Chapter 54 Matrimony
Matrimony
I pull up to the gate, still on the phone with Mommy. She’s in Jamaica now with Kace. Mama couldn’t come, she doesn’t have her papers yet. “We a go video call so she nah miss a thing,” Mommy says, voice too bright. I exhale, the excitement dipping.
“Yeah… it’s like she’s here anyways,” I mumble.
“Mi excited bad yuh go meet Kace,” she chuckles. I honk and pull in. But then I spot a black Jaguar by the fence. Nickoi don’t own that. A who him have inside?
“You reach home?” Mommy asks, sensing my silence.
“Yea.” I lock eyes on the car, slide off speaker, and head in. She still laughing about spa plans. “Lavish,” I tell her before we hang up. Inside, Nickoi’s leaned against the wall with Junior, laughing like nothing else exist but whatever they talking ‘bout.
I sit. “Good evening.”
They both greet me, but keep chatting. “Mi tell yuh, if yuh see the bride before the day, it bring bad luck,” Junior says.
Nickoi laughs. “A so dem say, but mi nuh follow nobody tradition. Mi wah see har.”
I smile to myself. Unruly. He’s the one designing the dress anyway.
Junior is serious. “Me and Suzanne done plan it… Zara aguh your place, and you stay here.”
“Yuh cya stay away from the woman not even fi one night?” Junior asks, fed up.
Nickoi laughs but eventually gives in. “Mi a do it cause mi wah be surprised.”
“Finally,” Junior exhales, cutting me a look. “How yuh manage him?”
I just smile.
He heads upstairs. “Suzanne!”
I stand. “Suzanne deh yah?” But before I can move, Nickoi grips my wrist, pulls me into his lap.
“Nickoi!” I shriek, landing on him. My arms slip around his shoulders naturally.
“Clova do your hair nice,” he murmurs, eyes burning. It’s done in burmese curls, deep side part, side clipped back with silver and white wedding Barrettes.
“As long as you love it,” I purr, kissing him.
“Cya believe mi a get married,” he says like it’s unreal. I hold his face, then he bites my lip.
“Nickoi!” I pout, checking if it’s bleeding. He just laughs harder. I suck his bottom lip, then freeze when footsteps echo. We’re already caught. Junior and Suzanne smiling like fools. “Lef some fi honeymoon, man,” Junior jokes.
I slip off, blushing. “Hey mommy babies,” I greet the twins. Zanne looks pretty in her swoop pony.
“Mi love your bridal style,” she says. “Mi see why Nickoi a rush honeymoon activities.”
Zahir giggles. I laugh and cover his ears. “Don’t listen, yuh hear?”We get them in the Jaguar. Nickoi is struggling to clip the car seat, and I correct him.
“Wah more yuh want mi do?” he snaps, annoyed.
I ignore him, fixing it myself. “Wah unuh woulda do without mommy?” I say to the babies.
“Zara, just shut up,” Nickoi hisses, pulling me close again. “Watch mi and you tomorrow.”
My face heats up. “Let me go, man.”
“Watch the lovers,” Suzanne teases.
“Only people in love cuss cuss so,” Junior jokes. We all laugh then me and Zanne get in and drive off into the night. When we get there, the front door is already open when we step out of the car.
“Somebody inside?” I ask curiously.
“Yeah, one a mi fren,” she replies, helping me take out the babies.
“Ohh,” I say, brushing it off casually. But the moment we walk inside, my eyes land on Anna. Wait… what?
“How yuh never tell me a Anna?” I ask Suzanne, a teasing smile creeping on my face. She just grins and heads to her room with the babies. I glance back at Anna. She’s in a pink silk robe, her hair in a swoop ponytail.
A few moments later, Suzanne returns, also wearing a pink silk robe.
Hmm…
“My niece and nephew are asleep,” she says with a sweet smile. I nod, but my attention is still stuck on Anna.
“Why unuh a m—” Before I can finish the question, Rick’s girlfriend, also dressed like them hands me a white bridal lingerie set.
“Oh my God,” I gasp, covering my mouth. “It’s a surpris—”
“Yesss a surprise bridal shower!” Anna announces, stepping out with a champagne glass in her hand. That’s when I notice the robes. Team Bride. My smile widens instantly.
“Listen… mi cya even find the words fi thank unuh,” I say, heart full, mind racing.
“Girl, you deserve this! And even though we planned it, your man sponsored it,” Anna tells me proudly. Damn. My man deserves a blowjob.
“The decorations and the gifts dem inna my room,” Suzanne adds, and just then I spot a veil in her hand.
This just keeps getting better…
Anna and Lee wrap their arms around me, pulling me along.
But the second I step inside the room, I freeze. “It’s… beautiful,” I whisper, eyes soaking in everything. Bride-to-be foil balloons. Cards marked Matron of Honor and Bridesmaid. The room is flooded with love.
I had chosen Sash, Anna, and Lee to be my bridesmaids, and Suzanne as my matron of honor since she’s already married.
But clearly, Sash couldn’t make it… and honestly, this wouldn’t have worked with her here.
She and Anna woulda mash dung the place over Gutta.
I hug and kiss them all, laughing, smiling, I feel so happy. There are gifts everywhere, but first, I need to shower. I have a photoshoot soon. Suzanne told me ten minutes ago that the photographer was on his way.
“Mi soon come,” I say, grabbing my toiletries. Once I’m fresh out the shower, I slip into the white bridal lingerie, strap on my heels, and let Lee beat my face to perfection.
When I join the girls, they’re in a frenzy.
“Zara pretty enuh,” Lee beams, doing my final touch-ups.
“Listen, Nickoi hit the jackpot,” Zanne grins. My cheeks hurt from smiling.
“Watch sexy. Watch pretty face,” Anna chimes in, and I burst out laughing.
Even the photographer chuckles.
Oh shoot—
Mi totally forget seh the camera deh in front of me.
I cross my legs and gaze into the lens. Zanne bends down to adjust the skirt. The dramatic, voluminous fabric flows into layers of soft, fluffy ruffles, creating a whimsical, fairy-tale look that resembles a billowing cloud. It’s literally so dreamy.
After that they join me, we make TikToks, each of my bridesmaids waving a fan with Nickoi’s face carved on it. Then I get into the official photoshoot. The guy is
super patient and so good at his job. Damn.
Once he’s through, he left, saying the pics would be ready by tomorrow. Not even five minutes in, and I’m already laughing, every box I open is sex toys and games. The girls are cracking up too; it feels like it’ll never end. Then I spot a simple coffee mug with “Mrs. Jacobs” on it from Aunt Olive.
Finally, something innocent.
But just when I think it’s calm, I see a rose vibrator. “What the hell?” I blurt out, and the girls lose it, laughing like crazy.
“Mommy send that?” I ask, still shocked.
I proceed, giggling excitedly as I pull boxes after boxes. Designer clothes, furry slides with “bride” stitched on, Pandora jewelry, gifts from babe. I have one for him too, but I need to be with him for that.
By 7 o’clock, we’ve stuffed ourselves with fast food and champagne, playing wedding edition “would you rather.” Then the pillow fight starts, sweat beads on my skin, laughter filling the room.
I slump on the bed, breath still heavy from all the laughter. My phone buzzes. Nickoi flashes on the screen. My smile widens before I even answer.
“Hey,” I say, my voice hoarse.
He stares at me quiet for a beat. “You did a ramp man?” he observes. I nod, still catching my breath.
“Yeah, a bay ramping.” I flip the camera to the girls, blindfolded, swinging pillows, pure chaos.
Nickoi laughs. “You mi wah see though.”
I switch it back. “Just showing you what I’m up to.”
“Yah,” he says then we hear a loud noise. He turns to his friends. “Unuh easy wid the noise nuh!” When it quiets, he talks, and I move to the next room, the girls are still loud, but now it’s just us. I sit, soaking it in.
He talks about the shoes I got him, how they match his clothes. I smile, eyes roaming the room. This place, the same room holds the perfect memories, where we made our kids. Our first time making love. My face heats up.
“Yaw, listen me?” His voice snaps me back.
“Um, yeah… just tired,” I say, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
“Arite, so the baby dem gov?” he asks. I nod, watching him lick his lips, eyes warm and soft.
“You gov?”
“Yes, Nickoi.” I smile shyly. He looks away, dimples deepening.
“Cutey,” I say, grabbing his attention. “You okay?”
“No.” It comes out low.
“Why?”
“Mi nuh have mi youth dem round me, and mi nuh have mi favorite person’s breast fi hold.” My cheeks burn.
“You favorite person?” I ask, surprised.
He nods.
“Awww, you soon have we tomorrow, baby,” I whisper.
He smirks, eyes on the TV.
“Cya wait,” he breathes out.
I laugh at him, sounding like he’s being tortured. His brows almost joined, eyes low and dark. I don’t understand how he looks this good when he’s upset. He’s literally so handsome? Just staring.
I feel my pulse picking up its pace.
He turns to me, voice low and hypnotizing. “Tomorrow mi see yuh, enuh wifey. Mi a go meds deh game yah.”
“Okay, huzzy.”
“Kiss Zahir and Zahira fi me.” His words heavy with love.
“I will. We love you,” I say for the babies.
He touches his chest. “Heart a love.”
I tilt my head, just staring at him.
He stares back.
“Tomorrow,” I blush and hang up, sinking back into the bed. Flashbacks rushing in, they’re so hot and wild in my head. I bite my finger again, second time tonight. My body hums. Jeez.
A little while after, I tuck my babies in the same room where they were made. Can you imagine? My heart swells and my nerves prick at the edges. First night with them sleeping without their crib, I don’t want to squeeze them.
I tuck pillows along the edges of the bed, making sure they’re safe in the middle. Then I just… stare at our creation. Gorgeous. Perfect. I press a soft kiss to their lips before closing my eyes, already craving for tomorrow.
NICKOI
Rick blows a whistle straight inna my ear and mi nearly box him, but end up laughing instead. “Yuh love ramp, bredda?” I slide off the bed.