Truth Be Told

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

Christmas Day

Charlotte, NC

AUTHOR'S POV

So much has changed in the past year for good and the better. After everything that occurred last year, nobody thought that The Williams and The Riley's could be in the same space as each other and be civil. But of course, with much prayer, anything is possible. The relationship between everyone grew to not only a level of respect for each other but also a level of friendship. It was important for this to happen because it wasn't about them, it never was. It was and still is about Ja'Layeah. Unfortunately, J. Drew hasn't learned his lesson. Despite him telling the truth in court, he still believed that Amber didn't have the right to keep his daughter away from him and that if Amber wanted him to be apart of Ja'Layeah's life, she would have to apologize first. He also had the audacity to tell his mom that if Ja'Layeah wanted him to be in her life when she got older, she would have to make the first move. Karen told him that if he expected her to do so, he'd be waiting forever. She then dropped a bombshell that she was selling her home and that she and Kierra were moving to Charlotte to be closer to Layeah. They didn't care how he felt or what he had to say, they were not about to allow his childish antics to cause them to miss out on Layeah's life anymore. Until their house is finished which will be in the next 6 weeks, Karen was staying with Sandra and Kierra was with Amber and Amaiyah.

It was Christmas morning and after staying at Sandra's and wrapping gifts all night, all the adults including Karen and Kierra decided to sleep in a little longer, but that all came to an end when an excited Ja'Layeah started running through the house. She decided to wake her mom and Amaiyah up first.

"MOMMY! TT AMAIYAH! WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!!" She yelled jumping on the bed

"Layeah, please let me and TT Amaiyah sleep a little longer," Amber spoke in a groggy voice

"No mommy. It's Christmas and I wanna open presents." Layeah spoke

"Okay, I'm up." Amber replied getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom

"TT Amaiyah, wake up!" Layeah yelled hitting her with a pillow since she was a heavy sleeper

"Ja'Layeah Amari, you better not still be here when I get up." Amaiyah spoke causing Layeah to run to wake everyone else up

Once hygiene was done, Amber and Amaiyah headed downstairs to the family room where her mom, Karen, and Kierra were sitting looking like the zombies in Michael Jackson's Thriller video.

"Layeah got y'all too?" Amber asked

"You know it." Sandra replied drinking her coffee

"I'm sorry Ms. Karen and Kierra, I should've warned you two about how excited Layeah can get. Please forgive me." Amber spoke

"Amber it's fine. We were already up anyways." Kierra spoke

"It's amazing how Ja'Layeah woke us up and now she is nowhere to be found." Karen replied

"That's because she's asleep." Amaiyah, Amber, and Sandra spoke

"She can't be sleep, she had too much excitement," Kierra replied

"Be my guest and go check. She's asleep." Amber told her

Kierra and Karen walked upstairs to go see why Ja'Layeah hadn't come down yet and the others waited for them. A few minutes later they came back and sat down

"So?" Amber asked

"She's asleep." Karen replied

"Told you." They answered laughing

"Well since she'll be asleep for a few hours Karen do you want to help me start dinner?" Sandra asked

"Of course, I would. Thanks for asking." Karen answered

"Aht! Aht! Where do you two think you're going?" Sandra asked Amber and Amaiyah

"Auntie Sandra, the only thing I do in a kitchen is walk through it. Besides I did most of the grocery shopping for the past two weeks." Amaiyah answered

"Well, I'm going back to sleep. Leave all the cooking to the moms." Amber spoke

"But you're a mom." Karen replied

"Not a seasoned one." Amber winked and laughed

"Kierra, where do you think you're going?" Karen

"Oh, mama you know I can't even boil water. I'm going back upstairs." Kierra said following behind Amber and Amaiyah

"So, aggravating, those two." Sandra mumbled

"See if make her favorite for dessert." Karen mentioned

"Mommy don't play. You know I need my cakes every year." Kierra yelled out

"She has dog ears if she heard that." Sandra spoke

"Kierra loves Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Pound Cake every year for Christmas." Karen spoke

"So does Amber." Sandra replied

For the next 5 hours, Karen and Sandra prepped and cooked Christmas dinner and even made the two cakes. In between time, Ja'Layeah finally woke up, so they all took the time to open gifts. Let's just say, I'm putting in my application to be adopted into this family (😂🤣). One of Ja'Layeah's gifts was a purple bicycle with silver streamers along with a purple helmet that Kierra gifted her which she also helped her learn to ride. While they were outside with Layeah, Karen and Sandra took the time to bake the cakes, ice them with frosting and store them in a cool place away from Amber and Kierra until it was time to eat them.

DINNERTIME

It was now 3 P.M and everyone was sitting at the dinner table preparing to eat. The food looks amazing and even smelled amazing. But of course, before eating, prayer must happen first.

Usually, Sandra would lead the prayer, but Kierra asked if she could do it, Sandra didn't mind. Everyone bowed their heads and closed their eyes as Kierra led them in prayer.

"Father God, in the name of Jesus, we give thanks for this time when we can all be together. We give thanks for this food that is laid before us, and we ask that you bless the hands that prepared it. We give thanks for this joyful holiday when we can celebrate the birth of our Savior and his love for us. In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen." Kierra finished

"Amen." Everyone spoke in unison

"Nana is it okay, if I say something?" Ja'Layeah asked Sandra

"Sure Pumpkin." Sandra answered

Everyone sat in silence as she said a prayer

"God thank you for allowing us to see another day. I want to thank you for all my gifts that I got this year. I also want to thank you for bringing my Nana K and Auntie Ki-Bear to me as well and I pray that when their house is finished, I get the biggest room, but we'll talk about that later. Oh, I also want to pray for my dad and wherever he is, I pray that he is safe and knows that I forgive, and I love him. In Jesus name, Amen." Layeah finished

"That was good baby." Amber told her

"Thank you, mommy." Layeah answered

"Great job Layeah." Everyone else spoke

"Alright, let's eat." Amaiyah spoke

For the first time in years, a prayer that had been prayed many a night was finally answered. Being able to create a bond, share memories, create new ones and share laughter and love. The prayer continued that they would stay strong and steadfast in God and not allow anything or anyone to come between them and tear this family apart. 

THE END!!!!!!! THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO READ, LIKED, COMMENTED, AND OVERALL SUPPORTED MY BOOK!!!

GOD BLESS!! PEACE ✌🏽AND LOVE 💝💖