Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
Kareem
Istood at the front of the chapel with the pastor on one side of me and Ray on the other. I kept my eyes on the door, waiting for Karina to walk down the aisle in front of me. Teeks’ “First Time” filled the air as we waited, and I felt every word of the song.
“Finally, we are here now. I been waiting all my life.”
Each word brought back every memory I had where I’d dreamed of this day. Standing here felt unreal. I was at an altar waiting on Karina.
“You about to cry, ain’t it?”
Ray nudged me with his elbow, and for the first time, I couldn’t laugh at his joke. Hell, I couldn’t even focus on it. All of my attention would be on the chapel doors until they opened and Karina stepped through.
This was the most serious moment of my life. I was getting ready to commit myself to the woman I loved. Today was the day that she would agree to be mine forever in front of God and our friends.
I dropped my head in an attempt to push back the tears forming behind my lids. Karina was standing at the entrance of the chapel just as I looked back up, and everything I thought I knew became irrelevant to the rest of my life.
I could navigate the boardroom better than anyone I knew. I remembered how rooms went silent when I entered. I thought that was the definition of gravity until she walked toward me.
Her dress hugged her like confidence wrapped around a woman who knew exactly who she was. The silk’s elegance caught the light with each step. The chosen shade of white wasn’t meant to show innocence, just precision, just her.
Karina’s arm was linked with her best friend’s as they stepped forward, and I stood up straight so I wouldn’t miss even the slightest movement she made. I wanted to see all of it, all of her.
“Oh, I prayed for you. Oh, I cried for you.”
Teeks continued to serenade the room the same way Karina’s hips serenaded me. The soft smiles she gave me were hypnotizing. By the time she stopped in front of me, I could see she was crying too.
“Who here gives this woman to this man?”
“I do,” Rayla answered quickly, then hugged Karina and took her place beside her.
Karina thanked her before shyly turning back to me. Karina held her hands out to me, and I took them.
“Did you write your own vows today?”
“I didn’t have to. I’ve known my vows since I was sixteen years old.”
“Well, it’s finally time to share them, Mr. Sheffield.”
“Karina Stevens, you were always the girl of my dreams, even when I was awake. I knew you would be my wife from the moment I saw you walking down the hallway. I know God made you for me and me for you. I anticipate loving everything about you for the rest of my life… the way you giggle… the way you sleep… the way you wake up in the morning… all of it. I’m just so thankful that you decided to be here with me in this moment and for every moment after, Karina. ”
“Ms. Stevens.”
“Kareem, being loved by you is the safest thing I have ever done. Thank you for accepting me, all of me. Thank you for trusting me with your heart, even when I haven’t given you a reason to.
You see my value and cash out on it with pure love every single time.
It is an honor to become your wife today, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. ”
“Mr. Sheffield, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.”
“Ms. Stevens, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I most certainly do.”
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. The rings?”
“I have them right here.” Ray handed us the rings.
I slid Karina’s ring onto her finger, and she did the same. I took Karina’s face into my hands and her lips into mine. I kissed her like I would be doing for the rest of my life. We had finally made it.