Page 68 of Fever

Jasmine, Phoebe, and Eden responded at once, “No.”

I turned to Mr. Rose, “Do you mind if I ask why not?”

Christopher Lee Rose squinted his eyes at me. “Because they’re some horny old bastards,” he said.

That got a few laughs out of us all, but my shock was still on high.

“So, you’ve kept them away from family functions all your life?”

“Not all my life,” Christopher said. “Only when the girls were of age. I can’t have my friends gawking at my babies. I’d kill ‘em.”

I glanced around, and everyone seemed to be in agreement.

“Wow.”

“I still love ‘em all the same,” Christopher assured.

Josiah leaned into me and whispered, “I’ll be back.”

He stood and left through the back door followed by Jonathon, Jacob, and Jordan.

“Well, I don’t blame you,” Martha chimed. “If it were my Samiyah, I’d do the same thing.”

“As would you all,” Christopher stated.

He went into detail about some of the escapades Fred and Sampson had been on, too much that made me slightly cringe. It’s true we can’t help who our friends are, but Fred and Sampson needed wives. That I was sure of.

When Josiah reappeared, there was a thin long rectangular box in his hands and my interest was certainly piqued.

“What do you have there, son?” Christopher asked.

Josiah smiled down at me with a sexy grin. “Santana just landed a position as investigative reporter at the Chicago Chronicle.”

Somebody gasped, and Desiree shouted, “You go, girl!”

I blushed and did a little happy dance in my seat.

“It was not without the help of Josiah,” I assured.

Josiah wagged his finger. “Don’t try and downplay your success.” My smile stretched. “So, I have a little something for you, babe.”

Josiah sat down next to me, and all attention was focused on us. With pleasure, I accepted the outstretched box and opened it to find a diamond incrusted necklace. A gasp left my throat, and I covered my mouth as my eyes watered.

“Josiah!” I said.

“Let me help you,” he offered, lifting the necklace so I could get a full look at the masterpiece. Even in the moonlight its sparkles ran up and down the exquisite jewelry, but hanging from the middle was a diamond ring, the biggest one I’d ever seen in my life.

“Oh, my damn,” Carla said, and everyone laughed.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t find the words to express what this moment was like.

“Baby,” Josiah’s smooth voice crooned, “I want you to marry me, girl.”

I gasped, flabbergasted, and tears sprang from my eyes. Shocked whispers of Oh my God, and questions of did you know about this from others looking on sailed around. But for me I wept like a child, completely taken aback by his proposal. Josiah pulled the ring off the necklace and locked the diamonds around my neck while he waited for me to answer.

Was this real? I wondered. Is he really waiting for a reply? With others looking on, and Josiah’s beautiful eyes boring into me, I spoke from my heart. “Yes.”

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