Destination Wedding

by Jacqueline J. Holness

  “I’m at home. Yeah, u can. When u coming over?” I texted.

  “I can be there in 30 mins,” he texted back.

  In that time, I put up the rest of the groceries, washed my face, put on eyeliner and mascara, ran my fingers through my locs, smoothed on shea butter, and slipped on a pair of dark blue stretch jeans and a half sweater that showed my stomach. When the security desk told me that Jovan was downstairs, Victor’s face flashed in my head, but I decided to let Jovan in anyway. I felt my heart pumping again.

  “Hey,” I breathed out as I cracked open the door and leaned on the doorframe.

  “Hey,” he said, standing still like he was afraid of me. I wanted to touch his smooth curly hair under his baseball cap.

  “I guess I should invite you in,” I said, without moving. “Are you gonna have me arrested if I do?”

  “You know I wouldn’t,” he said as he got closer to me without coming inside. “Chula convinced me to do that, but I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “You need to tell dat heffa that,” I responded. But I would hurt her, I said to myself as I fully opened my door, walked back in my home and plopped down on my couch. Jovan followed me in and sat down across from me.

  “So what do you wanna tell me?” I arched my back so he could see my sexy flat stomach. He had to miss my body as much as I missed his.

  “I wanted you to know something before you find out on some blog or from somebody else.”

  “What?” I said, looking at him directly in his eyes.

  “I’m going to ask Chula to marry me.”

  “Are you serious?” I screamed as I got up and charged at him. “After all of these months, you come over and tell me that you want to fucking marry this chick? Did your ass ever care about me?”

  Jovan moved before I got to him. I stared at him as he walked over to the door and closed it before he turned back to face me.

  “I care about you a lot, which is why I wanted you to hear it from me,” he said, sitting back down. “I love her, Mimi… I do… I never really thought about marrying anyone before I met her.”

  “All dis time we been together, I was hoping you would feel dat way bout me, and a few months after meeting this youngun, you want to marry her?” I screamed back. I hurled a picture of us from an end table at him and began pounding him. Mostly I was shadow boxing, since he moved back to get away from my blows.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he finally said as he came closer to me and held my arms behind my back. “I never, ever wanted to hurt you. I always told you I didn’t want to be in a relationship. You can’t say I didn’t, either.”

  I fell back on my couch and started sobbing into one of the cushions, not even caring that snot glazed my face. Then I felt Jovan behind me.

  “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he said, stroking my locs. “I can’t stand to see a woman cry. Please stop.”

  I turned and cried into his chest. And since I wasn’t sure if we would ever be alone again, I kissed him.

  “That was a goodbye kiss,” I said in between sobs.

  I was surprised when he kissed me back. We kissed back and forth like it was a game of tag. And then he moved to the edge of my locs, my ears, my neck, my arms, my fingertips and to my stomach. I kissed him everywhere I saw skin too. My tears dried, and our clothes seemed to melt away in the heat.

  • • •

  The next morning I snuggled into Jovan’s side as he lay on my bed. During the night, I heard his phone beep and I wondered if it was Chula trying to figure out where he was. I had been so tempted to text her and say, “U lost heffa. He’s ALL MINE.” The way we had been together throughout the night and in the morning proved that Jovan loved all of me. His words may have said one thing, but his body had said another over and over again. He stirred beside me before opening his eyes.

  “Oh snap, what time is it?”

  “Almost 10,” I replied. “I can make some breakfast for us.”

  “Naw, I gotta be somewhere soon.” He sat up, picked up his phone and looked at his messages.

  “So what are we going to do now?” I said as I moved across the bed to lean my head on his shoulder.

  “What are you talking about?” he said, giving me a full dose of his hot morning breath. I actually missed it.

  “Me and you,” I said, hoping my morning breath didn’t turn him off.

  “I told you last night,” he said softly.

  “But what about what happened after that and early this morning?”

  “We’ve always been good together, but I love Chula.”

  “You know what?” I said, jumping up from my bed and clutching the sheets around me. “Just get out! Erase my number! I don’t want to see you ever again!”

  Jovan threw on his wrinkled clothes and hurried out of my bedroom.

  “And you betta not slam my shit, punk-ass nigga!” I growled.

  I heard my front door close. My stomach was so queasy I ran into my bathroom and puked in the toilet. Victor was right. I got dressed and made myself go to a noon meeting.

  Destination Wedding Meeting #9

  Since the women couldn’t coordinate their schedules to meet in person for their September meeting, they instead opted to have a conference call on Senalda’s birthday. Usually Senalda celebrated her birthday with her girls, but Dexter said he wanted to take her out for her big day. He told her to be ready by 6 and to wear a party dress. She hoped her birthday present would be an engagement ring!

  “So are we all here?” Senalda said while sitting on her bed.

  “Present,” Jarena said.

  “Wazzup,” Mimi said.

  “Happy birthday!” Jarena and Mimi shouted together.

  “Awww, thank you! I’m older but better,” Senalda said with a curt laugh before changing her tone. “So have we made any progress on our individual goals? Jarena, have you started reading that book I gave you?”

  “If you mean How to Get a Date Worth Keeping, I have.” Jarena answered. “But as of today, I haven’t had any dates. If only my new pastor was single, I would ask him out.” She laughed.

  She couldn’t admit to her friends that the real reason that she likely wasn’t meeting anyone new was that she had fallen back in love with her married college sweetheart. By September, their communication had evolved from chatting on Facebook and texting to speaking on the phone at least once a day. She told herself their friendship was still harmless, that it was only happening because they happened to be in the same city for the first time since they graduated from college.

  “I’m going to act like I didn’t hear that last comment,” Senalda said. “No one likes a homewrecker. Do you still want to be married by the end of the year?”

  “Yes,” Jarena said slowly, pondering her answer, “but I don’t know how that is possible anymore since we’re nine months into it.”

  “Aren’t you the one enrolled at Emory’s school of theology?” Senalda said. “What about faith? I’m not even enrolled in theology school, and I have faith.”

  “Okay, you’re right,” Jarena said, although inwardly she remained unconvinced.

  “Mimi, what’s up with you?” Senalda said. “Is Jovan still calling you?”

  “Naw, he stopped calling a while ago since I stopped answering his calls and texts,” Mimi replied in a monotone. She wasn’t ready to tell her friends what happened with Jovan yet. Especially since Jarena had been right about his feelings for her, which got on her nerves because Jarena thought she was right about everything.

  “Good girl,” Senalda concluded. “So Miss Thang Mimi, have you caught someone else’s eye yet? Why don’t you give that doctor a call? The one that we met at The Veronique Experience.”

  “Didn’t I tell y’all that I went out with him and I was bored to def? He is jus not my type, okay?”

  “In that book I gave to Jarena, the author says you shouldn’t limit yourself to your type and you should go out on more than one date with someone to really tell if you like
them or not,” Senalda said.

  “I don wanna see him again,” Mimi said, rolling her neck as if her friends could see her.

  “So I guess you’re not serious about our goal then,” Senalda said.

  “I think Senalda is right,” Jarena interjected. “Give that man another chance! You could be passing up your blessing! In fact, you probably are.”

  “I am serious ’bout our goal,” Mimi said. “I just have a different approach to this whole thang than y’all do. And how do you know I’m passing up a blessing, Jarena? Don’t get all holier than thou with me!”

  “No one asked, but I’m hoping to get an engagement ring tonight for my birthday,” Senalda said as the excitement in her voice temporarily elevated its tone. “I miss spending my birthday with my girls though.”

  “Oh whatever,” Jarena said. “You could care less about kicking us to the curb now that you have a man.”

  “That’s not true,” Senalda said. “What are the two of you doing tonight?”

  “It’s a Netflix night for me,” Jarena said.

  “I aine sho yet,” Mimi said, “I’m thinkin’ bout going to an album release party for this new artist. Hey y’all, I gotta take this other call. Happy birthday again Senalda!” She quickly hung up the phone.

  “Well, I guess the meeting is over,” Senalda said. “So what are you watching tonight?”

  “I don’t know. Some ‘we’re-in-love-but-can’t-be-together’ romance movie,” Jarena said, followed by an uncomfortable combination of a giggle and a sigh.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t stay at home alone tonight,” Senalda said, sensing Jarena’s offhanded remark was masking her true feelings. “Maybe you should hang with Mimi at the album release party.”

  “Yeah, I may hang with her… We’ll see,” Jarena said. “I hope you get your heart’s desire tonight, birthday girl.”

  “I can’t believe I’m thirty-three,” Senalda said. “I remember when I turned thirteen!”

  “I know, right?” Jarena said. “Well, you’ve got it going on in every way.”

  “Everything but a ring, and I will have that too by tonight, hopefully,” Senalda said.

  “Well, let me know what happens tomorrow,” Jarena said.

  “I will!”

  “And happiest of birthdays again!”

  • • •

  Senalda hoped her friends concentrated on their collective goal, whatever they decided to do for the evening. For her evening, she chose a fuchsia one-shoulder sequined dress. She also put on the diamond stud earrings she bought herself for her thirty-second birthday—hoping that the sparklers wouldn’t be the only diamonds she wore home that evening.

  When Dexter arrived at her door, she was so excited she kissed him for at least twenty seconds before he even stepped all the way in.

  “Happy birthday to me,” he said in a husky tone as they pulled apart. “I hope I can make you feel as good tonight as you just made me feel. With a kiss like that, maybe we can just stay right here.”

  “Maybe we can come back here later,” Senalda said, nudging him toward the door. “So where is my birthday gift? I know you didn’t come here empty-handed!”

  “Oh, it’s in the car,” Dexter said. “You ready?”

  “Of course,” Senalda said.

  The outside motion lights activated as they walked to Dexter’s car. She quickly scanned the front passenger seat for a little box, but there was nothing.

  After they got in his car, he turned, looked around and said, “Sen, please don’t be mad, but I forgot your gift at my house. Do you mind if we go back to my house to get it?”

  “All the way to Alpharetta?” Senalda said. “Do we have reservations anywhere? I don’t want to be late.”

  “Where we are going tonight doesn’t need reservations, but I do want to give you your gift,” Dexter replied.

  “Okay,” Senalda said, trying to keep a pleasant expression on her face. Her inner control freak, however, wanted to regulate.

  As Dexter drove, he tried to tell her about his day and anything else he could think of, but Senalda gave him one-word answers or just nodded. Nearly an hour later, they pulled into his driveway.

  “I will be right back, okay?”

  “Okay,” Senalda said, giving him her best feminine-not-bossy smile.

  Minutes later, he returned. “Can you come inside for a second?” Dexter said. “I want to show you something before I give you your gift.”

  “Dexy, what’s going on?”

  “Woman, be quiet and follow me, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said quietly while following him into the front entrance of his home. “Can you turn on the lights? I can’t see.”

  The lights came on then as people appeared from everywhere and yelled “Surprise!!!”

  For a moment, Senalda was silent, momentarily rattled by the wall of people. And then she saw people she recognized. Whitney and Richie. Jarena. Mimi. Her assistant Nashaun. She saw an older woman and man who appeared to be Dexter’s parents.

  “Happy birthday, Senalda,” Dexter said. “Are you surprised?”

  “Is this a surprise birthday party for me?”

  “All for you.” Dexter handed her thirty-three fuchsia roses before kissing her on her quivering lips. “I want to thank your friends for helping me to coordinate this surprise.”

  He turned and faced the crowd. Senalda wasn’t a crier, but she felt pressure around her eyes before she blinked while waving her hands in her face. Her girls circled around, hugging her as Dexter stepped to the side. She was glad for the support of their arms as the realization of what was happening made her lightheaded with joy and expectation. It would only make sense for the proposal to be next.

  “You guys are some good liars,” she said to her girls. “I had no clue.”

  “So what’s a party without some music?” Mimi shouted, stepping out of the circle. “I need the deejay to get it poppin’ up in here.”

  A deejay stationed near Dexter’s patio doors stroked his turntables, emitting a jam that ignited spontaneous dancing. “Thank you so much, Dexter,” Senalda said, standing on her toes, speaking directly into his ear.

  “I told you we didn’t need reservations,” Dexter said with a cocky grin.

  She laughed. He introduced her to his parents, co-workers, and friends before she felt a vibration in her purse. She reached in it to retrieve her cell phone.

  “Hi Mommy,” Senalda said while walking into Dexter’s kitchen.

  “How is the surprise party?” said Gloria Maria Warner.

  “You knew, Mommy, and you didn’t even tell me!” Senalda said. “Did you plan this party with Dexter? You haven’t even met him yet!”

  “Nashaun put him in touch with me so I got to know him a little bit. I wish I could be there to see it. It sounds like you are surprised, no?”

  “I am,” Senalda said.

  “So have you cut your cake yet? I made a rum cake for you and shipped it to Nashaun.”

  “Mommy, my favorite,” Senalda said while opening the kitchen door to walk back into the party and look for the cake.

  As if on cue, Nashaun flicked the lights on and off and yelled, “Time for the birthday cake!”

  On Dexter’s dining room table was a colossal white sheet cake next to a smaller Puerto Rican rum cake, a golden-brown Bundt cake.

  “You called at the right time,” Senalda said. “I’m going to put you on speaker so you can hear everything, okay?”

  “I hope I can hear,” Gloria Maria said.

  “Y’all come on over here because we need to cut this birthday cake for my boss and my friend, the one and only Mizz Senalda Warner,” Nashaun yelled as a trail of sweat moistened the shimmering makeup she had applied to her pushed-up already large cleavage. “But y’all know we can’t cut this cake without singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to her first.” Leaning back in her tight gold lame minidress, Nashaun began singing like she was in church, moving her billowing arms as if she was directing the choir a
nd motioning for everyone to join in with her.

  “Mizz Warner, are you ready to cut your cake?” Nashaun said to her once the group finished singing. “And this cake right here is the main birthday cake for everyone but this one over here is a special Puerto Rican rum cake aaaall the way from the Bronx. Mizz Warner will let y’all know if you can have some of her special birthday cake so y’all betta not try to get some of this cake right here.”

  “Thank you, Nashaun,” Senalda said in a steady tone, attempting to soften the spectacle of her gold-toothed assistant.

  “You know I got you,” Nashaun said as Senalda hugged her. “Blow out your candles, but make a wish first!”

  Senalda was glad to only see three instead of thirty-three. She crossed her fingers as she blew them out. Then, she took a large cake knife from Nashaun to cut slices for people nearby the table before cutting rum cake slices for herself and Dexter. She hoped a proposal from Dexter was coming next, but two hours later, the crowd had thinned out without anything happening. Although Senalda loved Dexter for making her birthday the most special one she remembered having since she was a little girl, she wondered if it would come and go without her getting the one birthday gift she wanted. Nashaun was the last person to leave.

  Before leaving, she whispered into Senalda’s ear at the door. “Mizz Warner, you got a good ole man! You better hold on that man too. And he fine. And he got a good job. And he got this big ole house. Ummm ummm.” She backed away and said loudly, “See you on Monday if you can make it in.”

  “You know your assistant is crazy, right?” Dexter said after he locked the door.

  “Yeah, she’s fun at work though,” Senalda said.

  “So the only detail I think I missed is packing an overnight bag for you to stay over,” Dexter said, pulling Senalda to him.

  Senalda seriously considered going home at that point. But then she thought maybe Dexter wanted to propose to her when they were by themselves since he did invite her to stay the night. One iota of hope was left within her, and she clung to it with all she had.