Page 81 of Widow Mayker

All of Maja’s gifts were inside the dining room, one in the garage, and a few other ones inside my safe. I checked on her from time to time, while getting myself groomed for the day. Maja was used to my hair being in cornrows, but today I opted for something different. My hair was getting longer, and I refused to cut it only because I read Samson. After reading the entirety of his story, something resonated with me. It wasn’t because I was super religious or spiritual. It was because I understood vows and covenants, and the reason they weren’t to be broken. I started growing my hair long before reading about Samson. Now that I’d let it grow over the last decade, separating from it seemed ludicrous. Gray hair had started taking over, and I wasn’t even mad about it. All it did was make me look more like my father, and that man was elite.

I opted for rope twists, and the only person I trusted to do them was one of my mama’s friends, Keita. She retired from doing braids several years ago, but if I called, she came. Once she got me right, my homeboy, Tea Pot, got my edges and beard together. I was done before Maja, so I spent some time working on how I would pop the question to her. As I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror, I liked what I saw, and it had nothing to do with the physical reflection.

Begrudgingly, I had to admit, I liked the man who co-existed with the lieutenant. He was a man I knew long ago, the one who didn’t mind getting his hands dirty when necessary. He was the one who took risks. My badge meant a lot to me. Admitting that I was okay with what I believed my woman to be, meant I was willing to turn a blind eye to crime. Not just any crime but murder.

Seven murders. Seven criminals who deserved to find a cell or grave. I wasn’t a judge, but I was a man who walked this earth and hated the stain of those who purposely sought out to destroy another human’s life. That shit irritated the fuck out of me.

I knew Maja’s soul, and I knew her why. Her why was the reason the diamond ring I purchased was going to look amazing on her finger. Sure, I was taking a huge risk with my life. It was my life to live, though, and I refused to live it without Maja.

A few hours later, Black Dream became the site for Maja’s twenty-seventh birthday party. This was one of the only clubs I went to, but now that I knew Kody personally, it was the only spot I would chill at from now on. He was cool enough to close the place for us tonight. I had it decorated to match my baby’s aesthetic. She loved shades of red, something I picked up on from the colors she wore her nail and toe polish. I’d sucked on her toes enough to know that a deep shade of red was her favorite. Live band, good food, family and all, I went all out for her.

As everyone shouted, “Happy birthday!” Maja covered her face to hide the tears. I tugged her hands down and kissed her lush lips.

“You’re crazy,” she tearfully said against my lips.

“Crazy is such a simple word. I’m brainsick over you.” I stared into her eyes and wondered if she could read the thoughts going on in my head. If she did, she’d see that I wasn’t letting go of her until I took my last breath. Even then, I’d hold her hand through the rest of her life. Even if I had to do so from the grave.

It was at that moment I knew I could no longer wait to put this ring on Maja’s finger. Instead of leading her to our table for the night, I steered her in the direction of the proposal room. Also fitted with shades of red, it was the place where I would bend on one knee and start the beginning of our lives.

Maja gasped loudly, her shock bellied by that of her family. No one really saw this coming because I swore the photographer, videographer, decorators, and caterers to secrecy. Inside the room, her family spilled in to witness this moment. Candles, a carpet of red roses, and bouquets of red roses led the way to a heart-shaped arch. Large lit letters spelled MARRY ME.

My strong, beautiful Maja… Seeing tears spilling down her face was almost foreign to me. Plus, her fingers trembled against mine. Standing in front of the arch and in front of everyone who loved her, I slipped my hand into my pocket for the box as I bent to one knee. Shit, I didn’t have to wonder. I knew her heart thumped just as hard and raced just as quickly as mine did. Opening the box, I revealed the emerald cut diamond ring that had been burning a hole in my pocket since I put it there. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth, and she trembled even more.

“Maja… I made it my mission to lighten those pretty eyes. The minute I caught that lil’ spark, I made it my mission to keep it there. I love you, and I wanna continue to show you that for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”

Without hesitation, she shouted, “Yes!”

I slipped the ring onto her left ring finger, stood, and caught Maja when she threw herself into my arms. We kissed deeply. Tonight, while making love to her, I’d replay her darkest secrets to her and promise to protect her forever. I’d tell her that I was willing to do whatever I had to do to keep her happy, safe, and free.

HEIR

After Maja opened her gifts, I decided that it was time for me to skedaddle. The highlight of the night was witnessing Von propose to Maja. Since, Kody had been on my mind heavily. I carried his baby now, and his little boy or girl wasn’t playing fair. My bladder was screaming and so were my feet. I’d partied until my voice was nearly gone, and all to celebrate my sister and best friend. She caught me sneaking off, blew me a kiss, then waved. Her ring nearly blinded me. Beaming as bright as she was, I blew her a kiss and waved back.

“Leaving?” Shyah questioned.

“And if she is? You ain’t goin’ nowhere,” Lewis told Shyah. She glared hard at him, but that didn’t faze him. “That look is gon’ get you fucked up.” He leaned in to kiss her neck. Just like that, Shyah giggled and blushed.

Chuckling, I kissed my girl’s forehead and told her, “Stop giving Lewis a hard time.”

She was back to glaring, this time at me. “My ring finger is bare, boo.”

Lewis mugged her. “‘Cause you said you wasn’t ready for all that.”

It was my turn to glare at Shyah. “What?”

Sheepishly, she rolled her eyes.

“Shyah!” I hissed.

“Okay, okay! Damn, y’all ain’t gotta gang up on me,” she stated.

“Nah, Heir is gon’ beat yo’ ass if you don’t stop actin’ like I’m not the one for you,” Lewis warned her.

Shyah and I burst out laughing. She tugged his beard and brought him closer for a kiss. “You are the one for me, Lewis,” she told him.

“Aww.” I could shed a tear for them, but they both looked at me like I was interrupting their moment. “Okay… Bye, then!” I waved at them and switched off to make my exit. Security followed me outside and got me safely to the luxury sedan waiting for me. Dex opened the door for me, then closed it behind me. I buckled my seat belt, then retrieved my phone from my clutch. Hopefully, Kody wasn’t still handling business. I missed him like crazy and wanted to hear his voice. The ease with which I called him now compared to when we first started talking should be studied. That man had me wrapped around his fingers.

“‘Sup, my love?” Kody answered.