by Tynessa
“Yes, Shan. I love Theodore, I’m in love with him and I’m sure I wanna marry him. He’s a good man and I couldn’t see myself marrying anyone else,” she said to me. Still, no love I saw in her eyes. I mean, don’t get me wrong; I think she likes him, a lot, but I don’t think it’s love.
“Say no more. Congrats, sis,” I hugged her. The clerk told her the total and as she was about to pay I stopped her.
“This is on me, boo. Consider it as a wedding gift,” I said as I handed the lady my black card.
“Oh my God, Shan. Thanks so much. I love you, girl.” she hugged my neck as tears rolled down her cheek.
I knew my sister’s heart wasn’t with Theodore but if she felt she was ready to marry him then I was going to be in her corner and have her back.
Star
I thanked my sister once again for buying my wedding dress when I dropped her off. On the way home I couldn’t get her question out my head. I only wondered what her reason was for asking me was I sure I wanted to marry Theodore. Am I sure this is what I wanna do? I questioned myself.
“Of course it is, Star!” I answered my own question out loud. “Theodore is a good ass man. Don’t fuck up and let another good man get away from you,” I continued to talk to myself.
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I pulled into my driveway. Theodore and I were now living together and I must say it felt damn good living with him. I ran my hand down my face and exited my car. My sister’s question was fucking with me hard.
“Hey, my wife-to-be.” Theodore meet me at the door. I smiled forcefully as I made my way inside.
“Hey, bae,” I said to him. He kissed me on the lips passionately. I guess he noticed I wasn’t that into it and he pulled back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked me.
“Nothing, just had a long day, that’s all.” I gave him another forced smile. “I think I’m going to head to bed.” I fake yawned.
“Okay, that’s fine. I have a lot of work to do in the office and once I’m done I’ll be in there,” he let me know. I kissed him passionately. This time I gave my all with that kiss. I kissed him like I’d never kissed him before; like it would be our last kiss we shared.
“I love you and don’t have me waiting too long,” I smiled.
“Fuck that work. I’m coming now.” He picked me up.
Inside our bedroom, Theodore and I wasted no time making love. Making love to his ass was like a breath of fresh air. Once we were finished I laid in his arms.
“Star, baby. Are you excited about the wedding? Is this something you really want to do?” he asked me out of nowhere.
“Baby, of course I am. I wouldn’t have even went as far as to getting a wedding dress if I wasn’t sure about marrying you,” I assured him. Why in the hell was everyone asking me that shit?
“That’s all I needed to hear. I love you and can’t wait to make you Mrs. Theodore James.” He smiled and kissed the top of my forehead. I smiled back as I straddled him. I loved that man with everything that’s in me and all the questions that were in my head earlier were gone.
Chapter 20
Ronny
I hadn’t heard from Denise since the altercation. The shit fucked with me because she didn’t call not once to check on her daughter. I knew it was some bold shit but I even went by her house to see what the fuck had gotten into her. I mean, she once loved and cherished her daughter so much and for her to just turn her back on her was trifling as fuck. When her neighbor informed me that she had moved I knew then that I had to do what I had to do. That was get full custody over Destiny.
“You ready for this?” Shan asked me as we pulled up to the courthouse.
“Hell yeah,” was all I said. I had no doubt in my mind that they would grant me full custody for Destiny. I mean, it wasn’t like I had a fucked up background. I’d only been incarcerated once and that was for a DUI. Other than that my shit was A-1. I was just about to hop out my ride when my phone rang.
“Yo?” I answered. It was a private number. At first no one said anything then Denise spoke.
“Ronny, it’s me,” she whispered. My jaws tightened. Just hearing her voice angered me.
“You might as well get fucking ready because I’m getting full custody of my daughter,” I said to her through clenched teeth.
“I’m not going to court, Ronny,” she informed me sadly. Shit, that was even better for me. I knew by her missing our court date they were going to automatically grant me full custody of my daughter, so that was music to my ears.
“He doesn’t like kids, so in order for us to be happy I have to let her live with you,” that sorry piece of shit said.
“What? So you choosing this nigga over your own fucking daughter?” I asked in disbelief.
“I deserve to be happy, Ronny and I can’t do that with her. I think she’ll be happy and better off with you and Shan. Just take care of her and tell her I love—” I cut her off by hanging up in her damn face.
I didn’t even want to hear her utter that bullshit out her mouth. There was no way in hell she could love my daughter. How could she say she loved her but turn her back on her for another nigga? That wasn’t love at all!
“Are you okay?” Shan asked me as she rubbed my back with tears running down her face. The phone was so loud that she heard everything that was said. I just nodded my head as I leaned over and kissed her lips. I was so thankful for her.
Wiping her tears with my thumb, I said, “Yeah, let’s just go in so we can get the paperwork for our daughter.” And we did just that.
***********
2 Months Later
Cornell
I sat in the corner of the strip club downing my fifth shot of patron. A nigga was past tipsy. I was trying with all my might to enjoy myself at this damn bachelor party. I wasn’t feeling this shit at all, though. I don’t know if it was because this nigga was marrying my baby mama or want. I mean, Theodore is cool but, damn, this whole wedding shit I was not feeling at all.
Then the shit Tykise said before she moved away kept replaying in my head over and over again. “I know you’re still in love with her, Nell. You just need to realize it and accept it. You’ll never be happy if you keep that shit balled up. Just let her know how you feel before it’s too late.” I shook my head and I waved the waitress over for another shot. She brought it in no time.
“Yo bruh, you good?” Ronny asked me. I just shook my head and downed my drink.
Rubbing his hands over his waves he asked, “You not feeling Star getting married, are you?” He was looking me dead in the eyes and I couldn’t lie if I wanted to.
“Hell nah, man. I tried to accept this shit but I can’t. I know she should be the last person I should want to be with or even have love for, but how can you let go of your first love?” I looked into my older brother’s eyes and asked, “Am I crazy?”
“Not at all. I mean, if that’s where your heart is then I say go get yo’ girl, bruh. At least let her know how you feel. Shit, everybody can see in your eyes that you’re still in love with the damn girl,” he laughed. “About time you realized it.”
“Man, I know it’s crazy but I never stopped loving that damn girl; but, because of the shit she did to me I could never be with her so I tried to convince myself that I was no longer in love. I tried but the shit just want go away,” I vented to my brother. Yeah, I was fucked up but a drunken mind speaks a sober thought.
“You know what,” Ronny said to me as he pulled me up. I staggered backwards but he grabbed me. “Let’s go!”
“Where we going? The party not over.”
“I’m taking you to get yo’ girl,” he said to me.
On the way out he huddled up with his dad and Bino. I’m assuming he told them what was up. I saw them nodding their heads in agreement then we was out the door.
Star
I was having a ball at the hotel room with my sister, Brooke, and a couple of ladies from Theodore’s office I’d met since we’d been together. We had two
exotic dancers there and we were having a ball. I saw Shan whisper something in Brooke’s ear then there was a knock at the door. She went to it and in walked Ronny and drunken Cornell.
“Can I talk to you for a minute outside?” Cornell asked me.
“Sure, is everything okay with CJ?” I asked him nervously as we walked into the hall. I knew Debbie had him but I wanted to make sure nothing happened to my baby.
“Yeah, he straight.”
“Okay, so what is it?” I folded my arms and waited for him to speak.
“I don’t think you should marry that nigga Theodore,” was all he said. I knew he was beyond fucked up because he was slurring when he spoke.
“Why not, Cornell?”
I watched as he ran his hand down his face then looked me dead in the eyes. “Because I’m still in love with you. I’m tired of fighting the shit. I’ve tried and tried to get you outta my system but I can’t. My heart has been with you damn near since the moment I laid eyes on you.” He paused. “You would think after all the shit we’ve been through I would be over you but I can’t let you go. I’m sick of acting like I’m okay about this fucking wedding when I’m not. I’m not, Starletta!” Cornell paced back and forth in the hall confessing his love to me. I was speechless. I just stood there looking at him.
“Cornell, what are you talking about?” I asked him. I knew he was drunk but I also knew when you’re drunk the truth comes out. How could he pull some shit like this the day before my wedding? Shit, this was all bad.
“I’m saying I’m still in love with you and I don’t want you to marry him. I think we should work on us.”
I shook my head. “I can’t do that, Cornell.” Now I had tears in my eyes.
“So you can sit here and honestly say you’re not still in love with me?” He kissed me passionately. The kiss was so sincere and like nothing I’d ever experienced in my life. I was the first to pull back.
“I love you, Cornell, but I’m not in love with you. My heart is with Theodore! That’s who I’m in love with, wanna be with, and who I’m going to marry tomorrow. I’m sorry,” I said as I opened the room door and walked in. I headed straight to the master suite. It wasn’t long before Brooke and my sister walked in.
“I’m guessing the party is over?” Brooke said as her and Shan climbed on the bed with me.
“I’m sorry, y’all. I’m not feeling it anymore.” I sat up. They informed me that they’d sent everyone home already.
“Cornell has some fucking nerve to come here talking about I shouldn’t marry Theodore,” I said angrily. I still couldn’t believe he did that shit. Shan and Brooke looked at one another then at me. What, they felt the same way too?
“He is still in love with you, Star,” Brooke said.
“I mean, I think it’s a plus that he even came over here spilling his guts out to you like that. That shows you how much he loves you right there,” Shan said.
“Well it’s a little too late for all that. I’m marrying the one I’m in love with tomorrow and I can’t wait. I mean, don’t get me wrong; I love Cornell, I really do, but us being together isn’t going to happen,” I let them know. I wasn’t even thinking about Cornell’s ass. I loved him but my heart belonged to someone else.
The next day I looked myself over in the mirror and smiled. I was finally marrying the man of my dreams and I couldn’t have been happier. Once everyone walked down the aisles and the doors swung open, I took one look at Theodore and smiled.
“Are you ready?” My dad asked me.
Taking a deep breath I said, “Yes, I am,” as my father and I prepared ourselves to walk down the aisle for me to marry the man of my dreams. I loved Theodore and I couldn’t have been happier at this very moment.
Epilogue
2 years later
Shaniqua
Brooke and Bino are at a great place in their lives and she is even planning their wedding that is taking place in six months. She is ecstatic about that. Her ex-husband Bo still gets the kids every summer. Bino still isn’t having his ass knowing where they live, though. Oh and Amber is still strung out on drugs and refuses to get help. Other than that, everything is good for the two of them.
As you all know, my sister was marrying Theodore two years ago, ‘the man of her dreams’ as she called him. Well when she got to the altar, I guess she had a change of heart. She announced to Theodore and everyone else that she couldn’t go through with marrying him because her heart was still with Cornell and she was tired of living a lie. Yes, to say I was happy would’ve been an understatement! I knew it would’ve been a mistake for her to marry Theodore. I liked him and thought he was a good guy, but I knew my sister’s heart wasn’t with him. It had always been with Cornell. Shit, even a blind man could’ve seen it.
When she let Theodore know that she couldn’t marry him, to my surprise, he wasn’t mad at all. He said he wished she would’ve let him know sooner then he walked out the church with his head held high. I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to have a problem meeting someone new. That man was the shit!
Well she and Cornell are now married with a six-month-old baby girl named Chasity. She is adorable.
Our parents are getting along great and every Sunday my mom cooks dinner for the family, with the help of Debbie. They are like the best of friends. Debbie and Daddy Willie have even turned their lives over to the Lord. Most importantly, she’s accepted Star and loved her like before.
Denise hasn’t called to check on Destiny and that is fine with Ronny and me. I’m assuming it is fine with Destiny, as well, because she has yet to even ask about her mother. Although I was praying that she wasn’t Ronny’s child at first, now I can’t imagine life without her. I love and treat her as if I birthed her myself.
My husband and I are still going strong and that is a good thing. I knew in my heart that he would get his shit together and that’s why I never gave up on us. Yes, he took me through it all but the kind of bond we’ve shared since day one is the kind that will never be broken. Call me a fool if you want, but if I had to go through the bullshit all over again to get to the place I’m at now, I would with no hesitation. That man and all four of our kids mean the world and more to me!
My husband is doing so good and even has his own bar and grill that he named, Honey! Oh, and we’re expecting our 5th child. I swear Ronny’s ass gets me pregnant on purpose.
Sometimes I sit back and laugh at all the bullshit we’ve been through. I guess that saying is true; sometimes you have to go through hell to get to heaven, because I can honestly say we all have been through hell. One thing I do know about all our relationships; they are definitely Unbreakable!!!!
The End
Coming November 3rd
Coming November 6th…..
Coming November 10th…….
Coming Soon……
