Chapter 23
—DEVYN
Sector II, High Table Headquarters, New York.
Wedding day
In two days, I’d only heard from Azani once until six hours ago. He told me he loved me and he was on his way. I wasn’t sure where he was coming from, and asking was out of the question. Security was so tight around me that I couldn’t breathe without someone in my space.
Nanna was across the room, steaming my white pantsuit.
She took her time, humming a tune that I couldn’t catch.
This building had no windows; it was underground, soundproof, and from what I could see, nobody could get in or out without geometric recognition.
I knew today was real when Nanna walked me through the steps, so I’d have access to this building and just about any other Sector II or High Table facility worldwide.
I reached into my purse and pulled out my weed pen. My hands shook as I brought it to my mouth. I inhaled slowly, then exhaled, hoping it would settle my nerves. Nanna glanced at me, then picked up my suit, making sure it was perfect.
“Devyn,” she said quietly, hanging up my suit. “I know today is not what you dreamed of. This isn’t the fairytale you envisioned for your wedding day, but it is special all the same. You are marrying a man you love, no matter the circumstance. I hope you can find peace in that.”
I couldn’t respond right away because I didn’t want what I was about to say to come out wrong.
Love had nothing to do with this. If it did, I wouldn’t be getting married in pants instead of a dress.
I’d be at a venue or a church. Azani wouldn’t be flying in from wherever he was across the world. And my life wouldn’t be in danger.
“Nanna… this is what you all bound me to. Love didn’t matter then, and it doesn’t matter now. This is not a happy day, and I won’t pretend.”
She turned to me, then came and sat beside me.
“I didn’t say it was a happy day. You’re right, it’s not.
It’s ugly, it’s scary, and you don’t know what you’re walking into.
But one thing you can stand firm on is that the man you’re about to marry would rather see you secure than have you vulnerable.
What you’re searching for is comfort right now.
Unfortunately, there is none today, Zuri. ”
I hit the weed pen again, trying to drown out my own thoughts. Nanna started humming again, and I still couldn’t catch the tune. I looked at my phone for the millionth time today, but of course, Azani hadn’t called or texted.
“He’s coming,” Nanna said plainly.
She got up from her seat, reached inside her purse, and pulled out lace folded in a Ziplock bag. Then, she pulled out a jewelry box and sat back beside me.
“This is the veil I wore when I married your grandfather, and the one your mother wore when she married your father. Now, you’re wearing it today.”
She pulled it out and laid it across my lap, touching it gently. Then, she opened the jewelry box. The earrings were the same ones I saw in her special jewelry box from when I was a little girl.
“These were my mother's,” she whispered. “I also wore these on my wedding day, and your mother on hers. You are the fourth generation to have these, Devyn. Every woman is strong in her own way. I think you may be the strongest of us all.”
She passed me the jewelry box, and I looked down at the earrings, thinking of every woman who came before me. The things they had to endure—circumstances they had to survive in a world where men felt like they had all the power.
Nanna touched my face gently, making me look up at her.
“I know today you’re becoming a Stone, but you are also a Van Blair, a Heathrow, and a Silverman.
You are my legacy and each of your ancestors' wildest dreams. You are just as capable as any man, but never forget that you are a woman. We fight wars and battles differently from men, and it’s for good reason.
It balances the scales… Keeps things in order.
When I tell you to know your place, it’s not to say you are beneath a man.
You are something much more divine and powerful. Never forget that.”
“I won’t. Thank you, Nanna.”
She leaned over and kissed my cheek longer than she had in a long time. When she pulled away, she smiled at me softly, then stood up.
“Let’s get you dressed. You have to be ready when your groom arrives.”
As I got dressed, I glanced at myself in the mirror.
I did my makeup flawlessly but didn’t overdo it around my freckles because I knew Azani loved them.
My hair was still fresh, so it flowed across my shoulders every time I moved.
I wore the necklace Azani got for my birthday.
Once I was dressed, Nanna clipped the veil to my hair and put the earrings on for me.
She stood back, looking at me proudly. “My beautiful girl is becoming a wife today. A very powerful, intelligent wife, made for this life,” she softly said.
“I wish I felt that way. I don’t feel powerful today,” I said, looking down at my ring.
She lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. “You won’t feel powerful every day, but you’ll learn to muster up the strength you need to wield it when you see fit. Today may not be the day for it, but that day will come.”
There was a tap on the door, then it swung open. It was Mommy and Daddy. They both looked how I felt, and Nanna clocked it immediately.
“Victoria, Dakota, now is not the time to have her upset. She is ready. We raised her to be ready. The long faces stop now. We’re here, and there’s no turning back,” she said sharply, pointing at them both.
“Sorry, Mama,” they mumbled.
They both kissed my cheeks, and we stood in silence. Nanna kept humming, clicking away on her phone. When she raised her head again, she locked eyes with me, and right then, I knew it was time.
“Azani should be here in five minutes. Alonzo is with him. Let’s go.”
She laced her arm in mine, and we walked down the hall. Mommy and Daddy followed close behind, holding onto each other. My heart hammered against my ribs, stomach flipping harder the closer we got to the end of the hall.
When the door opened, I saw the person who would be officiating the ceremony and one woman with her back to me.
When she turned around and smiled, I knew it was Azani’s mom.
They had the same smile. She was about my complexion and a few inches shorter than me with dark brown hair that flowed over her shoulders and down her back.
She stepped out into the aisle and stood right in front of Nanna and me.
“Hi, Devyn. I’m Antionette, Azani’s mom. I wish we could have met sooner,” she said softly.
How could a woman so sweet and gentle be married to Asad?
“I’m glad we’re meeting now,” I said, gently grabbing her hands.
Before I could say anything else, she pulled me into a tight hug. At first, I was tense, then I relaxed. She held me for a while, then pulled back, smiling.
“Hi, Mrs. Vivian, Victoria, Dakota,” she said, greeting everyone else. “It’s good to see you all.”
For a moment, I wondered how everyone knew each other, but I remembered that there was history between our families, over fifty years' worth. I thought I could breathe for a second, until the door swung open, and Azani walked through, eyes searching the room until he found me.
I watched his body language. He was so tense, moving like his body was sore. And his eyes… I could see just how tired he really was. His hair was pulled up tight, eyes low from the weed I was sure he smoked on the way here. He wasn’t himself at all.
He came down the aisle and kissed his mom’s cheek first, then Nanna’s, and my mom's. He shook my dad’s hand, all before he even greeted me. At first, I was irritated. That was until he grabbed my hand gently, kissing the top of it.
“Hey, baby,” he said softly. “Come talk to me for a minute.”
Azani didn’t even wait for me to respond. He just started walking, gripping my hand, showing just how impatient he was. We went down a hall I didn’t even know was there, then he pushed open a door and pulled me inside.
Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tight, face buried in my neck, inhaling me.
My whole body relaxed, and so did his. Everything around us disappeared.
It was just my baby and me in that moment.
He didn’t want to talk; he wanted to touch me.
After over a week without seeing him, I needed him to touch me, too.
“I missed you, baby,” he mumbled, rubbing up and down my back.
“I missed you too,” I whispered, leaning into him and hoping we had a few more minutes alone.
We stood in that room, holding each other in complete silence. There was nothing to say. Today was happening whether I was ready for it or not. But the way he held me, I’d do it willingly.
He stood back, leaning against the door, staring down at me. “I know this ain’t what you wanted, but you look beautiful today.”
Something was wrong; I could see it in his eyes. No matter how calm and collected he looked, I knew better. I also knew he wouldn’t tell me, but I wouldn’t push it right now.
“Are you ready, Mr. Stone?” I asked, walking into his arms.
“I’ve been ready. I got your real ring too. You may as well switch that one over to your right hand.” He smirked.
I pulled it off my left ring finger, then slid it on my right.
Time wasn’t on our side, so I leaned in and kissed him softly and slowly like I would anytime I knew he wasn’t feeling like himself.
It’s what I knew would give enough push to get him through today and whatever was waiting for him when he left me.
I stepped back, wiping my gloss from his lips, and he just smiled at me. “I love you, Bratty Baby. Let’s go make you Mrs. Stone.”
“I love you, too. I’m ready.”
When the door swung open, the air changed like something was waiting for us on the other side that neither of us would be ready for. It didn’t matter; we were getting married either way. We’d face whatever it was together.