Love So Heavenly (A Clean Christian African American Romance)

by Shannon Gardener

  “I have a solution to our problem,” she told him; he was seated at his desk, going through some files.

  “I wasn’t aware that we had one,” he said mildly; his eyes taking in her chic green skirt suit and dangling earrings – sometimes her beauty took his breath away.

  “We need someone else here Josh and I have just found the perfect person,” she perched on his desk.

  “Faith, we need to discuss this,” he warned seeing the determined look in her eyes and knew it was no use.

  “What’s to discuss?” she asked him impatiently. “We are getting married in two weeks and we are planning on going on our honeymoon for a week and I have no intention of closing the office.”

  “Where are we going to put Gladys?” he asked with a sigh. “And I am assuming it’s Gladys?”

  “She can use my desk for the time being as I will be in and out and then we will call the contractors to make a partition for her in the corner.” Faith said, excitement shining in her large dark eyes.

  “Do I actually have a say in any of this?” he asked her mildly a smile lifting his lips.

  “Of course you do,” she slid off the desk and came around to kiss him on the lips; impatient to tell Gladys the good news. But he held onto her and deepened the kiss; pulling her onto his lap.

  “Josh,” she protested weakly.

  “I love you,” he told her huskily. “Have I told you that today?”

  She nodded as he captured her mouth again causing her breath to back up inside her throat. He pulled away and set her gently on her feet, holding onto her as she swayed slightly. “Go and give Gladys the good news,” he told her, smiling crookedly, swatting her bottom as she turned to leave.

  The woman was beside herself with joy and when Faith told her she could start in the morning she broke down in tears. “Oh my dear, you won’t regret it,” she said giving the girl a hug.

  “I know I won’t,” she hugged her back. “And you’re officially invited to our wedding.”

  Gladys accepted eagerly and they sat down to work out the details of her employment. Faith told her she would be put in charge when they left for their honeymoon. “Is that something you think you can manage?”

  “Just show me what to do dear, I am a fast learner.” Gladys told her cheerfully.

  The woman left with a spring in her step and a smile on her face and Faith felt a sense of relief that she had solved the problem of what they were going to do about the office. Business was going too well for them to close, as much as it would have been for a worthy cause.

  *****

  She went into his office after she had locked up for the day and found him sitting back and resting his head on the chair. “Come here,” he told her.

  She went immediately and climbed onto his lap. “I always hear that when you work together as a couple it never really works out but I want to see you every single minute of the day,” he told her; pushing away tendrils of hair clinging to her cheek. She had toed off her heels and curled up on his lap.

  “Are you sure?” she asked him teasingly. “What about some of those attractive women who come in here on the pretext of seeking a job just to get a look at you? Sure I won’t cramp your style?”

  “I am positive but if it poses a problem I can probably bring them back to my office,” he grinned at the fierce expression on her face.

  “You’d better not – if you want to keep your penis,” she warned him.

  “Ouch!” he grimaced. “Don’t worry baby, I only have eyes for you.”

  Faith snuggled against him; her eyes closing as she breathed in his cologne. “We have cake tasting tomorrow,” she told him softly.

  “I am there,” he pulled her up more on his lap. “I also need to get my tuxedo from the shop.”

  “I wish my mother was alive to see me get married,” Faith murmured, a hint of sadness in her voice.

  “I know baby,” he told her sympathetically, his arms tightening around her in comfort. “I wished I had met her; I wanted to thank her for raising such a beautiful daughter who will soon become my wife.”

  “She would have loved you,” Faith told him.

  “I would have swept her off her feet,” he told her confidently.

  “Is that so?” she murmured in amusement.

  “I am sure of it,” he whispered. “I am trying to respect your decision to stay at your place until after the wedding but it’s hard baby and I miss you falling asleep in my arms.”

  “For the most part, I try to live up to my Christian principles Josh and the way my mother brought me up,” she twisted in his arms to look at him. “Living with you without marriage is something I don’t believe in. I hate being away from you too but I want us to start on the right foot as far as our marriage is concerned.”

  “I know but it doesn’t make me feel any better,” he told her with a growl. They had decided they would keep the house as a legacy for their children because Faith had shied away from selling it and erasing her mother’s memory.

  “Don’t worry; we will be together before you even know it,” she told him. “We won’t have to leave each other again.”

  “Tell me you love me,” he told her huskily.

  She not only told him, she spent the rest of the time showing him.

  Chapter 10

  The first day of spring dawned bright and sunny; a perfect day for a wedding. Maureen had ‘tore herself’ away from her new husband and spent the night with Faith so that both of them could get ready together and leave for the church together. She had spoken to Joshua until the early hours of the morning and she had told him that she was going to get her beauty rest. They had decided against a shower and a bachelor’s party but Josh had spent the evening drinking with his friend from his former workplace and his best man, Barry Lowe.

  She had moved a few of her personal items from her mother’s house and taken them over to Josh’s and had asked a church sister to stay for the time. She was going to miss the place.

  “Time to get dressed girl,” Maureen bustled into the bedroom; her hair in huge rollers and cream on her face. She had given her breakfast in bed and Faith had been too anxious to take more than a few bites of the pancake and eggs; but she had drank the coffee and the orange juice.

  It was already eleven thirty and she did not want to be late.“I’ve drawn you a warm scented bath which you will stay in for twenty minutes, it'll giving me enough time to put on your make-up.”

  By the time she had stepped out of the bath Maureen was waiting for her in the bedroom with her large make-up kit.

  She brushed Faith’s curls vigorously and skillfully twisted it on top of her head, allowing a few tendrils to lie on her cheeks. The sparkling thin tiara was placed on top and secured with pins. Maureen put on minimal make-up; telling her friend that with skin like hers, make-up was not even necessary. Maureen was already dressed and looked attractive in her emerald green dress; green and white buds secured in her upswept hair.

  The dress was the last to go on; she had bought a white lace camisole she had put on underneath and the dress slid over the silk easily. Maureen did up the buttons and she slipped into her shoes.

  “I want the first picture,” Maureen hurried out to get her phone. “Girl, you look too beautiful for words,” she added, her eyes shining with tears. “Let’s go drive that man of yours crazy,”

  A town limousine picked them up and drove them to the church; which was already teeming with cars. It was ten minutes to one and they stayed inside the car until the usher came out and beckoned to them.

  Maureen and Barry marched in to the instrumental of ‘Ave Maria’ and then it was time for Faith to go in. Her eyes misted a little as she thought of her mother and how pleased she would have been that she found the love of her life. Then with a smile she took Deacon Benjamin’s arm and waited for her cue. “You look beautiful my dear,” He told her soberly, patting the gloved hand on his arm. “Your mother would have been so proud, God bless her soul.”

&nb
sp; “Thank you,” Faith smiled at the elderly man.

  The strain of ‘When God Made You’ was playing and Faith started marching in. It felt as if she was floating on a cloud and there were only she and Josh in the room – she had eyes only for him; looking incredibly handsome in a pearl gray three piece suit; his hair glinting with the blond highlights. The church was beautifully decorated and she vaguely noticed the green and white ribbons, crepe paper and balloons all around but all she saw was the man she was going to marry. He came to meet her halfway, his eyes on her alone; barely acknowledging Deacon Benjamin. He stood there looking at her until the Pastor cleared his throat causing the congregation to laugh. Putting her hand firmly on his arm they marched the rest of the way up the aisle.

  “We are gathered here today to witness the love between our dear Sister Faith and our Brother to be Joshua O’Connor. Love is a beautiful emotion and when two people come together in the beautiful harmony of true love then we all can rejoice. We are here to prove society wrong, that marriage is designed not to work – we are here to prove that with God in it – it will not only work but will flourish for all eternity. Joshua turn and face Faith please,” he told them. Faith passed her bouquet of baby’s breath to Maureen and turned to face Joshua. “The couple has expressed their desire to say their own vows so I am going to invite them to do so now; starting with Brother Joshua.”

  “Faith, finding the words to express what I really feel is so inadequate but I will start by saying that I have never felt such intensity of feelings like when I am with you. I look at you and the world seems okay and right. I look at you and my heart starts pounding with the magnitude of my feelings for you. I love you so much I don’t know where I stop and you begin and I promise to cherish you and protect you for the rest of my life. It will always be you; it will only be you.”

  “Josh-“ she began and felt her throat closing up with tears. “Josh,” she tried again. “I never knew love like this, only from hearing my mother speak of it; until you came into my life. You showed me that loving means letting go of my fear of losing because no matter what I will never lose as long as I have you beside you. I want to laugh with you; cry on your shoulders and share every aspect of my life with you. With you I am not afraid to expose my true self because I don’t have to pretend to be anyone else but me. I love you Joshua and it will always be you.”

  “We’ll now have the exchange of rings.” Barry passed the rings to him. He held them and prayed. “Our heavenly Father, the giver of life and the sustainer we come before you to humbly ask your blessings on your children who have chosen to do the honorable thing by joining themselves together as man and wife. We ask that you bless the union and bind them together with cords that cannot be broken. Amen.” He turned to them. “Joshua place the ring on Faith’s finger,” Joshua slid the thin white gold on her finger. “Faith it’s your turn.” Faith took the matching band and placed it on Joshua’s finger. “Now by the power vested in me; I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” Joshua pulled her into his arms slowly, his head swooping down as he took her lips with his hungrily; it took a supreme effort on his part for him to let her go.

  “Friends and family, I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua O’Connor!” There was a loud cheer as people stood up. They proceeded to walk down the aisle and Faith waved at Joshua’s mother who had tears in her eyes.

  They were traveling in the same limousine she and Maureen had come in. “How are you Mrs. O’Connor?” he asked her as soon as they were seated in the car. The air condition was on and there was a bucket with champagne and two glasses on the sideboard.

  “Very well, my husband,” she told him softly. His eyes glazed over and he pulled her closer to him.

  “My wife,” he murmured softly, careful not to mess up her hair; she had kicked off her shoes and curled her feet underneath her; contented to just snuggle in his arms. “You happen to be the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, barring none”

  “You’re biased,” she told him teasingly.

  “Ask anyone else,” he argued. “I am just stating a fact.”

  The hall where the reception was being held was beautifully decorated; there were several paper angels all over the large room and green and white balloons in every corner of the room. They were the last persons to enter the room and everybody was already seated and waiting for them. The cake was a towering white three tiered masterpiece in the middle of the head table and had been a gift from the client who owned a bakery near the office.

  Gladys had been such a God send and she had the opportunity of leaving the office every now and then to deal with the wedding. Josh had hurriedly had the partitions made and Faith had made her working area attractive. “What?” she had asked Josh; he had stood inside his office doorway watching her. “I want her to feel comfortable here.”

  “I am sure she will feel as if she is at her house,” he had told her in amusement.

  Faith was too excited to fully appreciate the food; she moved rice around on her plate and took a few bites of the spicy chicken and grilled fish. Joshua on the other hand cleaned his plate. “Gaining strength for later,” he whispered as she looked at him.

  “Do you need added strength?” she asked him.

  “For what I am planning? Yes I do,” he took her hand in his. They had decided to leave for their honeymoon the next day. Josh told her he wanted them to sleep in their own bed on their wedding night.

  The cutting of the cake was next and Faith and Joshua stood up. He took the knife that was proffered and placed his hand on hers. He put a small piece inside his mouth and offered her by putting his mouth on hers; even when she took it from him he did not remove his mouth from hers, rather deepening the kiss. Faith swallowed the small piece hastily, opening her mouth under his. It was the sound of the cat calls and the whistles that reminded them where they were. He broke off the kiss abruptly, his breathing coming rapidly; shaking his head as if to clear it. “What you do to me,” he whispered.

  “The man is legal so he is entitled,” Someone called out from the back of the room.

  The floor was cleared for dancing and Josh led his wife onto the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. “I love you,” he told her huskily as he gathered her close to him.

  “I love you back,” she answered, wrapping her hands around his neck. She rested her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat pick up and she sighed in happiness. “I found myself wanting the ceremony to end and the marriage to start. I am going to be the best wife I can be and I pray I will never hurt or disappoint you.”

  “Not even if you try,” he said huskily, his heart skidding. He wanted so much to be alone with her that he was finding it hard not to say to hell with the rest of it and get her out of there.

  The song ended and Mark came over. “May I borrow your wife for a minute?” he asked with a smile.

  “As long as I get her back right after,” he told Mark soberly, letting go of Faith with the slightest hesitation and heading over to where his mother was talking to a church member.

  “I would hate to be in competition with him for you,” Mark grinned at her as they circled the dance floor. “So how does it feel to be married?” he teased, using her words on her.

  “It feels wonderful,” she told him dreamily.

  “I can see that, you are positively glowing.” He said in wonder. “You’re making my love for Maureen pale in comparison.” He shook his head.

  “Tell that to someone else,” Faith retorted, tilting her head to look at him. “You love her and she loves you and that is what matters most.”

  “You sound like an old married woman,” he teased her.

  “Don’t I,” she laughed her eyes going over to where her husband was smiling down at his mother. He took her breath away with his looks.

  She danced with the best man after and then several of her church brothers and then it was time to leave.

  Maureen hurried over to her to position her for
the throwing of the bouquet. “I can see your husband getting impatient so before he explodes you need to wrap this up.”

  They finally escaped after she hugged her mother-in-law tightly. “Welcome to the family, dear” Claire whispered in her ear; returning the hug. “I now have a daughter,” she beamed; wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Thanks Claire,” She told her before she turned around to her husband.

  “Ready?” he asked her softly, taking her arm.

  “Absolutely,” she smiled at him radiantly.

  The gifts were being taken care of by Maureen and Claire and they would be delivered to the house sometime tomorrow. They were leaving for their honeymoon first thing tomorrow – a week in the Bahamas. She stop to speak to Gladys on her way out; giving her last minute instructions regarding the office until Josh pulled her away firmly. “Excuse us Gladys; my wife has no business discussing shop on our wedding day,”

  “I was just making sure – all right darling I am all yours.” She smiled at him as he propelled her outside towards the waiting limousine.

  He lifted her across the threshold, kicking the door behind him. He did not put her down until they reached the bedroom upstairs. Her eyes widened as she saw cream satin sheet on the king size bed; there were rose petals scattered on the bed and a bucket with champagne cooling.

  “How did you manage all of this?” She asked in wonder as he put her down slowly on the bed, easing off her shoes.

  “Compliments of my mother,” he told her with a fond smile.

  “A romantic at heart,” she smiled.

  “I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,” he told her huskily, easing off her pantyhose. He took off his jacket and his vest and tug off the tie; heaping them on the floor. “My wife,” he murmured, stepping between her legs. Reaching up he took the tiara from her hair and pulled out the pins; causing her hair to tumble in wild curls to her shoulders. “My beautiful wife,” he whispered; tilting her chin to look at her. “I won’t hurt you, I would prefer to hurt myself and I promise to love you with all my being.”