Chapter 32

32

Ahmad

L ionel and I sat in my sunroom after leaving Kari to her devices. My heart swelled every time she voiced how much she loved her room. The changes I had been going through since meeting Nala and Makari made me realize just how much I was missing out on with being a hermit.

Now, as I sat here with this brooding man, I didn't know if I wanted to ask his ass the question that I had been thinking about as of late. We hadn't said much to each other since we played with Rabbit in her room, but I knew that we needed to have this man to man talk. No matter what he said, Nala and I would still be together. The day she put that magical pussy on me, I had been under her spell, and I wasn't coming up off her any time soon. So homie needed to either accept it or stay the fuck from around me.

"Would you like a drink?" I asked him as we sat in the comfortable chairs surrounding the small table in the center.

"I don't drink; however, I'll take a double shot of bourbon if you have it." I chuckled lightly as I stood and walked over to the bar. "So what do you do besides take jobs to kidnap people, Ahmad? Surely you make a lot of money just by looking at this fancy home you have. Or is that your profession? If so, then I can never bring myself to feel comfortable with you having my daughter and granddaughter around that."

I poured us two glasses of bourbon then reclaimed my seat after handing him his glass.

"I don't live that life anymore. I haven't had to kill anybody until recently, and I only did that for your daughter. Clearly I proved myself worthy, no?"

"That's not what I asked you."

I nodded as I sighed. "I made investments once I left the streets alone. They have brought me a lot of profit which is how I was able to obtain a home such as this one, and a few other properties and land."

"Hm," he replied. "What is your relationship with your family?"

"It's getting better."

"Getting better?"

"Yeah."

"Why did the relationship end?"

"It never ended, it just stopped. Look, I'm only allowing you in my personal space because I love your daughter and Makari. I would really like for us to remove the malice and start over for the sake of them. I respect your feelings and I understand them, but I really want us to move on from this narrative that you portray me as."

"I'm really trying. I just need to know more about you. Yeah, you got rid of the bad guy, but are you really the good guy?"

"I'm better than I was, and I have your daughter to thank for that. She's opened me up in ways that now I'm questioning if I'm good enough for her. My parents and I fell out when I was eighteen. They didn't approve of my lifestyle, but I felt like the streets loved me more than my own family.

"They liked to judge me because I have a slight case of OCD and I never brought women around them. They even went as far as questioning my sexuality because of it. So I left home. I stayed in contact with my brother, Ashton, and sporadically popped up to my parents' crib for functions, but I kept my distance. I don't look at Nala and I's situation as me abducting them… I now look at it as God sent me on a mission to save two of

His angels and take care of them while they are here."

I could see Lionel's stiff shoulders begin to relax. I wasn't sure if he was scared of me or intimidated by me—either way, he didn't need to be. Albeit I owed his old ass a fade, I was going to let that go so I could move forward with my Bunny.

"I appreciate you opening up about your past. Although you were being vague, I got that you weren't really shown love. It takes a real man to admit that, so if this is what you and Nala want, I have to let her go and pray that she's making the right choice this time."

He held out his palm to me and I gladly accepted. Now to the hard part . I sipped my drink then cleared my throat before I spoke.

"I appreciate that… and I also would like to ask you something."

"Sure."

I scratched my head trying to figure out how to ask what I needed to. Lionel's stare was intense, but I didn't want to be a coward. No matter what his answer would be, I was still going to move forward with my plan.

"It ain't rocket science, son." He chuckled. "Spit it out."

"I really love your daughter and Makari dearly. I want to ask you for your blessing to marry her." We sat in silence as I watched his face display three different emotions. Confusion, surprise, and a hint of a smile. Just a hint.

"I don't understand this… You both just met only three months ago. How can you love her enough to marry her?"

"Does the length of time matter?"

"It does when you don't know the person you're vowing your life to."

"It may be three months to you and other people, but it feels like a lifetime to me. Bun—Nala completes me, and I know for a fact that I make her feel safe and secure. There's no timeframe on love. If you love someone, you will always love them no matter if it works out or not. If Nala and I get married and we happen to not make it, she will always be taken care of. That's how much I love her and want to see her win… even if it's not with me."

Lionel sighed as he shook his head. "Well, it's her life and her choice. The only thing I ask is that you take care of her and my granddaughter's hearts. I see how you and Makari interact. My sweet pea is enamored by you because she gets a chance to have a father figure in her life… something she's never had in her almost seven years of life.

"If you want some advice about how to maintain a good marriage, it's to always communicate, stay faithful because those outside women will tempt you, and whenever she's having a bad day, don't match her energy, overpower it with love."

I nodded. "I take it you will allow me to take it from here?"

"As much as I want to protest, I can't. They love you. So yes, you have my blessing."

I smiled as we shook hands and toasted to a new beginning.

"Excuse me. I need to go make some phone calls," I told him as we stood.

"Papa Ahmad! I'm ready to get in the pool now!" Rabbit yelled, running out into the sunroom wearing her bathing suit, goggles, arm floaties, and pool shoes. I smiled as I headed toward her, and she hurried to me. I saw her falling before she even fell and hurriedly scooped her up before she could hit the pavement.

"Rabbit, you got to slow down, lil mama. You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry."

"It's okay, baby girl. I know you're excited, but we need to stay safe, a'ight?"

"A'ight."

"Give me some," I said, placing her on her feet. We did our secret handshake, which consisted of two slaps, connecting our fists, and turning them—it was our way of saying we were locked in.

"I love you, Papa Ahmad."

"I love you more, baby Bunny Rabbit." I kissed her cheek as Lionel watched.

"Come on, princess, I'll take you out to the pool. Papa Ahmad has some things to do." He smiled as he took hold of her hand.

"Can you get in with me, Grandpa?"

"I didn't bring any swimwear."

"I have a pool room with whatever you need. We should be able to find something that fits. Bunny knows where it is."

"Bunny? Really?" He shook his head. "I don't even wanna know why you call her that."

I chuckled. "I'm sorry. Nala knows where it is."

"Ay yi yi. Come on here, Kari. Or should I call you Rabbit ?"

She giggled as they walked back through the house. I laughed as I pulled out my phone to make a call to Saleem. The phone rang three times before he picked up.

"What up doe, cuz?"

"What it is, family? You busy?"

"Just looking over a few contracts, nothing heavy. What's good wit' you?"

"How them flyer miles looking?"

Sunday Night

This shit was a bad idea.

When I thought to have a small gathering, I didn't think about the mess that was being created. My will to clean and put things back in order was at an all-time high, but I didn't want to ruin the party by telling everybody to get the fuck out.

My brother and parents arrived earlier this morning, and to my surprise, both sets of parents were getting along as if they'd known each other a lifetime. I invited Saleem and Pure and a few of Nala's coworkers. Nerves and anxiety were coursing through me, but I knew this was something that I needed to do.

Last night, Nala and I talked about marriage after a night of passionate sex in my playroom. I asked her if I asked her to marry me one day would she say yes, and to my surprise, she said she would. That gave me all the motivation I needed to make this happen today.

"That boy over here nervous as hell," Ashton said as he and Saleem approached me.

"Shut up, bitch nigga," I countered, trying to hide my smile.

"Aye, you ain't got shit to worry about. No homo, but you're a handsome, paid, suave ass nigga. There's no way she's gon' turn you down. Besides, with my wife's finessing ass in her ear, I guarantee she's not saying no."

I sighed and nodded while taking a shot to the head. I gave both of them a pound then ran my hands down my white button up.

"You got this, bro," Ashton said, rubbing my shoulders.

I walked over to Rabbit who was standing next to her mother and Pure. I leaned down and whispered in her ear, letting her know that I was ready. She smiled and walked to the rise separating the living room from the kitchen. She looked like a baby doll in her navy-blue De La Renta gown and her hair pulled up in a big bun with a bow. I smiled when she cleared her throat and spoke.

"Hello everyone! My name is Makari Amelle Stanton. We invited you guys here because my Papa Ahmad has a surprise for my mommy. But first we want to sing a song."

I walked over to my grand piano, placed Rabbit on top of it, then took my seat on the bench. I closed my eyes then began to play the melody to Jagged Edge's "Let's Get Married".

" See first of all, I know we just met three months ago, but I'ma be real and say what's on my heart. Let's take this chance and make this love feel relevant, didn't you know I loved you from the start, yeah? "

I didn't open my eyes until Rabbit took the chorus with her little squeaky voice. I smiled proudly because she was the dopest, smartest kid I ever had the pleasure of meeting. We had only been working on her part of the song a few hours ago and she already had it down pact.

" Meet me at the altar in your white dress, we ain't getting no younger, so we might as well do it. Been feeling all the while girl, I must confess. Let's get marriiiied ."

I looked over at Bunny and she was smiling and had tears in her eyes. I gave Rabbit a high five and kissed her cheek as everyone applauded. The only person that knew I had this talent was my brother. I told him if he ever told anybody my secret, I'd bury him in cement and tell our parents his ass met an African lady and ran off to Africa. I took a deep breath then walked over to Nala. From the way she smiled, I was confident she wouldn't make me look crazy tonight, and that I was making the right decision.