“What’s up, Ma?”
“Don’t ‘what’s up, Ma’ me.”
She looked past Najee at her son before turning back to him.
“Nigel, he ain’t even on your insurance yet—”
“He has his driver’s license,” Najee said gently, cutting her off. “And he’s a very safe, capable driver. I’m right here just in case.” Jackie looked back at MJ. “You’re only seventeen.”
“I’ll be eighteen in three months, Ma.” He shrugged. “Besides, Mr. Najee said he was gon’ help me find a wheel before school.” Jackie slowly turned her head toward Najee. “You not grown,” she told MJ without taking her eyes off Najee. MJ couldn’t help but laugh. “Ma—”
“You hush.” Najee smiled. “He’s still your baby. But he’s also a responsible young man.” She let out a small sigh. “I know.” Najee reached through the open window and took her hand, his thumb brushing lightly across her knuckles. “He’ll be alright.” Jackie looked from Najee to MJ, then back again. She knew he was right. It was just hard watching the little boy she’d spent years praying to get back suddenly look old enough to drive away from her. Najee lifted her hand and pressed a kiss against herknuckles. “We’ll be careful.” That finally earned him a smile. “I know you will.”
From the backseat, Max leaned forward between the seats, holding up his cherry water ice. “Ma! We going to get blue crabs and shrimps!” Jackie laughed. “Oh, y’all living good today, huh?” Max nodded proudly. “Yup, Mr. Najee got paid.” Najee slowly turned in his seat and gave him a look.
Jackie reached into her purse, pulled out a wet wipe, and leaned through the open window to clean the cherry syrup from Max’s mouth and little hands. “Quit trying to be grown, okay?”
“Okay.” She kissed the top of his head before he settled back into his seat, resting his little hand on Najee’s arm. “You’re fine,” Najee said, patting his hand. “Now sit back and put your seatbelt on.” Max nodded and did exactly that. “Ma, you coming too?” MJ asked. Jackie glanced at the time on her phone and sighed. “I wish I could. I gotta meet my staff at the venue.
We setting up for the Walima.”
“We’ll bring you something back.”
“You better.” She pointed at Max. “And don’t let him eat too manycrabs.”
Then she pointed at Najee. “I’m talking to you.”
“I won’t,” Max whispered, making the biggest smile spread across Jackie’s face.
Najee gave her hand one last squeeze before letting it go. “We got this.”
Jackie looked at the three of them one more time—her oldest behind the wheel, her youngest sticky-faced and smiling in the back, the man she loved sitting beside them both. For a moment, she couldn’t remember what it felt like to be afraid. She smiled. “Alright. Y’all have fun.”
“We will!” Max yelled as MJ eased away from the curb.
Jackie stood there until the truck disappeared around the corner. Then she climbed into her own car. As she pulled away, she caught herself humming along with the music on the radio.
A month ago, she was living through every mother’s worst nightmare. Today, she was driving toward answered prayers, peace, and a life she no longer had to fight to keep. Jackie Brown wasn’t surviving anymore. She was living, and finally she had the peace to tell the difference.
EPILOGUE
CASH
Cash and Zambia’s Walima
Cash adjusted the cuff of his thobe before smoothing an invisible wrinkle from the front of it. It didn’t need it. Nothing did. The ballroom looked exactly the way Zambia had envisioned it.Elegant.White roses and baby’s breath spilled from towering centerpieces while crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over ivory linens and gold crescent moon place settings. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the golf course stretched beneath a cloudless sky. Everything was immaculate. Jackie had made sure of that. Cash stood near the window with his hands tucked behind his back, looking out over the grounds. The venue buzzed with quiet purpose around him. His mother floated from vendor to vendor making microscopic adjustments. His father stood near the entrance speaking quietly with the security detail. Everything was moving according to schedule. At least… that’s what everybody believed.
“You clean up alright.” Cash looked over his shoulder. Najee stepped into the ballroom wearing a charcoal thobe beneath a tailored Bisht, coffee in one hand. Cash smirked. “So do you.”
Najee stopped beside him, following his gaze out the window. “Nervous?” Cash thought about it. He wasn’t. At least, not anymore. Excited? Now, that took a little longer to answer. Marrying Zambia no longer felt like an obligation he had to endure. Somewhere over the last few months, the two of themhad quietly become something neither of them saw coming.Friends.
Najee studied him for a moment. “You know it ain’t too late.” Cash looked over. “Say the word,” Najee joked causing Cash to smile. “I think it is, bro,” he said, as a quiet chuckle escaped him.
“Nah… but seriously. I made peace with today a long time ago.” Najee gave a slow nod and allowed the conversation to settle there. Cash did the same, grateful for the quiet understanding that existed in his cousin’s silence. Still, it felt good knowing his cousin had his back no matter what.
A short while later, both men stood together inside the private ceremony suite reserved for the nikah and waited. The imam had just arrived alongside the last few members of Zambia’s immediate family. Guest filtered into the room, greeting one another quietly as one by one they took their seats.
Outside, Newdy and his crew made the final adjustments to the floral arrangements lining the walkway. Cash caught sight of Monty, Calvin, and Koi crossing the courtyard toward the entrance. Just outside the suite, Brother Anwarr and his son stood speaking in hushed tones. A few more minutes passed before the rhythm of the room changed. It startedsmall.One of Zambia’s cousins hurried past the ceremony suite toward the bridal rooms. Then another. A bridesmaid followed behind them, phone pressed to her ear. Cash watched another member of the Abdul-Muhammad family disappear down the hallway. Then another. His mother looked toward the bridal hallway. Then at her watch. Then back toward the hallway again. That caught his attention.Zambia was never late…for anything.Especially not this. Uncle Malik walked over quietly. “They ready for us?” His mother didn’t answer right away. “They should be.”Should.Cash caught that. His eyes shifted toward Najee. Najee had heard it too.