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A Wonderous Picture and a Wedding Prayer

I t was a seventy-one degree day in Houston Texas, with a whisper of a breeze.

Just enough to help keep cool, but not to disrupt the wedding décor for the outside nuptials to take place on Kage’s vast property.

The tall oak and Magnolia trees were wrapped in green, ivory and purple ribbons, and the energy of the earth was electric and inviting.

All of the wedding wooden chairs had green moss coverings, and the wooden arch lined with fresh wildflowers was arranged around the riverbank.

Snow Patrol’s, ‘Chasing Cars’ played while their guests arrived.

From Poet’s vantage point, she could see her family and friends entering, then pausing to engage in a love fest of hugging, shaking hands, and laughing before taking their seats.

Poet looked on from a private hideaway that smelled of patchouli, cherries and vanilla—a little shed decorated in emerald-green, lush cream, and royal purple to match her wedding colors.

The shed had been previously used to house Kage’s riding lawnmower, but he’d parked it somewhere else and had a cleaning crew come over to make the place look like a gorgeous tiny home, equipped with an area for the hairdresser to coif her an updo, and the makeup artist to work her magic.

A wall of mirrors allowed her to check that she looked her best. All of her bridesmaids, many of them friends from her job and college years were outside of the shed, giving her a moment to herself.

They were dressed in their green dresses with dark purple sashes, sipping champagne while she nursed her sparkling apple cider.

She took another taste, then gingerly set the pretty crystal flute down.

Turning to the wall of mirrors, she regarded her abdomen.

A slight protrusion—most wouldn’t notice.

She ran her hand slowly down her stomach, following the small curve of her body, and caressed the tiny bump, feeling warm and emotional within.

What had begun as a shock, soon morphed into a much wanted unexpected blessing.

She was not in a maternal mind frame. She’d only wanted to be a wife—but things had gone in warp speed, and now she believed it was simply meant to be.

After she’d taken the pregnancy test and Kage took her to the doctor, she saw his inner child come out.

He clapped at the news, smiling from ear to ear, and was just over the moon with excitement.

Kage got his way then: to have a short engagement.

She’d initially planned their wedding almost two years further out at a Dallas venue she wanted, but moved the date up after discovering that she was with child.

Not because she gave a damn about a shotgun wedding, per se, but she wanted to enjoy her nuptials before their new addition arrived.

Today she felt beautiful and full of energy. She felt alive and free.

Placing one bare foot in front of the other, she made her way closer to the mirrors and studied herself.

The lovely, simple cream gown flowed into a long, lacey train that trailed several feet behind her in soft, thick fabric.

Her hair had been brushed away from her face and arranged in a sleek, elegant bun, with baby breath piercing the folds, and little diamond hair pendants scattered atop her hair, too.

Adorning her right ankle was a purple and green beaded anklet that her soon-to-be mother-in-law had gifted her at her bachelorette party.

The stones meant something, as it was explained.

She lifted her gown ever so slightly and looked down at it, then laughed.

Not because it was silly—it was in fact gorgeous, a hand-made gift from a colorful woman—but because of the memory it elicited.

Sarah is a trip! The weekend prior, Sarah had danced erotically with a sexy male stripper at the club where the bachelorette shindig had been held.

She could definitely see why Kage was so close to his mama.

She was a ball of energy. A queen of joy.

Sarah had wrapped her arms around her at the end of the fun night they’d shared with her friends.

Tipsy or not, the woman was genuine, quirky, amusing, and loving.

They practically touched noses when Sarah leaned into her under the spinning lights and loud music and said,

“Poet, you’ve made one of my dreams come true.

I knew when I first laid eyes on you that you were the right lady for my boy.

You’re marryin’ into a crazy family—that surname Wilde is there for a reason—but we’re gonna take care of you and this child.

You have my word. Whatever you need, I got you.

All I ask is that, in turn, you take good care of him, ya hear? ”

“Yes, ma’am. I will.”

“I know in my heart that you will, and I promise if you do right by my son, he’s gonna take care of you for the rest of your days and do right by you, too.

Even though this pregnancy took y’all by surprise, he’s going to be the most amazin’ father you’ve ever seen.

I just know it. Kage has a damn good heart.

He ain’t perfect. He don’t forgive easily, and he can be a lil’ cruel when someone gets under his skin, but he’s workin’ on it.

” Sarah ran her thumb against her cheek as she stared deeply into her eyes, her own watering up as she poured out her soul.

“You’re his dream girl—he told me that outta his own mouth—and he’d rather fall off a cliff than hurt you, and I see why. ”

“You raised him right, Ms. Sarah.”

“You can call me Mom, or Mama Sarah from now on. I did the best I could, Poet. I’d like to think that I was a good mother, but I was far from perfect, and it was a struggle, ’cause my son came into the world with some odds stacked against him.

Also, he ain’t like most people: He was an old, complicated soul, even as a child, but Kage also raised himself right, too.

This baby y’all ’bout to have done put a smile on his face that he couldn’t take off if he wanted to.

I’m going to spoil this baby somethin’ awful, ’cause they deserve it.

” The woman blinked back tears. “…And you can take that to the bank.”

Poet wrapped her arms around her.

“Now you listen to me.” The woman broke their embrace, and took both of Poet’s arms into her hands and squeezed.

“If Kage gives you any trouble, you come ’nd tell me, and I will straighten him right out.

Kage don’t care about most folks’ opinions, and though he ain’t a mama’s boy, my opinion does hold a little weight with him.

I doubt that will be necessary, but just know that I am here just in case.

He’s a good son. Now, I have a daughter, too.

” Then, the woman kissed her cheek once more, and sauntered back over to her strawberry margarita…

Poet dried the teary corners of her eyes with a careful swipe of her finger. Her recent encounter with Sarah began with laughter, then ended with a lot of tugging of the heartstrings. She blamed her emotional state on the pregnancy, but deep down she knew it was more.

She heard a lot of ooohs and ahhhs coming from outside. What could it be? Perhaps the caterers had arrived with the cake to bring into the house for their reception? Then she turned when there was a knock at the door. A deep voice that she recognized came from the other side.

“Good afternoon, bride. It’s your cousin-in-law, Phoenix. Cousin-in-law?” He chuckled. “Is that a real thing?”

She laughed as she approached the door and opened it.

“It don’t matter if it’s a real thing or not. We’ll make it real, either way.” She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Man, do you look nice!”

Phoenix’s face flushed. “Why, thank you!” The tall man did a curtsey and laughed.

He was built similarly to Kage—just a few inches shorter.

Clad in a sophisticated black suit with a satin green tie and purple boutonniere attached to his jacket, he looked smashing.

“You look… damn. Just beautiful. Anyway, I ain’t gone hold you, but Kage wanted you to have this.

” He sighed as he bent down to grab a large rectangular object covered in green wrapping paper from the ground and handed it to her.

“If it’s too heavy, I can bring it in myself. ”

“Oh, no. I’ve got it. What is it?” she asked as she looked it over.

“It’s a surprise.” He winked at her. “Your bridal gift from your groom. I’ll see you shortly. Don’t tarry too long.” Before she could respond, Phoenix vanished.

A few of her bridesmaids rushed over to surround her to share her joy.

“Well, open it!” her friend Dianne stated, followed by several folks laughing as they entered the shed, locking the door behind them.

The entire nosy bunch of them. Poet placed the gift on a table on which sat a number of empty wine glasses.

She took a deep breath, then began gently peeling the paper away from the present. Once it was revealed, the tears poured…

She felt arms around her, hugs and kisses as the sweet-smelling ladies that she adored turned into a human shawl, giving her love, as well as commenting about how beautiful it was—a stunning work of art.

Kage had hand-sketched an amazing portrait of her in black pencil.

She was depicted standing in a forest, feeding a bobcat on her right and a basket of fruits and vegetables to the left.

Around her neck hung a necklace that she wore from time to time that her mother had left for her and on her ears, her favorite earrings from Aunt Huni.

The river was directly behind her. Kage’s name was written at the bottom of the drawing.

“This is gorgeous, girl! He must’ve spent weeks drawin’ this,” one of her friends said as they gathered closer to see it. “I didn’t know Kage was an artist. Wow!”