Twenty-Three

One year later

A year had passed since Jax sat in a barber chair and became intrigued with tiny homes. All twenty lots were occupied. Expansion to accommodate more had begun. An unexpected boon had been their neighbors’ reactions. Some were now considering having homes on their land, especially retirees who could appreciate extra income. A huge party was planned for the official one-year mark, the day Chelsea and her family turned into the gate and drove their bright yellow home down the nicely paved road. The entire valley had been invited, along with Holy Mound’s mayor and several others who lived in and/or did business in town. There would be food and drink, fun and games and a flashy fireworks ending. The last a special request from Jazz, who’d be there acting up, along with the other village kids.

Tonight, however, belonged to Jaxson and Genesis. He’d suggested they enjoy a private celebration of everything they’d gone through and survived to be successful business partners and a strong, loving couple. Past misunderstandings. Family feuds. The ghost of Paradise Valley. And finally...redemption. Jaxson sat idling in Genesis’s driveway, waiting for the expression on her face when she stepped outside. Most women he knew would be impressed with a man who came to pick them up in a cherry-red Infiniti Q60, even one that was five years old. Genesis was not most women.

As she descended the steps, looking casually sleek in a pair of royal-blue-and-ivory-striped palazzo pants, a lightweight ivory sweater and heels, she eyed him with a slight smile and raised brow.

He exited the car to open her door. She smelled as good as she looked.

“Where’s the truck? Please don’t say you sold it.”

“Okay, I won’t say it.”

“Jax! You didn’t.”

“No, I didn’t. Leave it to you to prefer a Dodge Ram over a luxury ride.”

“I have fond memories of that truck. It was the chariot that rescued me from a randy bull.”

“No, darlin’, I did that.”

“I guess you did.” Genesis gave him a quick kiss.

After making sure her seat belt was securely fastened, he bopped around to the driver’s side and they were on their way. The ride in the car was as smooth as butter, the sound immaculate, the leather as soft as a baby’s bottom.

Genesis ran her hand over the rich material. “Is this a rental?”

“It’s mine. One of the few luxuries I kept from my baller days.”

“You must have a storage space in Memphis.”

Jaxson smiled a bit sheepishly. “I keep it in the barn.”

“Ha! Good move. No one would ever imagine something like this being stored in something that looked like that.”

“Hey, now! Watch yourself. My barn may need a little TLC but it’s got good bones.”

“If you say so.”

The conversation flowed as easily as the ride, all the way to Memphis. Jaxson exited into the city, using his GPS to navigate the busy Saturday night streets.

“Where are we going?” Genesis asked. “And what’s with this bougie celebration? I would have been happy at Holy Moly, or with a pizza burger from Tastee Freez.”

“I think you’re worth an upscale restaurant, don’t you?”

Genesis shrugged. “I guess so.”

“When I played ball, we had an assistant coach who was into all that metaphysical stuff—law of attraction, visualization, things like that. He’d listen to various spiritual teachers and then come into the locker room spouting stuff like, ‘What you think about you bring about,’ and ‘Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.’ Before games, some of us would meditate. We’d visualize certain outcomes. I’ve tried it off the field as well.”

“Does it work?”

“It works if you work it. Like tonight. Imagine something amazing that you want to happen. Then use tonight’s celebration as though what you imagine is real. That’s sending a message to the Universe that we believe what is desired has already been achieved.”

A beat passed. Then Genesis deadpanned, “Okay, Dalai Lama.”

They cracked up.

They entered the Memphis city limits and arrived at a steak house that was one of Genesis’s favorites. The next hour was filled with good vibes, great food and excellent conversation, much of it centered around Holy Mound Minis, though both had sworn to leave work at the door. When the dessert tray was wheeled around, neither could resist making a selection, even though they both were stuffed. Jaxson suggested they split a molten lava creation—chocolate on chocolate with more chocolate inside.

“What did you imagine?” he asked, once the server had set down the dessert and two plates. “What are we celebrating?”

Genesis rested her chin in her palm. “Let’s see. We are celebrating the Holy Mound Minis blueprint becoming a franchise, with happy families enjoying debt-free homeownership in all fifty states.”

“Damn, girl. You catch on quick.”

“Did I dream too big?”

He reached for her hands and squeezed them. “Not at all.”

Genesis slid a plate in front of her and prepared to cut a slice of the cake. “Your turn. What are you celebrating?”

Jaxson didn’t have to think; he didn’t hesitate. “I’m celebrating you becoming Mrs. King.”

Before she had time for the words to register, Jaxson pulled out a small, black velvet box and set it on the table. He reclaimed her hands.

“When I saw you across the room all those years ago, I said you’d be my wife.”

Genesis gasped. “Really?”

“No, but that shit sounded good.”

“Jax! You’re a trip!”

“I couldn’t resist. But seriously...even back then I felt that night was special. I didn’t feel about you like I did about other girls. I was eighteen, too young to process those grown-up emotions. But I never forgot the feeling. Turns out, it never left.

“We’ve been through a lot together. We make an awesome team. We’ve made our business official on paper. I’d like to do the same thing with our love.”

He opened the box to reveal a radiant diamond and slid to a knee.

“Genesis Hunter, will you do me the honor of becoming my—”

“Yes!”

He laughed, pulling them both up as the entire room full of patrons clapped and cheered. “Wait. I didn’t finish the question.”

“I’m using your method, already celebrating, so what we want will come true.”

“I guess that means you’re stuck with me.”

“And thanks to Uncle Cyrus, stuck in the country.”

Jaxson looked toward the ceiling. “Good looking out, neighbor.”

All’s well that ends well. Yeehaw!