A Wife for Stephen

by Valcine Brown

  When the initial celebration has passed, and everyone has had an opportunity to offer their warm wishes, everyone chooses a seat and stands behind it, gathered around the large table. Stephen comes to stand next to her. He places an arm around her shoulder and whispers in her ear, “Don’t let them bully you into making all the plans that are by right, yours to make. I know my sisters, give them and inch, and they’ll have you dressed in a mile of silk, satin, or whatever the latest wedding garb.”

  “I would love their input. Since two of them have had their own weddings and one is in the process of planning, I could do with the advice of their experience.”

  “Whatever you want, Celeste. I just want you to be happy.”

  She places a warm loving hand against the side of his face and says, “How can I not be happy anytime I am with you?”

  Their shared kiss is interrupted by the announcement that they are about to ask God’s blessing on their meal and thank Him for all the many blessings He has given them.

  When Stephen’s dad concludes the prayer, everyone takes their seat again and begins passing around dishes until everyone had heaped their favorite dish onto their plates. Forty-five minutes later everyone sits back in his or her chairs and are too full to even move.

  It isn’t until the women begin batting around ideas for wedding colors that the men decided that this would be the perfect time to go turn on the television set to catch the Cowboys’ football game.

  “Have you set a date yet? We can’t really talk colors until we know whether you want a spring or a summer wedding,” says Carla.

  “Well, surely it would have to be a summer wedding. There isn’t enough time to plan a spring wedding,” counters Joleen, who Celeste is coming to think is the most serious sibling of the bunch.

  “Are you kidding,” says the ever perky and playful Carla, “Stephen has the means to plan whatever wedding he wishes in as little time as he wants. People practically beg to do him favors in hopes of getting into his good graces.” Turning to Celeste she adds, “My brother is known as being a tough nut to crack when it comes to his perfectionism and how it applies to business.”

  Joleen looked at Celeste and asks, “What season do you have in mind?”

  “Well,” Celeste began, “spring sounds good.” Noting the slight pulsing frown on Joleen’s features she adds, “But summer would give us more time to plan.” Celeste thinks to herself, this is quite a catch twenty-two as she notes the hint of sadness on Carla’s face. “To be honest, we’ve only just gotten beyond ‘Will you marry me?’ ‘Yes’.”

  Carla’s expression quickly changes to a grin as she asks with a girlish giggle, “So, how did he propose? Did he go down on one knee? Where did he take you? It had to have been somewhere close, you weren’t gone that long.”

  Not wanting to answer such a personal question, yet not wanting to offend, she stumbles over her words, “Well… Umm..." She is saved from answering as Stephen enters and comes to stand behind his flustered fiancé.

  “Now don’t you two be in here bullying Celeste or I’ll get your men to take a whipping to you both,” he says in an attempt at a cowboy drawl.

  “Yeah right,” they both say as they rise from their seats on either side of Celeste. Joyce had been quietly taking dish by dish into the kitchen and putting away the leftovers.

  Stephen places a kiss on Celeste’s cheek and says, “Remember, whatever you want.”

  Turning to peer over her shoulder she says to Stephen, “But it’s your wedding too. You should have some say. What about the date? I don’t even know what your schedule is like after the tour is over.”

  “I don’t have any plans other than getting my label off the ground and recruiting talent. Those can be worked around any schedule. As far as my say in the wedding goes, Honey, I would marry you on horseback in cowboy duds, on a cruise, in Las Vegas, anywhere your heart desires, as long as by the end of the ceremony I get to hear you say two words, ‘I do’. Well, I also want to kiss the bride,” he says placing a kiss on her other cheek.

  “Well, if you really feel that way. How about April? Or May?”

  “Either is fine by me. Where?”

  “Well we have to pick at least a month first. April should be pretty with flowers in bloom, warm but not to warm. May might be too hot.”

  “Well that depends on the where? If we marry in Philly we should make it May. All the snow should be melted by then. If we marry in California, we should make it April or May.”

  “I would like to get married out here at your families’ church even though we won’t be attending there on a regular basis. That will also make it easier on your family since you have more family than I. May it is.”

  “Fine. Then that means we must go through counseling with Pastor Hinkley, he won’t marry us otherwise.”

  “Fine by me,” Celeste says, rising from her seat and wrapping her arms around her fiancé, liking the realization of the word. “See, we’ve already figured out the when, the where, and the how.”

  “You’ve left out the most important,” Stephen’s seeks to remind Celeste, “The who, as in, you and I.”

  “How could I ever forget the who?” she says going up on tiptoe to place a kiss on his chin.

  “Well if you’re done with the when, the where, the how, and the who, I would very much like to start planning with my soon to be sister-inlaw if it’s all the same to you, Stephen,” says Joleen from over Celeste’s shoulder.

  “I love you,” Stephen whispers against Celeste’s lips.

  “I love you, too.” Stephen gives her one more chaste peck before returning to the den where the sounds of men arguing over a play in the game is emanating.

  With Joleen and Carla having been through the process of wedding planning before, they together offer many suggestions for a May wedding that Celeste couldn’t possibly have come up with on her own. And Stephen’s forbearance turned out to have been completely unnecessary for not once did Celeste feel as if they were trying to usurp her position as the intended bride.

  They offered gentle guidance and honest opinions. They were so helpful that by the time Celeste was being driven to the airport by Stephen Sunday afternoon to catch her return flight home, many of the plans had already been tentatively made.

  Stephen and Celeste had also gone to meet with Pastor Hinkley Saturday afternoon for lunch, and he had agreed to preside over their marriage ceremony providing, just as Stephen had said, that they went through marriage counseling with him.

  Before Celeste boards her plane bound for home, Stephen graces Celeste with the sweetest kiss imaginable. A kiss that leaves her toes tingling in her Nikes. During the plane ride home, Celeste finds herself smiling in awe of how when God’s hand is on something, everything just seems to come together on its own without having to be forced.

  Stephen’s desire for his recording label is taking shape nicely in the form of a family owned and operated business. Before heading home, Celeste had agreed to not return to Vines and Robert’s after the ceremony but would begin working full time alongside Stephen.

  He was uncertain on how to bring up the idea of her coming to work full-time to help him get his label up and running. However, knowing that he would be content no matter her answer, gave him the ability to present it as something he was mulling over which he wanted Celeste to consider as well.

  Stephen will admit that he was surprised that Celeste hadn’t even needed to think about it before saying that she thought it was a perfect idea. He revels in the idea of being able to travel with his wife on business, instead of away from her. But even besides that, Stephen knew Celeste to be exceptional at her job. Having her as his business partner as well as his lifelong partner is a twofor that he just can’t pass up.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Arriving at the office Monday morning, Celeste is met in the elevator by David. The doors to the elevator are barely shut when he notices the engagement ring on Celeste’s finger.

  “And just who is
that from?” he asks, not even bothering with formalities.

  “I would think that a man with a college degree would be able to decipher that since it is an engagement ring then it can be from no one other than my fiancé,” Celeste remarks, toying with him.

  “You’re right. But who is he?” David asks, his voice sounding a little strained.

  “It’s no one that you would know,” she answers trying to stall until the elevator reaches her floor.

  “That will be easy enough to tell once I know his name.”

  “His name is Stephen Haule,” she answers as the doors open on her floor.

  “Hmm… sounds familiar, but you’re right. I don’t know anyone by that name.”

  “See, that’s what I told you. Good day, David.”

  Celeste enters her office beaming at having deflected David’s many questions about her intended. Jayla, however, is a different story entirely. As Celeste enters into the office, the ring that is on the fourth finger of her left hand acts as a magnet and draws Jayla’s eyes to focus on it. “Oh my word. You’re getting married! Congratulations!” Jayla squeals before encasing Celeste in a mighty squeeze.

  “Was it a romantic proposal? Did he get down on one knee?”

  The questions are flying at Celeste so rapidly that she only has time to answer in monosyllabic words to the first few in order to keep pace.

  “What date have you set?”

  “The middle of May. It’s going to be in Philly.” Prior to meeting Stephen, Celeste never would have shortened the name of the city where Stephen had grown up. This strikes her as slightly funny, his influence over her choice of speech.

  With Jayla’s questions having been answered, apparently to her satisfaction, the two of them are finally able to get down to business. Around the close of the day, Celeste begins thinking of writing her resignation letter. She has been here so long that she deems it only fair and a sign of respect to give them more than the required two-week notice of her departure.

  It’s funny how things can quickly change, Celeste finds herself pondering. It was just a few short months ago that her goal was to be the first female partner for this company, and now all she can think of is how much more she would rather be Stephen’s wife and his business partner.

  “Celeste Brooks,” Celeste announces as she picks up the buzzing phone on her desk.

  “How are you doing this morning, Beautiful?”

  “I am awesome. How was the performance last night?”

  “It went well, although something is undeniably off with Mario. He hasn't been the same since that weekend when we were in Vegas. I’ve asked him repeatedly what the deal is, but he just shrugs and finds some way to change the subject.”

  “It’s probably guilt,” Celeste mumbles under her breath, not intending Stephen to hear her comment.

  But as usual, he hears everything. “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t want to go into it. Some things are just better left alone.”

  “Oh, is that right?” Stephen says.

  “I promised Jenny that I would not get in the middle of her and Mario, and I aim to keep that promise.”

  “Now why should Mario feel guilty about Jenny deciding not to see him anymore? If anything...”

  “Wait a minute. It wasn’t Jenny who decided that she and Mario shouldn’t see each other anymore. It was Mario.”

  “But...” Stephen pauses to think over the brief conversation he and Mario had regarding Jenny. “I just assumed that because he didn’t want to talk about it that she had broken things off with him.”

  “Well you assumed wrong. It was Mario who told Jenny that for the rest of the tour, he didn’t think it was a good idea that they see each other. So, if he has a problem with it, then he is indeed in a situation of his own making.”

  Stephen has intentions on getting to the bottom of what really happened between Jenny and Mario, but that will have to wait for another time. Right now he wants to make plans with his fiancé. “What are we doing for Christmas, Babe?”

  “I don’t know. What would you like to do?”

  “Usually I spend that time with my family, but I wasn’t sure if we were going to visit with your family this year.”

  “My family? Not likely. I’ve spoken with my dad, and he and his new wife are going on some Jamaican getaway, and as for my mother, I have no idea what she wants to do. I tried asking her and got the brush off.”

  “I’m sorry, Honey. I know how much you try to stay close with your family.”

  “Thank you, Babe. So, if you want me to come to Philly, I would love it.”

  “I would like nothing better. I’ll have your ticket at the counter.”

  “Thank you. I love you.”

  Every time this woman tells him that she loves him, his heart melts like it did the very first time. “I love you too, and you don’t have to thank me.”

  “I enjoy thanking you. It’s my way of letting you know how much I appreciate you.”

  They say their farewells and disconnect the call. Celeste is excited to know that she will be seeing him in just a couple of weeks. He has a wonderful way of showing her how much he values and cherishes her. Celeste has never been treated so lovingly in her life. She is looking forward to spending the rest of it with Stephen.

  “All passengers, this is your captain speaking. Due to an unusually heavy snowstorm, we are forced to reroute to a small private airstrip just two hours outside of Philadelphia. We should be arriving there at 10:35 am local time. Thank you.”

  The passengers whisper among themselves in hushed tones sounding frantic at having to make new arrangements. Celeste looks from the window and could only hope that Stephen will receive word of the change in plans before he set out to pick her up at the airport.

  The morning she was in flight to Philly a snowstorm hit the city with enough force that the airport was forced to close down. No flights would be leaving, and the incoming were being rerouted. Stephen is beside himself wondering how he will get to her. As of yet, the airport couldn’t tell him where her flight is being rerouted.

  After being placed on hold several times, each for long agonizing minutes at a stretch, he is given useful information. Her flight is one of the lucky ones being rerouted to a small private airstrip just two hours outside of Philly. Because of the bad snowstorm, if he leaves now he will make it there in three hours.

  Telling his family where he is headed, he jumps in the car and drives carefully and steadily towards the airstrip where Celeste’s plane is being rerouted.

  Silently, Celeste makes her own plans. She will rent a car at the airport and drive to Stephen’s parents’ house. How bad could it be? Their new destination is only two hours outside of Philly, according to the captain. She can do it.

  Just as the captain had announced, they arrive at the airport at 10:35 am local time. After asking questions around the terminal she is pointed in the direction of a car rental agency. Unfortunately, by the time she retrieves her baggage, gets there, and waits in line, all the rentals have been taken.

  Having first tried Stephen’s cell and having the call go straight to voicemail, Celeste couldn’t think of anything on her own, so she calls Stephen’s parents’ house. It is Stephen’s dad who answers.

  “Hi, Mr. Haule. This is Celeste. Because of the snowstorm my plane was rerouted...”

  “We already know, Hun. And I thought I told you to call me Dad. No daughter-in-law of mine is going to call me Mr. Haule. Makes me sound old and stuffy.” Celeste could only giggle. “Now, Stephen is on his way to pick you up, he should be there in about an hour and a half if he didn’t get stuck in too much traffic.”

  “Oh, he’s coming to get me?” Celeste didn’t know why she felt surprised, but she was, pleasantly so.

  “Of course, you didn’t think he would leave you there did you?”

  “No, of course not. I just didn’t know he would be aware of the change.”

  “Why don’t you try him on his cell t
o see how close he is?”

  “I did but it went straight to voicemail. But I’ll try him again... Dad. Thanks.”

  After disconnecting the call she immediately calls Stephen’s cell and he answers immediately. “Hey, Babe.”

  “Steph, you’re coming to get me?” Celeste says through the tears that are threatening to spill over and down onto her cheeks.

  Hearing the slight choking sound of held in tears, Stephen says, “Don’t cry, Babe. Of course I’m coming to get you. You didn’t think I would leave you stranded there, did you? And I’m not that far, just forty-five minutes or so.”

  Celeste could only laugh as relief wells up inside of her. Stephen must be pushing the speed limit. “Your dad thought it would be an hour and a half.”

  “Well... err...”

  “Just drive safe, Baby. I’m not going anywhere. Call me when you get here and I’ll meet you outside.”

  “Okay, I love you.”

  “I love you too, Steph.”

  As Celeste put away her phone, her heart spills over with how much she loves Stephen, and he loves her in return. She never would have thought it were possible to feel for a person what she feels for him. And she never would have thought that she could trust a man the way she does him. That God has brought them together, is the only explanation for the 180-degree turn Celeste has experienced in her outlook at relationships.

  She finds a coffee shop inside the airport and orders herself some coffee and a donut while she waits for Steph’s phone call, which comes exactly forty-four minutes after they had last hung up.

  “I’ll be right out,” is all she says before disconnecting the call and rushing out to the car to meet her man. She is in so much of a rush that she almost knocks down two people with her carryon bag before she makes it out the front doors of the terminal.

  Steph is standing by his car scanning the crowd for her. When he sees her he opens his arms wide for her. His arms tighten around her, and he holds her tightly, in his arms, where she belongs, for the rest of their lives.