Chapter 38
HER PRESENT
“This beautiful woman standing next to me, and I have been through a lot together. From living in the same foster home to sleeping in motels, she has always been down for me. I remember when she was a tiny little thing, but I watched her become a woman. I was down for a few years, but no matter what, I knew she was going to be my wife, even if she didn’t feel that way.
I loved her since I was fifteen, and I still feel that same skip beat in my heart every time I’m around her.
She’s held me down through everything, so I knew she deserved the dream wedding she always talked to me about late at night as a teenager.
You knew I hated talkin’ ‘bout that girly shit, but I love you, and I wanted to always be in that wedding with you.” Dexten smiled brightly as he gazed into her eyes as he spoke at their wedding reception before making a toast.
“Thank you for always being there for me too. You're right, we’ve been through a lot, but we always knew we would make it out. You kept me off the streets and away from vulnerable situations. You taught me how to be strong and to take care of myself when I had nobody else. You taught me how to survive, be loyal, and make a name for myself. I will forever be grateful for you, baby.” Pretti stood up and kissed his lips. Then, everyone toasted their glasses.
That's when their wedding song started playing.
She smiled as he grabbed her hand and walked to the dance floor behind him.
As they started dancing, she decided to take that time to tell him about her mother.
It had been on her mind for days, but she didn't have room to be mad about the stunt she pulled.
She had to make sure everything was perfect for her wedding, but now she was ready to get his opinion.
“Baby, so last week when I went to try on my custom dress, I found out it was my mother’s shop. She had made all the dresses, so I didn’t take mine or Beauti’s because I didn’t want to wear anything she made for me,” she blurted in his ear above a whisper.
Dexz stepped back a little so he could look at her.
“What? What do you mean, ma? And I knew this dress looked different than the one you had been showing me.”
“I mean, all this time, she has been making my dress, and I didn't know she was my mom.”
“Damn, how did you miss that?” He pulled her back close because the cameraman walked in front of them.
“I don't know, maybe not trying to remember my past and moving forward. She looked really old and gray, and I could tell she’d had cosmetic surgery on her face. I didn't even think about looking at her and seeing she was my mom.”
“What about your pops? Where is he at?” he asked, curious.
“She said he died years ago, but I’m going to find out everything when we meet up when we come back from the Virgin Islands.”
“So, you want to make things right with her?”
“No, I just want closure.”
“I think you should make up with her. That would be dope since she is alive and doing well. No matter what went down, I’d love to have my mother alive, sharing this moment with me.” Dexz smiled. He had a new look on life, so he resented no one.
“I don't know, babe. I don't want to invite her into our life, and she leaves my babies for another damn religion. I can't take that kind of heartache anymore, and I don't want that on my kids.”
“I understand. Just give it some thought and meet with her after the honeymoon like you said. If you need me with you, I’ll be there to feel out her energy.”
“Thanks for understanding, baby.” She smiled and then kissed his lips as the cameraman took a picture.
“You know I’ll always try to make sense of things for you. I love you.”
“I love you too, and I am so happy right now. I really am.”
She looked around the venue at all her family and friends as they threw hundred-dollar bills and rose petals while they danced to their favorite songs.
She had everything she needed in her life.
She felt like she didn't need her mother, but she was going to do what her husband advised. She just wasn’t in a rush to make peace with her mother.