The 2 Minute Engagement

Chapter 26

Chapter 26
Luke

2017

Paris and Nice were exactly what Lucy and I needed. To take the smallest of breaks from everything really helped Lucy. By the time we return to Los Angeles, Jacque and JJ have a number of events set up for JKL which leaves me caring for Lola. I don't mind at all. My baby girl is in good hands. It does help that Cassie comes to check on me everyday, but I manage on my own for an entire month as Lucy travels for music, acting, dancing, and touring.

She's all over the place but calls every night to see Lola. I miss my LuLu. I miss kissing her and touching her. Hearing her moan under me. Only the Lord knows how much I need her. I knew it would be hard but I didn't know it would be this hard.

"It's okay, Luke. They'll be home soon." Cassie smirks at me like she knows something I don't. She asked me to visit her and Ralph instead of them visiting me. Lola is happily playing with her grandpa.

"What?" I ask. "What's planned?"

"We aren't supposed tell anyone until we got there, but SJC and New Edition are receiving the Lifetime awards this year at the BET Awards. JKL is hosting, there's going to be a tribute for us from all of you, and Chance is receiving the Humanitarian Award that JJ and Charlotte will be giving to him. Neither knows that so don't tell them." Cassie says excitedly.

"The Lord is so good." Is all that I say and they nod.

"Steph, Jacque, and my baby drew up the entire show with BET. It's going to be the best tribute of all time," Ralph smiles as he plays with Lola. "Such a pretty baby. Yes you are."

Lola, now four months, reaches for Ralph's nose with a loud laugh. "I just want Lucy home. Next time, I have to travel with her."

"Yeah. That's what we always said," Cassie smiles sadly. "Luke, it doesn't always work out like that. Especially in this industry."

"Especially with the knuckle headed girl you're about to marry," Ralph adds on. "Don't worry about Lucy. Worry about this precious baby right here. As long as you get to witness all of her firsts, you'll be okay."

"Trust me, you'll care more about her firsts than Lucy at one point," Cassie shrugs and Ralph shoots her a playfully angry look. "Steph, Jacque, and I missed the first three years of their lives because of constant jumping in time. JJ missed the pregnancy and birth of Will. Enjoy your time with Lola and everything else will fall into place."

It still trips me out that God really put Cassie and her sisters back in time to change everything as we know it. "I can't imagine life without Lucy and Lola. What was my life like before you changed everything?"

Cassie smiles. "Well, I can't really tell you. I wasn't even eighteen when we were put back in '85. You were a celebrity and I was just girl from New Orleans. You seemed happy, I guess. You just didn't have Lucy and Lola. You were still single."

"I had four kids and I married my ex before remarrying. Na'Quelle, Mariah, Ralph Junior, and Dakari. Apparently I cheated on Zena with the second wife and got married on the same day as Ricky and Amy," Ralph tells me a part of his alternative life. "I had one grandchild. A girl."

"Everything was different then," Cassie smiles sadly. "It scares us that the date that we went back is coming up. It's this year in June."

"Sweetheart, scared for what? God sent His very own archangel to talk to the three of you. You got the choice to stay or to leave. You stayed and He has granted you the perfect life. Why worry when He has already proven that you are in His favor?" Ralph says and I smile at his faith in God.