Epilogue

Ten Months Later

Callum

"Pasha LeAnn Brooks."

"That's my best friend!" Avyn screamed.

"Go, Pash!" That was Blake.

"That's my girl!" That was Tia.

"Go, Auntie P!" Of course, that was Precious.

We were rolling deep today. Not only were both of our friends in attendance but so were many of Pasha's family members. We were in the auditorium of South Tech. Today, my baby was graduating with her certificate in phlebotomy. She'd completed her coursework. She'd done her internship and passed her boards. Today, she was walking across the stage as a certified phlebotomy tech, and in two weeks, she'd be starting her first official job at an oncology center.

We'd braved long study sessions and sleepless nights. We'd braved the stress of school, work, and maintaining our relationship with each other, family, and friends. It wasn't an easy journey for her. At times, she wanted to give up, but we were all right there to give her that extra push she needed. Now, here she was.

My heart swelled with pride as our eyes connected in the crowd. She smiled and blew me a kiss, which I didn't hesitate to return. I snapped as many pictures as possible of her receiving her certificate before returning to her seat. Anxiously, we sat through the remainder of the program. Pasha wasted no time finding us when it was over. I spotted her coming toward us and quickly made my way through the crowd to her. When I reached her, I scooped her up in my arms and spun her around.

"I'm so proud of you, baby," I said, kissing all over her face.

"Thank you. You know, this certificate is just as much yours as it is mine. You pushed me when I needed it most. I couldn't have done this without you." She pressed her lips to mine. "Oh!"

I took a step back. "What's wrong."

She unzipped her robe and placed my hand on her slowly protruding stomach. I felt a slight movement, and a smile spread across my face.

"She's moving..."

"She was so active throughout the entire program. I guess she wanted me to know she was proud of me too."

We were currently twenty weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl. It came as a shock when we first found out Pasha was expecting. She cried. She said she wasn't ready. She was terrified of losing another child. But as her belly began to grow, she fell in love. She forced the feelings of fear and doubt away and embraced the blessing growing inside her. We were having a baby, and we couldn't be any more excited about that.

"Congratulations, Mommy," I said, pecking her lips.

"Thank you, Daddy."

We shared a passionate kiss right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the crowd. It wasn't until our families made their way over that our lips parted.

"All right now," Bella said, smirking. "That's how we got this one. Hey, TiTi's sugar pie!" She stooped to kiss Pasha's belly before pulling her into a hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you."

Everybody else made their rounds, hugging, kissing, and congratulating my baby. I gripped the box in my pocket, waiting for the moment they were all done. I'd been waiting so long to ask her this question, and I prayed she was ready to say yes. She'd been a free woman for less than a year, but I knew in my heart that she was meant to be mine. I couldn't let another moment pass without asking her officially to do so.

"Baby?" I said softly.

She turned to me, studying my face. "Is everything okay?"

I smiled. "Everything is perfect. I wanted to ask you something."

Pulling the ring from my pocket, I dropped down on one knee. Her eyes widened, and her hand flew to her chest.

"Callum..."

I took her free hand in mine.

"Pasha LeAnn Brooks.... I love you. I think I was destined to love you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You are the embodiment of strength, resilience, and perseverance. Life took so much from you, yet you are still here, standing tall. I've watched you overcome every obstacle and jump over every hurdle. When people tried to count you out, you made a liar out of them. I'm so, so proud of the woman you've become and so in love with the woman and mother you will be. I know it hasn't been long, but, baby, I can't see me being with anybody but you. I love you with all my heart and soul. If you do me the honor of becoming my wife, I promise to spend the rest of my life making you and our daughter as happy as possible. Will you marry me, Pasha?"

I opened the ring box and presented her with the three-carat, princess-cut diamond ring. Again, her eyes widened. She looked around at our family and friends, who eagerly nodded. A crowd of spectators watched in adoration.

"Yes,..." she whispered, nodding. "Yes."

I slipped the ring from the box and onto her finger. The moment I stood, she threw herself into my arms and crashed her lips into mine. Cheers and claps erupted around us. When she pulled away, she playfully slapped my chest.

I chuckled. "What was that for?"

"You couldn't let me make it through the day before you made me mess up my makeup!"

I laughed out loud as I pulled her in close and whispered in her ear. "By the end of the night, it was going to be ruined anyway."

"All right, nasty!" Avyn said with her bionic ears.

We shared a laugh. Pasha and I shared yet another kiss. "How about we go grab something to eat? I'm sure both of my babies are hungry."

She smiled. "You read our mind."

Hand in hand, we left the building with our family in tow. This was the end of yet another journey, but the beginning of something beautiful.