After catching up over coffee and laughter, Halle and Jessy drove across town to her grandmother's place. The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky as they arrived, and the two women found themselves spending most of the day there, wrapped in the easy comfort that only family could provide.
They sat in the backyard, where the wooden swing creaked gently in the breeze and the scent of blooming jasmine lingered in the air. Halle had chosen her words carefully, weaving around the truth in a way that wouldn't overwhelm her grandmother. But her caution was met with an unexpected twist—she already knew.
"Grandma, why didn't you tell me you knew?" Halle asked, leaning forward, green eyes wide with surprise.
"I was waiting for you to come clean to this old woman yourself," her grandmother replied, pretending to pout, her lined face softening with amusement. "But instead, you kept your little secret tucked away like I wouldn't find out."
Halle opened her mouth to respond, but the older woman carried on. "Zade sent me an invitation, you know. Unfortunately, this stubborn body of mine had other plans. Some days, my bones decide they're in charge." She gave a light shrug, but Halle could hear the faint regret beneath her words.
Guilt pricked at Halle's chest. She would have given anything for her grandmother to have been there, to stand by her side, even if the circumstances were far from romantic. But back then, the old woman hadn't been well, and telling her about being forced into a marriage would have been too much. Still… it seemed Zade had taken matters into his own hands.
"Now that he's back in the country," her grandmother said, her voice turning almost mischievous, "I expect to see a great-grandchild before I leave this earth."
"Grandma!" Halle gasped, a shy smile tugging at her lips despite herself, the thought of carrying Zade's child sending a warm, strange flutter through her.
The old woman's eyes twinkled. "Well, he was here just the other day, and he assured me you two are already… working on it."
Jessy burst into laughter, nearly spilling the tea she'd been holding. Halle could only stare, recalling how Zade had mentioned speaking to her grandmother in the parking lot—something she'd brushed off at the time. Apparently, he hadn't been bluffing.
Her grandmother turned to Jessy then, studying her with the same sharp gaze she had used on Halle. "And you, young lady, you should find also yourself a man. With a face like yours, I can't imagine why you're still single."
Jessy's eyes widened slightly. "I think we should focus on Halle for now," she said quickly, tossing the attention right back at her friend.
Halle shot her a mock glare, but Jessy only smirked in return. The three women spent the rest of the afternoon chatting, their conversation drifting from serious matters to playful teasing, the kind that only came from deep bonds and years of trust.
By the time the sun dipped low and painted the sky in shades of amber and rose, they finally rose to leave, driving back to Jessy's place as twilight settled in. Darkness was coming, but in the warmth of each other's company, it hardly mattered.
They both stepped into the house after indulging in the greasy takeout they had ordered earlier at her grandmother's place, so naturally, the first mission was water as soon as they had stepped into the house. Halle made a beeline for the fridge while Jessy wandered to the cupboard for the glasses.
"You know, if this is your way of avoiding my cooking, just say it. We could've had my famous instant noodles." Jessy said while leaning against the counter with a grin.
Halle smirked, handing her a glass. "Right, because that's a gourmet experience I've been dying to have."
"You don't know fine dining until you've had me burn water," Jessy shot back with mock pride, making them both laugh.
They settled on the couch with their drinks, a comfortable silence between them as they flipped through channels until a silly comedy caught their attention. The kind of movie where you could miss ten minutes and still follow along. Somewhere in the middle of the story, as Halle was mid-sip, her phone buzzed with a new message from an unknown number.
>"Baby, I'm at the gate waiting for you."
Her stomach tightened. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was. Zade was the only one bold enough to call her baby in public, in private, and now apparently, from a number she didn't even have saved.
"Zade's here," Halle said quietly, still staring at her screen.
Jessy kept her eyes on the TV for a second longer before glancing over with a sly smile. "Of course he is. Your dark prince comes to whisk you away again." Then her tone softened as she stood, tugging Halle up for a hug. "But seriously… if he pulls anything stupid, you know I'm just one call away."
The hug lingered — warm, grounding — before they both let go.
"I know." Halle responded with a smile.
As Halle stepped outside, the night air wrapped around her in a cool embrace. Jessy drifted toward the window, fingers brushing the curtain aside. Through the glass, she spotted an expensive black car idling just beyond the gate. Its paint gleamed faintly under the dim streetlight, the kind of polished shine that whispered of wealth and power.
A tall figure stood near the driver's side, hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed yet carrying that quiet dominance that made it impossible to mistake him for anyone else. After what felt like two full minutes, Halle emerged into view, her steps hesitant. He moved then, rounding the car and opening the passenger door for her.
Jessy narrowed her eyes, but the distance and darkness swallowed most of the details. All she could make out was the glint of his watch catching the light, the shadowed curve of his jaw, and the way Halle seemed so small stepping past him.
And then the door shut, the engine hummed to life, and the car disappeared into the night.