by Forever Redd
Karley raised her glass, and I raised mine. Our glassed touched, and I added her signature line, “I’ll drink to that.”
Once again, there we were toasting to my happiness.
*****
Jody
Only forty-eight hours had passed since I’d seen Rosita, but I was so anxious that it appeared I was greeting a long lost relative. I went to the wet bar in the room, grabbed a mini bottle of Grey Goose, and swallowed the whole thing in one gulp. I needed to calm my nerves, like right now. I was scheduled to meet my bride in less than four hours and there I was ready to run up in the next bitch. That wasn’t right. I loved her, but Rosita just felt so good.
The way that girl whispered in my ear, the way she swallowed me whole. She was definitely one to keep around just for a good ego stroke and definitely some more of that fire head. The best part about it was she didn’t speak English, so who could she tell? Maybe I could have them both.
A soft knock at the door let me know the Spanish cutie was there to deliver some real deal room service. Clad in a pair of red basketball shorts and a plain white wife beater, I bopped to the door to allow entry for my Spanish-speaking guest. Rosita sauntered in with her head held high, shoulders back, and breasts poked out. She had her silky hair out and naturally curly as though she had just stepped from a nice hot shower. She was dressed in some form fitting, hip hugging, low-rise jeans that were at least two sizes too small. She had a camel toe so thick it looked more like an elephant hoof. Just the sight of her had me as hard as Chinese arithmetic. Rosita turned to face me with a smile that graced her pouty mouth and then ran into my awaiting arms.
Wrapping her long legs around my waist and whispering sweet nothings in my ear, Rosita had me dazed and confused.
I groped and squeezed all over her young body before laying her down in the plush king sized bed in the hotel room. Rosita kicked off her heels and removed her shirt in one swift motion. She wasn’t wearing a bra and her perky breasts were set free from the confines of her shirt. I watched as I stroked my thick dick through the thin fabric of my shorts. Rosita noticed my gaze and stood up on the bed slowly removing her skintight jeans. She wiggled her hips to slide the jeans down with a little more ease, but she was rolling and grinding in a seductive little dance.
This bitch sexy as fuck, I thought.
With her jeans lowered, I got an eyeful of that fat pussy. Juicy and bald, just the way I liked ‘em. I grabbed her by the ankles causing her to fall flat on the mattress and bounce upward from her fall. I gripped the denim and snatched them completely off. I laid down on top of Rosita and traced the outline of her face with my warm wet tongue.
Rosita shivered underneath me as I whispered in her ear the only words I ever spoke to her, “Say you want it.”
Rosita moaned and cooed. That worked for me.
After the bachelor party, I had gotten her number and continued fuckin’ her soon after, that lil’ pussy was addictive.
I stepped out of my basketball shorts, free ballin’. I went straight to diggin’ Rosita’s young back out. She handled hers like a trooper and met me stroke for stroke, lick for lick. When we both got our shit off, Rosita got dressed and left. Another best about her, she meet me, fucked me and got on through. Or it could have been the grand that I dropped on her each visit.
When I heard the soft click of the door, I reached on the nightstand to retrieve my phone and called Victoria. I did that shit all the time, ran up in something and then called Victoria. I wasn’t sure if it was out of guilt or what. It could have been because I was thinking that maybe she was doing dirt too. I had a million and one thoughts running through my head, and it was beginning to give me a headache. I looked at the small bottle on the nightstand and thought about taking a pill to calm my nerves, but I knew I didn’t need them.
Fuck ‘em, fuck ‘em all! I thought and then placed my call.
*****
Victoria
I had gotten my hair done already that morning by my stylist and bridesmaid, Tabitha, a cool ass white girl. Tabitha wore her fire engine red hair cropped close and tiny spikes protruded from the top. She dressed as a preppy white girl, but she had the talk, walk, and the body of a black one. Plus, she was a beast with some scissors.
“Okay, girl, check dat out and tell me what you like or don’t like,” Tabitha said while handing me a mirror.
I was just about to tell her how I was digging my hair when I heard Jeezy coming from my phone. I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, he sang. I hopped up to grab my phone from my purse to see what Jody was calling me for. My nerves couldn’t take much more, and the baby was not team Victoria, either.
“Hello,” I said into the phone, waiting for bad news like he couldn’t make it or he changed his mind. Everything negative was running through my head.
“May I speak with Mrs. White, please?” Jody said in the most professional tone that he could muster. I exhaled not even realizing I was holding my breath.
“This is she,” I responded in agreement to the little game Jody was playing.
“Mrs. White, there seems to have been a mix up at the jewelers, but don’t worry I have sent the proper piece to your home and the delivery should be arriving any minute.”
As if on cue, the doorbell sounded.
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
I tied the belt a little tighter on my satin robe and walked to the door. I peeked out the window to find a handsomely dressed Leon with a box in his hand. He was dressed in a snow-white tuxedo, red cummerbund, and ascot. He had red and white wing backed Stacy Adams on his feet, and a fresh pink rosebud in his lapel.
“Mrs. White?” he asked as though he didn’t know who I was. I played along.
“Yes, how may I help you?” I clutched the phone tighter to my ear and I listened to my baby breathe on the other end.
“This is for you,” he said while handing me the box. “Congratulations.” With that, he left.
I raced to the table to snatch the bow off the small box, and there I found a Tiffany Jazz triple drop Pendant. It was absolutely beautiful. My mouth just hung open and my tears stained my cheeks. I was at a loss for words.
Jody broke the silence, “Ma?”
I couldn’t formulate the words to say anything. The necklace was so beautiful. I felt bad that I was keeping a secret, searching for the right moment, and there he was with his mind on me.
“Thank you so much, it’s beautiful,” I managed to choke out between sobs.
Jody allowed me to get myself together. “Ma, you are my queen. This is only the beginning. I love you, girl. Now, I’ma gon’ let you go get purty fa daddy, and I’ll see ya at the altar,” Jody drawled out his words before he disconnected the call.
12
Victoria
I had to get my makeup redone since I had begun to cry it off and get ready to slip into my Galina designed wedding gown. It was an organza gown with a pleated skirt, strapless, with sparkling beaded lace appliques, and a sweep train. I had my short wavy hair molded to my head giving me a more softened look. I didn’t want a veil, something about those things made me think death. Not only that, it was my time to shine. I wanted everybody in attendance to notice every detail, every stone, and every bit of perfection that would be displayed on me. On my head, I wore a simple flower and feather hair clip, just above my right ear, courtesy of David’s Bridal.
Karley and a few of the ladies helped me into my dress, and a few others fanned my face to keep the tears at bay. Just before heading out, Karley sent the bridal party ahead of us, and we stared at each other for what seemed like eternity.
“I love you and only want the best for you, and I think you found it.” She paused to wipe a tear that had begun to trickle down her face.
“I love you too, Karley. But I’m getting married, not moving out of the country,” I joked to make light of the situation.
“One last toast, you don’t even have to drink it, just toast with me, okay?” Karley stated in a pleading tone.
/> How could I say no? I just took the glass and raised it in the air.
“Cheers,” was all Karley said.
We walked out the door to meet the stretch limo that was waiting at the curb, me in front and Karley behind holding up my train. My thoughts were on nothing more than marrying the guy that actually loved me.
My grandma used to always say, “Never marry the man you love, chile. Marry the one that loves you.”
Her words rang true, and now I was looking forward to my future, my babies, and growing old with my Jody.
We finally arrived. The church was decorated with red roses and pink rosebuds throughout. There were lit long stem candles at the head and tail of each pew, and red and pink satin bows at the base of the candelabras. A white carpet was laid on the floor that led all the way up the aisle from the doorway straight to the altar. To the left entered the groomsmen, and to the right, the bridesmaids. I had six bridesmaids, a maid of honor, two flower girls, and one ring bearer.
The groomsmen marched half way up the aisle with one hand behind their backs and the other swinging with each step they took. Once they reached mid aisle, they awaited their appointed bridesmaid to enter from the right entrance where the groomsmen would present her with her bouquet and deliver her to her place at the altar. Since the bridesmaids all agreed to long pink dresses, Karley chose red. She said she didn’t want people to think she was just a bridesmaid, so she chose to go off on her own. Which I didn’t mind at all. I wanted her to be set apart from the rest.
That was my sister, my best friend, and my partner in crime. That was my maid of honor. Her dress was beautiful. It was a short charmeuse dress with a flutter sleeve. It had rhinestone embellishments on one side and nothing on the other, shoulder out. She looked amazing. Karley took her time sauntering down the aisle while Leon waited on bended knee. She retrieved her bouquet, and Leon placed a delicate kiss on her hand.
After those two clowns stole the show, Jody surprised the guests by walking down the center aisle with the ring bearer at his side. My little cousin, Austin, was dressed as an exact replica of Jody. At only four years old, he was already turning heads of both the young and the old. Once the duo took their places at the altar, two ushers presented themselves in all white tuxedos with red bow ties and matching cummerbunds. The ushers differed from the groomsmen by wearing bow ties and not ascots, and their shoes were all red. Instead of the pink rosebud, they had fully bloomed roses in their lapels. The ushers moved with military precision as they raised one leg high in the air, then lowering it and raising the other. They stepped out about two or three feet before rolling out the red carpet to take the place of the white.
My flower girls were next to step out. They were so cute in their powder pink lacy dresses and Shirley Temple curls on their heads with a single red rosebud above their little ears. My eyes began to glisten as they pranced down the aisle leaving a trail of pink rose petals in their wake.
Daddy patted my hand as I gripped his forearm. “My princess, I have dreamed of this day from the moment I held you in my arms. Be happy, be fruitful, and most importantly, be true to yourself. Don’t let a man change anything more than your last name, baby.”
I wrapped my arms lovingly around my daddy’s neck. He was the greatest man that ever lived. He too was clad in a white tuxedo, but since he was my daddy and wanted to be recognized as the man giving his daughter away to be wed, he rocked a white fedora with a small red feather on the side and carried an all-white cane in his right hand with me at the left.
The bridal march started, and the guests stood and turned their attention to the back of the church where Daddy and I waited. He leaned down and kissed my cheek, then we strolled down the aisle to my awaiting husband.
“Who giveth this woman to be wed?” asked Reverend Joseph Cummings. Pastor at the Faith Love and Mercy Church of God, downtown Columbia, S.C. on Assembly St.
“I do,” my daddy bellowed so loud I slightly jumped. Daddy turned to me and gave me a peck on the forehead and offered Jody a firm hand to shake.
“Victoria and Major have prepared their own vows. Sacred vows that they will stand up to, live by, and dedicate themselves to committing all the days of their lives. Victoria,” Reverend Cummings said, handing me the microphone, letting me know I would be going first. I stared into Jody’s eyes long and hard, and I began.
“Jody, my best friend, my hero, my protector. You walked into my life at a point where nothing mattered. Anyway the wind would blow, I would go. Then, I met you. My life became sturdy. My life became solid. You ground me, Jody. You make me want to stop and smell the roses.”
Hence, the reason for the roses. That was the only flower present at my wedding and reception. Red roses symbolized love and romance, but the pink rose symbolizes grace, elegance, and admiration. I loved and admired Jody, so they seemed fitting for the occasion.
“On this day, Jody,” I continued, “I am dedicating my life to you. I commit myself to you.
I will cherish, respect, honor, and uphold the sanctity of our union as we will have now become one, for all the days of my natural life.”
Tears were being shed throughout the church and then Jody took the mic.
“Major,” the preacher said, alerting the church that it was his turn.
Jody wiped the tear that had fallen from my eye with the back of his index finger and began. “Victoria, women have come and gone throughout my life, some meant something, others did not. When I heard your voice, something inside of me sparked. The light, your light, shines within me. You complete me Victoria. I never thought it was possible to love someone more than myself, then I met you. On this day that I commit myself to you, I vow that I will love you unconditionally. I will put your life before my very own. I vow that I will forever provide for you, give my all and my last to you, and as long as there is breath in my body I will take my last breath for you. I vow to be your left hand while you operate with the right. I vow to be by your side forever, and the strides we take through this thing called life. Should you become weak, I vow to carry you. Today we become one. One mind, one spirit, one heart. I vow to cherish you as my wife, laugh with you as my friend, and stay faithful to only you, all the days of my life.”
Jody’s face was soaked with tears. The groomsmen started cheering, and some of the guests stood to their feet. I wanted to take him right there. His words were so well put together and heartfelt. Reverend Cummings took the microphone back and asked something about if there was just cause that we shouldn’t be wed.
Jody turned around real quick and scanned the church and said, “I dare ya.”
Everyone started laughing at the humor of my baby.
Finally, the pastor told him to salute his bride and Jody went crazy. The kiss started off as gentle and precious, then he stuck his tongue in my mouth, and I couldn’t help but allow him entry. I was so lost in the kiss. I hadn’t realized the preacher had cleared his throat twice.
I turned to my guests and yelled, “I’s married now,” and held up my left hand for the world to see. Jody and I jumped over the decorated wooden broom and headed out to the awaiting limo while the crowd blew bubbles from little plastic bottles.
The reception was being held at the Ft. Jackson Army Base NCO club. It was beautifully decorated in red, white and pink, the same as the colors as the wedding. Our theme was backyard barbecue since we were down south and nothing beats the barbeque down here. Yes, it was messy, but upon each white cotton tablecloth were wet naps. And instead of an actual napkin, we had plush hand towels for cleaning your sticky fingers. Hell, they shouldn’t even be that messy, people should know by now how to use a fork. We were southern, not primitive.
Since I was not the glitz and glamour type, my centerpieces were very simple. On each table sat one small fish bowl, pink glass stones aligned the bottom, and a red beta fish fluttered about in his new home. Someone from each table was more than welcome to take one with them. So not my idea of a centerpiece, but Jody said it was qui
ck simple and to the point.
We had a private caterer, some man my family knew and had known for years. He owned a barbecue spot in West Columbia, and they got down. We had a dessert buffet as well, with all the southern favorites. Jody and I agreed on a traditional cake. Three tiers, white icing, red accents, and the bride and groom on the top. Typical. We came to an agreement because no one ever really ate the cake. Well, old people and children and half the time the kids want the icing and the old folks wanted the cake part.
Jody’s old cheap ass wanted to cut the cake and separate the icing and the cake, that way they could have what they wanted and just not throw our money away. Since nobody would actually do that, I disagreed and settled on a cheaper cake designed by O-Simply Sweet. That was a chick in Irmo, who baked out of her home, but she was on point. There, problem solved.
I figured we could spend a few extra bucks on the favors since people were likely to keep those. Since Jody drove long distance shipping and freight, we had little eighteen-wheeler trucks with our names and the date printed on the side and the load was a pair of handcuffs as I was a parole officer.
I would never forget the day I got accepted for the position in Richland County. Jody and I were trying to save for the wedding, but he did take me to dinner and when I walked inside all he said was, “Cuff me, damnit,” then we fucked like he had just gotten home from a bid. The top of the truck closed and converted to a coin bank. The cuffs served a purpose and it was up to the new owner to figure it out. Fun, sexy, and usable. I thought it was a great favor.
After everyone was finished eating, and the dishes were cleared from the tables, Leon stood and tapped his glass with his fork. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? My name is Leon. I am standing up here to make a toast to Jody and Victoria. I ain’t wanna do it, but V said she would split my wig if I didn’t, and Jody said I better do it ‘cause V don’t play.” The crowd laughed at the joke and he continued. “Jody, I have known you for many years. You are my homie, and you are my brother. I couldn’t have prayed for a better wife for you than V. She is definitely the one for you, bruh. I wish y’all many years of happiness. To the Whites!” Leon said while raising his glass.
