Page 60 of Quiet as Kept
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Kept asked, his eyes a little wild.
“Hi and Ayden got married while they were in Vegas for Mama Reese’s birthday.”
He smiled brightly. “That’s what’s up. Tell Hi I said congratulations.”
I put the call on speaker. “Did you hear that, Hi?”
“Congratulations, lil mama! I’m happy for y’all, and I’m happy Reese got to be there front and center.”
“Thanks, Kept. And yeah, your auntie cried a river. I thought she was gonna hyperventilate with all the crying she was doing.”
“Are you guys having a reception? Do we need to make travel plans?” He helped Destin into her underwear while I helped Dakota.
“First weekend of November at our new house,” she announced with pride.
“You and Ayden are moving into a new spot?” Kept questioned.
“We’re closing on our very first home next week.”
“Get the fu—get the heck outta here! That’s huge. Homeownership? I’m proud of you, little cousin. I’m presuming you gave up your wedding for the house.”
“I did,” she admitted, not with regret but somewhat sullenly.
“You made the right choice, little mama. Weddings don’t appreciate in value. Houses do. Always choose the investment that appreciates.”
“Thanks, cous. I feel confident in our choice, but I do hope I don’t come to regret foregoing my wedding.”
“You won’t. Just make sure your reception is lit as hell,” he suggested. “Yo, since I didn’t get you guys a wedding gift, let me chip in on the reception.” My heart thumped in my chest. I had never known a man with a spirit as generous as Kept’s. “Nope. Shut up. Since you already have a venue, let me cover the food and the deejay. I’m not taking no for an answer. Actually, let me holler at Ayden. He’ll accept my gift.”
Yahirah and I laughed.
“Tell your cousin the other part, Hi. Tell him why you needed a house more than a wedding,” I taunted.
She sighed. “You can’t hold water.”
“Whatever.” I dismissed her.
“You’re gonna be a big cousin. I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, I’m for sure paying for the reception now. Congrats, Hi. You’re winning in life, cuzzo.”
Four Weeks Later
Three weekends in a row, Kept, the girls, and I had driven to Atlanta to help Yahirah and Ayden put together their reception. That wasn’t the original plan, but morning sickness grabbed ahold of Yahirah, and she was down for the count. She was barely able to make it to work. She definitely didn’t have the energy to plan and execute a lit and memorable celebration.
She barely had the wherewithal to express opinions about the details. Most of her responses to my questions about what she wanted were met with, “Xari, you know what I like. Just pick whatever you think is best or ask Ayden.”
Ayden was no help whatsoever. Luckily, my man saw that I was distressed and hired an event planner. So, as I stood in the modest backyard that had been transformed into an ethereal setting that gave both dreamy and elegant, I held my breath. Since Yahirah and Ayden were both nurses and had fast-paced careers, I wanted everything about their reception to be leisurely and relaxing while also giving upscale sophistication.
“What are you thinking?” I asked Yahirah, silently praying that she loved it and didn’t regret handing over the task to me.
“It’s beautiful, Xari.”
I exhaled a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“How could I not like it? It’s gorgeous. The draperies on the tent, the flowers, the tablescape, just everything. It’s so . . . it looks like a reception for somebody who’s dignified, not ratchet like me and Ayden.”
We both laughed.