by Tina Martin
Sherita giggled then said, “You better stop talking about my man like that.” She remembered a time she used to think Desmond was nuts. Now that she knew him, understood him and loved him, she thought the world of him.
“I’m only kidding,” Emily said. “Seriously, though, are you ready to spend your life with a Champion man? Judging by the way he was looking at you and locking lips with you last night, I guess you have no choice but to be ready, huh?”
Sherita’s smile grew, even amidst the nausea. “Yes, I’m ready. I think it’s so funny how I ended up with the very man I said I wouldn’t give the time of day. I guess, deep down, I really did like him.”
“Just as I suspected.”
“You didn’t suspect anything, Em.”
“Oh yes I did. I saw you checking him out a few times.”
Sherita’s eyes twinkled. “I’ve always found him attractive, but he has a certain arrogance about himself.”
“Girl, they all do. Melanie said the same thing about Dimitrius.”
“She did?” Sherita asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yes. She didn’t tell you how Dimitrius walked right up to her and said that he chose her to be the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with?”
“Dimitrius did that?” Sherita asked, surprised.
“He sure did,” Emily said. “I see we have a lot to talk about on our girl nights.”
Sherita nodded. “Being married to successful, interesting men will always give us something to talk about. They are something else.”
“Yes they are,” Emily agreed. “One thing is for certain though.”
“What’s that?”
“Like Melanie said, when a Champion wants you, he wants you and trust me, Desmond Champion loves himself some Sherita.”
Sherita smiled. “Just as much as Dante loves him some Emily. Is he still telling everybody you’re his paradise wife?”
The women laughed.
“Girl, yes. He told Mr. Westwood that when he introduced me to him.”
“That’s so sweet,” Sherita said.
“I heard Desmond used to call you his kryptonite…said you made him weak.”
Cheeks turning a shade of red, Sherita said through a smile, “He didn’t say that, did he?”
“Sure did…even before y’all were married,” Emily confirmed. “That’s why he was avoiding you for so long…’cause you made him weak.”
The women laughed together.
“And now look at you guys,” Emily said. “The woman he was avoiding, who ironically was the same woman who made him weak, turned out to be the best thing he never knew he needed.”
Sherita’s smile widened.
“Now go ahead and put that dress on, girl.” Emily glanced at her watch. “I have to get dressed shortly.”
“Okay.” Sherita took the dress from the bed, heading for the bathroom. She quickly undressed, carefully removing the tag from the three-thousand dollar dress then stepped into it, pulling it up her small frame. She slid the zipper up to secure the dress, then looked in the mirror. It fit her body perfectly, and with the ruffles draped in front of it, you couldn’t see her tiny baby bump. She stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom where Emily was waiting. “How does it look, Em?”
Emily’s mouth fell open. “Absolutely amazing.”
Sherita looked at herself in the full body mirror on the bedroom wall. The dress was amazing, so amazing it would make her blend in with the brides. The thought of it made her think about the wedding she never had. She’d taken tons of pictures of other people’s weddings and in the back of her mind, she always knew her time would come eventually, but a courthouse wedding was all she had. There were no pictures. No saved memories. There was nothing special about that day.
She used to imagine how she would feel, walking down the aisle with her eyes locked on her man, marrying him in front of friends and family. Dancing with them. Celebrating love with them. But her happily ever after didn’t happen the way she thought it would. She’d gotten married first (to a man she didn’t love), gotten pregnant shortly thereafter, then fell madly in love. How backwards was that?
She smiled, thinking about it. So what – they didn’t have a wedding. She had Desmond, and that’s all that mattered.
“Now we need to do something to your hair,” Emily said.
“My hair?” Sherita said, looking at her hair in the mirror now. “I just got it done yesterday. What’s wrong with it?”
“Well, first of all, I need to brush the back,” Emily said, taking a brush from Sherita’s purse. “Looks like Desmond has been playing in it again.”
Sherita giggled.
After Emily finished brushing her hair, she said, “And you need a flower or something in it?”
Sherita frowned. “A flower?”
“Yes. Remember, we have to blend in.” Emily took hair pins from her purse, then plucked two white roses from a fake bouquet that was used as décor in the room.
“Then where’s your flower, Em?”
“It’s in my suitcase…putting it on after I get dressed.” Emily finger-combed Sherita’s hair behind her right ear. Then she pinned three roses in her hair, just above her ear. “You like?”
Sherita looked in the mirror. “Yes. It looks nice. Thanks, Em.”
“You’re welcome. Now let me get out of here so I can get dressed.”
“All right, Emily. See you in a few.”
Emily stopped in her tracks, turned back to look at Sherita.
“What’s wrong?” Sherita asked.
“Nothing. I…I just wanted to say that—” She took a breath. “I wanted to say that I’ve appreciated your friendship over the years, Sherita, and I’m so glad you’re my sister-in-law. I’ve always loved you like a sister anyway.”
“Aw, Emily,” Sherita said, briskly walking over to Emily, wrapping her arms around her. “I love you like a sister too.”
When the women separated, Emily dabbed the corner of her eyes with the fold of her index finger. “Okay, let me go. I know Dante’s looking for me. See you in a bit.”
“All right, Emily.”
CHAPTER 47
Sherita put the finishing touches on her makeup, rubbed lotion on her arms then gathered her equipment. She glanced at her watch. She had a few minutes before she had to meet Dante in the lobby, so she dug her cell from her purse and called Desmond.
“Hey, you,” he answered.
“Hey, Des.”
“Uh, oh…I don’t think I like your voice. What’s wrong, baby?”
Sherita shook her head. “Nothing.”
“It’s something. Talk to me.”
“The babies just have me feeling a little nauseated this morning.”
“Sweetie, call down to the front desk and have one of the ladies bring you a Ginger Ale.”
“Okay. I will.”
“Is that all that’s bothering you?” he probed.
“No. I was thinking about how I’m going to be taking pictures of all these happy couples, and you’re not here with me. I wish you could be here, Des.”
“I know you do, baby, but you’ll see me soon enough. I promise.”
“Okay.” Sherita glanced at her watch. “I guess I better get ready to go downstairs.”
“Okay, my love. See you soon.”
“Bye, Des.”
“Bye, baby.”
Sherita sighed, dropped her phone on the bed and using the phone in the suite, she called the front desk and requested a Ginger Ale. It couldn’t have been five minutes later and it had been delivered to her room.
She took a few sips then made sure she had all the camera equipment in her bag. She hung the camera around her neck as she usually did while working. It was easily accessible and convenient that way.
When she heard taps at the door, she stood up, took her bag in her hand and the bottle of Ginger Ale while heading for the door. She was certain it was Emily, coming to get her so they could head down to the lobby together.
<
br /> It was.
When they stepped off the elevator to the lobby, Sherita followed Emily to where Dante was standing.
Leaving Sherita there with Dante, Emily said, “See you later, Rita.”
“Okay,” Sherita said, then looked at Dante. “So this is it?”
He smirked. “You seem nervous?”
“I am. It’s not every day a girl gets a job this big.”
Dante smiled. She didn’t know how true that was.
“So I guess I’ll just go and do my thing,” Sherita said, anxious to get started.
“Wait…I need to show you a few things first. You can leave your bag and camera here for now…don’t need you carrying that extra weight around.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Dante looked over at the lobby desk and said, “Hey Steven.”
Steven came out from behind the desk, walking over to them. “Yes, sir?”
“Can you see to it that Sherita’s belongings are taken care of?”
“Sure thing,” he said, taking the bag and the camera.
“Thanks, man,” Dante told him.
“No problem.”
Turning to Sherita, seeing the confusion on her face, Dante said, “Walk with me.”
“Okay,” Sherita said, following him. Where was he taking her? She’d already toured the place when she first arrived. What was there left to—
“Dad?” Sherita saw her father standing at the main doors to the lobby. When she was close enough to him, she asked, “Dad, what are you doing here?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she threw her arms around his neck.
“I’ll be outside,” Dante said to them, then proceeded through the doors.
When she let him go, she looked at him and asked, “Did you come to see me work?”
Her father took her by the hands. Standing face-to-face with her, he said, “No. I came to walk my sweet daughter down the aisle on her special day.”
Sherita snapped her head back. “Dad, you’re confused. I’m working. This is a mass wedding that happens once a year here. The Champion Corporation hired me as the photographer for the event. Did you…did you think I was getting married?”
“You are. Come with me,” he said, interlocking his right arm with her left at the elbows and stepping outside.
Sherita could only laugh. “Dad.”
“Yes, dear?”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Across this sand, so you might want to take off those heels,” he said.
Sherita kicked off her shoes, left them next to a palm tree then looked up towards the ocean to see where they were headed. Looked like someone was having their own, private, intimate beach wedding at the resort. The small crowd of about thirty people couldn’t be here for the forty brides who were getting married today. There should’ve been a much larger crowd for that event.
As the wind tackled her hair, while hot sand massaged the sole of her feet, Sherita looked up at the sky. What a beautiful day for a wedding. With a bright sun shining above and a calm, hissing, tranquil ocean as a backdrop, conditions were perfect. And then there was a wedding arbor, draped with white and turquoise, transparent curtains, tied to the four corners. The guest chairs were white, with turquoise bows tied on the back of the chairs. Pink and white rose petals filled the aisle.
Distracted by the beauty of it all, she jumped when she felt familiar arms around her, embracing her from behind while his scent passed by her nose by way of a warm breeze. She turned around quickly and said, “Desmond!” She threw her arms around him. “Everybody is surprising me today! I thought you weren’t going to be here until tomorrow.” She kissed his lips and left a few pecks on his face.
“That’s what I wanted you to think while I planned this.”
“Planned what?”
“Our wedding.”
She trembled as if struck by a sudden, arctic breeze. Tears filled her eyes. “Our wedding?”
“Yes. Our wedding.”
“But—”
“We’re already married,” he said before the words could escape her lips. “That’s a given, but we didn’t have a ceremony. No pictures, no video. We didn’t have anything. I want that for you. For us. You deserve your day. Today is that day, princess.”
Sherita covered her trembling lips with her hand. She looked towards the crowd again and everyone who was once seated had turned to face her. She saw her mother, a few of her mother’s friends – people Sherita had known since she was a kid. There was Emily’s and Melanie’s nannies holding Ezra and Grace. Dimitrius was sitting behind a white piano, playing a romantic tune. The rest of the crowd, people who she didn’t recognize, must’ve been acquainted with The Champions – people she would come to know over the years.
Sherita looked at her father. Speechless. Now she understood why Desmond asked him for his blessing.
When the music stopped, Desmond said, “That’s my cue, baby. Are you all right?”
She could only nod.
When he took a few steps towards the aisle, Sherita said, “Desmond, wait.”
He turned to her, walking to her again. “Yes?” he said, brushing hair away from her face with a stroke of his index finger.
“You did all of this for me?”
His cheeks dimpled. “Yes.”
“Why?” she asked.
Desmond glanced at Dante briefly then back to her and said, “A wise man told me that I needed to show you my heart. So I’m showing it to you, and I will continue to do so for all of our days.”
Desmond slapped hands with Dante and patted him on the back with his left hand. “Thanks, bro.”
“Anytime, Des,” Dante said.
It was then that Sherita turned around to see that, not only was Dante standing behind her, but so was Emily and Melanie wearing beautiful turquoise gowns. The women had tears in their eyes.
Kurt was there too, standing with Melanie. He would walk her down the aisle while Dimitrius was busy playing the piano.
“This one is yours,” Emily said, handing Sherita a bouquet arrangement.
With tears in her eyes, she took it with a trembling hand. “Thank you.”
“See you underneath the arbor, beautiful,” Desmond said. He began his walk down the aisle, taking his position, then turning to look at her.
Emily and Dante were next.
Melanie and Kurt followed.
And then came Sherita’s big moment – a moment she thought she’d never have. None of this felt real. Even when Desmond professed his love for her, it hadn’t felt real. It felt like a dream. Things this extraordinary only happened to other people, not her. But it was happening to her. Married already to the man of her dreams, she’d now get to experience what it would feel like to proclaim their love for each other in front of their family and friends.
“You ready, honey?” Lewis asked.
Sherita glanced over at her father. “Yes, Dad. I’m ready.”
So she walked, taking extra slow steps until she met Desmond underneath the arbor.
Desmond reached for her hands then shot a handsome smile her way. While the minister spoke opening words, Desmond just stared at her, the way he used to stare before they married, remembering how beautiful she was when he’d first saw her. He recalled how hard he fought to stay away from her in the beginning, but how he never could completely leave her alone. And lastly, he remembered the first time they made love, how tears ran out of her eyes, the exact same way they were streaming down her face now.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the minister asked.
Lewis stood up and said, “I do.”
The minister then asked, “Who gives this man and woman to be married to each other?”
Everyone in attendance stood up and shouted, “We do,” and then a roar of laughter and cheers broke out.
Sherita laughed, watching Desmond do the same.
Next came the vows – the traditional ones, and after Sherita and Desmond said ‘I do’, Desmond ha
d his own vows to say – his own expressions of love. Still holding her hand, he said, “I never thought I would be here, standing in front of people I love, people I care about exchanging vows with a woman. I could never see myself as that kind of man…the kind of man who could give a woman my heart. Then you came along.” After a few moments of silence, of watching the breeze fan through her hair, he continued, “My life before you was good. Lonely, but good. I had success, money, my dream house…I thought I had everything I ever wanted. But my heart wanted more. It wanted the special thing my parents shared – something far more valuable than money, than anything I have and that’s true love. I’ve found that with you, Sherita.”
Sherita squeezed Desmond’s hands tighter when she saw wetness in his eyes.
“You are the part of me I was missing,” Desmond continued. “You are the woman I love more than life, more than I love myself. You are the mother of my babies, and you are the woman who satisfies me in every way known to man, and then some. I love you, baby.” Desmond moved his hands to her face, cradling her gently, then lowered his lips to her mouth, kissing her while the crowd roared, cheered and sniffled.
Afterwards, she looked at him and said, “I love you, too, Desmond Champion. Forever and always.” She threw her arms around him, feeling his arms settle around her.
When they separated, he pinched tears from the corner of his eyes and said, “I have one more thing I need to do.” He took her left hand and pulled the yellow diamond ring from her finger. “When I gave you this ring, it didn’t mean anything. It’s valuable in price, but not to your heart. That’s why you kept taking it off, and I don’t blame you for doing so. So I went and bought another one – a ring that you will never take off. One that will represent my love for you forever.”
Desmond took a black, velvet box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a new ring – an eighteen carat, white-gold, diamond ring surrounded by smaller diamonds on the band. He removed the ring from the box and when he did, she Sherita saw that he’d had it engraved with the words: For Desmond’s Princess.
Desmond slid the ring onto her finger. “There. That’s better.”
The crowd cheered again while Sherita wrapped him in her arms once more. She closed her eyes, sealing this moment in her memory. She would never forget this day – the day Desmond Champion, her prince, showed her his heart.
