Danita sniffed beside me, and I was sure there wasn’t a dry eye out there.
“Before I wrap this up, there is one more person I would like to thank.” He paused and looked down. “Um, I’m not sure if they are here, so I’ll be direct and clear. Y’all make sure y’all got your phones out just in case I have to send this message to her.” Jabari laughed, and so did the crowd.
“To Amina Anderson...”
My body froze. Danita reached and grabbed my hand, and I was thankful. I looked directly at him. Due to the crowd size, he didn’t see me, but it felt as if it was just him and me there. He rubbed the back of his head.
“Amina Anderson, my Cancer, the one who put a spell on me.” He chuckled. “I just want to thank you. You helped introduce me to a life of balance. You were my escape from the craziness of having to open the restaurant. I functioned better with you. You don’t understand the impact you’ve had on my family and me. Thank you, I love you, and I miss you. Congratulations again on being the baddest nurse in the city, baby girl.”
I no longer cared about my makeup. The tears rolled quickly down my face, while Danita rubbed my arm, comforting me.
“Now, somebody get some scissors so I can cut this big ass ribbon and get some food in y’all stomachs?”
The crowd cheered as he cut the ribbon. Jabari stepped to the side and allowed the staff to enter, and then the crowd followed. I stood in the same place, watching as people filled the restaurant.
“Amina...” Danita softly voiced.
I looked at her, and she had a smile on her face. “I told you that man loves you. Go get your man, sis, and don’t let him go.”
I nodded.
“Here, let me clean you up real quick.”
Danita reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue, wiping at my face. She added her lip gloss and smiled.
“Do I look okay?” I asked.
“Beautiful.” She hugged me and walked away toward the restaurant.
I searched the crowd, trying to find Jabari among all these people. He stood in front of a reporter and a camera when Ifinally laid eyes on him. He had an innocent smile on his face, and his eyes were bright. I took him in for a moment. I couldn’t believe this was the man I had fallen in love with. He checked all the boxes for the romantic spark in me. He was beautiful inside and out. Besides my job, this was the best thing that had happened to me in a while. I walked closer to where he was and stood behind the reporter. He looked down at the ground, laughing before he looked up. We instantly locked eyes. The world stood still, and everyone around us disappeared.
I waved and smiled.
“Um... Can y’all excuse me for a second?” Jabari asked the reporters.
They agreed and stepped aside. He walked over toward me and stopped directly in front of me. His tall frame towered over me with a big smile spread across his face.
“Hey, Amina.”
“Congratulations on the opening of your restaurant.”
“Thank you. Shit, thank you for coming. Did you just get here?”
I shook my head. “No, I’ve been here for the whole thing.”
He rubbed his hand down the back of his head and gave a cheeky grin. “So, you heard all that?”
I nodded. “I did.”
“I’m telling you it’s the Cancer spell.”
We both laughed at the same time.
“But just know I meant everything I said. I’ve been missing the fuck out of you, Amina. I wish you were standing beside me up there, but I had to say what I needed to say. I knew it would eventually reach you one way or another, but you had to hear it.” He reached for my hands and took hold of them. “Everything I said, I meant it. I spoke my truth up there. I love you, Amina Anderson.”
The tears flowed again.
“I love you too, Jabari Moore.”
