Dangerous Ground

by Smith, Stephanie Jean

  Gail came around the table and hugged her. “You’ve made my brother a happy man. I can’t tell you how long it’s been since he’s been happy.”

  Loretta like Gail immediately, she was probably a few years younger than Loretta. Gail didn’t favor Vincent or Xavier, which led her to believe that she looked like their mother. Here let me get your coat. Where’s everyone else?”

  “They’re coming Xavier went outside to help Vincent and Daddy with our bags. I swore Mom was right behind me.”

  As if on cue, Josephine Johnson walked in to the dining room. “You must be Loretta, Vincent told us about everything that happened the last couple of months. I’m just glad that everything worked out.”

  “Hi Mrs. Johnson, I’ve heard a lot about you from Xavier.”

  Josephine took off her coat and went to hang it in the hall closet. “Let’s clear this up right now. You can call me Jo or you can call me Mom, but Mrs. Johnson sounds too formal. Do you need any help in the kitchen? Vincent said that Xavier cooked dinner, and after that plane ride I sure am ready to eat.”

  “Well, the food is ready to serve.”

  Gail and Josephine followed Loretta back into the kitchen to help her with the food. By the time the men were done with the luggage, the food was on the table. Xavier, Vincent, and their father walked into the kitchen. “Loretta you’ve met everyone except my father, Lloyd Johnson.”

  “It’s nice meet you Mr. Johnson, Xavier has spoken of you often. Loretta went and shook Mr. Johnson’s hand. “I’m glad all of you could come and celebrate our wedding. It means so much to me and Xavier especially since my own parents passed away years ago. Now, if everyone’s ready to eat dinner is ready.”

  Dinner went well, Xavier’s family were a fun bunch that had no problems expressing their affection for one another. She learned a lot about Xavier’s childhood and the pranks that Vincent and Xavier use to play on their teachers.

  “Loretta how did you meet Xavier we were very surprise to hear that he was getting married.” Gail said as she fixed her plate.

  “I met Xavier at a fund raiser for the King Center earlier this year. However, things didn’t get serious until about four months ago.”

  “That’s how long it took for me to convince her to go on a date with me.” Xavier said teasingly to Loretta.

  “Well, what can I say, when I first met Xavier, I was glad that he agreed to be the coach for the center, but I wasn’t interested in him.”

  “That’s not the way Xavier tells it. According to him, you were all over him from the time you met.” Vincent knew that Xavier said no such thing he was trying to spice up the conversation a little.

  “All right little brother, you better not be trying to make trouble for me. You have enough problems in your own personal life.”

  “Let me guess, Vincent has finally gotten himself a girlfriend,” Gail laughed at the hostile expression on Vincent’s face.

  “No I don’t have a girlfriend, nor do I plan on acquiring one.”

  “Enough children, I want to hear more about Loretta and Xavier’s courtship,” Josephine voice commanded respect.

  “What do you want to know Jo?”

  “Oh, I just wonder why it took so long for Loretta to agree to go out with you.”

  “I was the one dragging my feet Jo. I just didn’t like Xavier when I first met him. He was great for the kids at the King Center; however, he was a thorn in my side. He also seemed to catch me at my most embarrassing moments. It’s kind of hard to get romantic about someone like that.”

  Everyone at the table laughed. “Xavier seems to have that effect on people,” Vincent chimed in.

  “Loretta realized the error of her ways and decided to give me a chance.” Xavier said as he blew Loretta a kiss.

  “Sure she did, but how did you trick her into agreeing to marry you?” Xavier’s father spoke for the first time.

  “I tied her to a chair until she said yes.”

  “Xavier you promised that you would never tell anyone.” Loretta couldn’t contain her laughter. “Since we’re all done with dinner would anyone like some banana cream pie?” Loretta said as she began clearing the table.

  Xavier grabbed everyone’s empty plates and followed Loretta into the kitchen. Loretta was getting the pie out of the refrigerator as Xavier scrapped the plates and put them in the dishwasher. “You know I think I made a mistake by inviting my family to stay here.”

  Loretta put the pie on the counter and began cutting it into slices. “You have a lovely family where else would they have gone?”

  Xavier put his arms around Loretta’s waist and stood behind her kissing her neck. “They’ll be monopolizing your time trying to get to know you better.”

  Loretta turned around to face Xavier. “Well, what’s wrong with that?”

  “It’s going to be next to impossible for us to find some time to be alone. Are you sure you don’t want to leave for a honeymoon after the wedding? My family won’t be leaving until after Christmas.”

  “Baby you know Christmas is a holiday that is made for family gatherings. Besides in a week or so your family will be gone, and you’ll have me all to yourself.”

  “Do you want to tell them are good news tonight or should we make them wait?”

  “Maybe we should wait until after we’re married.”

  “Are you ashamed because we didn’t get married first?”

  “Xavier I’m not ashamed of the baby we made together. I don’t want your family thinking we got married because of the baby.”

  “Should we tell them after the ceremony, or wait for them to go back to Detroit, and then call them with the news?”

  “When you say it like that it seems positively silly. If you won’t think it will upset them, I would like them to know that I’m pregnant with your child.

  Xavier and Loretta carried in the pie; everyone was just about to dig into the banana cream pie when Xavier gave his family the news. “Listen up every body, Loretta and ‘I have some news. Loretta gave me some exciting news this morning, she’s pregnant.” There was total silence at first and then pandemonium broke loose.

  Jo sat there looking at Loretta in wonderment. “Lloyd we’re finally going to be grandparents. Loretta, next to hearing about your marriage to Xavier, this is the best news this family has received in a long time.”

  The pie was forgotten as Gail and Vincent came over to hug Loretta and Xavier. Gail was excited about becoming an aunt, and Vincent was teasing Xavier about knocking Loretta up before the wedding. The family spent the rest of the evening picking out names for the baby.

  Xavier put his arm around Loretta and kissed her cheek. “I told you my family would be over the moon about the baby.”

  “I’ve never been with a family who was so loving and accepting.”

  “Welcome to my family Loretta, you’ll never have to wonder what family life is like again.”

  ***

  Loretta’s head was resting on Xavier’s shoulder as they were in bed. “I like your family Xavier, I’m glad they decided to attend our wedding.”

  “They wouldn’t have missed our wedding for the world. I told you my family would love you, especially Gail.”

  “I like her too I’ve always wanted a younger sister. I thought you said that Gail was married, where’s her husband at.”

  “Gail is very married her husband won’t arrive until Friday night.”

  “You father and stepmother aren’t what I expected.”

  “What were you expecting,” Xavier said as he ran his fingers against her stomach.

  “When you told me the story about your mother, I just figured that you father remarried to give you guys a mother figure.”

  “I never doubted that my father had a lot of feelings for Josephine.”

  “How old was Gail when your mother died? I notice that she calls your stepmother, Mom.”

  “Gail was almost four years old when our mother died. She has no memory of our mother. This is probably
why she calls Josephine Mom. I love Josephine, and I couldn’t always say that, but she’s not my mother. It would be disrespectful to my mother if I called Josephine, Mom.”

  “A mother isn’t necessarily the person who gives birth to you, but someone who loves and raises you. I never thought that I would give birth to my own child. So I never thought of myself as being someone’s mother. When I found out that I was pregnant with your child I was scared and ecstatic all at once.”

  “When you look at it from that point of view, it makes sense. I was twelve when my mother died. I was so embittered by her death that no one could take the place of my mother.”

  “This is the first year that I haven’t had a Christmas tree up on the first of December.”

  “That not a problem, we can pick one up tomorrow. I haven’t had a real Christmas celebration for a couple of years. This year will be different; all of my Christmas wishes have been fulfilled.”

  “I feel the same way baby, I feel the same way.”

  ***

  Chapter 20

  It was six o’clock on Saturday morning when Xavier tried to wake Loretta up. “Come on baby it’s our wedding day. You have to get ready to go over Cookie’s house. I made you your favorite breakfast, waffles.”

  “Xavier it’s just six o’clock, the wedding isn’t till one. Can you at least give me another thirty minutes. Your child and I need all the rest we can get.”

  Xavier knew one sure fire way to wake Loretta up. He started stroking her breasts she was ultra sensitive on her breasts since she became pregnant. Xavier then replaced his hands with his mouth.

  “Xavier unless you’re prepared to finish what you’re starting you’d better stop it. I didn’t know you were such a sexual tease.” Loretta was fully awake now as Xavier had intended her to be.

  “I refuse to be late for my own wedding, so hurry up and eat your breakfast while I run your bath water. Gail will drop you off at Cookie’s house as soon as you get done.”

  What was she thinking about, today was her wedding day and she should be full of joy and happiness? Loretta knew what was wrong she didn’t sleep at all last night. Maybe this feeling is just bridal jitters. She looked at the lovely breakfast Xavier made for her, and all she thought about was vomiting. Loretta knew she would feel better once she ate a couple of crackers and some juice. She got out of bed, put her robe on and headed downstairs. Loretta heard Josephine humming in the kitchen.

  “Hi Loretta, how come your not upstairs finishing off your breakfast.”

  “I have a nervous stomach this morning Josephine. If I eat breakfast, I fear that I might bring it all back up.”

  “Sit down let me get you some crackers and something to drink.” Josephine brought the crackers over to the table and poured Loretta some apple juice. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you.” Josephine sat down in the chair next to Loretta’s.

  “Josephine I’m scared to death. Xavier and I have been through so much in the last couple of months that I can’t believe our wedding day is here. What if I do something stupid like trip over the train of my dress?”

  Josephine gave Loretta a hug, her new daughter-in-law was a lovely person inside and out. She knew that Xavier and Loretta would have a happy life together. “Let me tell you about my wedding day. All my friends and family were there, and I was so scared that I was doing the wrong thing. When I was a little girl this isn’t what I had planned my wedding to be like. I was marrying a man with three children, one of which couldn’t stand the sight of me. My father and I were preparing to walk down the aisle when he told me that it wasn’t too late.”

  “So why did you walk down the aisle Josephine?”

  “I walked down the aisle because I loved the man, and that made all the difference. Were you this scared when you got married the first time?”

  “No I wasn’t, the wedding was just a formality. I don’t remember being upset at all.”

  “Now you understand. You love Xavier to death, and you’re afraid that something’s going to ruin it.”

  “What did you say to your father when told he told you that it wasn’t too late to stop the wedding?”

  “I told him that it was too late the day I met Lloyd.”

  “Well, I better get back upstairs and take my bath. Cookie still has to fix my hair and it almost six thirty.”

  Josephine watched Loretta leave the kitchen. Xavier was a lucky man, few people knew what it’s like to love and be loved in return.

  ***

  It was closer to eight when Loretta finally got to Cookie’s house. Cookie was waiting for her at the door. Loretta knew she was late, and she braced herself for the onslaught she would receive from Cookie.

  Cookie hugged Loretta after she let her in. “Now that you’re here, I’ll get you something for your upset stomach and then I can start your hair. Diane is already dressed I just finished her hair before you arrived.”

  “How did you know I had an upset stomach?” Loretta said as she followed Cookie into the kitchen.

  “I remembered how I felt on my wedding day. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but I was nauseous and full of dread.”

  “Well, you did a pretty good job of keeping how you felt to yourself.”

  “Please, I was a total wreck. I kept telling myself to remain calm; thoughts of running out of the church had crossed my mind.”

  “You mean you didn’t want to marry John.”

  Cookie looked at Loretta as if she suddenly lost her mind. “Of course I wanted to marry John I just didn’t want to do it in front of three hundred people. At least you’ll just have close friends and family at your wedding.

  Loretta ate a few more saltine crackers and some 7Up. She had to admit to herself that she was feeling much better. Diane came into the kitchen and gave her a hug. Loretta couldn’t be sure, but there seemed to be an air of sadness in Diane’s eyes. “What’s wrong Diane?”

  “It’s nothing, I’m so happy for you that I want to cry, but I also feel as though I’m losing you. First Cookie got married, now you our days of spontaneous shopping our over.”

  Loretta didn’t quite know how to take Diane’s comment until Diane started laughing. You nut, for a moment there you had me going.”

  Diane was still smiling. “You know today was the first time I saw your dress, I can’t wait to see you in it.”

  “A friend of the family made it for me. I wanted something unique, so she made everything to my specifications.”

  “Come on Loretta I’ve got everything set up in the sewing room,” Cookie said as she came back into the kitchen. Let’s go we don’t have time to waste.”

  Diane looked at Loretta. “Don’t tell me that Cookie made your dress.”

  Loretta laughed at the incredulous look on Diane’s face. “Cookie definitely didn’t make my dress. Martha Smith made my dress she should be here around 10:00 to help me with my dress.” Loretta followed Cookie into the sewing room. Cookie did Loretta’s makeup before she started on her hair. Loretta new she was too nervous to do it by herself.

  Cookie worked fast, she put a little face powder on Loretta’s face to take off the shine. Then she added just a touch of plum blush to high light Loretta’s high cheekbones. Loretta has beautiful eyes, so to highlight them Cookie used various shades of brown eye shadow. “Tell what you think of your makeup before I start your hair. If you don’t like something, tell me now before I move on.”

  Loretta looked at herself in the mirror. For the first time in her life, she felt truly beautiful. “What have you done to my eyes, they look so big and clear?”

  Cookie laughed at Loretta description. “I used colors that would bring out the natural beauty of your eyes. You have thick lashes, so I put just a dab of mascara on them. By the expression on your face, I guess it’s safe to say that we can move on to your hair.”

  Cookie put a French twist in Loretta’s hair and surround her face with lose ringlets of hair. As Cookie finished Loretta’s
hair, there was a knock on the door. Come in its unlocked.”

  Martha Smith walked in with Loretta’s wedding veil. “Good morning ladies, I came to help the bride with her dress. Once she finished Loretta’s hair, Cookie went to the closet to get Loretta’s dress. It was an off white dress with a three foot satin train. The bodice of the dress was made out of lace and seed pearls. The bottom half of the dress was made of satin, and it had a design sewn into it. “How long did it take you to sew this dress Martha?”

  Martha helped Cookie take her dress out of its holder. The train of the dress was detachable, so it came in its own holder. “It took me less than two weeks to complete the dress. Actually it was the bodice that took the most work because I had hand sewed the seed pearls onto the lace. It also had a built in bra.”

  Cookie helped Loretta get into her dress. The dress made Loretta look like a queen. She was almost three months pregnant, but you would never know it by looking at her. Martha carefully put the veil on Loretta’s head. “Let me know when you’re ready to take off this elaborate headdress. I don’t want you to mess up your hair before the reception.”

  Loretta stood up and walked over to the full length mirror. She had on her Mother’s pearl earrings with a matching necklace. “Cookie I have something old, I need something borrowed and something blue.”

  “Here I have just the thing.” Cookie left the room and came back with a small box. “This should solve all of your problems.”

  Loretta opened the box, inside was a lacy royal blue garter, and a lovely satin handkerchief. “Thank you Cookie, without your help I wouldn’t be ready for the best day of my life.”

  “Don’t get all mushy, or I’ll start crying and ruin my makeup.”

  Martha sat down and critically viewed her creation. “Loretta you would have made your parents proud.”

  Loretta bent down and kissed Martha’s creased face. “Thank you for everything Martha, I don’t know of anyone else who could have made the wedding dress of my dreams.”

  Diane came in the sewing room. “Ladies the limo is here, let’s get the show on the road.”

  ***