The Other Side of Divine

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  How would opening that one envelope change things? But more importantly: Would opening that envelope destroy them all?

  Chapter 35

  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

  —John 3:8

  “It’s almost here,” Jasmine said to Gabrielle as Miss Crowe looked on with a smile. “Your wedding day is tomorrow.” Jasmine stood and started doing a dance called The Running Man.

  Miss Crowe laughed. “Go on, girl! Do it. Because I sure can’t do that.”

  Jasmine giggled as she danced, then stopped. “One more day.” She held her index finger in the air. “One more day! One! One! One!”

  “My goodness, you’d think this was your big day or something,” Gabrielle said as she bent down and gingerly kissed her daughter on her nose.

  “It is,” Jasmine said. “Miss C and I have done our parts. We’ve put together everything we could think of to make this a grand day.”

  “That’s for sure,” Miss Crowe said. “And after this is all over, I’m going to find myself a nice cave, crawl up in it, and sleep for days.”

  “Well, I can’t wait until tomorrow. It feels like Christmastime. Dr. Z and Mama will officially be joined together in holy matrimony as one. And I can’t wait!” Jasmine jumped up and down.

  “You sure do have a lot of energy,” Miss Crowe said. “I remember when I could jump around like that.”

  “Tonight is the rehearsal and after that, the rehearsal dinner,” Gabrielle said. “I just hope everybody makes it.”

  “I talked with Jade last night. She said they were going over to her father’s this weekend,” Jasmine said.

  “But they’re all in the wedding,” Gabrielle said. “If they go with him this weekend, how are they going to also be in the wedding?”

  “Jade said her father was going to bring them to rehearsal tonight and home for the wedding tomorrow,” Jasmine said. “But it was his weekend to get them so even though Miss Tiffany wasn’t happy about it and tried to get him to change his time to next week, Jade said he wasn’t budging and they were still going with him.”

  “Maybe you should call Tiffany and see what’s going on,” Miss Crowe said to Gabrielle. “Everybody has had June tenth and eleventh on their calendars long enough that she should have fixed this problem before it became one.”

  Gabrielle nodded. This was exactly why she didn’t want to have a big wedding. There were always so many moving parts and too much on tap for something to go wrong. Even though she wasn’t doing as much of the planning as Miss Crowe and Jasmine, who were coming up with all of these elaborate ideas and had finally been convinced to enlist the planning services of Melissa Peeples, she was still feeling some stress and pressure.

  Gabrielle called Tiffany, who, although herself frustrated about Darius’s latest antics, assured Gabrielle he’d promised to bring the kids to the rehearsal even if they didn’t stay for the dinner and to have them at her house at ten o’clock in the morning, long before the official three o’clock wedding hour struck.

  Tiffany got out a little bit of her fury about Darius and all the crazy stuff he seemed to be doing these days. He’d filed for divorce over a month ago, which Tiffany admitted she really hadn’t wanted. He was with some woman named Divine who all three of her children were crazy about, which she wasn’t as upset about. If Darius was going to be with someone, she’d prefer it be someone her children liked being around and who would treat them right. But still, she was having a hard time accepting that Darius cared so little about them that he’d moved on as easily as he had.

  Gabrielle didn’t want to be insensitive, but she had enough on her mind thinking about all the things that could go wrong with her wedding tomorrow. She still wasn’t sure Zachary’s mother, Leslie, was going to show up. Some of the out-of-town guests were either already in town or en route. Zachary was picking up his sister, Queen, and her husband and son from the airport that afternoon as well as his father and brother, who were flying in from Chicago and arriving around the same time. Gabrielle knew Queen (coming in from Florida) had likely planned it that way to help her brother. Queen was detailed like that.

  Zachary continued to believe his mother would change her mind and come. Miss Crowe had given Leslie more than a piece of her mind about her foul attitude and selfish actions. Gabrielle just felt bad for Zachary. It had to hurt knowing that your own mother was going to deliberately miss out on your only wedding. And that’s what Zachary said it would be. He said after marrying Gabrielle there would not be another wedding ceremony for him unless he and Gabrielle were renewing their vows in the future. But to know that his mother hated the woman he’d chosen to marry so much that she’d refuse to come and witness it had to hurt.

  Rehearsal went beautifully. Darius kept his word and brought the children to the rehearsal as promised. He did bring his new girlfriend with him, which was a bit awkward for Tiffany, who was trying hard to act like it wasn’t getting under her skin.

  Jasmine and Jade were junior bridesmaids. Dana was the flower girl with Junior as the ring bearer. Tiffany, Queen, and Tameka (another friend from church) were Gabrielle’s bridesmaids. Zachary’s older brother Yancey, his cousin Michael from Toledo, Ohio, who also flew in earlier that day, and a colleague named Peter, were Zachary’s groomsmen, also assigned to escort the bridesmaids out when they exited after the ceremony. Three months pregnant now, Fatima Adams Howard was Gabrielle’s matron of honor, and Zachary’s father, Zechariah, (who everyone called Zachary) stood as his son’s best man. There were ushers and greeters, and instead of getting friends to be hostesses and have them serve food at the reception, Miss Crowe made sure the caterer hired enough people to serve the hundreds of expected guests.

  Benjamin “Bennie” Booker would be escorting his daughter down the aisle, giving her away. He couldn’t have been more humbled that Gabrielle had asked him.

  Bennie had thought for sure Gabrielle wouldn’t want him anywhere near her wedding, let alone standing next to her, walking with her to meet the love of her life. But Bennie had proven trustworthy since his arrival back in January. He’d secured a full-time job, thanks to a wonderful program Pastor Landris and Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center sponsored. And he’d defied his sister Cee-Cee, convincing Jesse to make a change in his life, starting by admitting he had a problem, then accepting the help being offered him by the church. Cee-Cee may have been the same Cecelia Murphy, but Bennie was proving he was a different Benjamin Booker than all those years ago.

  “I’m moving forward, and I’m not going back,” Bennie had said when giving a testimony a month ago. “If God can save me, if God can change me, if God can love me, if God can forgive me, then what are you waiting on to give your life to Him? All you need to do is take one step, that’s all. Step out on faith and watch God work a work in you and your life. I’m not telling you what I’ve heard; I’m telling you what I know!”

  After his testimony, five people came up to him and asked what they needed to do to be saved. And this was not even in a church. Bennie was in the store being measured for his tux. Zachary couldn’t stop talking about how powerful and moving that was, even for him. When he and Bennie were riding home, Zachary said he asked Bennie to forgive him for the way he’d acted toward him.

  “Your father told me if God could forgive him for what he’d done, there’s no way he could ever deny forgiving anyone else for anything they may have done to him,” Zachary told Gabrielle. “That Jesus had gone through way more than he ever had and Jesus continues to forgive. Your father then said, ‘I’m following Jesus just like the name of my new church says. I’m a follower of Jesus, faith and worship center in the flesh.’ I told him he definitely was that. He actually prayed the prayer of salvation for folks in a tuxedo rental store. If that’s not being a faith worship center, I don’t know what is. Your father then said, ‘Well, it’s like Pastor La
ndris said last Sunday. We are the church. Wherever we go, there should the church be also. Those men wanted to know what they needed to do to have what I have. At that moment, all I could hear was: The doors of the church are open.’ ”

  Zachary laughed recounting that to Gabrielle. She’d almost cried seeing how far God had brought not only her, but her father. She could have turned him away and who knows what might have happened. But she’d prayed about what to do. And as always, the Holy Spirit had led and guided her. She could say without a doubt: God had not failed her yet. Even when it looked like it, hanging in there and trusting God proved out the faithfulness of God. There was truly something about the Spirit of God that just changes things.

  Gabrielle looked out as everyone was eating. People were laughing and talking, having a great time of fellowship. And this was just the rehearsal dinner. She couldn’t wait until tomorrow when she would walk down the aisle and eventually into the arms of the man who had been like wind beneath her wings. The man who had encouraged her to stretch out her wings, even when the storms came, and soar above the storm. The man who had brought back into her life the woman who was going to stand in as the mother of the bride: Ms. Esther Morgan Crowe, better known affectionately to her as Miss Crowe.

  Chapter 36

  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

  —Psalm 119:83

  “Happy wedding day!” Jasmine said, jumping on Gabrielle’s bed. “It’s time to get up! It’s a glorious day! The sun is shining and all is right with the world! So wake up!”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Girl, I know you didn’t come in here and wake me up at”—Gabrielle looked at the clock on her nightstand—“six-seventeen on a Saturday morning.”

  Jasmine shook her. “Not just any old Saturday morning. It’s the start of a new day and a new life with Dr. Z.”

  Gabrielle threw back the covers, jumped out of the bed, and laughed. “Ha!”

  “You’re dressed. You have your clothes on already,” Jasmine said, noting Gabrielle was wearing her pink summer jogging suit she’d given her for Mother’s Day with the assistance of Dr. Z.

  “Yes,” Gabrielle said. “I’ve been awake since a little after four o’clock this morning. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I decided to just get up and get dressed.” Gabrielle hugged Jasmine and brushed back her bang. “Are you happy?”

  Jasmine grinned and kissed Gabrielle nippily on the cheek. “Oh, yes. I’m very happy.”

  “Knock, knock!” Miss Crowe said, rapping her knuckles on the opened door. “Look at you. You’re already up and dressed. And to think I didn’t want to wake you too early,” Miss Crowe said to Gabrielle. “And you, Miss Lady, I see you’re up as well.”

  “I guess that means the Daughters of Zion are all excited today,” Jasmine said. “That’s what you called us one time. Right, Miss C?”

  “I did. And we three indeed have a special bond.” Miss Crowe gingerly sat down on the bed between the two of them. “Well, this is the day.”

  “That the Lord has made!” Jasmine said, taking it over.

  “And we will rejoice and be glad in it,” Gabrielle said.

  “That’ll preach,” Miss Crowe said. “Although when I began by saying this is the day, I wasn’t trying to start a praise party here. But I’m down with it, or is it up? But that’ll work.” She nodded. “So, Miss Gabrielle Mercedes, are you about ready to become Mrs. Gabrielle Mercedes Morgan?”

  Gabrielle placed her hand on her heart. “Today is the day. And I can say without any hesitation: I am so ready. I love him so much, Miss Crowe. I do.”

  Miss Crowe took Gabrielle by the hand and patted it. “I have something for you.” She reached up behind her neck and unclasped the necklace she was wearing. Holding it out to Gabrielle, she said, “Something old and something borrowed.”

  Gabrielle smiled. “Miss Crowe. It’s the necklace you wore in that picture you took with that beautiful dance outfit that time.”

  “Yes,” Miss Crowe said. “You always seemed to love it when you’d look at the picture. I was thinking you might want to wear it today.”

  Gabrielle smiled and nodded. “Absolutely. I would be honored to. It looked so beautiful on you.”

  “And it’s going to look just as beautiful on you with your wedding dress.”

  “She’s already given you your something new,” Jasmine said. “Your wedding dress is new.”

  “You’re right,” Gabrielle said. “And I can’t wait for Zachary to see me walk down the aisle in it.”

  “Oh, that poor, man,” Miss Crowe said. “He’s not going to be able to contain himself when he sees you. He may even tell good old Pastor Landris to skip all the other stuff on schedule and just get to the pronouncement of man and wife part.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Miss Crowe.”

  “I’m serious. Jazz and I have seen you in that dress and you’re a knockout. And that was even before hair and makeup,” Miss Crowe said. “And, incidentally, your hairdresser will be at the church to style your hair. And I got—wait for it now—the wonderful Jestina to come in with her crew to not just do your makeup, but the whole wedding party.”

  “Me too?” Jasmine said, innocently and jokingly.

  “Your hair? Yes,” Gabrielle said. “Makeup? Not on your life.”

  “Jade’s mother lets her wear lip gloss,” Jasmine said.

  “Well, I may let you put on a little lip gloss, but that’s it for you, missy.” Gabrielle tapped Jasmine on her nose.

  “So you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and there’s one other thing you’re supposed to have.” Miss Crowe drummed her fingers on the rumpled up duvet. “What is it?”

  “Something blue!” Jasmine said, raising her arm high in triumph.

  “Something blue, huh?” Miss Crowe said. “Well, what do we have that might fit that bill? What do we have?”

  Jasmine got up and ran out of the room, coming back just as quickly. She held out a small box. “Something blue!”

  Gabrielle smiled. She already knew what it probably was, but she played along, taking the box, and opening it. “Oh, look! It’s a blue garter.”

  “I don’t know what that thing is or what it’s for,” Jasmine said. “But Miss C said you’re supposed to have one. She said her mother used to wear them for real, but this one is only symbolic.”

  “Well,” Gabrielle said, hugging Jasmine, “it appears I’m all set.”

  Miss Crowe stood up. “I’m going to fix some breakfast, and then we can make our way to the church. They have private rooms all ready for the women as well as a room for the guys to get dressed. Everybody is to meet us there by eleven o’clock so we can get all dolled up.”

  Gabrielle put her head down and her hands up to her face as she began to cry.

  “Honey, what’s the matter?” Miss Crowe said, hugging Gabrielle.

  Jasmine touched Gabrielle’s leg. “Mama, why are you crying?” Gabrielle shook her head with her hands still covering her face.

  Miss Crowe pulled Gabrielle’s hands down. “I suppose you should get it all out now. We wouldn’t want you to ruin your makeup crying later. The photographers are going to be taking lots of pictures after the ceremony, and we don’t want to look back at your wedding album and flinch because of a mascara-streaked face.”

  Gabrielle laughed, and then hugged Miss Crowe. “Thank you. Thank you, so much. You don’t know what all of this means to me. My mother isn’t here—”

  “She is . . . in spirit. I believe she’s with you in spirit.” Gabrielle nodded her agreement. She looked in Miss Crowe’s eyes. “You . . . have been . . . in my corner for so long. When I didn’t feel like I mattered or that anyone loved me, you were there. Then you gave me another great gift: a love of dance. And that gift freed me in so many ways I’ll never be able to suitably put into words. I just want you to know that outside of everything you’ve done for me, not even talking about the amount of money you’ve generously poure
d into this wedding. You’ve been like a mother to me. And that’s why . . . that’s why I couldn’t think of anyone, with the exception of maybe Johnnie Mae Landris, I’d want occupying the place my mother would have been sitting if she were here to see me marry.”

  “Oh, baby,” Miss Crowe said, pulling her closer. “And you have no idea how humbled and honored I was when you asked me to sit in the place of mother of the bride. God blessed me to have met you. And whether you realize it or not, you’ve blessed my life as much as you say I’ve blessed yours. Therefore, I say we’re even.”

  “Oooooh,” Jasmine said. “And I love both of you.”

  Gabrielle and Miss Crowe pulled away from each other and pulled Jasmine into the love fest as they all laughed and hugged.

  Chapter 37

  Behold, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.

  —Isaiah 10:33

  “Are we still going to Gabrielle’s wedding?” Paris asked Andrew, who was playing with Braylen in the den.

  Andrew’s attention didn’t deviate one iota from Braylen. “We RSVP’d and said we were, didn’t we?” He bounced Braylen up and down on his lap several times making squealing effects of “Weeee!”

  “Well, if we’re going, we need to start getting ready. The wedding is at three o’clock, but I’m sure it will probably be full by then so we probably need to get there no later than two to get good seats.”

  “You go on and get started. I’ll take Braylen and get him ready.” Andrew held Braylen up in the air. Braylen made a gurgling sound as he shoved his whole fist in his mouth, causing a stream of spit to flow down like water poured from a pitcher.