Epilogue

One Year Later

Nala

A s I looked myself over in the mirror, I couldn't believe the day was finally here. I was getting married. Me… Nala Stanton, soon to be Nala Pryor. Since the drama was over, I'd gone back to my birth name. It was only right. I wanted to be presented to my husband as nobody but my true self. The notion of marriage had been lost upon me so many years ago. I'd been content with being a single woman raising her child alone. I told myself that if I never got married, I'd be okay with simply having my sanity intact.

That wasn't in the cards for me.

Although I didn't think being kidnapped and falling for my kidnapper was in the cards either, here we were. The last year had been filled with so much love and happiness, and my heart was so full. Kari and I had moved out of our home and in with Ahmad in Calabasas. Even before the move, we were there every weekend that I didn't have to work.

By the second time we stayed over, he had Makari's room all set up. Baby girl was very specific in what she wanted, and her daddy delivered it on a silver platter. The way she cried in his arms when he surprised her with it was a testament of how much she loved it.

Two weeks before we moved in, I'd given the hospital my two weeks' notice. That same day, Ahmad presented me with a set of keys to my very own building to start my business. I'd been working diligently on my business plan. I had my logos, my business license, and everything else I needed. When we pulled up to the location, I burst into tears because not only had he bought the building, but he bought a fleet of company cars and stocked the place with medical supplies and equipment.

Two months later, Sacred Helping Hands was born. We were in a prime location, and once I got my team of nurses and CNAs together, business was booming. My team was absolutely amazing and passionate about their jobs. Working with them let me know I made the right decision in going this route.

These days I was mostly in the office since I now served as an incubator. I was currently five months pregnant with a baby boy. I'd never seen Ahmad cry full blown tears until the day I told him I was pregnant. Of course he loved Makari but having a child that came from him hit different.

It was the final thing that made him go completely legit. He sold his waste removal company to his drivers and completely washed his hands of all illegal dealings. I was so proud of him. These days he was more of a family man. He was more relaxed. He smiled all the time. His energy was completely different.

One of the most beautiful things that changed was his relationship with his parents and Ashton. They came over every Sunday for a family dinner. I'd watched the little boy in him heal even more every time his mother hugged him or kissed his cheek or every time his father roughhoused with him and his brother.

I always smiled when I watched them. Now that Ashton and Latrice were officially a couple, the two of them were over here all the time. Dr. Monroe became a thing of the past after she met him. They'd fallen quick and that man brought a house closer to us. She was in the process of moving in with him and coming on as my partner.

I guess we both lucked up with the Pryor brothers.

The knock on my bedroom door broke me from my gaze in the mirror.

"Come in!" I called.

The door opened and in walked my mother, Mrs. Victoria, Latrice, Kari, and Pure.

"Wow!" Kari exclaimed. "Mommy, you look like a princess!"

My gown was white with a sweetheart neckline covered in jewels. If it wasn't a known fact that I was pregnant, no one would be able to tell by the way the dress flowed over my belly. It touched the floor, so I opted for some cute sandals instead of heels.

My hair was in its naturally curly state with one side swooped to the back and adorned with a jeweled flower pendant. My makeup was light and natural because it was hot as hell in Cali, and I didn't need to sweat it off.

"Thank you, baby," I said, stooping to kiss her. "You look so pretty, Kari!"

Her flower girl dress was similar to mine. My mother had done her hair in two curly buns and added bows to them.

"Thank you! Mommy, Daddy looks so handsome!"

"I bet he does."

"You look amazing, boo," Latrice said.

"You really do," Pure agreed. "Ahmad is going to drool when he sees you."

"Then my job is done."

I giggled as I turned to face my mother and Mrs. Victoria. Both of them were dabbing their eyes. Neither said anything as they pulled me in for a joint hug. I could feel the love radiating from them. For the longest time they simply held me.

My pregnancy hormones were raging and before I allowed myself to cry, I pulled away from them.

"You make a beautiful bride," my mother said, sniffling.

"Simply gorgeous," Mrs. Victoria agreed. "My son is a lucky man. You've really changed his life and I will forever love you for that, sweetheart."

"He changed mine, too. I never imagined finding this kind of happiness… this kind of love."

She smiled. "You both deserve it. We just came to be nosy, but it's time to make your way downstairs. He's waiting for you."

"Are you ready?" my mother asked.

"I've never been more ready."

Pure and Latrice helped me gather my dress to get it out the door while my mother, Mrs. Victoria, and Kari headed out ahead of us. As we descended the stairs, my heart raced. This was it. The moment we'd been preparing for was finally here.

We reached the bottom step and my father appeared. When he saw me, there was a huge smile on his face. His and Ahmad's relationship had a complete turnaround. They were like old friends. One would never guess that my father had punched him in the face about me.

"You look stunning, baby girl," he said, kissing my cheek.

"Thank you, Daddy."

He offered me his arm. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

I slipped my arm through his and allowed him to lead me toward the back. We were having a small ceremony at the house. Even though it was only family and a few close friends, I hired a cleaning service to come in once everything was done because my man and his OCD were not about to ruin our wedding day.

The backyard had been transformed into a romantic oasis with shades of peach, white, and gold. I couldn't see the full view from the bedroom window, but I knew it was beautiful.

The music started and my hand clenched around my father's arm. He gave me a reassuring kiss to my temple. One by one the wedding party began making their entrance. Mr. Pryor escorted his wife and my mother. Saleem escorted Pure. Ashton escorted Latrice.

That left me, my father, and Kari waiting for our cue. When it was her turn, my baby turned to me and blew a kiss.

"Good luck, Mommy!"

She bounced out of the house, her curls bouncing with her. I knew that she made it because the pastor asked for everyone to stand for my entrance.

"It's time, baby girl," my father said.

The doors opened and we stepped out. When my eyes landed on Ahmad, my breath caught in my throat. My man looked so damn fine standing at the altar in a crispy all white suit. His eyes met mine and the next thing I knew, he was fighting back tears.

Ash and Saleem rubbed his shoulders but hyped him up in the process. I read their lips.

"That's all you, my boy!"

"Those are just tears of happiness."

"Look at you crying like a bitch."

That last one was Ashton and it made Ahmad laugh as he playfully punched him. He straightened his posture and wiped his eyes. When I finally reached him, he was smiling. He extended a hand to my father, who pulled him in for a hug before placing my hand in his.

We stood face to face at the altar, identical smiles on our faces.

"Damn…" he declared, looking me over. "You look beautiful, baby."

"You aren't so bad yourself."

Much to my surprise, he pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly.

"Uh, you're a little ahead of the program," Ash reminded him with a laugh.

"This is our wedding and my woman. I can do what I want."

Pure snapped her fingers. "Period."

Ahmad turned back to me and cupped my face. "I've waited my whole life for this moment," he said softly. "I love you so much, Nala."

"I love you, too," I whispered.

We shared another kiss, this time a deep, sensual one. Like with everything else, we moved on our own time. Nothing about us was traditional. We had a different type of love story, but there was love, nonetheless. Today was a culmination of events that led us here.

The journey to becoming Mr. and Mrs. Ahmad Pryor hadn't been easy. It hadn't been fun, and it for damn sure hadn't been sane. It took a crazy person to kidnap someone, and an even crazier person to fall in love with them.

I guess in some ways, I was just as crazy as that man. But he was mine, I was his, and we were locked in for life… crazy and all.

THE END