Chapter 24 Grai
Grai
One year later . . .
Today was my wedding day, yet I couldn’t even bring myself to smile—not because I wasn’t excited to be marrying the man of my dreams but because I felt like crap. My head was throbbing, and there was this sinking feeling in my gut that no drop of ginger ale would cure.
Turning on the sink, I splashed water over my face, then took some deep breaths. “You can do this, Grai. You’re getting married today,” I coached myself in the mirror. I hated that I had no control over my body because I’d been waiting for this day all my life.
After handling my hygiene, I stepped into the suite room, which was busy with life.
My wedding planner, Justice, stood there, waiting for me.
The second she saw me, she pushed me toward the makeup chair, where the artist had been busy setting up.
She’d already handled my sisters. Toni was my maid of honor, while Mani served as a matron of honor. That was enough for me.
I waved Toni down while trying to remain still for the makeup artist. “Could you get me a bottle of water?”
She paused what she was doing and turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m just a little thirsty,” I lied. I was feeling a lot more than that, but I refused to ruin this day.
She came back with the water a minute later. It helped a little, so I closed my eyes and took slow breaths. Eventually, Sanai finished my makeup and allowed me to see her beautiful work. I almost wanted to cry because she’d done an amazing job. I fanned my eyes, trying to keep my tears at bay.
The hairstylist for the day came over next to take down my pin curls.
My hair bounced to life in pretty rivulets on my shoulders.
She messed with the bang, helping bring my look together seamlessly.
When she stepped away, it was time for me to put on my dress.
It was a white mermaid gown with African lace for the sleeves and for framing my breasts.
The corset shape had me looking snatched.
I loved the long lace train as well. It was perfect.
Since I hadn’t successfully gotten pregnant over the last year, I was able to train to fit into my dress. Some days, I was bummed because it seemed like things were so easy with Drey. I didn’t have to try with the boys. Now that I really wanted to give Lyrix a baby, my body wasn’t willing to.
My mother waltzed into the room then, wearing a gold sequin, floor-length gown.
When she saw me, her steps slowed. I glanced at her over my shoulder, trying to gauge her mood.
We hadn’t been speaking much since that day Poppa blew up on her for what she said.
Now look at me, about to marry the man she swore saw my children and me as burdens.
“Wow, you truly are a sight to see, Grai,” she complimented, voice full of emotion. I turned to face her completely as my dress was zipped up to secure me inside.
She reached for my hands, and I allowed her to hold them.
“I want to sincerely apologize for the things I’ve said that hurt you.
I’ve always only wanted what was best for you, and I didn’t always express it in the best way.
I don’t know how it took me so long to see what you had right in front of you.
Lyrix loves you and those boys more than the air he breathes.
I am so happy you’ve found the love you deserve. ”
Her apology was so unexpected. By the weight I felt lift from my shoulders, I realized it was very needed. The tears I had been trying to hold back began to cascade down my cheeks. I sniffled. “Thank you, Ma. I really needed to hear that.”
“I love you,” she confessed.
“I love you too.” She came closer to fluff my train a little more.
Mama Dee rushed into the room next. She was wearing a black evening gown with a deep plunge in the front.
Her man, Steven, was her plus one today, so she was glowing.
I couldn’t wait to officially meet him. I knew Poppa already had a list of questions, and that was why his mother kept him away for so long.
Her mouth fell open as she admired me. “My sweet, Grai. You have truly blessed my life.” She came over for a hug that I happily offered. She was careful not to get anything on my dress. “Wow, my son is going to cry.”
I gave her a toothless grin. “Me too.” A wave of nausea came over me, making me frown and groan.
“What is it?” she questioned, surging forward.
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I’m not feeling so well.”
My mother came over with Justice. They all looked concerned. “Does she have some time to eat something?” my mama asked.
Justice nodded. “Yes, we are ahead of schedule. I’ll see what I can find. In the meantime, why don’t you lie down for a few?” she suggested.
I gave a small smile. “That’ll be perfect. Thanks.”
I shuffled over to the bedroom and did exactly what was suggested. The issue was that once I lay down, it was like I couldn’t get back up. I only began to feel worse until the point I wasn’t sure I would be able to get married today.
My eyes cracked open when I heard the door open.
I smiled sadly when I saw my husband-to-be standing there, looking as handsome as ever.
His hair was freshly cut, and he wore a pair of frameless gold glasses.
He was dressed in a tailored white Armani suit jacket with a gold chain lapel.
His button-up beneath was white with black buttons to match his black bow tie and dress pants.
His shiny, black dress shoes brought his look together and tears to my eyes.
“Hey, baby.” He greeted me in a soft voice. Walking closer, he bent, squatting beside my face. “You look so beautiful.”
Tears flooded my lash line. “Thank you. I’m sorry I’m ruining our wedding.”
He was adamantly shaking his head before I could fully get the apology out.
“You’re not ruining anything. There is no wedding without you, Grai.
” He stroked a finger down the side of my face.
“Do you want to go to the hospital?” I gulped, feeling so guilty.
He read my expression and shut down my racing thoughts.
“Stop doing that. I promise everything is fine. I am still going to marry your beautiful ass.”
I smiled through the discomfort I was feeling, unable to strip out of my dress or move too much, so Poppa carried me out of the suite bridal style.
His truck was pulled around and waiting for us when we got downstairs.
He got me inside, then joined me. We held hands the entire drive to the hospital.
I tried to keep my eyes open, but the motion of the car was making me sick.
“I think something is seriously wrong,” I confessed. If I couldn’t be vulnerable with the man I was about to marry, then why would I even be considering doing life with him?
He lifted my hands to his lips. “Don’t think like that, Bubbles. You’re going to be fine.” I allowed his words to wash over me as if they could erase the pain I was in. Of course, it didn’t work, but I allowed each kiss he placed on the back of my hand to restore my faith that everything was well.
When we made it to New Haven in downtown Solaire, we walked into a packed emergency room.
My worried eyes roamed over to Poppa, but he remained calm.
I allowed him to take the lead as we talked to the receptionist, dressed from head to toe for a wedding.
Of course, we got some odd stares, but we paid them no mind.
“Hi, my wife needs to be seen. She hasn’t been feeling well,” he informed the nurse there.
She turned to me with kind eyes and a smile before asking about my symptoms. I filled her in, then we went to sit down while I filled out the required paperwork.
Halfway through it, my head began to swim, so Poppa completed it for me.
I felt completely depleted of energy while I rested my head on his shoulder.
I used Poppa as an anchor the entire time, and he let me. As a matter of fact, his arm wrapped around my waist ensured it. I didn’t even realize I was crying until he began to wipe away my tears. “It’s going to be okay, baby. Don’t cry.”
When I glanced at him, I crashed into the waves of concern in the depths of his eyes.
His love for me ran deep, and he would not leave my side until he knew what was going on with me.
I could tell by the defiant set of his jaw.
He planted a kiss on my third eye that somehow summoned the triage nurse.
Everything was a blur after that. She took my vitals, asked too many questions, and they made me do a urine sample before drawing blood. I was overly exhausted when I lay back on the bed in the small room. Poppa sat beside me with the phone pressed to his ear.
“Yeah, we’re in the back now. They drew blood and stuff like that.
Have her scheduled for some stomach X-rays too.
” He paused, listening to whoever was on the other end of the phone.
He chuckled. “Bae.” My eyes fluttered open to find him watching me.
“Loh asked if he can have a slice of the wedding cake.”
Despite the discomfort I was feeling, I couldn’t help but smile. My baby would be somewhere eating cake if the world were on fire. I couldn’t even be mad. Someone should enjoy it.
I chuckled. “Of course, he did. Yeah, let him have some.”
He winked at me, causing a blush to creep onto my cheeks. My eyes drifted back closed as he returned to the phone conversation. At some point, I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I knew, Poppa was shaking me awake. There was the weight of a cover on me that hadn’t been there before.
“The doctor is here, Bubbles,” he informed me. He was standing beside the bed like my personal bodyguard.
I was curled on my side, so I turned on my back and sat up. The doctor was an older black woman with kinky, gray hair. She smiled brightly. “Hi, Ms. Harlowe. I am Amara Brighton, the on-call doctor. I heard you were supposed to be getting married today.”