Thank you all for coming this far with me. This is dedicated to "All of my lovely readers"

Epilogue | New beginnings

True love stories never have endings— Richard Bach

~•~

7 months later

Kemi couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she watched Obinna play with Kikelomo and Tobiloba by the seaside. She smiled even more when she noticed her friend had tears in her eyes as she watched them too.

"Getting emotional, are we?" Kemi asked Nifemi and laughed when the later had a startled look on her face.

Nifemi chuckled softly while wiping the tears from her eyes with her fingers. "I'm just... You know," she paused and sighed. "I can't believe this is happening."

Kemi smiled and watched as Nifemi ease back into her own whole as she looked at her family.

Obinna and Nifemi had gotten married last month quietly in a small church back at Enugu with only a few people in attendance. After their three week honeymoon, Obinna had invited Ada, Kemi, Luke, Nnamdi and of course, the kids to his beach house in Milan, Spain.

Side note, Nifemi wasn't still on good terms with her parents.

The two storey house was built on a pristine beach and was surrounded by high jagged rocks that secluded it from the other houses along the beach giving it's inhabitants privacy.

When she had gotten the invitation, Kemi had been overjoyed as she had been thinking of going on a vacation, after all the stress of work and babysitting Nife's kids had gotten to her. And also, Nnamdi's definitely needed a break from work—Kelechi had gifted him a building to start his computer business and so far all was going well.

Speaking of Nnamdi, Kemi wondered were he was as he had left with Ada and Luke some hours ago and was yet to return.

"Um... Nifemi have you seen Nnamdi?"

When Nifemi turned towards her, Kemi would have sworn that she something like guilt in her friend's eyes. "Ermm.. I haven't seen him. He told you he had something to do, didn't he?"

Kemi raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "Yeah... but what's he doing that it's taking a million lightyears to finish."

"I dunno," Nife shrugged lightly and looked down at her phone when it beeped. "You could check on him."

Kemi looked at her briefly before she stood up. "I'll be back."

"Take your time," Nifemi said smiling brightly.

"Okay..." Kemi adjusted the shirt she wore over her black shiny swimsuit before she trudged towards the beach house.

The sun was already going down giving off magically streaks of orange lights across the sky. The sand felt soft and cool under her feet and that was a feeling that she could get used to. Kemi loved the serene environment and not to talk of the local food but sadly next week they were all packing their bags and boarding the next flight to Nigeria.

"Nnamdi!" she called when she entered their cosy bedroom in the large house.

She picked up her phone she had left on the table by the bed but stopped when something odd caught her eye. A feeling of deja Vu washed over her as she picked up the pink paper from underneath the table lamp.

She opened the folded paper in trepidation as she prepared for the worst...

Follow the trail of roses
Let's play a game

"That's it?" Kemi wondered aloud turning the back of the paper, it was blank so she sighed.

"Trail of roses. I wonder... Oh!" She noticed for the first time the pink rose petals scattered at the foot of the bed. The messy trail led to the door and out of the bedroom.

Kemi couldn't help but a little thrill of adventure course through her body as she followed. It was evening already but the house was quiet she wondered if this was a game or something one of the guys planned.

Kemi couldn't wait to find out.

There was another note at the end of the corridor by the slightly opened huge mahogany door leading to the balcony. Kemi read it solemnly.

Scared? I bet you are
Better go back the way you came

Kemi huffed in annoyance. She was going to give this prankster a piece of her mind when she found out who it was.

And so the trail continued leading to the backdoor that led to the patio. It was a small space at the back of the house that had a white roof over it.

By the closed door was another note;

What lies behind this door
Will make you forget your name
;-)

"As if!" Kemi chuckled. She already knew who was behind this, there was only one cocky and arrogant man in her life.

Opening the door to the patio, Kemi couldn't believe her eyes as she took in the scenario before her.

The white roof of the patio had been decorated in red blinking Christmas lights and a trail of roses ran down the four pillars that held the roof. Inside the patio, little white lights twinkled on the ceiling in semblance to twinkling stars. Pink and white roses suspended from the ceiling and the little makeshift diamonds on their petals glimmered in the night light adding to the ambience of the place.

Kemi thought it magical.

There was another note at the entrance to the patio.

Take six steps forward
We don't have much time

Kemi laughed and did as she was told, she couldn't wait to see the end of it.

After the little exercise, she looked down and saw another note by her feet. Groaning in frustration, she picked it up and read.

This is the end just push the button
Seriously, I ran out of rhyme

Kemi got on all fours and felt for the button with her hands. Smiling in victory when she found it, she pressed the big red button.

When she heard a loud creak, she stepped back as she was spellbound while watching the small square box like contraption rise up from beneath the floor. Stepping forward she noticed the glass case on the box and gasped when she saw the content of the case.

"So..."

Kemi whipped around quickly startled by the intrusion.

"Nnamdi?"

"Do you like it?" He asked looking at her intently to gauge her reaction.

She nodded as she was to fascinated to speak out.

Nnamdi walked around her quietly stopping in front of her to pick up the fragile case. Keeping his eyes on her he toyed with the case in his hands. Kemi could tell that he was nervous.

When she finally found her voice, Kemi asked, "Why go through all this trouble to..."

"It's because you live in a fantasy world Kemi. I want to make them a reality."

She choked lightly as her tears came down in torrents. He knew what she liked, what she wanted. That was why he had organized a surprise party for her birthday last two months when she told him that she had never had a surprise party but this... This was different, it was nothing that she had fantasized about. It was better.

Kemi gasped softly as he knelt down in front of taking the ring out of it's confinement.

"Kemi I'm not really good with words. I'm not really good at saying those things people say in situations like this. Hell! I don't even know what to say right now... But that's because you make me speechless," he said and gave her a boyish grin.

Kemi rolled her eyes and chuckled softly. Even while proposing he was still a jerk.

"But want I do know is that I want this. I need this. I need us." Nnamdi took hold of her left hand and gave her a shaky smile. "Kemi, please marry me."

Kemi blinked back the tears rapidly. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd actually beg for something."

Nnamdi groaned at her teasing. "I'm on my knees you know. That means I'm trying my best here."

Kemi laughed. "Fine."

"Fine what? What's fine?"

"I'll marry you Nnamdi Okwundu."

Nnamdi exhaled deeply and chuckled. "This woman," he mumbled to himself before slipping the ring on her finger.

Getting up to his feet, he drew her towards him and smiled. "You know you make me very happy."

"I know," she said looking down at the right on her finger. "This is beautiful."
The diamond glimmered in the lights while the gold band glittered beneath it making Kemi look on in awe.

"It was my grandma's."

"Really?"

"Yes," Nnamdi rubbed the back of his head. "My grandfather gave it to her on their wedding day. She said he mined coal so he smuggled some and had it turned to diamond."

"That's so sweet."

"I know. He..."

"I mean you," Kemi interrupted. "You are so sweet Nnamdi. Giving me your grandmother's ring and all of this. I love you so much Nnamdi."

"I love you too Kemi."

He tilted her head towards the side and brought down his lips against hers, kissing her passionately hoping to convey how happy he was that she accepted his proposal.

Kemi drew back a little and smiled as he pressed his lips against her throat. "Who um... helped you with this?" How could she construct a proper sentence when he was awarding butterfly kisses to her soft throat.

He laughed, his deep voice sending vibrations over her body. "Ada and Luke. It took a while so we had Nifemi keep you at the beach so you wouldn't walk in on us."

"So that's why you were umm.." She was cut short when he kissed a sensitive area behind her neck.

She drew away from him and gave him a shy smile. She wanted to go inside quickly and celebrate with her friends. She couldn't believe she was getting married. Who would have known?

Kemi Bankole engaged to Nnamdi Okwundu. Last year this was just a mere fantasy but he had made it a reality. Just like he'd said.

"Are you hungry?" She asked twisting her fingers shyly still admiring the ring on her finger— the golden glow complimented her chocolate skin.

"Yes I am," he replied grinning mischievously, dragging his bottom lip into his mouth with his teeth and staring at her lips.

"Stop it Nnamdi. Get your head out of the gutter for once," she complained punching his shoulders.

As they headed inside, Kemi suddenly let out a yelp as he hooked his arms around her legs and carried her bridal style towards his chest.

"I can walk you know," she playfully hit his chest.

"My queen doesn't need to walk." She rolled her eyes at his cheesiness and pressed her face towards his chest to hide her smile.

"So how many children are we planning on having anyway?" Ignoring his raised eyebrow, she added. "I was thinking maybe two."

"Just two?" He pouted playfully.

Kemi giggled. "Well how many?"

"Ten."

~• The End •~

So we've come to the end of my first book on Wattpad! Too bad, I wanted to take it slow so we could last long. . .

I'll see you all in my next novel!!!

Quick question:
What is your favorite part of this whole novel?

Lots of chocolates,
Happiness 💙