𝘗𝘖𝘝 𝘔𝘌𝘋𝘡᯽

Seven months later

"Hey baby, we're home."

Eyes that offer me hope and continuous strength fluttered open. Lips that effortlessly spread in their customary warm smile cause my heart to melt with contentment and more so as my wife reaches for my hand.

"Did you remember to take the dish off the counter that Mama told us about?" she asked stifling a yawn.

"Yes ma'am your shrimp pasta is safely on the back seat and waiting to be devoured," I grin as I gently use my other hand to caress hers that held mind.

"Have something else mi waah devour first," she grin cheekily before leaning over to kiss my awaiting lips.

Patrice and I a month ago had tied the knot in a private ceremony at the Villa de Roxborough. She had decided to wait until Nikki and Kronazz return from their honeymoon.

When we found out that on the night of Nikki's and Kronazz's engagement party, she had gotten pregnant it only increased my desire to make her my wife.

To be honest I was kind of scared she would run away and find reasons why we should take our time in getting our relationship in place. She had however proved me wrong.

There was a strength and determination in her that seem to build with each day offering me a silent assurance that my wife had found her place.

"Here?" I mumbled against her lips as her hand tugged at my shirt.

"No," she grinned and I wondered what my newly adventurous wife was up to.

"Where?"

It took me only seconds to see that my little vixen was going to let me have her against the bonnet of my car.

This truly excited the fuck out of me. Our tryst was quick and wild. This woman and her security in her love for me and I for her was just one of the sun rays that shun through and brighten our clear skies.

The storm was over.

I clung to her as she slumped against me but her saying she had to pee had me reluctantly releasing her as she hurried to the front door.

I fixed myself and stared after her and when she was safely inside I leaned against the bonnet and stared up into the dark stary night.

I gently rubbed my wedding band and thought of how far we have come. I was exceedingly happy that I made it with Patrice.

I thought of our family and friends. They too had found their way through their storm and held their ground.

Kronazz and Debz were happily married and basking in the growth of their love.

Petrice through various attempts was now finally pregnant and was looking to migrate with Jay to America to be with her husband who had landed a permanent position in the company with which he worked part-time.

Mama had her daughter back and would be seeing her grandbabies when they come for Christmas with their father and Petrona.

Nikki was looking to open a small wholesale by the end of the month and end her eight-year cashier job with Mr. Chin.

"Mi tun entrapanure!" she proudly boasts a few nights ago as she chatted with Pat on the phone.

We were all happy for her and I was relieved that our relationship was no longer constrained. I had a sister in Nikki that I never wanted to lose.

There were a few not-so-grand occasions that still remind us that after the storm there will be debris that was not going to be cleared so easily.

I thought of Zindi who was insisting on joint custody of Kelice. I did not want my daughter to be caught up in her mother's bitterness that was surrounded by spite. I did not want my daughter torn between her loyalty to us her parents.

They were a few others that even though the storm had cleared up the aftermath was going to be hard even with the clear skies.

DD was now confined to a wheelchair but the miserable ordeal that had contributed to this has resulted in him having his daughter back in his life.

Goodaz....now this was a game-changer I did not see coming. Who would have thought she would be living with OD and raising her son with him? I was not sure where their relationship lay but being in OD's security has brought forth a change in her that motherhood has enhanced.

OD much to my relief has stuck to being a great father for Odenia and in most circumstances it shows that he cares deeply for Patrice and would do anything to keep her happy, even if it means being civil to the man he would give anything to trade places with.

Deenie and I have become good friends and I must credit OD for this as well because he putting aside his grudge made it easy for me to be the other father figure in her life.

There was however the matter of  Chrome. He might be locked away but he could just turn out to be an eminent storm that could wreak havoc and banish the clear skies, but deep down he was what daily builds us to be fighters to keep our desires alive and increase our strength to be survivors.

I inhaled the cool night air letting it fill my lungs and revitalize me as with a quick prayer of thanksgiving I made my gratitude known.

There were still obstacles to be cleared but at least the storm was over and After the Storm was not so bad in fact it was downright splendid.

I had the woman of my dreams as my wife and soon-to-be mother of my child. We were no longer running from the storm but picking up the pieces a rebuilding our lives for a better future.

And comes what may I know she will forever be by my side.

"Baby?" I called after retrieving the bags and locking the car. "Are you in something sexy?"

I heard her laugh from upstairs as I made it to the kitchen.

"Do you consider one of your old T-shirts and cotton maternity panties to be sexy?" I heard her call down to me.

"Girl sackcloth and ashes on you would be like a Play Boy centerfold." I returned and her infectious laughter rang bright and fulfilling in the confines of the house I had stood in a few months ago pining to be her man.

Now look at you you lucky bastard you're not her man you are her husband.

My grin broadens as she giggled.

"You gonna eat hun?" I asked as I feel her arms wrap around me.

"Nope," she replied pressing her face into my back. "Let's go to bed."

A glance at the kitchen clock showed that it was minutes to eleven.

"Just let mi pack weh dem yah an yuh gwaan guh warm up the bed."

"Sir yes sir!" she said and I grinned as each silly thing she says and do only made me love her more.

"Baby."

"Yes, hun."

"I love you."

"I know pumpkin and I love you more."

When I made my way upstairs a few minutes later her soft snores greeted me. I walk over to the bed and look down at her so serenely my heart bulging with love.

I gently touch her tummy and silently talk to the babe within. After I was through I took a quick shower the slip naked into bed beside my wife a very happy and contented man.

After every storm comes clear skies.

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Please👇

Nuff love 🇯🇲