Continuing, my lawyer said, “Mrs. Crystal has one counter.”
Benjamin did a quick raise of both brows, gave me a corner smile on one side of his mouth. Kind of how he’d done trying to impress Toya and her wife when we were at King + Duke.
I remained motionless.
“Effectively immediately, Mrs. Crystal grants Mr. Bannister’s request for full legal and physical custody. Her visitation shall be according to her availability without supervision, unless you can present evidence as to how she’s an unfit mother.”
I watched my soon-to-be ex-husband swallow his Adam’s apple a few times. He looked at Arizona.
“Perfect,” Benjamin’s attorney said.
My mom patted my thigh again. Benjamin wouldn’t last thirty consecutive days being a single dad but I’d let him try.
“One more thing,” my lawyer mentioned. “Mrs. Crystal will vacate the house and deed her rights to the property to Mr. Bannister, in seven days. If you have no further concerns, my client has to move into her new home.”
My mother dug into her purse, handed me a set of keys.
I laughed. Shook my head at Benjamin.
“Thank you, Mother.” As I hugged my mom, the expression on Arizona’s face was priceless.
“It’s fully furnished, sweetheart. The movers are packing your belongings right now,” Mom said. “Oh, I almost forgot the keys to your”—she dug into her purse, placed the keyless remote in my hand—“Bing knew you’d look awesome in a brand-new all-white Ferrari. It’s his divorce gift to you.”
Those two, make that three, were amazing.
I stood, embraced my attorney. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. You made one of the smartest counters I’ve ever presented.”
Exhaling, softly, I felt better already. I wasn’t worried about my children. Didn’t need to see them all the time. Long as I knew they were fine, I’d be okay.
Arizona told Benjamin, “I told you I didn’t want to raise her kids full-time. I refuse to do that. I want our own.”
I hadn’t noticed the ring he was supposed to return to the jeweler was on her finger until she removed it, placed it on the table.
“I’ll accept it and you back, when she takes care of her own kids,” Arizona said.
I’d almost forgotten. Handing her the ring box, I said, “These belong to you. You’ve earned them. Let’s see how long it lasts when you find out he’s fucked a stripper and her wife. Yes, while he was with us.”
Arizona refused to take the rings. I placed the box in front of Benjamin.
My mother held up her hand, gave me a high-five. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart.”
Bing had warned me that men who’d done wrong by their women would never be satisfied. He said Benjamin would do all he could to make me miserable. Following Bing’s advice to give Benjamin everything he wanted and more gave me the freedom to love someone new.
Benjamin wasn’t smirking. He stared at me. “You look nice.”
I winked at him, slid on my sunglasses, then said, “Take excellent care of my kids.”
CHAPTER 58
Blake
“Bitch, you’re going to make me marry you.”
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, dressed in all white not caring what color the world thought I was or wasn’t worthy of wearing. I was done caring about anyone’s opinion of me.
Brandon’s original design weighed forty pounds, not including an extra ten for the fifty-foot train that I’d practiced to perfection dragging gracefully. I felt like a cross between a mascaraed diva with my diamond-crusted hand-held eye-mask, a madam cinched into a white leather back laced bustier, and the queen at the highest regal ball.
“You nervous?” he asked, smoothing back my hair.
“When I turned fifty and no man had proposed to me, I’d lost faith in becoming a bride. Having a man hold to his commitment to me was a challenge.”
“God saved the best man for last,” Brandon said, giving me cheek-to-cheek air kisses. “Never lose faith. It’s the key to all things possible, darling.”
A light tap at the door. Someone announced, “Mr. Sterling is ready for his bride.”
“It’s your time,” Brandon said, lowering the veil.
As I held on to his arm, sweat coated my forehead. My girls suspected I wasn’t telling the truth about their father. There were only two people who were certain I’d lied.
Brandon lifted my veil, fanned my face. I stared into his eyes.
“You’re no virgin and he’s no LeBron, honey. Whatever is on your mind, save it until after he says I—” Brandon motioned for the guy in the doorway. “Quick, lower the temperature to sixty-five,” he ordered, then told me, “You will not ruin my creation with sweat.”
“How could you see me perspiring?”
“Honey, see it? You can’t hide the onset of a hot flash. You’re moist all over.”
Get it together, Blake. Think Paris. No, not Paris. Your girls. No, not them. That’ll lead to the lie and the liar in me.
Spencer wasn’t invited. This was the only church he’d sworn never to step foot in again. It was my church and the new pastor performing my ceremony was not the minister who’d molested Spencer. I was not supposed to let thoughts of an ex enter my mind. Not today.
Get it together, Blake.
A tear fell right before the double doors opened to a paradise that would make all of Paris’s gardens envious. I cried on the first note of “Here Comes the Bride.”
These tears were for the little girl inside, who survived. The woman who reared four beautiful daughters. The executive who went out on top. The soon-to-be wife who would help her husband make a difference in other people’s lives.
I was ready for new beginnings.
Scanning faces, I saw that every man was suited in a tuxedo. Every woman wore a gown. That Brandon. I paused midway down the aisle to take photos with my mind as Brandon escorted me to the altar.
Looking ahead, I noticed my four girls. Their gowns were off-white, each one tailored to their beautiful personality. Alexis’s top was haltered. Her skirt was the longest I’d seen her in. Ever.
“You have outdone every event planner in the world,” I told Brandon as I smiled at family and guests.
“You, my dear, are the belle of everything,” he replied. “Wait until your reception.
Following the trail of rose petals, I stopped. Softly asked, “Where’s Bing?”
Brandon reassured me, “Keep walking. He’s watching.”
The music changed from the bride’s theme to saxophonist Antoine Knight. Then I looked up and saw white shoes on a wooden plank. White pants. As my eyes scanned up, the most handsome man in the universe descended from a white cloud blanketing the ceiling.
Bing stood tall. I smiled at Brandon when I saw the diamond crown on Bing’s head. His manicured hands gripped thick white ropes.
Light tugging at my hips and I felt my train release. When I arrived at the altar, the swing lowered to the platform. Bing stepped off. I handed my mask to Alexis. Brandon bowed, then took two steps backward to the first seat on the front pew.
Ruby looked as though she’d inherited a million dollars. She winked. I winked back, then gave her a single slow nod.
Bing extended his hands to me. We face each other. My fairy-tale wedding was really happening.
The pastor stood before us as we exchanged our vows to love, protect, and honor each other.
The pastor firmly said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Husband and wife. Not man and wife. Bing had insisted as he never wanted to be the man his father was.
This was the first day of the rest of my life as Mrs. Blake Sterling, no hyphen required.
In life, there were secrets.
Some to share.
Others you take to your grave.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE ONE I’VE WAITED FOR
Mary B. Morrison
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions that follow are included to
enhance your group’s reading of this book.
Discussion Questions
1. Blake, was she a good mother? Would you put your grown children’s happiness and needs before yours?
2. If someone willed you $2 million, then told you it was in error, would you give all the money back? If you could keep it, how would the money change you?
3. In Blake’s engagement to Bing, do you think Bing was controlling or Blake wasn’t used to dealing with a real man? Give examples.
4. Was Benjamin a man of great character? How much influence do you believe his parents had in his decisions with Mercedes and Arizona?
5. What was Alexis’s biggest fear? What’s yours?
6. Are you an alpha or beta personality type? Why?
7. Do you think Sandara will adjust well to having money, success, and a man who cares for her and her children or will she eventually return to Little Five Points?
8. Do you believe Spencer is a good man who messed up or a messed-up man trying to do good? Would you date/ marry him?
9. Did Arizona owe Mercedes’s marriage respect? If you were the mistress, would you call the police on the Mrs. if she trespassed into your home?
10. Have you ever had a vaginal detox or a ThermiVa treatment? If not, would you? If you have, how was your experience?
11. Bing had lots of money. He could’ve married almost any woman. Why do you think Bing proposed to and married Blake?
12. Was Devereaux in love with being in love with a man? Was she the type of woman who had to have a man? Was Antonio a good fit for her?
13. Is it okay for a woman to take her secrets to her grave? Do you have secrets you’ve never shared with anyone?
How Well Do You Know Mary B. Morrison?
1. What’s Mary’s favorite color?
2. At what age did Mary get married?
3. What’s Mary’s ex-husband’s name?
4. What city did Mary attend community college?
5. If Mary weren’t an author, what would she do for a living?
6. How many corsets does Mary own?
7. What’s Mary’s favorite adult toy?
8. Would Mary choose love over money or money over love, if she were to remarry?
9. How many full lace wigs does Mary own?
10. Why did Mary move from Laurel, Maryland (DC area), back to Oakland, California, in 2001?
11. What’s Mary’s Yorkshire Terrier’s name and age?
12. What dessert would Mary serve at a dinner party?
13. What’s Mary’s favorite MBM novel and why?
14. What inspired Mary B. Morrison to write Soulmates Dissipate?
For answers and more about Mary, visit www.kensingtonbooks.com and www.MaryMorrison.com
Follow Mary on:
Facebook at TheRealMaryB
Instagram and Snapchat at MaryHoneyBMorrison
Twitter at MaryBMorrison
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I’d Rather Be with You
With Madison’s marriage on the rocks, Loretta couldn’t
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If You Don’t Know Me
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Available wherever books and ebooks are sold.
The One I've Waited For Page 27
