She couldn't sleep at all that night. She could hear everyone snoring but she lied in bed miserable. She couldn't stand the thought of the possibility that Huey would go away and leave her again. No, she had to be strong for herself and him. She wasn't going to be weak again and let herself waste away like last night.
Jazmine finally was able to go to sleep but it felt as if as soon as she did someone was waking her up telling her to get ready. Everyone made sure to dress appropriately for the courtroom. Even Riley looked professional. They didn't want to risk getting kicked out if the judge didn't like the way they looked and viewed it as a distraction for everyone else.
She couldn't help but shake as they neared the courthouse. Luckily Huey was next to her and he softly stroked the palms of her hand. He looked so stoic and calm and she wondered how he really felt about it. Was nervous, worried, or maybe anxious? His eyes gave away nothing though.
Once they were inside, Tom told them to wait as he went to talk with the other lawyer and judge beforehand.
"Are you scared?" She softly asked him.
"A little but not really."
"You don't seem too worried about it."
"I don't know what happened but when I woke up this morning I had a good feeling like everything was going to be alright."
"I hope that's your famous intuitive working again."
"It just might be."
They waited about an hour before they finally got word. Tom burst into the room shouting.
"Huey! She confessed! She confessed to everything!"
Huey stood up. "Are you serious? She told them the truth?"
"Yes! They're throwing your case out right now! They looked at your drug test and confirmed you were negative for everything. You're completely off the hook this time!"
Everyone surrounded him and congratulated him on his luck. His intuitive was never wrong, Jazmine thought, and almost started crying with joy. Huey stood there speechless and in shock. He and Tom left to go sign some paperwork and Jazmine pretty much collapsed in her mom's arms. Cindy rubbed her hair and tried to comfort her and the boys took joined Granddad as he sang with happiness.
Huey and Tom signed the last of the paperwork and were about to join the others.
"Huey?" A voice with a slight accent asked from behind. He turned around and saw Chantale. Her braids were long and tied behind her back and she wore a sleeveless dress that had the colors of Haiti.
"Tom, can you give me a minute?"
He nodded and said everyone will wait for him in the lobby.
He and Chantale stood facing each other before she finally spoke. "So you got off easy."
"Yeah. Thanks for confessing. What's going to happen to you?"
"They let me off easy. A year in jail then three years of probation. They aren't going to deport me."
"That's good. What about school?"
"They kicked me out of the university but once I get out, I'm going to try to go to the community college in the next town over."
"You have it figured out. That's really good."
"What are you going to do now that you're officially a free man, Freeman?"
He thought about it for a moment. "I'm going down to Texas."
"Why Texas? That's a while away."
"Someone very important to me lives down there. I owe her some lost time."
"Ah, you're true love? I always knew you had someone waiting for you." She looked a little sad and shrugged her shoulders. "But what can you do? If it's meant to be then it's meant to be."
"You're a good woman Chantale. You're going to make it once you get out."
"Oh I know I will. The world needs a revolutionary who hasn't gone soft on society." She smiled and punched him in the arm, telling him she was just joking. "She's going to be a lucky girl." With that, she walked away as did he. He stood in the lobby to everyone's cheerful faces.
That night they were celebrating. Tomorrow would be their last day in Phoenix and while everyone was having drinks, Granddad and Tom allowed all the kids to have one glass of champagne. While everyone was talking and laughing, Huey decided to let Jazmine see Phoenix at night.
"There are so many lights," she stated as they sat by the edge of a fountain in the downtown area.
"Phoenix actually isn't as bad as some people think," he handed her a bottle of water that he bought from the convenience store. She took a sip to clear her throat.
"I can see why. It's so hot during the day but at night, it's actually pretty."
"There's too much crime at night though."
"It's fine as long as you're here. Remember that promise you made."
"I'll keep both promises. When we get back home I'm going to talk to your dad."
"Are you going to ask for his blessing?"
"Yeah. And see if it's alright to live with you and Cindy."
He looked at her and saw her eyes sparkle. "Really?"
"Yep. I don't want to leave you again, Jazmine."
The peace around them was broken as an ambulance raced around the area with sirens blaring.
"Come on, let's go back." He let her hold on to his arm as they walked back to the hotel.
"Huey, I leave in two days. Are you ready to do this?" She had to go back home to her apartment. She was pretty sure she had bills in the mail and her boss wasn't going to give her anymore time off.
He stood up. "Let's get it over with."
Her parents were already sitting on the couch, both reading. Huey and Jazmine sat across from them and Huey began talking.
"You both know that Jazmine and I are trying to be in a relationship."
Both of her parents nodded, it wasn't really a surprise to them after seeing them together.
"We aren't in a rush and don't plan on doing anything soon, but we do want to take it to the next step someday."
Tom dropped his book. "You mean marriage?" He struggled to say it.
"Yes, marriage."
"How soon are we talking?" Sarah asked and took off her reading glasses."
"I was thinking of around the time I graduate and become a vet." Jazmine tried to explain.
"And when I'm on enough income to get our own place." Huey looked at Tom.
"Jazmine, honey, are you sure about this?" Sarah asked cautiously.
"Yeah. Mom, I do love him and I'm prepared for whatever comes in the future."
"But last time-"
"Last time wasn't Huey's fault. It had to do with a lot of other factors but I'm better than that now. I haven't had any problems since recovering and I don't plan on doing it again. I don't think Huey would let me go through that."
He nodded in agreement. "She told me what she went through and I plan on taking care of her."
"I know you'll take care of her Huey. But you'll be gone a lot when you become a politician and I'm worried that she won't take care of herself when you're gone."
"I don't plan on leaving for months at a time if I can help it. I've done it for two years and I don't want to do it again."
Tom side and rubbed his forehead. "You're a good kid, Huey, but that's just it. You and Jazmine are still kids no matter how smart you both are."
"That's why we don't want to do it now." Jazmine tried explaining. "I do want to marry him but not tomorrow or next week. I want to do it when we're both mature enough to make sure this is the right decision. And we want to do that by living together. Making sure that it feels right before we seal the deal."
"Jazmine, I don't know if that's a good idea."
"I'll get a job in Texas, I'll help pay the bills and you know that Jazmine will be protected there. She won't be alone anymore."
Her parents had to admit he was right. They were worried about Jazmine walking alone in the streets and being in her apartment alone over the break.
"Ok, Huey I'll let this happen," Tom said much to everyone's surprise. "I've always liked you as a kid even though you always made my girl cry. I know you were trying to toughen her up for adulthood but your ways were a little messed up. If you two want to get married, then I'm fine with it. I know you'll take care of her and treat her well. And you're smart enough to know that you better not screw this up."
"And when you do decide to get married, we want to be there," Sarah chipped in. "I don't care if it's a big or small wedding here or in Texas or wherever you choose it to be. You better let us know ahead of time so we can start planning everything."
"It's a deal, Mom." Jazmine smiled at her parents.
Sarah had tears in her eyes and hugged her daughter.
"I want to show you something," Huey said and they went back to his house.
Riley was lounging on the couch watching music videos and playing with his PSP.
"Hey Riley you aren't getting married are you?" Huey asked.
"Hell naw! I don't wanna be committed to some hoe."
Huey took her into the basement and kneeled by the trunk that had family memories in it. He opened it and gently pushed stuff aside as he was finding what he was looking for.
"I already talked to Granddad and he said he didn't mind as long as he saw you afterwards." He pulled out another box; it was a jewelry box that had the name Dorothy engraved in a gold color on it.
"This belonged to my grandmother but when she died, Granddad put all of her belongings down here." He opened it and took out another box. "She would never take this thing off no matter. She wasn't very materialistic but this was the one thing she treasured. Before she died, she gave it back to Granddad and told him to pass it on."
He slipped a ring on her left ring finger. It looked clean as if it had never even been worn. It was a solid gold band that had an oval shaped diamond with two smaller oval diamonds placed to the side.
"It was just the diamond," he explained. "But she saved up enough money to get the two smaller ones attached. She said they represent Granddad and my father."
"This is the sweetest thing ever," she said as she tried not to cry.
"Luckily it fits and we don't have to get it adjusted. Let's go show Granddad."
Granddad gushed over the ring. "It still looks as beautiful as it did before! And look at you, baby girl, you look like you could float on air! This ring has been through a lot of memories!" He continued talking but Jazmine wasn't really paying attention. She looked at Huey and she couldn't get past the fact that he looked genuinely happy, proud, but embarrassed at the attention Jazmine was getting. He was scratching his small beard to try and hide the corner of his lips as they were twitching upwards.
She pulled his hand away and kissed him much to Riley's displeasure and Granddad exclaimed how he was so happy for them. He was surprised at the display of affection in front of his family but he kissed her back.
"Hey! It ain't the wedding yet so save it for later!" Cindy yelled behind them and Caesar stood next to her laughing. "Your mom called an told us the news." She shrugged when she saw the look of confusion on Jazmine's face.
Then her parents walked in to see everyone. After a few hours, there was more champagne passed around but again, Huey and Jazmine skipped in and were sitting on the roof.
"Aren't you glad we didn't miss this?" She asked.
Huey was looking up trying find constellations. "Miss what?"
"Our family and friends together and celebrating."
"It would be better if they didn't wake up the whole neighborhood."
She laughed at his typical behavior and rested her head on his shoulder. "Just let them have this one Huey. They've been through a lot as well."
"You're right again Mrs. Jazmine Soon-To-Be-Freeman."
"That would sound better without the soon to be part."
He held her chin and kissed her as the celebration continued of their engagement even though they weren't with them.
"Let's go make sure no one gets hurt down there," he suggested and helped her climb down.