of my body. Doing exactly what he said he would, taking care of me. The same way he always has, and I know he always will.