Forgive Me Father For I Have Loved

by Laveen, Tiana

  “He did look kind of out of it, didn’t he?” Joseph smiled as the two brothers approached Dane, who stood in the near distance.

  “I can hear you two, you know!” Dane called out with a sheepish grin. He danced around and jumped on the spot, as if needing to go the restroom.

  Joseph tapped his shoulder and handed him the cufflinks. “You got ants in your pants? What’s going on?”

  “It’s a nervous habit...to burn off extra energy.”

  “Well, stop it, it looks weird!” Anthony teased as he eyed himself in a nearby window. “So, we’re just going to stand out here, huh? This is stupid. I’m thirsty. Why can’t we go back inside?”

  “Because my crazy sister-in-law said I almost ran into Rhapsody too many times, and she wants to make sure I don’t see her before the wedding. So I was forced to come out here.”

  “Oh, who cares! It is getting a little cold out here, let’s go in.” Anthony pushed past his two brothers and reached for the double doors.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Melody hollered as she stood there like a linebacker, the trusty clipboard in hand and a look so heinous and menacing, it would cause a rabid dog to gallop away and hide.

  Anthony stared back at his brothers, disbelief on his face. Dane smirked while Joseph snickered.

  “...I guess nothing...” Dane caught a quick glimpse of Margie and the children walking between the back pews through the stingy slice of open door.

  Wow. She came.

  “That’s right. Now stand back. I will come get you when it’s time.” And with that, Melody snatched the doors closed in his face with a loud thud.

  “Are you sure she and Rhapsody are related?” Anthony snarled as he walked back up to the duo. “What a bi—”

  “Don’t say it!” Dane cackled. “Come on, I know she is hard to deal with, but I don’t want anything disparaging said about her, just be cool, okay?”

  “What? What kinda cockamamie bullshit is this?! You’re not a priest anymore, so why do you care if I call her what she is?” Anthony smirked. “Rhapsody is fun, laid-back and sweet...this woman right here is...”

  “Just your type!” Joseph ribbed. “You need someone like her, someone that could keep you in your place! Keep you in line. Make you grow up.”

  “There are too many people milling about out here.” Dane looked around at all the parked cars of their friends and relatives who were already seated inside, minus a few stragglers who came intermittently and tapped him on his back on their way inside. “I just don’t want anyone overhearing you call her that. We are all family now, so we just need to accept the good, the bad, and the—”

  “Bitchy!” Anthony spat as he lifted his eye toward Dane, then back at Joseph, “And it would be a cold day in hell when I’d get down with a woman like Melody.”

  “Ahhh, you protest too much,” Joseph teased, tapping Anthony on the shoulder.

  Just then, the doors slowly opened back up. Melody stood there in her form-fitting gown, her hand on her hip. “Alright gentlemen, I have everyone lined up. You’re on!”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “Oh my God.” Dane’s eyes glossed. A woman with a golden voice sung the ‘Ave Maria.’

  He contemplated wiping the darn wet things away before they dripped down his face, ruining the calm he’d worked so hard to obtain in the last ten minutes, but he lost his cool. She practically floated down the aisle, hanging on to her uncle’s arm. The flash of cameras continued and the sniffling from Rhapsody’s mother made his heart thump. All so heartfelt, emotional, and it blended in with Daisy’s tears of joy on their behalf.

  “Thank you, God,” he whispered, his lips trembling. He felt himself fall apart, wanting to kneel down at her feet as soon as she stepped onto the platform. Fr. Jones stood there proudly, holding the Bible in front of him and waiting for everyone to take their seats.

  After a few words, two short prayers and the candle lighting took place, their vows were exchanged. The ceremony was quiet and seriousness loomed in the air. No one said a peep as the two gathered on their knees in prayer before the priest. Dane so appreciated this. He was certain that Rhapsody had no idea how much this meant to him. During their counseling, not only was she respectful, she remained open-minded and discovered that Fr. Jones was able to speak to her about their faith in a way that he hadn’t. He wasn’t convinced she’d be baptized in the Catholic Church, and he was fine with that, but he knew she had an even greater respect for his beliefs than she had previously. She was now prone to ask even more profound questions.

  Shortly, they gathered to their feet to recite their vows.

  “I, Dane Caruso, take you, Rhapsody Thomason, for my wedded wife, I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

  “I, Rhapsody Thomason, take you, Dane Caruso, for my wedded husband, I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.”

  He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he resisted as the priest began to speak again. Soon, the wedding drew to a close. He was so proud of her. His wife had done everything as if she’d been raised in the Catholic Church as well, and it touched him in the deepest part of him that she’d done all of this for him, stating it was a small sacrifice. He’d never forget this, not simply the day, but everything up until this point and what it signified. He knew in his heart, without a shadow of a doubt, that this woman was brought into his life to be with him at this very moment—in holy matrimony.

  Suddenly, the lights flickered on and off. People looked around murmuring amongst themselves.

  Hmmm, maybe a storm is coming. The weather had promised to be clear though.

  In a matter of moments, Dane was instructed to kiss his bride. He turned to her and carefully lifted her veil from her face, exposing the features he coveted.

  My God, she is so beautiful...

  He placed his hand at the side of her face, slightly bent to reach her lips, closed his eyes and placed a delicate, soft, sweet kiss on her lips. When he stepped slightly away from her, he could see the tears rimming the bottom of her eyes. He quickly turned away, trying to avoid being choked up as well. But he couldn’t stay away from her glance long for he looked back at her, showing his joy with a bright smile, and before anything could be said, he whispered, “We did it, baby...we made it!”

  ~***~

  The wedding reception...

  Rhapsody looked out into the crowd, smiled and waved, her grin probably as large as her mother’s, who had a beam on her face that would light up a whole planet. It was time she unwrap a little surprise she had in store for her new husband. As the people mulled about, drinks in hand, chatter high under the large, sparkling chandelier and children flocking close to the chocolate fountain, she decided now was as good a time as any.

  “Attention, everyone!” called out the D.J. as he spoke into the microphone, and a semi-inebriated Melody clanked her fork against her glass to help usher attention toward her sister. “We have a special treat for you, tonight. The bride, Rhapsody Caruso, would like to sing a song for her new husband, Dane, so let’s give her a round of applause!”

  Their friends and family clapped loudly as she took front stage and center, leaving a look of surprise on Dane’s face. He stood close by his brothers, the three in a small football type huddle, his broad shoulders bumping into Joseph’s while he held a wine glass filled with water in his hand.

  Rhapsody cleared her throat, and then the music began to play...

  ~***~

  He had no idea what she had planned. Rhapsody kept the reception plans a secret for the most part. She’d allowed him to have the wedding he so needed, and he, in turn, allowed her to have the reception party that she desired. He looked forward to see what she’d had up her sleeve and now, his curiosity was getting the best of him. His eyes focused on two women, both dressed similarly in blue pants suits with silver ac
cents, who headed toward the platform with microphones, along with three musicians.

  “Dane.” Rhapsody breathed in and out, nervous, emotional. “When I speak, you know sometimes the words come out jumbled. Occasionally I find it hard to express myself to you.”

  “No, you pretty much say exactly what you think, each and every time, and your feelings are quite clear.” And he was serious. This caused an uproar of laughter. Rhapsody smirked and rolled her eyes.

  “Anyway, smarty.” More laughter came through from the seated family and friends. “When I sing though, everything, at least for me, feels crystal clear.”

  Dane nodded in understanding.

  “So...I want to sing you a song that I love, that reminds me of how I feel about you. The lyrics are simple, but...they sum it up so well.”

  On the floor near the D.J.’s set-up, white petals strewn about with light blue ribbons made a tapestry of beauty across the platform. He looked at her, catching the first notes from the instruments playing, clean and pure.

  “I Love Me Some Him...” she began, singing Toni Braxton’s song while the two women joined in, singing the background vocals.

  Dane chuckled lightly with others around him as he heard someone shout, “Sing it, girl! You love you some him! Yes ya do!”

  Rhapsody smiled and slowly swayed back and forth, the ceiling lights catching the glimmer in her eye, making them sparkle even more as she hooked each note just so, with her sultry intonations. Dane floated in the sweetness of her voice, overjoyed that he now would be able to hear it anytime he desired. When she finished, the room burst with applause.

  Dane cleared his throat as the music died down and everyone, besides the occasional giggle or cry of a child, went quiet. He approached Rhapsody, took her hands into his own and looked deeply into her eyes—bright, a tad moist—just enough to let him know how much this beautiful woman was truly in love with him.

  “I was not expecting this, tonight. Thank you.”

  Rhapsody nodded and placed a small, soft kiss on his lips.

  “I can’t sing, but I feel compelled to respond to that. So,” he looked at the crowd of people then back at her as he took the microphone from her hands, “I just want to thank everyone for coming out tonight and celebrating this important day with us. Today is a Saturday, a cool, early winter day. Many people are enjoying a football game right now, the Detroit Lions are—”

  “Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh!” someone cheered.

  “Right.” Dane smiled, looking out in the crowd then back at Rhapsody. “Playing, dinner is being eaten, kids are getting ready for bed and Saturday night dates are being made. But, you all are here with us, and we appreciate that.” He paused as he gathered his thoughts. “At this time, last year, I would have been conducting a service, working at a soup kitchen or helping someone that attended the church...and that was honorable, that was good…” He glanced at Fr. Jones, who smiled at him and nodded in understanding. “...and this is also honorable and great, because right now, on this particular Saturday, I married my soulmate, my better half, a woman who had eluded me, and I eluded her, long ago, while I stared at her through a tiny window of a door during her high school choir rehearsals.”

  The crowd hummed, dripped in good cheer.

  “...She should have called the cops on me for stalking, but,” he grinned, “it was just one of those things. Nothing came of that; we never even spoke and now here we are...” His voice cracked, the last words caught in his throat. He quickly wiped his left eye and continued. “Here we are, married now, after years of not seeing one another. A chance meeting in a park... I was down on my luck...and God...God sent me what I needed most, an angel...”

  Out of his peripheral vision, he noted several people dabbing at their eyes.

  Even Rhapsody’s eyes were now glossed over to the point that she could no longer ignore it. Her sister leaned in front of her, and efficiently dotted at her face while Dane continued.

  “I had everything I could have wanted. Friends, a place to stay, people who enjoyed my company, a chance to study God’s Word for a living and for my soul’s earnings, and He even made sure I was financially blessed in the midst of this. But, it still wasn’t enough. There was one thing missing...” He took her hand and paused briefly when her hands started to tremble in his grip.

  “God knew what I needed; I didn’t even have to ask. But I did ask, I just didn’t know that He would exceed my expectations like this.” Swallowing, he took a moment to regain his composure when the emotions got too high. “I prayed to God for answers, for Him to show me, to please tell me what to do. At that time, there was no Rhapsody in my life...and then there she was, just like that.” He snapped his fingers.

  “So yeah.” He squeezed her hand, and tilted her chin upward, exchanged a passionate glance with her. “I’m blessed beyond measure. I love you so much, Rhapsody. I loved you from the moment I realized I couldn’t imagine life without you, and that nothing else mattered if you weren’t with me. I will spend my entire life showing you how much I care and how honored I am that you chose me, when I know you could have had any man you wanted, but you chose me, to be your partner in marriage.”

  Rhapsody smiled at him as Melody ran her hand lovingly across her sister’s back.

  “I promise to listen to you. I promise to not go to sleep angry, to talk out whatever disagreements we may have. I promise to be a good father to our future children. I promise to love you during all situations, good and bad, because you loved me at my worst...” His voice cracked then. He briefly closed his eyes and swallowed past a big lump. He felt his brother, Joseph, lightly brush against him and pat his shoulder, giving him comfort.

  Then he looked out at his mother, who was crying through her happiness, tears streaking her plumped cheeks but covering a bright smile beneath.

  “You were designed for me, made for me. You’re my Eve.”

  He took both her hands and brought them up to his mouth, kissing them. “One day, a priest walked into a park. He sat down on a bench, and decided that he hated his life to the point that he was simply going to be alive for a little while, but not really live. And then he heard something...a melody; it touched him before the singing started, you see, because, he heard the song in her heart, before she hummed or uttered a word. How could I give up,” he smiled sadly as he looked deeper into her gaze, “on life...with that sort of feeling now weaving its way into my soul? After hearing such a miracle? Somewhere inside of me, I knew, I was hearing the voice of my future wife...”

  He could hear several people crying.

  “I knew, on some primal level, and that is what made me want to give myself a chance, to obtain peace at last...With you, Rhapsody, I never feel like I can’t be myself, like I can’t make it. I never feel like I have to pretend or put on a show. You saved my life, and I will spend the rest of it treating you as you deserve, until God takes me away, and then after that, I want Him to promise me that you’ll be right by me...because I need you now and forever...”

  The audience ahhed as he stole a quick kiss on her cheek.

  Someone in the crowd murmured, “That was beautiful, Dane...”

  Just then, the lights dimmed, as they had at the church, and the room was bathed in shadows.

  “What the?” Anthony called out as he looked around. “That’s the second time, how weird.”

  Melody immediately marched toward the back of the room as everyone watched her. She flicked the switch. “I don’t know what happened, maybe it is the breaker. The light is in the upright position.”

  And as quickly as it happened, the lights popped back on, bringing a sigh of relief.

  “Someone didn’t pay the light bill!” Anthony joked, causing an avalanche of laughter.

  The party continued and soon, the search for a dry eye in the house came up empty, mission impossible.

  No longer able to control himself, Dane urgently pushed his body into his bride’s and heard her hitch her breath. He forced Rhapsody to rise on
her tippy toes as he folded his arm around her back, brought her waist to his, and had her in his loving, quixotic grip, for all to see.

  The crowd came alive with applause and it wasn’t long after, Dane was stealing more sensual kisses in the corners of the vast, crowded dance hall with the music blaring, people dancing and eating cake. How could he help it, even if his behavior had the priest and his mother blushing and pretending not to witness such a wondrous and affectionate display...

  ~***~

  Two days later...

  “What is it with women and over packing?” Dane complained as he hoisted his wife’s bags out of the taxi, soon retrieved from the porters who greeted them at the nearby winding steps of the Hotel de Crillon, in the heart of Paris.

  “Well, for my big debut, I wasn’t sure what I’d wear. I need options, honey!” she batted her eyes dramatically.

  Dane smiled and took her hand as they made their way inside.

  “Oh my God!” she gasped, looking around in amazement. “The photos didn’t do it justice. Dane, I can’t believe you got us this place!” She turned around in circles, like a ballet dancer on auto pilot.

  Dane grinned, overdosing on her exuberance. “Now you know I had to have us honeymoon in style. Besides, I have to share an evening with Paris, on our honeymoon, so they can enjoy your talent. This way, at least, when we get back to the room, things will be set up just how I want them,” he said, winking.

  Soon, they checked in and entered the elevator to their chamber. Lights reflected on the marble and gold walls and mirrored doors, as if they’d gone inside a crystal ball. Cupping the back of her neck, he pulled her close and stole a passionate kiss, slicking his tongue inside of her mouth. Rhapsody gasped when the doors opened on the seventh floor and they exited the elevator. It had been over a week since they’d made love, wedding plans and the long flight had taken their toll. He’d had enough. Dane was ready to unwrap his ‘wedding package’.