Wholeheartedly #2
“Never wanted anything more,” Hussein said, turning the truck off, seeing War and Nyelle walk over. “I’m right behind you,” he assured the pastor.
Pastor nodded, crossing the street with one had in his pocket.
“You ready?” War dapped him up when they met at the sidewalk.
“Don’t I look it.” Hussein stretched his arms out.
“I did really good picking that tux out.” Nyelle circled him.
“You did.” Tina walked over towards them.
“I need to speak to my nephew alone.” War and Ny walked off.
Tina called out to them, making them stop and turn around.
“You are welcome here today. But when the sun sets, I better not see either of you too close to my house, again. No matter the occasion,” she warned them both.
It didn’t take long for word to get to her that the two of them were now working with Hussein. Being a trader is something that would’ve made tina kill them back in the day. They were aligned with her number one hitter, and it wouldn’t be worth the aftermath.
Business was still business and though she’d never admit it out loud, she needed Hussein. She was too old to be hopping fences and ducking and dodging the police. And Senior was too distracted.
“Only you would think you could show up to my house after crossing all the lines you’ve crossed.”
“Think is the wrong word, considering I’m standing on your lawn, TT.” Hussein spit in the grass before downing his father.
“Your father tells me that you want the junkyard to do business.”
“I wanted it and I took it.”
“And what business do you plan on running out of there?”
“Same business we been running. I’m taking everything TT. I’ve earned it. You and Pops need to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor. Consider it my ‘thank you’ for all y’all done for me. Me working for anybody don’t sit right with me no more.”
Tina snickered. “I’m not trying to be at war with you nephew.”
“Who said that? That wouldn’t even be fair. I’m not going to do you like that. You’ll get a percentage every month. I’ll take care of the necessities.”
“Sounds good if I were a woman looking for a way out. I don’t think I’m ready for that nephew, so we’re going to have to figure this out.”
“Ain’t nothing to figure out. This is the only way you get to keep me in your life, TT. I don’t trust you anymore.” Tina’s eyes watered. “We can rebuild it. But the only way we can start over is if I know your hands clean.”
“I talked to Rashida.” Tina nodded, wiping her eyes. “We’ve worked something out to where I’ll have the opportunity to spend more time with the boys when she beats Jakia in court. I guess I can busy myself with them.”
“Sounds good,” Hussein said.
“You do know that everything I do is for you kids. Y’all get on my nerves but y’all are my babies. I only ever want what’s good for the Turners at the end of the day.”
“You got a funny way of showing it, TT.” Hussein sighed. “I got a wedding to get to.” He moved past her.
“Wait.” Tina stopped him at the gate. “Something just isn’t adding up for me. If you feel how you feel about me, why are you still going through with the wedding.”
“Because I want to,” he said, stepping into the backyard.
All whispering stopped when Hussein was spotted. He walked down the aisle, eyes locked in with Jakia’s until she couldn’t take the pressure and looked away. He reached the pastor and a round of applause went off as he stood in place. His eyes went to the chair designated for his mother.
It always felt like his mother was with him. Seeing that chair made him feel like she was a part of the wedding. Across the aisle, he noticed the seat for Prissy’s brother. He was swept out of his grief and right into shame.
He looked up to take his mind off of his regrets.
Hussein locked eyes with Jakia. She’d been unable to take her eyes off of him.
She jumped out of her seat, turning around to dig in her purse as if she were looking for something.
She wanted Hussein to see her in the dress.
The exact dress she wanted to hide from the crowd before she arrived.
Music began to play and they all turned around waiting to see Prissy.
She was standing at the sliding doors, waiting for them to open. Senior stood beside her with her arm wrapped in his. It was an honor to walk her down to marry his son.
“Let’s do this.” Senior chuckled, sliding the screen door open.
Prissy walked to the front of the deck and looked over. The crowd of family, friends, and coworkers cheered her on, taking pictures of her looking like she was royalty.
Side by side, she and Senior walked down the steps with her looking through the crowd for specific faces.
There was an influencer she paid to attend.
Markia was there, smiling wide happy that Prissy left the doctor alone.
She was even able to get her old babysitter to come out.
Her side wasn’t nearly as packed as Hussein’s but she felt the love.
That is until she saw Jakia and Henni snickering in their seats.
Is she wearing a fucking wedding dress? Prissy thought.
She let it pass, knowing there was no way Tina would’ve let her in if she were.
At least she didn’t think she would. So many betrayals in such a short amount of time she wants sure what she knew for sure anymore.
She’d been scared to look at Hussein. She didn’t miss how fine he was in that Tux, but they hadn’t locked eyes.
When she looked to him for some reassurance, he was on the phone.
When he saw the disappointment on her face, he turned away.
Not because he felt bad for her, but because he couldn’t trust that she wasn’t reading his lips.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” the woman spoke into the phone.
“Not if you telling me something good,’ Hussein assured.
“Good is subjective, Mr. Turner. What I can tell you is that I have your cousin. The filthy one that likes drugs.” She snickered. “Do you even want her back? Seems like it’d be a blessing to have her out of your hair.”
“Headache or not, she’s my headache to worry about,” Hussein said, glancing back to see how close Prissy was to him. “What do you want?”
“Baby steps, Mr. Turner. Right now, I just want you to answer when I call. I’ll be in touch. Congratulations,” she said ending the call.
Hussein slid his phone in his pocket and watched a tinted black BMW ride by.
“If we’re ready,” the pastor said looking to Hussein. He nodded his head and Prissy rolled her eyes.
She couldn’t believe she begged for this day.
Love was not a part of their marriage but Prissy expected his full participation.
She ran around pulling this wedding together at the last minute and he couldn’t give her his attention long enough for the ceremony to take place.
She looked fire as fuck in her wedding dress and he didn’t even take a second look.
“On behalf of Priscilla Berry and Hugh Turner Jr. I’d like to welcome you all to a special moment. It’s not every day that you get to watch two people choose each other. They’ve selected the lot of you because you matter to them. Let your presence here today serve as you choosing them.”
Henni laughed and Jakia smacked her thigh, embarrassed. It was almost unbearable watching him stand up there with Prissy. Even with him hardly paying her any mind, Jakia still felt some type of way. She was regretting that she agreed to bring Khyell to begin with.
“The world will convince you that reconciliation is the result of a good marriage. If you can work your way back, then you’ve got real love.
I want the two of you to know that there is honor in never having to work your way back at all.
It’s not about how many storms you can survive; marriage is about how you prepare for the storm.
I want you to put so much effort into the preparation that the tornado, hurricane, or blizzard passes over your house.
That is my wish for your marriage. And now, it is time for you to declare your own marriage,” Pastor instructed. “Hugh, I want you to repeat after me.”
“I, Hugh Turner Jr, take thee Priscilla Berry to be my lawfully wedded wife.”
“I can’t declare my love for you because I can’t trust you,” he centered his attention on Prissy. “Hussein.” Prissy’s throat burned. “Please don’t do this to me,” tears spilled from her eyes faster than she could grab hold of the pain. She was caught off guard and unprepared.
“Don’t do what to you? Blindside you? Lie to you.
That’s what you did to me, and you forced my hand.
Now, I gotta stand in front of all these people and make shit clear.
I, Hussein Turner, take thee Jakia Rollins to be my lawfully wedded wife,” Hussein spoke directly to Jakia as if no one else was there.
“I trust Jakia. I love Jakia. And in front of all of you here today, I’m letting it be known that she is me and I am she.
You disrespect her, you disrespect me. You threaten her, you threaten me,” Hussein’s eyes found Tina’s.
“You touch her and you’ll never touch another thing again. ” Tina rolled her eyes.
“Jah, baby, come up here and marry me, please.” Hussein gestured for her to come to him.
Hussein didn’t ask again, he waited for her. The people in those chairs wondered if she would get up, but he knew. He’d never been surer of anything. He could almost see his mother smiling at him from her seat. His wife was coming up there. She just needed a second.
Jakia was seated by choice. Hussein had been her husband the moment they met. Her protector, her support, her healer. She was immobile. Too scared to even look at Hussein.