Chapter 6
I stoodin front of the painting I created for my husband, hoping he felt every emotion I put into it. I wanted him to see my desire for us, my hope that this marriage was everything we’d dreamed of plus more. The love I felt for a man I had yet to lay eyes on, and my promise of devotion to him and this marriage was there in this painting if he gave himself a chance to see it.
I checked my watch and realized I was still good on time. I was sure it had a lot to do with the fact that I couldn’t sleep. I was beyond eager for today. I knew I wasn’t the only woman who found themselves with bags beneath their eyes on the most important day.
My best friend Mahalia stayed over. She claimed that this would be my last night as single Lore and she wanted one more night with her. I laughed because I felt I would still be the same. I was never the type to be wild anyway. Well, except that one time with Mahalia. She convinced me to go out and I still remember that night. But, otherwise, I’d always been work-driven and searching for peace.
I couldn’t imagine that part of me changing too much because I had a husband. But, anything was possible, I guess. I left my studio and made my way back into my house. I needed a good, steamy shower to prepare myself for today.
I had gotten my wax, nails, and brows done yesterday, which left me with just hair and makeup. I knew my hair would take the majority of the time because of the length. My hair fell past my butt. Any time I cut it, it grew back fast as hell so I planned to have my hair curled and pinned up into a cute style, so it wasn’t in the way.
I turned on my radio, took a shower, brushed my teeth, then oiled and lotioned my body. I grabbed my favorite perfume to take with me. My dress was in the garment bag. I needed two bags so the other could protect the train attachment. Once I made it downstairs, Mahalia was fresh out of the shower, too, with her dress in hand. We figured we could get ready together at the venue.
“You ready?” she asked as I walked into her view.
I shrugged with a smile. “As ready as I will ever be.”
She nodded, grabbed her keys from the back table, then headed for the door when the thought of my gift came to mind.
“Hold on. Well, can you take these to the car with you? I left something I had for him,” I asked.
Mahalia reached out for my things and then turned to make her way to the car. I rushed to my studio and silently said a prayer as I wrapped the painting, then placed a nice bow around it. I grabbed the letter I had written the night before and rushed to meet Mahalia outside. I didn’t want us to be late because of me, and I also didn’t want to set a bad first impression.
I called my parents, and they let me know they would be there, besides a few of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. They told everyone they could reach and anyone who would listen. My parents weren’t ashamed of my decision. They felt I was brave for choosing to find love this way. In my mother’s words, she trusted my judgment and would be there if I needed her.
I smiled, thinking about it. I was truly grateful and blessed to have my parents. I was certain my other family members were going to be whispering about this one but I was used to being the weird one in the family. In my eyes, the usual standards did not hold me back like they were.
The moment we pulled up to the venue, I looked around, wondering if my future husband was there yet. Mahalia tapped me on the shoulder, so I turned to meet her gaze.
“I just want to ask one more time. I can pull off right now and we never have to look back,” she mentioned before pulling into the parking lot.
I smiled, loving how protective my friend was of my feelings.
“This feels right. Plus, I paid too much money to waste it out of fear.”
I laughed, causing Mahalia to join and pull into the parking lot. She found a good spot and one assistant waiting outside led us to the side entrance we were supposed to use. The moment we walked into the suite, Joy was moving a few things around to her liking. But if you asked me, they’d done a fabulous job already of making this place beautiful. I could only imagine how the ceremony and reception hall looked.
The room was very soft and gave bride with a breakfast platter on the counter. I never expected them to do all of this. She even had glasses of wine and champagne next to the food. I walked further into the room and hung up my dress on the dressing room hook.
Joy turned to face me with a smile. “Hi, Ms. Reed. How are you feeling this morning?” she asked.
I released a breath and smiled. “I’m nervous, but I feel like this is exactly where I am supposed to be. This feels right. I just want this day to be special for him, too.”
“I love to hear that. Today is going to be more than you imagined. That’s our job. I am going to be back to check on you,” she mentioned.
Before she could make it fully out of the door, I stopped her.
“Wait, I forgot I have something for him,” I told her.
She smiled softly and stepped back into the room. I grabbed the painting and letter I had placed on the couch, then handed it to her.
“I’ll be back. I think this is your hairstylist and makeup artist now,” she mentioned, moving to the side so they could come into the room.
Once she closed the door behind herself, both ladies started laying out their tools. I walked over to the platter of fruit, choosing not to stuff myself so I could fit into this dress. I already had a little extra around the mid-section, but I wanted to feel the most beautiful today. Not to mention, I didn’t need the fact that I was beyond nervous to have my stomach torn up from eating this food. That would not be ideal.
“Girl, I’m going to get dressed so I can wait on you hand and foot. I am here to be whatever you need,” Mahalia said.
I covered my face to hold back my emotions. “You don’t have to do that, girl.”
“I absolutely do. Now, let’s get you married!” she exclaimed.
I watched as she walked over to her radio, then hooked her phone up. Immediately, classic RB played. She knew the way to my heart and music always relaxed me. I got into the chair my hairstylist instructed me into.
I released a breath, knowing she was going to have a time with this long-ass hair of mine. I reached up and unleashed it from the bun and it tumbled down past the back of the chair.
“Whoa, you sent over a picture, but it’s something to see in person. Where did you inherit all of this?” the stylist said with a smile.
Before I could respond, my parents walked into the room.
“Her mama would love to say it’s from her side of the family, but my mother had the most beautiful and long hair I had ever seen,” my dad said.
My mother nodded in agreement. My paternal grandmother had passed before I had the chance to truly meet her. She met me, though, and I knew that because of the pictures of us together when I was a baby. My mother walked over to my chair and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
We talked for a little as my father ate the food from the platter, and my mother told me about every person she invited to the wedding and how we would have a packed section. I shook my head at the thought; they were only coming to be nosey and nothing more. They wanted to see who I was marrying and be witness to the next strange thing I had done.
My stylist and I did my hair in a pin-up style so my dress would be the star of this show. It had so much detail that I didn’t want it to be lost behind my hair. My makeup artist did a soft beat. I didn’t want my face to be caked up with makeup. It didn’t matter that today was my wedding day. This was also the first time my husband would lay eyes on me and I wanted him to see the real me.
An hour went by before a knock sounded at the door. We had come in a little earlier because I knew my makeup and hair would take some time. Mahalia went over and opened the door. Joy peeked in with a smile but she was holding a small box with a card. My heart immediately beat heavily. I knew it had to be from him.
“Hi, everyone. We have thirty minutes until showtime but I needed to come and bring this by for you. I guess you and your husband had the same idea,” she said as she walked over to hand me the letter and box.
My eyes started to mist at the thought.
“No, ma’am. We just finished your makeup,” my artist said with a smile.
“Yeah, what she said. Now hurry and open it so I can see what it is,” Mahalia said.
Joy laughed and walked toward the door, then looked over her shoulder before leaving.
“Next knock is showtime.”
I smiled as she closed the door behind herself. I looked down at the box, choosing to open the letter first. It wasn’t as long as mine had been, but it was just as special.
Dear Wife,
Today is the day that we take a step toward the unknown, but one thing I know is this. This moment feels right and I promise you loyalty, faithfulness, patience, and good dick. Yeah, you read that right. I can’t wait to meet you and begin our journey. I’ll be the one in brown with the locs.
- your husband.
I closed my eyes briefly and blushed because he was right up my alley. I felt his arrogance through the letter, and it had me wet already. I folded up the letter and quickly slipped it back into the envelope. I glanced up and Mahalia had a brow lifted in my direction. I ignored her and looked down at the box, then lifted the top. A jewelry box was inside, so I lifted it, then opened it to reveal a diamond bracelet that was clasped by the intertwining of two hearts.
“That’s so beautiful and expensive, if I might add,” Mahalia said, reaching her hand out for it.
I handed it to her as she inspected it. “Oh yeah, he spared nothing with this. Hold your wrist out, sis,” she said.
I held my arm out for her, and she clasped the bracelet on my wrist. I couldn’t help but admire it and appreciate it that much more. It wasn’t because of the price tag but because of the thought he put into it.
“All right, we don’t have much time. Let’s get you into this dress,” Mahalia said.
I nodded as my mother walked with us into the dressing room that was attached to the room. The moment we stepped inside, I stripped down, making sure I was careful not to ruin my makeup or hair. Afterward, they helped me into my dress. Once all the pieces were together, I slipped on my heels and made my way back into the room.
At the sight of me, my father stood, gripping his chest with a smile.
“How do I look, Daddy?” I asked, since I hadn’t looked in the mirror yet.
“You’re a vision, baby girl,” he said as a few tears slipped from his eyes.
“Oh, Dad, don’t start that or you’re surely going to get me started,” I told him, wiping the corners of my eyes as moisture built.
I turned to face my mother, who was crying just like my dad, and Mahalia’s eyes were misty as well. My mother held my veil in her hands and a few other things. I glanced down as she walked over with a blue pin with studs to put into my hair. I dipped down so she could slide it into my hair.
“This pin has been passed down from bride to bride in our family. I figured it would satisfy something blue and something old. Even though we don’t assign ourselves to many traditional things. We can’t be too careful,” she commented with a smile.
I nodded as a knock sounded at the door. My dad walked over and opened it.
“It’s time,” Joy said with a smile. “Let’s get this veil on you,” Mahalia said.
She walked over and placed the veil so it was secured. I released my breath as everyone left the room, leaving behind my father and me. He held his arm out for me and I intertwined mine with his. He helped me out of the room, and now I was truly nervous. Mahalia and my mother had already gone inside of the ceremony. Joy walked over and she had a walkie-talkie in hand.
“Good luck, honey. Trust the process and everything will be perfectly fine,” she said.
I nodded as “At Last” by Etta James, the instrumental, played. We had gotten someone to play the cello and the piano. I released a breath and looked at my dad as both doors opened. He mouthed, “You got this.” I nodded and looked into the hall and my breath was stolen.
It was as if my feet didn’t want to work. My eyes widened slightly as my dad began walking, giving me no choice but to follow. Everyone was on their feet, staring in awe. I was just as in awe of the beautiful way they’d decorated the hall. But nothing compared to the man smiling back at me at the end of the aisle.
Before I knew it, he was coming down the few steps toward us with his hand extended. My father shook his and placed my hand into my husband”s. The feel of him caused a shiver to run down my spine. I could moan aloud from his touch alone. There was a pull I couldn’t explain, but I identified immediately.
Just as the music ended, we stood in front of each other, unable to take our eyes off each other. It was as if the vows portion flew by. We had exchanged rings and the ring he bought for me was exactly what I would have picked. It was a ring that resembled a rose with diamonds wrapping around the band and within the rose. It was now time for him to lift my veil and kiss me. I had thought this moment over a few times, whether I wanted to kiss him. But, without a doubt, I was going for it. We chose not to do special vows, but I was glad we didn’t because I wanted to reserve those moments for each other in private.
The moment he lifted my veil, I heard a thick tone in the distance say, “Damn,” causing everyone in the audience to laugh. Both my husband and I looked over my shoulder at a man who looked very similar to him, so I assumed it was his brother. I smiled and turned back to face him.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
He lifted a brow at me, questioning whether it was okay without saying the words aloud. I nodded, and he leaned forward, kissing me so deeply, it took everything in me to pull away. The moment I did, we stayed in that position for a moment and he looked up into my eyes with a smile.
“At last,” he said.
I didn’t comment as we turned to face our family and friends.
“I now pronounce you, Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood.”