by Phenomenon
“I’m not ignoring you baby. I’m just deep in thought. Come here, let me hold you.” Taurus pulled Kenisha closer. Kenisha was happy for the acknowledgement but it still wasn’t what she’d wanted. “We can do more than hold each other.” Kenisha said in a sly manner. “Not tonight.” Taurus replied. “There’ll be plenty of nights for that. Let’s just lay here.” Taurus adjusted to snuggle tighter with her, but a Kenisha frustrated grabbed the remote and turned on the television. Taurus viewing an obvious attitude from her girlfriend secretly smiled on the inside. She knew that Kenisha had no idea what was about to happen to her.
Ginger
Ginger received a text message yesterday from Taurus asking about the person that would be officiating she and Fillmore’s wedding ceremony. Ginger actually had to ask Fillmore about the details. After accepting the proposal she was out and about getting bride-ready. Ginger arrived at Fillmore’s office that morning before going to pick up Kenisha. She walked into the office to find Fillmore sitting alone in tears. Ginger slowly moved toward him placing her purse on the adjacent chair. She stood over him and touched his shoulder. “What’s wrong Reggie?” She asked. Fillmore looked up at Ginger, kissed her hand and slowly rubbed the soft skin of her palm over his wet cheek.
“Baby, I don’t even know who I am any more. It’s like I’m trying to do right but it feels so foreign to me. There’s people calling trying to give money to the church to preach about the things that they want us to preach and pray about. They wanna give us money here and give us money there to advertise to our members about stuff that ain’t got nothing to do with God. And I used to take the money for stuff like that but I know that I’m not supposed to anymore and I’m revamping the ministry according to The Word and it’s so tempting. I don’t want my lifestyle to change and I gotta take care of you but I feel convicted to do better now. I just don’t know who I am anymore!”
Fillmore stood and paced the room placing one hand over his face in a manly way to attempt to mask the tears of frustration. “We’re a tourist attraction because we’re so popular but I don’t want people to stop coming to see us if we stop doing favors for the city.”
Ginger understood his frustration but she was more turned on by Fillmore at that point than she had ever been before. He was out of his comfort zone with turning down money for the church because it was the right thing to do but now he was riddled with worry about how they would maintain the lifestyle and prestige of being the most popular church in the city. Ginger knew what to say because it was how she felt and certainly how others felt.
“It’s not about the money. The money isn’t what maintained you all of this time. Let God do His thing. Look how long He allowed you to prosper when you were doing wrong. What makes you think He’s gonna let you fail when you start doing right. Come on Reggie it makes no sense to be this concerned about doing the right thing and you can accept advertising money just only from the people who have a Godly business or a business that can benefit the saints in living an appropriate lifestyle. Don’t get so uptight that you lose your business sense but just be conscious of the God that you serve. A church shouldn’t be KNOWN as a tourist attraction but if God brings people here, you need to do the right thing with their attention that they give you.”
Ginger walked up to Fillmore and placed her arms around him. He was instantly comforted. His heartbeat slowed and he imagined his blood pressure dropping with ever soft kiss that Ginger placed on his ear and neck. He hugged her back. “I love you so much. I couldn’t do this without you. I feel like I’m starting over.” Fillmore confessed.
“Sometimes a new start is just what we need.” Ginger assured him with a kiss on the forehead.
Taurus
Taurus was sprawled across the bed watching a sexually frustrated Kenisha get dressed to go out for the final day of Maid of Honor preparations with Ginger when the text about the wedding official came to the phone. “I need you to be back at the hotel by 6 o’clock tonight sweetheart.” Taurus said. Kenisha heard Taurus but pretended to ignore her. She finally retorted with. “What do you want me to come back early for? So we can NOT make love again tonight. It’s ok if you don’t want to touch me Taurus. I have no problem with satisfying myself.” Taurus was shocked by how angry she was over sex. On one hand Taurus felt flattered. Her previous relationship was with a woman who desired everyone but her and now she had a girlfriend that wanted her so aggressively that she’d gotten angry at the thought of not being able to lay with her.
“You need to watch the way you’re talking to me lady because I’m entitled to say that I’m not in the mood, just like you are. If the tables were turned I wouldn’t be this pissed off at you. So you need to calm down.” Taurus stood and spoke behind Kenisha as she dressed it the mirror. “Now I’m asking you to be back at this hotel by 6:00pm. It’s for your own good. Now mess around and shoot yourself in the foot with that half ass attitude if you want to. You’ll be suffering by yourself.” Taurus looked Kenisha in the face through the reflection of the mirror and returned to the bed.
Kenisha knew that she was being a bit petty. She was with a woman that had shown that she would do anything to please her. Kenisha couldn’t help but to want to be with Taurus in every way. Her desire had developed into such a strong love that she didn’t know how to control her feelings. She’d never felt that way before. “I’ll be back before 6:00pm.” Kenisha said in a soft voice as she made her way to the door before giving a stubborn apologetic look to Taurus. Taurus knew what that look meant. It meant I’m sorry but I’m not gonna say it cause then you’ll think you’ve won type of look. Taurus laughed aloud at the ridiculousness of that woman. Kenisha slightly laughed on her way to the elevator as well. They were meant for each other.
Taurus confirmed the dinner reservations for three at 6:30pm. Kenisha was going to be so surprised and Taurus was growing more and more proud of herself by the minute. She began to Google the minister that was marrying her mother and Pastor Fillmore. His name was Minster Knight and he and Pastor Fillmore attended the same seminary in their earlier years. He was a very popular minister from the Methodist church that was no longer affiliated with the Methodist church board due to his controversial views on Christianity. He had been kicked out of the Methodist church where he was ordained for being the official to marry a Jewish gay couple. Since then, Minister Knight had made his living by going from church to church and city to city preaching about the love of God and how it’s on God’s authority to judge the people and not the worlds.
Taurus felt like that was a pure blessing. She just knew that finding an official to preside over their nuptials would be the biggest task. Then again she accepted that when you follow what you’re told to do, things fall into place like that. Taurus immediately dialed the number off of Minister Knight’s website. With every ring of the phone Taurus became more excited.
“Praise the Lord.” Minister Knight answered. Taurus recognized his voice from all of the clips on Youtube that she’d watched. She really liked his ministry.
“Hello Minister Knight. My name is Taurus Montgomery and you are actually getting ready to marry my mother Ginger and Pastor Fillmore.”
Minister Knight responded with such a light joy in his voice. “Yes. Congratulations. Your mother is a great woman of faith and valor. What can I do for you Sister Montgomery?” “Well.” Taurus began slowly and suddenly sped up in nervousness. “I am actually marrying my soul mate. I believe that I was instructed to marry her and it’s another woman but I promise you it’s not a cardinal thing. We’re in love and I have never felt this way about anyone and I…”
Minister Knight cut Taurus off abruptly. “Stop talking!” He said in a stern tone. Taurus was so nervous that a small bead of sweat formed on her collar bone. He then continued to speak to her. “You don’t have to defend yourself to me. I’m just a man of God. I understood what you were calling for when you began.” Minister Knight laughed at Taurus’ expense. “I knew that you’d call. I was told
in a dream that you would call and ask me to marry you but your partner doesn’t know yet. You have to tell her before it happens, God says. But I WILL marry you. This is a very important thing that I’m supposed to do and it has to be done soon because the wood is rotting.”
Taurus was stunned. That was the same thing that God had just put into her spirit a few days prior. She promised the minister that she would inform Kenisha before the ceremony and he obliged. They then began to hash out the details according to how they both were being led.
Chapter 15: Postcards
Kenisha
Kenisha waited for Ginger to try on her dress to assure that it fit perfectly before the homophobic shop owner was paid. Ginger checked her phone and gasped with a loud “Oh My God!” Gingers was so flush red and a huge smile plastered her face.
“What?!” Kenisha said as she tried to get a glimpse of the text message. Ginger immediately snatched the phone back from Kenisha’s sight and said. “It’s Reggie. He’s just so naughty.” Ginger giggled. Kenisha stepped back to not invade her privacy. She smiled at how cute the two were even via dirty text message.
“Ok. This fits me fine. Let’s get you into your dress and see how it fits. You get up here on the brides pedestal baby.” Kenisha stood on the pedestal in her beautiful satin gown in its beautiful simplicity. It had a white lace neck and chest stitching and was sleeveless. The gown was form fitting, caressing the curves of her body, showing the pay off of all of Kenisha’s hard work losing weight over the years. Ginger gleamed with tears and pride. Kenisha laughed. “Girl, why are you crying? You’re the one getting married.” Kenisha said.
“You just look so beautiful. You can be a bride yourself in that dress. Just for fun,” Ginger started. “If you were getting married which veil would you choose?”
Kenisha laughed and humored Ginger’s excitement. She pointed to the middle veil on the wall. It accentuated her dress and almost looked as if they were meant to go together. “Can you hand me that veil please?” Kenisha asked the shop owner. The shop owner walked toward the veil and before she reached for it, she pulled a small bottle of Holy Oil out of her fanny pack and rubbed it over her hands in a way to keep Kenisha’s homosexuality from infecting her.
Ginger immediately sounded off. “If you put oil on your hands and stain that veil I will punch you in the throat. Go wash your hands!” Kenisha burst out laughing. Ginger’s candid response was too much for her to control her laughter. Ginger took the veil off of the wall and placed it onto Kenisha’s head. Kenisha was laughing until she saw the reflection of herself in the mirror. She felt like a princess. With the veil covering her face, she looked like the perfect bride. Kenisha ripped herself from the pleasant dream and remembered that it was not her day. She gracefully stepped down and allowed Ginger to reclaim her spot. The dresses fitting to their satisfaction were placed in boxes. They paid the hateful lady and Ginger purchased the veil for Kenisha as a joke. “Just in case.” She said. “Just in case.”
After finalizing the plans, and confirming the times of arrival of the caterer, approving the final details with Ginger and the wedding planner, Kenisha arrived back at the hotel around 5:30pm. To her surprise Taurus wasn’t there so she jumped in the shower, put on some lounge clothes and turned on the TV. Approximately at 6:00pm Taurus walked into the room dressed impeccably nice. Her blazer was dark blue with matching pants. She wore a button up shirt, white with gold details matching the gold button on the blazer. Kenisha didn’t know what to expect and suddenly felt ashamed of her Victorias Secret Pink jogging pants and baby tee. “Wow hot stuff where are you heading?” Kenisha exclaimed with a smile. “We’re going to dinner. We have reservations my lady so put on something sexy and let’s bust a move.” Taurus said with a playful smile and dance. Kenisha jumped from the bed and found her prettiest dress hanging in the hotel room closet and placed it on in a jiffy. She did her makeup and her hair and was ready to go in record time, especially for her. Something about the sweet smell of Kenisha’s perfume made Taurus more nervous than she already was.
As they left the room Taurus stopped in the downstairs gift shop to pick up two post cards. “Who’re those for?” Kenisha asked. Taurus politely ignored the question and kissed Kenisha on the cheek. They continued to walk until they arrived at the restaurant. After confirming that they had reservations, the hostess informed them that the rest of their party had already arrived. Kenisha was so confused. Who could they possibly be having dinner with and what were the postcards all about? As they were led to the table Kenisha noticed that Taurus fell back and eventually left her sight. As she arrived at the beautifully secluded table she noticed a figure sitting with their back to her. It was a familiar figure that she recognized undeniably when she walked closer.
Corey
Corey stood facing his beloved sister. Kenisha was so shocked that she stumbled while accelerating toward him to wrap him in her arms. “Brother! What are you doing here? Oh my God! Look at you. You look amazing.” Kenisha couldn’t understand what was happening but she was so happy to see him. With everything that had taken place since she’d left she felt like a completely different person and the short week away from him seemed like months.
Corey held her hands in his. “Big sis, you have always been there for me.” Kenisha rubbed his freshly cut hair and smiled while Corey continued speaking. “You took care of me and for as long as I can remember it’s just been me and you, ride or die. But you deserve somebody that can be that for you on an intimate level, somebody that will have your back and protect you. I support you being with that person and if you ask me, I think you’ve found her.” On cue Taurus appeared with a large mixed bouquet of red roses and white lilies. She walked up to Kenisha and gave a nod to Corey. She handed Kenisha the flowers. Kenisha accepted them. Corey watched as the momentous occasion changed his sister’s life forever.
“I know that this is a shock and you had no idea that your brother would be here but I knew that you needed support for the things that were about to happen. I love you as a friend, as a help mate, and a sister to me in the Body of Christ. Traditionally in the old times, people would commit themselves to each other within minutes and her it is I’ve known you for much more than hours.” Taurus spoke to Kenisha with a power and softness that she had never heard before from her. It was a familiar tone but it was so soothing that Kenisha stopped trying to identify it. She couldn’t imagine what Taurus was doing. All signs pointed to one big thing but Kenisha felt that she couldn’t be that lucky. So she continued to listen intently to Taurus speak.
“Now we could wait until society approves of us. And we can wait until we get to know each other more. And we can even wait until your mother gives us her blessing. But I can not wait for you to be my wife. So Kenisha…” Taurus reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the post cards and handed it to Kenisha. Kenisha riddled with tears of joy couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. The post card said, “Will you be with me forever? Will you fight for me and with me as long as we are on this earth? Will you work with me until we die? Will you be my help mate? Will you simply marry me and be my wife?” Kenisha was overrun with emotion. The entire situation seemed crazy. She remembered being so lonely. She remembered praying for a man to come and take her away but at that moment she only wanted to be with Taurus. The love that she wanted for so many years, the desire for protection, for someone to defend her and love her in spite of her flaws, that person in human form was standing in front of her and she couldn’t deny her. She wouldn’t deny it. “YES! YES! YES! AND YES!” Kenisha exclaimed throwing the flowers at her brother and diving into Taurus’ arms. Taurus was so nervous that Kenisha could feel her heart pounding through her chest.
Corey watched Taurus wiped the tears from his sister’s eyes. It was the perfect metaphor for their union. Corey knew that his sister deserved someone to be there in the physical to wipe the tears from her eyes because he’d watched her cry so many of them over the years. Regardless of what h
is mother thought and how their past had been, Corey knew that he and his sister deserved better. Now that Kenisha was receiving what was hers, Corey knew that it was only a matter of time until his happiness arrived as well.
Kenisha, Taurus and Corey finally made it into their seats. Taurus had almost forgotten about the ring in all the emotions. She stood up and reached into her pocket pulling out a ring box made of wood. She removed the top exposing the most perfect, most expensive, shiniest diamond that Kenisha had ever laid her eyes on.
“Baby wait, no! You don’t have to give me this. You can’t afford this. Wait! Can you? Can you afford this?” Kenisha thought to herself that she didn’t completely know the financial situation of Taurus and that she may have just hit the love and financial jackpot at the same time.
Taurus laughed as she sat down, reached over the table and grabbed Kenisha’s hand to place the ring on her finger. “This ring was my mother’s ring.” Taurus said as she eased it onto Kenisha’s finger perfectly.
“She passed it on to me so that I could specifically give it to you because she has given us her blessing. My father gave this ring to her when they married and although they split up; they made something great together, me!” Taurus laughed at her own Kanye West ego spirited joke. “But I believe wholeheartedly baby that we’re going to create some great things too!”
The onlookers in the restaurant that were seated nearby their private area didn’t know exactly what’d taken place but had assumed that the two women had gotten engaged. Some just sat quietly while others whispered their congratulations with smiles. Some of the women even gasped at the ring’s splendor and asked for a closer look. Taurus’ father was a wealthy man and the ring was a representation of his wealth but now it was a representation of Taurus’ love and finally her mother’s acceptance.
