Chapter 15 Asante
ASANTE
Between Winnie getting arrested for fighting her sister, looking for a house for Bishop and I to move into, Knight, Casmi and Nova welcoming their second daughter, Charlotte Barron to the family and doing my best to keep track of the money Bishop was pouring into the club both with and without my knowledge, the months leading up to me and Bishop’s wedding seemed to fly by.
I wasn’t complaining about that because I was down to go get married at the courthouse with a moment's notice. That wasn’t how the Barron family operated though so I was just trying to make sure I played my part for both him and his family.
We’d gotten the backyard wedding that we’d said we wanted but Brandon and Melanie had made it clear that just because it was a backyard wedding didn’t mean we were alleviated from making a statement for the family so that was what we were going to do.
I didn’t have many people to invite outside of Nadira and some of my military friends who’d actually shown up.
Bishop had stated he didn’t have a list himself but apparently his parents had a lot of people to invite and our wedding had started off with a list of three hundred people. Bishop and I had gotten his parents to get that number cut in half.
Neither of us had seen the wedding decor. All we cared about was being able to marry each other. Everything else was background noise and Bishop had promised me that after the wedding we could go back to fading into the background the way we both enjoyed being.
I couldn’t wait.
I turned one way then the other looking at my reflection in the full mirror in front of me.
I’d retied my tie at least six times in the past twenty minutes and honestly, I wasn’t even sure anything was wrong with it.
I was just nervous, not because I didn’t want to marry Bishop but because I didn’t really fuck with the spotlight and I knew this would be the biggest day of our joint lives until we had children enter this world.
I paused and looked back when knocking sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
I turned around completely and grinned when I saw that it was Rook, a large vase of white flowers in hand.
“What’s up, man?” He grinned as he walked over to me and dapped me up with his free hand.
“Shit. Sweating,” I admitted.
He chuckled. “Nerves are normal. You’ve got this.” He offered me the flowers and I lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t know. Winnie, Casmi and Nova thought it would be sweet to get one of these for you and Bishop each but nobody wants to come to your door and overwhelm you so I got the job.”
“Well, tell them thank you.”
I took the flowers from him and set them on the desk behind me.
One of the only traditions Bishop and I had kept from traditional weddings was not getting ready together.
We were both in small rooms on opposite sides of the wedding aisle.
Nobody was walking down the center. We were going to walk out at the same time and just meet in the middle of the aisle.
There was no wedding party. Rook would be the one to marry us.
He’d gotten certified immediately after the announcement that we didn’t want a best man or woman.
Nadira and Knight would sign as our two witnesses.
“You sure you good?” Rook checked.
“Yeah. I’m excited. Why? I look nervous?”
“Hell yeah. I’ve got to make sure you’re not getting cold feet. I’d hate for me and King to have to stomp you out in front of everybody for leaving my brother at the altar.”
“Fuck out of here” I chuckled.
“Well shit. We all know Bishop ain’t leaving you out there.” Rook exhaled. “I’m happy for y’all.”
“I appreciate that and uh, I know I never really addressed it but I want to tell you thank you.”
“Thank me?” Rook asked.
“For marrying Winnie and giving me and Bishop a chance to see this shit through. I appreciate that more than you can ever know and uh, I know there’s no way to repay you but I want you to know I’ve got you for life and I plan on loving and taking care of your brother for as long as there’s breath in my body. ”
“That’s all I could ever want for him,” Rook said. “And I mean, I love wifey. Shit worked out the way it was supposed to.”
“I believe that.”
Knocking sounded at the door again and we both looked as it opened slowly and a head peeked around. I stood up straighter when I saw it was Brandon.
“What’s up?” He walked further inside and hit Rook on the back. “Can I have the room, son?”
“Yeah, sure.” Rook smiled at me. “I’ll see you out there.”
“Yeah. Alright.” Brandon and I watched him leave then faced each other. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to get in this last conversation with you,” Brandon admitted.
“Alright.” I nodded and swallowed nervously.
“Your parents aren’t out there,” he said carefully. “I’ve checked.”
“I figured.” I shrugged.
Brandon exhaled.
“I don’t know your situation with them and I’m not going to ask for specifics. All I know is that Bishop had me call and see if I could speak to him father to father and had me formally send an invitation with the rest of the guests. If he’s not here it’s not from lack of trying from you or him.”
“What did he say when you called?” I asked even though I was sure I knew the answer.
“I didn’t get him,” Brandon said softly.
“I spoke to your mother who seems like a lovely woman and said she would work on it with him but,” he shrugged.
“You have a family out there ready to support this union and whatever else you need us to support regardless and I know it’s not the same but I want you to know we’re here,” Brandon said quietly.
“And uh, I don’t know what you and Bishop decided with the last name shit if you’re going to hyphenate or if he’s going to take your last name or whatever but ay, I’d love to have you be a Barron if that’s something you’re interested in. ”
I felt like my chest tightened, like my rib cage was somehow too small to hold my heart. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from Brandon but this wasn’t it and I blinked at him for several silent moments while my emotions, brain and mouth all tried to come to some sort of agreement.
“That would be amazing. I’m honored Brandon.”
“Well if you’re sure...” He dug into his suit jacket and pulled out a little box. “It’s just something Melanie and I got you.”
He handed me the box and I opened it carefully and grinned at the sight of some custom cufflinks with “AB” etched into it.
“This is tight.” I looked closely at them. “I’m going to wear them right now.”
I set the box down and Brandon grabbed one up before I could. I offered him my arm and he swapped my cufflinks out for me, one side then the other. Then, he stood up straight, took me in and adjusted my tie again.
So this was what it was like to have a hands on father who supported you.
The thought was both a refreshing on and a bitter one.
Bishop and I had spent countless hours worried about Brandon not accepting us and here he was making me feel more supported on my wedding than my own parents.
Both of our watches beeped at the same time and we collectively glanced at them.
“Five minutes,” he announced. “I’ll see you out there.”
“Alright.”
Brandon closed the cufflink box then hurried out of the room and I looked myself over one more time before making my way to the door. I cracked it open just a little bit and peeked out.
Even from where I was I could see that Melanie had done the fucking most. I didn’t see a singular blade of grass with all the white flowers she had littering the entire ground.
The guests were arranged in a semi-circle instead of lined up in rows and there were live musicians gathered behind where I was sure Rook had to be standing.
I shook my hands, took a deep breath and glanced at my watch again.
I felt like I’d barely just gotten my nerves under control when it was time for me to walk out but I did it with my head held high and my gaze focused on the side of the arch we’d be standing beneath.
The second I saw Bishop I felt like all my anxiety vanished.
He looked fucking amazing. He’d worn an all black suit with a white tie while I’d worn an all white suit with a black tie.
The second we were close enough to touch each other, our hands were meeting in front of us and the touch of his skin against mine did wonders for the nervousness I felt knowing how many people were staring at us.
Rook started on que and the first time I gathered the courage to look out at the crowd I was shocked to see Casmi, Nova, Knight, Xavia and Melanie sitting on Bishop’s side of the aisle while King, Brandon and Winnie sat on my side of the aisle right beside Nadira and her husband.
They’d made sure I had family on my side of the wedding.
All of my military friends and their spouses sat on the rows right behind them, rows they’d reserved without me having to ask.
Fuck. I was excited to be a member of this family.
The wedding went down in a blur of tears building up and me focusing to not kiss the man in front of me and when we were announced husband and husband our first married kiss reassured me that I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Cheering engulfed us and Rook jumped up and down and clapped.
“That’s what the fuck I’ms saying!” He hugged both of us and hit us on the back as he released us.
We both laughed.
“Announcing Mr. and Mr. Barron,” Rook’s voice boomed.
Bishop kissed the back of my hand and lifted it.
Our guest stood up as they applauded and the two of us made our way down the aisle.
From there I was sure I blacked out. Bishop’s family, Nadira and her husband each embraced us.
Then, I was introduced to musical legends, politicians, professional athletes and people I hoped I never had to see again.
We made the rounds before we signed our marriage certificate.
Then, we cut the cake and the formal part of the wedding ending and we watched in real time while hot food was rolled out of the house and the dance floor was lit up.
Bishop and I opted out of a first dance just like we’d opted out of public vows so we exchanged a brief kiss and split up.
I hung out with some of my military friends while Bishop played respectability politics with people he claimed worked the underbelly of the city.
I introduced them and Nadira to Bishop’s family and was happy with how they were welcomed with open arms.
My military friends and I had partied hard while we were deployed and not working and it seemed like we just picked up there. I had three drinks before Bishop snuck up behind me and grabbed my hand.
I looked back at him and smiled.
He nudged his head to the side.
“Come on.”
I didn’t think about it or look back at my friends. I let my husband grip my hand and pull me away from our wedding celebration. We headed inside the house, straight up the stairs and to the balcony.
I froze. All of the previous furniture had been removed and a medium small table was set up with candles and flowers in the center and several plates on it, three courses for each of us and a nice large slice of our wedding cake.
“We’re not being one of those couples that focus on the optics of our wedding party and not each other so,” Bishop shrugged.
“Nah. This is cute. I like this.”
“Good.”
He closed the balcony door and we took our seats at the small table. Neither of us wasted time. We both dived into the food and it was even better than I’d thought it would be. We fed each other a piece of cake each and settled into our seats.
“Alright.” Bishop sat up and rubbed his hands on his pants. “I want to make my vow to you right now.”
“Alright.” I sat up too. “Let’s do it.”
“Asante,” Bishop said my name softly and exhaled.
“I love you and I’m thankful to have you be here as my husband and partner.
You and your happiness mean a lot to me and I know that we didn’t have the most conventional dating process and shit but I want to make sure there’s no confusion when I tell you that the family we just created means everything to me and I’d never do anything to fuck this up or to hurt you.
I want you to know that I’m here for you through whatever and whenever to support you, listen and anything else you need and I want you to know that I mean that shit.
I’m always going to be a safe space for you to land and if nobody got you, I do. I promise.”
I nodded at that and took a deep breath.
“Bishop,” I said his name carefully. “I want you to know that I’m proud of you and thankful for you.
You’re one hell of a man and I know you’re going to be one hell of a husband and father.
Even when shit was what it was between us, I never doubted your commitment to this shit and I don’t want you to ever doubt how I feel about you or my loyalty to you.
I promise to be the best friend, partner, husband and coparent possible and that even when shit gets hard, you don’t have to worry about my loyalty or my love to you. It’s you and me over everything.”
“Over everything,” he nodded and stood up so we could kiss over the table.
Parents or no parents, honestly, I couldn’t say I felt like I was missing anything.
This shit in front of me was what made my world go round.