Page 29

Wedding Day

“Best Friend, you’re getting married today!” Janae shrieked as she jumped on my bed.

“Girl, you are too hyper this morning,” I groaned, glancing at the clock to see how much time we had before Serenity needed to get started on our makeup. She told me seven, but since we’d all been drinking last night, I knew we’d need to get up a little earlier because we would more than likely be sluggish.

“Get your butt up! We need to get you fed and hydrated before it’s time to get our faces beat. We can’t have you out here looking like a zombie bride in the face. Let’s go!” I buried my face into my pillow, hoping she’d get the hint and leave me alone. She knew better than anyone how grumpy I get when my sleep was interrupted.

It’s no one’s fault except my own because I shouldn’t have been up so late showing my ass. My body felt as if I’d been run over from all the twerking and backflips I’d done. Whatever Serenity put in those cups should have been illegal because we acted a complete fool most of the night.

“Chop, chop! Getcho ass up!” Janae yanked the comforter from my body.

“I’m gonna forget you’re my best friend in a minute if you don’t leave me alone,” I warned, even though she could care less.

“If I have to get up, so do you. It’s bad enough I had to wake up at three this morning to pump. Nobody told me being a mother meant becoming a human cow,” she huffed. Her complaint brought a smile to my face because my niece and nephew were the cutest babies in the whole world. I couldn’t get over the fact that my best friend was a mommy now. Honor and Promise were officially two months old now and they brought so much joy to our lives. Time truly went by way too fast.

“No one told you to be nasty, so it’s all your fault,” I stuck my tongue out at her.

“That dick made it all worth it. If we don’t slow down, I’m going to end up pregnant again.”

“I thought you were getting on birth control after the twins?” We’d discussed her plans after birth, so I wasn’t aware she’d changed her mind.

“We agreed to wait at first, but I kind of want them to be back-to-back, so they are close in age. Plus, who knows if the next time will take a while. Most women are fertile after giving birth, but it may be different because of my history.” I knew it worried her, and I hated there wasn’t anything I could do to fix things. People have no clue about the battles we fight in silence. I knew she wanted a large family, so I prayed her wish came true.

“It’s all going to work out. Just make sure you remember this day when you’re driving around in an SUV with two rows of car seats and booster seats. Your city girl days are over and done with.” I teased, the grin on her face let me know how happy she was.

“I’ve turned my shot glasses in for sippy cups. Who would have ever seen this coming?” Seeing my best friend get everything she’s dreamed of warmed my heart. She deserved every piece of happiness, and I prayed it would only get better.

“The chef has breakfast prepared, so I need you to go in the bathroom and brush your teeth, clean your face, and wash your ass. You have thirty minutes, Boo!” Janae ran down her instructions for me.

“After all these years of being friends, you’re still bossy as ever,” I called out.

“And is! As long as I have breath in my body, I’m going to tell somebody what to do. I consider it a gift of mine.” She smirked. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without her being in my corner for all these years. A lot of times, friendships will fizzle out once you grow up, but I’m grateful ours has withstood the test of time.

“I’m not sure I’d used the term gift, but it serves its purpose most times,” I grabbed my dry towel along with my bathroom essentials. The bathroom was bigger than I imagined it to would be. Since Justice and I decided to get married on Christmas Eve, we all agreed to have a family dinner together at the cabin before the two of us left for our honeymoon.

The bridal party arrived first, and the rest of the family would be here after the ceremony. Of course, Aunt Faith, Aunt Elantra, and Granny Lula would be there to cook dinner for the family. I’m excited to wake up tomorrow surrounded by the people I love. This family has embraced me in a way I never imagined, and I’m grateful to be able to call them mine.

After breakfast, we started getting ourselves together. Serenity started working on the bridal party while Janae helped me pull my dress out along with all of my accessories. My nerves started kicking in, but I paid them no mind. Today would be one of the most incredible days of my life, and nothing could get in the way of it.

It took about three hours for Serenity to finish doing our makeup. I usually wore makeup for special occasions or when we all went out together. Staring at myself in the mirror, I reflected on the woman looking back at me. The amount of growth I’ve experienced in these last four years caused my emotions to get the best of me. Grabbing a Kleenex, I dabbed under my eyes. My nana used to say, “Thank God, I don’t look like what I’ve been through”. As a child, I didn’t understand what she meant by it, but as I observed myself in the mirror, it clicked.

I’ve overcome so many obstacles set before me, but I remained solid. The beautiful person I saw before me showed no signs of the trauma I’d experienced. I call it a blessing because there were so many times I wanted to give up. Even though there were times I saw no way out, I never gave up. The lessons in life taught me that although you may be suffering right now, it’s only temporary. You won’t always be in that dark place where you’re crying out for help. Life does get better, and those tears won’t last always.

I remember the times when my smile barely reached my eyes because it wasn’t real. Now, my cheeks hurt at times when I wake up every morning to peace, genuine love, and stability. Those things may seem simple to someone who hasn’t been without them at a point in their lives. Justice and my brothers had no idea how much they added to my life. It was one of the reasons I shut down Nana Shelley’s idea to have them live with her. They were a major part of my happiness, my motivation, and my purpose in life. I’m not ready to let them go and I probably never would be.

“Do you like it?” Serenity peered her head into the bathroom. I smiled, turning to face her.

“It’s perfect. Thank you, boo.” She watched me for a moment without saying anything.

“What?” I giggled nervously because I hated being stared at.

“You look so beautiful. It’s crazy to see how much you’ve changed over the years. When we first met, you were this shy, timid girl seemingly lost in this world, and now you’ve transitioned into a boss bitch. I’m proud of you, Yani. I know we tell each other this often, but I mean it. I had no idea you would become such an intricate part of our family, and we’re truly blessed to have you.”

“Ren, don’t make me cry!” I pouted; she already knows I’m an emotional gangster who cries at the drop of a hat.

“Well, I’m the makeup artist, so there’s no better time to do it. I’m serious, though. You’re an inspiration to so many young women, including myself. I pray life gives you back all the love you’ve poured into others.” Her words encouraged my heart, knowing she truly cared about me.

“Thank you, love. I’m so happy to be able to add Graham to my last name. This family means a lot to me, and I’m thankful you all have let me into your lives and accepted me as your own.” Some people have horror stories about their in-laws, but they’ve truly been a godsend to me.

“We’ve got you, forever. Now hurry up and come out of this bathroom so we can get you into this dress.” She swiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“It’s almost time!” I squealed. I couldn’t believe I would be a married woman by the end of the day. Thinking about all the things I’ve been through to get here made this even more special to me. Not only was I marrying my best friend, but the man of my dreams. Justice used to be my crush in my younger years so to be taking this leap of faith with him felt surreal. He became my knight in shining armor, and I prayed I could be the same for him.

Walking into the room, I observed the woman standing before me. At one point in my life, I felt all alone in this world, but these ladies have all played a major role in my healing. I could call on any of them for help and rest easy knowing they would do whatever for me. It was an incredible feeling to have a support system you can count on. These ladies were my village. The ones who celebrated my wins and wiped my tears. Now, I’m here sharing one of the happiest moments of my life with people who genuinely love me.

Everyone wore their bridesmaids’ dresses, while Janae was dressed as the maid of honor. I wanted all of the dresses to be the same color, but hers had a little more sparkle than the others. The royal blue radiated on their skin, letting me know I’d chosen a good color.

“Wow, you ladies are so beautiful. I know I said it last night but thank you for being a part of my special day. I don’t know what I would do without each and every one of you. This day will be even more special because I will have you here with me to celebrate. I love y’all so much. We may be friends, but you all are my sisters. Thank you for being the family I needed.” I bit down on my lip gloss covered lip to stop the imminent tears threatening to fall.

“We love you too, baby girl. Now get your butt over here so we can get you dressed. The limo will be here to pick us up in twenty minutes, so we don’t have time to waste.” Tyeis voiced.

The time on the clock read two, and the ceremony would be starting at four. The butterflies in my stomach were going crazy right now. There were so many thoughts running through my head, but I wouldn’t allow any of them to stop me from enjoying my special day.

“Take that robe off and strip, heffa!” Janae cackled, holding a glass filled with what appeared to be a mimosa.

I knew she was happy to finally be able to get a drink without having to worry about the twins. They hired a full-time nanny to help with the babies, and she brought her along for the wedding as well. Justice purchased a suite for the nanny as well as a few other family members who would be helping with the children during the reception. As much as I loved my little nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren, there would be no children at the wedding or reception outside of the flower girl and ring bearer, who would also be with the nannies when the ceremony ended.

Once they got the dress over my head, they helped me get myself together. Yaya and Tyeis buckled my shoes while Janae added my veil and jewelry. When all of my items were placed on me, and Serenity finished my hair, they all stepped back to take their pictures. I hated being the center of attention, but there would be no way to avoid it in this case.

“Aww, Yani!” Ty squealed. All of the ladies were tearing up while making me pose. I looked up at the ceiling, trying my best not to get in my feelings.

“Let’s hurry up and get ourselves together so we can get a move on it. Loyal texted me to let me know they are at the church, and so is the pastor.” Ty informed us. My stomach twisted with nervous energy. It was starting to feel real to me now.

“Let’s go get you married, Boo!” Janae latched her arm with mine as they led me into the hallway. We took more pictures once we got outside, even though we had a photographer for the service. Loyal wanted to do it, but we convinced him to hire a close friend of his. I wanted my family to be a part of the service, not working. After we got into the limo, I almost had a whole panic attack.

“Calm down. I can feel your energy going crazy right now. There’s nothing for you to worry about. Today will be all you’ve ever dreamed it would be. I’m going to make sure of it,” Janae held my hand in an attempt to calm me down. My phone vibrated in my purse, so I used my free hand to grab it. Justice’s name flashed across the screen, calming me almost instantly. Realizing he’d sent me a text, I clicked on it to see what it said.

My Husband: Today is the day! I know you’re somewhere stressed and overthinking, so I wanted to tell you to cut that shit out and bring your fine ass to me.

My Husband: Today, I get to marry my best friend, my heart, my everything. I love you more than words, and I’ll never stop. I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle. See you soon, Mrs. Graham.

My lips quivered as I reread the messages over again. Even after all this time, he always seemed to know when I needed him. Even when the world was falling apart, there he stood, ready to weather the storm right along with me. If I knew nothing else in life, I knew I wouldn’t be alone in this world. The people God placed in my life made sure of it.

“You look like an angel, baby girl.” Papa Truth kissed the top of my head as we stood in the hallway of the venue. The venue we chose fit the theme I wanted; of course, Chasity executed my vision perfectly. I’d seen pictures of the reception hall as well, and I loved it. The winter wonderland theme looked elegant and beautiful with the extra touches of snowflakes and ice sculptures.

“How are you feeling? Are you ready to get married today?” He asked. His salt and pepper beard appeared freshly trimmed, with his vibrant curls sitting on top of his head. My father-in-law was a handsome man, and I’m happy to know he was finally dating again. He deserved to be happy.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied.

He reached down to help me pick up my train. The mermaid shape of my dress fit my curves perfectly; however, it would take me a moment to get used to this long train of mine. Inside, I felt like a princess in this dress, and I was so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and purchased it. Janae and Serenity almost cussed me clean out when I tried to buy the simple silk dress. Although I like it, this one fits me so much better.

We waited a few moments to make sure they were ready for us before the music started playing.

A few moments earlier

“Charity texted me saying they’re here. The pastor is in the office space waiting for us. Are we almost ready?” Loyal asked, walking into the room. We were dressed before we got here, but of course, we needed to make sure we had what we needed.

“Cartier, are those pants fitting better than the other ones?” Cartier was one of the only people who wasn’t able to make it to their fitting due to his wrestling matches. I thought we’d be okay, but when we tried on his suit yesterday, his pants were too long. We ended up having to run back into town to have them fitted. The rush job wasn’t cheap, but it was worth it.

“Yeah, these fit perfectly,” He turned around to give me a full view. Solomon had given him a line-up, and my boy looked fresh as ever. It’s crazy how time flies because I swear it seemed as if he was a little boy yesterday, and now he’s a pre-teen. As much as I didn’t want them to grow up, I knew I had no choice in the matter. We were all growing older and wiser.

“You good, Cayden?” He’d been his usual quiet self this morning, so I almost forgot about him being in here with us.

“I’m straight, Bro. What about you? Do you need anything?” He asked. I smiled then shook my head. Ciyani’s brothers became a part of my family the moment I invited them into my world, and I felt blessed to have them. People often ask what it was like raising children who aren’t mine, and the question always caught me off guard because they are mine. They were my family, and they would be forever. I counted it an honor to be able to watch them grow.

“Alright, don’t forget the order we’ll be walking in. Make sure you get in the correct formation so we’re not out there looking crazy. Well, mainly y’all because I’m gonna be fine as hell whether y’all fuck up or not.” I shook my head at Loyal. He wasn’t the best man, but you couldn’t tell from the way he gave out orders. Speaking of the best man, I searched around for Dreaux. When I spotted him, he appeared to be fixing his tie. I was happy to have him here with me on my wedding day. We used to talk shit about getting married and settling down. He swore he’d be a bachelor until his dying day, but I always knew I’d settle down one day.

“Are you sure you don’t want to back out? I can sneak you out of the back without anyone seeing us.” I laughed, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind. Marrying Ciyani would be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in life.

“Ain’t no backing out, Bro. I’m ready to see my girl walk down that aisle today,” I confirmed. We slapped hands before he fixed my bowtie. Ciyani twisted my hair two days ago, and I’m happy to say I’ve been able to maintain it while we were apart.

“I can’t believe you’re about to be a married man. You’ve always been the lover boy out of the two of us, so I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked,” Dreaux teased.

“What can I say? The ladies always loved them some Justice,” I quipped.

“I’m proud of you, bro. Although I’m technically the oldest, you’ve set the example of how a man should carry themselves. I remember when you first met Yani, your ass was ready to take my head off behind her, after only knowing her for a few minutes. I should have known then your ass would end up being lovesick over her,” I laughed, recalling the day in question. Ciyani left an impression on me that day at the park, and not much has changed.