12. Here Cums the Bride
Twelve
Here Cums the Bride
DESTINY
“Ido,” I said with a huge smile on my face.
“Oh, bitch please!” Eden yapped as she walked up behind me. “We get it! You’re getting married! Give it a rest, girl. Damn!”
“Shut up!” I couldn’t help but laugh as I pushed her shoulder. “I’m just practicing.”
“You nervous?” she asked as she sat in the chair across from me. My hair was up in rollers, and I was getting my makeup done. She was about done with her prep and was running around barking orders to make sure everything was perfect and I didn’t have an ounce of stress.
“Surprisingly, no,” I answered with a genuine smile. Between her antics and Brick and his sweet gestures, I was on cloud nine.
I hadn’t seen my future husband all day, but he absolutely made his presence known, sending me gifts that made me swoon, and text messages that had me giggling and blushing every five minutes.
Eden gave me the tiniest bit of an edible, not quite enough to have me high, just enough to make me happy.
Aside from my parents coming in and trying to minister scriptures that they never followed, and Stasha—who seemed to have a permanent attitude as of late—it was the best day ever.
Right as the makeup artist put the finishing touches on my look, someone knocked on the door.
Eden opened it to reveal Kalida standing there looking stunning as usual in a sage green suit that fit her curvy body like she was born in it.
She had her hair in a pretty updo with bangs, and everything else about her radiated perfection.
“Hi ladies,” she said with a polite nod. “Do you think I could have a moment alone with the bride?” They complied and she stood there not making a sound until we were left alone in the room.
“You look breathtaking,” she said softly as she stepped closer.
“Thank you so much! So do you.” I was still finding my footing with her.
We had multiple conversations and she seemed to be pretty levelheaded most of the time.
Yet, in the back of my mind, I remembered how she was when she had my daddy hemmed up the night I met her.
I wasn’t afraid of her like most people seemed to be, but I wasn’t going out of my way to try to trigger her, either.
“Thank you. Listen, I know this wasn’t necessarily your first choice—” I abruptly cut her off.
“But it was my choice.” I reminded her. For the first time her mouth turned up into a genuine smile.
“I know my son cares about you, but I want to be honest with you. He can give you a lot of things—he can be a provider, a protector. He can be loyal… but I’m not sure if he’ll ever be able to love you.”
“W-What?” I asked, covering my mouth with my hand. Her revelation hit me right in my chest. “Why would you say that?”
“Because of me,” she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
“I grew up having to survive by any means necessary, so I may have made more than a few mistakes with my boys. I taught them how to be good men, exceptional even, but I didn’t—couldn’t—teach them how to love.
I don’t know if he’ll ever be able to love you…
but seeing you two together gives me hope for it. That’s all I want… for all of them.”
I didn’t answer because for the first time all day, I was fighting tears.
She grabbed a tissue, gently dabbing at my face to preserve my makeup before she continued.
I could tell this wasn’t normal for her, and I completely understood.
Raising three young boys, Black boys, under the conditions that she did probably made her feel like she had to be hard, but her soft and gentle side came out naturally with me. I don’t even think she realized it.
“Be patient with him, don’t take no bullshit, and don’t let that lil’ nigga play in your face.
Just remember he had a different kind of upbringing, so showing up for him may mean something different than it does for you.
And don’t ever hesitate to call me if you need anything,” she said softly before standing up to leave the room.
“Mrs.—Kalida?” I called back.
“Yes?”
“Do you think you could help me and my sister get me into my dress?” She turned back and looked at me, a flicker of something I couldn’t read in her eyes.
“Absolutely,” she answered with a soft smile.
Eden came back in and the two of them helped me finish getting ready.
My mother was missing in action, probably somewhere taking credit for something else that she didn’t do, but she wasn’t missed.
I had already promised myself that if she did anything to try to ruin my day, I would let Eden loose on her and make her instantly regret it.
“You look so pretty, sis,” Eden cooed as she circled around me with her hands clasped to her chest.
“Eden… Are you crying?” I asked, turning to look at her. I hadn’t seen my sister cry since the day she found out my parents were separating us.
“I’m not!” She sniffled before quickly grabbing me by my shoulders and turning me to face myself in the mirror.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” Kalida said, excusing herself as she slipped out the room.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said softly, still doing a horrible job at concealing her tears.
“For getting married?” I asked, looking at her in disbelief. This couldn’t be the same woman who preached until she was blue in the face about how men weren’t the prize and women should have more aspirations than simply being a wife and mother.
“No,” she said with a sniffle. “For living. For not letting them box you in or dictate your life anymore. I know how it started, but I love seeing you with Brick… You two really balance each other out and I’m so happy for you.
” She pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tight before rushing off, presumably to cry in peace.
I sat there trying to gather myself when a text came in on my phone.
Brickly
You haven’t tried to run yet, have you?
There’s still time.
Brickly
Try it if you want to… I got security at every exit.
I laughed, then paused because I did notice an armed security guard at every exit… Was I a hostage?
Brickly
Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that I’m happy as hell that you didn’t skip town on me, and I wouldn’t want to do this marriage shit with anyone other than you.
I sighed, remembering the words Kalida just said to me. No his message wasn’t some super heartfelt declaration of love, but it meant something.
I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else either. Thank you for seeing me. I’ll meet you at the altar.
Smiling uncontrollably, I put the phone down and called the makeup artist back in so she could finish prepping me for the biggest night of my life.
* * *
It was 7:31p.m., and I had not yet been deflowered.
I had, however, officially been pronounced as Mrs. Brick Ismael West. The wedding went off without a hitch, even though I thought that man was really going to shoot my dad when he started coughing loudly during the “speak now or forever hold your peace” part.
Regardless, we were married, and though it was nothing like the wedding I originally planned for myself, I couldn’t have been happier.
I was on my way back from a bathroom break when I bumped into Kilo and Pistol.
“Hey!” I said with a huge smile. I knew I had an in with Kilo as he was already warming up to me.
He really seemed like he just wanted community and a strong family connection.
Pistol on the other hand was impossible to read.
He always had an expression on his face like he was ready for murder, but his tone was always low and calm.
Brick said he was the “crazy” one, but so far, only one of the West Brothers had ever attempted to kidnap me.
“What’s good?” Kilo said. “Congratulations on the wedding and shit, but if my brother ever act up…” his voice trailed off.
“What?” I asked, eyes wide as planets, knowing Brick would shoot us both.
“Nothing!” Pistol answered for him, punching him in the stomach so hard that he hollered and doubled over. I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I learned early on that if anything came to Kilo’s head, it was coming out of his mouth just like that.
“Yeah, congratulations,” Pistol mumbled.
“Thank you both,” I said with a smile.
“So… do we get to call you sis now? And maybe come over for Sunday dinner and shit? Ma tries to do it once a month… but she gets busy sometimes.” My smile widened at how boyish Kilo looked asking that.
“You know what? I’d have to check with your brother, but I like that idea.
I have a big brother, but clearly we don’t really talk.
It feels nice to know that now I have two more.
” Tre didn’t even bother to reply to the RSVP I sent him, so I wasn’t shocked in the least when he didn’t show up to the wedding.
My words made a smile break out on Kilo’s face and he had to turn away to avoid showing every one of his teeth and a set of gold bottoms. I even noticed Pistol’s face soften a little, but I didn’t acknowledge either because I know how weird men got when you caught them being sentimental.
“We just wanted to tell you that you’re a West now. If you ever need anything, just know we got you,” Pistol said in a low grumble.
“I appreciate that. The same goes for me, if y’all ever need anything.
” I tried not to tear up at the fact that Brick’s family showed me more love on my wedding day than my parents.
The two of them stayed glued to their seats with bitter expressions on their faces all night.
Kilo and Pistol gave me a polite nod, then disappeared out the side door.
I had learned enough about them to know that they were about to smoke.
I continued making my way back into the ballroom to join the rest of the wedding party.
“Stasha… are you good, girl?” I asked, taking a seat next to her. She had been moping around for the past twelve hours. She let out a long, dramatic sigh and glared over at our parents’ assigned table before shaking her head and looking back at me.