He’d never really thought about it before, but that was true. Chelsea was his princess, and other women he called babe or baby, assuming he used an affectionate name for them at all.
“Yeah. Because you’re the only one. You’re my sweetheart.” He brushed a thumb across her cheek and wiped away a fat tear that fell.
“I’m not upset. I… I heard the new song for the album. It’s about me, isn’t it?” Her tear-filled eyes searched his. She asked the question, but she feared the answer.
“Yes, but it’s not for the album. I’m not going to release it.”
“I want you to release it. It’s beautiful.”
He studied her for a moment and then took both of her hands in his. “Did you really listen to the words? I meant everything I said. I’m nothing without you. Nothing.”
She gave him a watery smile. “About what you said last night, before you fell asleep…”
Terrence shook his head. “We don’t have to talk about that. I needed to say those things to you for me. I needed you to know, that’s all.”
“Well, I have something to say to you, too.”
He braced for the words about to come out of her mouth.
“You’re right, you don’t deserve me. You were awful to me.”
He didn’t react.
“But I want to be with you. I turned over everything you said in my head and considered all we’d been through. Losing our first child. Our marriage. Your career successes. Everything. And then this song… I… I believe you. Maybe I’m crazy, and I hope this isn’t a mistake, but I want to try again.”
Terrence couldn’t breathe. He wanted to be happy but worried she was giving him another chance for the wrong reason. “If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, don’t.”
“I didn’t say that because I feel sorry for you. I said it because… When things are good between us, they’re really, really good, and you make me happier than anyone else. You take good care of me, and you’re an excellent father. I want to be with you, and I want to be with you because I love you. You have my heart, too, Terrence. You didn’t take good care of it before, but I believe you will now, and I’m willing to take a chance on us.”
“And you forgive me?” he asked thickly, voice shaking.
“Yes, I forgive you.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before he flung his arms around her and lifted her from the floor in a tight bear hug. She laughed, cupping the back of his head with both hands and wrapping her legs around his waist. She dropped soft little kisses to his nose and cheeks.
Terrence looked deeply into her eyes. “You won’t regret it. I promise. I love you so much. Thank you, thank you for giving me another chance. I won’t screw it up this time, I promise. I’ll be the best husband you could ever have. I’m going to love you so much and so hard. I’ll show you every day. You gon’ be sick of my ass.”
“I can’t wait,” Charisse whispered.
“Yeah, baby!” he bellowed, tossing his head back.
She laughed, her grin broad and bright. That was the same look she wore on their wedding day—as if she’d snagged the biggest prize. But he was the one who’d snagged a prize.
“You’re stuck with me now,” he said against her lips.
Then he kissed her. Hard.
Epilogue
Terrence sat on the side of the pool writing in his notebook. Sunglasses shielded his eyes as the Hawaiian sun doused his family playing in the pool. Almost a year had passed since he and Charisse reconciled, and the ensuing months exceeded his expectations.
They got married in the gazebo on the newly landscaped grounds of the house, in a small private ceremony that included only close family and friends. Martha attended with her new beau but remained skeptical about them remarrying. Terrence was still working on convincing her that he was worthy of her daughter, but he was up to the challenge.
When the officiant said, “You may kiss the bride,” he wrapped one arm around Charisse’s neck and kissed her, and kissed her, and kissed her until Bo yelled, “Let her breathe, T. Damn!”
They never issued a formal announcement to the public. Charisse simply started showing up to events with him, and when the press took note of the rings on their fingers, they figured it out.
The stories about their reunion were overwhelmingly positive, and some of the social media comments were interesting and funny.
Why you put him through all that? You know he loved you, girl.
What a beautiful sight. #blacklove
Of course, not everyone thought their reunion was a good idea.
I give it six months and he’ll be cheating on her again.
Some women never learn. LMAO
So dumb. He hasn’t changed. Guess she gonna learn the hard way. SMDH.
Sales of Annihilation surpassed his previous works. The first release, “Without You,” was a huge hit and set the tone for what critics called a more mature album. Terrence won Album of the Year at the Grammys, and this time Charisse was right there, blowing him kisses and beaming proudly from the audience.
In a couple of weeks, he started rehearsals for the next tour. Fans snatched up tickets fast since they knew this was the last one before retirement. Ennis had decided to take a gap year before he started at Morehouse and planned to travel around the world with him while he toured.
Another big change in the past year was the birth of their daughter, who currently slept under the watchful gaze of the nanny. No one was more enamored with her than her big sister, Chelsea, who made plans to teach her everything she knew about being a princess.
“Come on in the water, baby. Are you going to stay out there writing all day?” Charisse pouted but resumed playing volleyball with their kids. She wore an aqua blue one piece that looked amazing against her skin, which had darkened to a toastier brown after days in the Hawaiian sun.
“One minute.” Terrence wrote a few more lines, noting his thoughts before they were gone. He could perfect the words later, but these verses were a start. He may never share them, but it felt good to write about the joy he felt every day ever since he reunited with his family.
He set aside the notebook and removed his sunglasses. Then he took a running leap toward the pool. “Incoming!” he yelled, and executed a perfect cannonball into the water, eliciting screams and shouts from everyone else.
He waded over to Charisse. “I’m on Mommy’s side.”
“No fair,” Chelsea said. “You’ll beat us.”
“There are three of you and two of us. Bring it.” Out the corner of his mouth, he whispered, “We’re kicking their asses.”
His wife giggled and shook her head.
His wife. Charisse was his wife again.
Her laughter, genuine happiness, and beauty blew him away. Every day he marveled at being given a second chance. Being given the opportunity to make her happy, to wake up next to this amazing woman. Older and wiser, he would never squander his chance again. He was too damn appreciative he actually received one.
He looped an arm around her neck and kissed her cheek. She beamed up at him with water droplets on her smooth skin. He kissed her soft lips, which were his to kiss whenever he wanted, as long as they both shall live. Charisse moaned, teasing him with a little bit of tongue.
Bump.
The beach ball bounced against the side of Terrence’s head. He tore his mouth away from Charisse and glared across the pool at his three laughing children. The boys gave Chelsea a high five.
“Great shot,” Junior said.
“That was you, princess?” Terrence said in his best wounded voice.
“That’s what you get,” Chelsea replied. “You kiss Mommy all the time. This is volleyball time, not kissing time.”
“Oh, it’s like that? Okay, get ready, cause it’s on.”
He picked up the ball and launched it across the water with a powerful serve. With lots of laughter and splashing around, an energetic game o
f water volleyball commenced.
And there was nowhere else Terrence Burrell would rather be.
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Johnson Family series
For more Black romance, check out the Johnson Family series—about a billionaire beer and restaurant dynasty based in Seattle. The first three books are available in a box set for a limited time. Meet Ivy, Cyrus, Trenton, Gavin, and Xavier in Unforgettable, Perfect, Just Friends, The Rules, and Good Behavior.
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About the Author
Delaney Diamond is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet, sensual, passionate romance novels. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, she now lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She reads romance novels, mysteries, thrillers, and a fair amount of nonfiction. When she’s not busy reading or writing, she’s in the kitchen trying out new recipes, dining at one of her favorite restaurants, or traveling to an interesting locale.
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