“Oh my God, Ahvi. I completely forgot. Can you give me a lift to Brookwood Manor?” She hopped up off the ground and stuck her hand out to pull me up.
I grabbed her hand and pulled myself up from the ground. I gazed in her eyes and I didn’t see a past lover, or a girl who broke my heart. I saw someone who I cared about and would always have as a friend.
“I would be honored.” I stuck out my arm for her to hook hers inside of it and escorted her to the car. “How did you get down here anyways?” I asked as we began to walk toward my car.
“I stole some random kid’s bike.”
We both laughed and I was completely at peace with the relationship I was beginning to build with her.
Chapter 33
Janette
Everyone was still up in arms about my outburst in the church, but I felt like it was the right thing to do. Everyone had been lying for so long I just wanted it to stop. It may have not been the most appropriate way to do it but it was definitely necessary. My mother and brother were completely pissed off at me after the service.
“I cannot believe that you not only embarrassed yourself, you embarrassed the whole family, your father, and Morgan,” my mother fussed as we rode to the graveyard.
“What were you thinking, Nettie?” JJ added. “I thought you were going to chill.”
“I thought I was too, but I couldn’t hold it in. She deserved to know.” I felt justified in my actions and I wasn’t going to have them guilt me out of that.
“She did, but not like that.” The disappointed look that my brother gave me completely crushed my soul. I hated that look. When we got to the graveyard I decided not to get out. I thought I showed out enough; I didn’t want to cause any more drama.
I watched my mom and JJ walk through the graveyard holding each other and grieving. I wished I could put my anger aside and just honor my father like I was supposed to, but I couldn’t trust myself to behave. When the car door opened I immediately jumped. Beau climbed in and stared at me with his own disappointed look.
“What now?”
“You know what you did was messed up, right?” he said like it was a brand-new proclamation.
“You aren’t the first one who’s told me that, Beau.”
“Look, I don’t know what you’ve had against Morgan all these years, but that’s family. Whether you like it or not you can’t trade her, so you might as well accept it.”
The words weren’t anything I hadn’t heard before, but coming from Beau it felt different. He was usually the fool, not the voice of reason.
“So what do you think I should do?” I hated asking that question to anybody but I needed to try a slice of humble pie right now.
“Well, an apology is a good place to start.” And just like that he jumped out the car and headed toward the burial site.
I hated the fact that everyone was right and they were making sense. I had been a little brat toward Morgan over the years for no reason. I had a sister this whole time and I never treated her the way she deserved to be treated. Beau and JJ were right. We were family and I couldn’t change that if I tried. I decided that it was time to put away my insecurities and make it right with Morgan. She was my sister after all.
After the burial, everyone had to rush to get changed and head to Brookwood Manor. It was the first gay union ceremony I thought any of us had ever attended, so I was sure it would forever be the talk of the town, true Morgan style.
Walking into the manor was like crossing over into a different world. I had never seen something so beautiful in my life. If I weren’t here to make amends, my jealousy would have gotten the best of me. I had no idea how they pulled this off so quickly, but everything looked amazing. I walked around to try to find out where Morgan would be getting ready. I climbed up this grand, winding staircase and listened out for talking. I heard giggling from a room at the end of the hall and followed the noise. I poked my head in to see if it was her, and I saw her and who I presumed to be her fiancé helping each other get ready.
“Isn’t it bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony?” I said from the doorway. I was ready for Morgan to give dagger eyes but instead she could barely look at me.
“I think we can manage the bad luck,” the fiancé said.
“You must be Janette. I’m Ahvi.” She walked toward me and gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. “I’ll let you two talk.” She walked out the room and closed the door.
I had to admit that Morgan looked stunning in her dress. She was absolutely a breathtaking bride.
“I know you may not want to talk to me, but I just wanted to say I’m sorry. The way I behaved today—hell, the way I’ve behaved our whole lives—was unfair and misdirected.”
She walked toward me without saying a word and pulled me into her arms.
My whole body was numb. I had no idea what was going on or what to do next. I didn’t know if this was a trap or what.
“I forgive you,” she whispered in my ear.
I pulled away to look at her face. Was she serious? It was that easy? I just admit that I’m wrong and, poof, I’m forgiven?
“Are you serious right now?” I asked in confusion.
“Look, this week and a half was awful. But it taught me that family, no matter how dysfunctional, is important. I haven’t been the greatest cousin or sister or whatever.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t deserve the way I treated you.”
“Maybe not, but it’s in the past. Right now, today, at this very moment, I would love your support as I walk out there and commit to the woman of my dreams.”
I smiled and hugged her this time. I didn’t know what the future would bring but I was happy to oblige her wishes right now in the present. I pulled her veil over her face and escorted her out the room. My family had a lot of issues, but it was never boring; especially when you crammed a whirlwind of events all in one day.
Chapter 34
Morgan
I was surprised that Janette decided to bury the hatchet with me, especially with that whole fiasco at the funeral. I hadn’t been prepared to forgive her so quickly, but I was tired of the drama and today was my wedding day. I was about to marry the love of my life. Ahvi was everything I wanted in a partner, and I was so honored that she felt the same about me. It was a huge release that I could move past this family drama and get back to being blissfully happy.
Janette and I walked out the bedroom I was getting ready in and the butterflies hit before I could walk down the stairs. I grabbed Janette’s arm and stopped her in her tracks.
“You okay?” She put her hand over mine and stroked it.
“I’m not sure if I can do this.” I tried to catch my breath and calm my heart rate.
“What? Marry this woman or walk down these stairs without falling? ’Cause the cat’s out the bag about you being a lesbian.”
I gave her a little chuckle. The truth was definitely out in the open and I didn’t regret it at all. It’s just the way I left things with my parents had me uneasy. I didn’t want what happened in the parking lot of the church to be the last interaction I had with them before I walked down the aisle. Regardless of what transpired over recent events, I felt like I needed my parents here.
“I don’t know if I can do this without my parents.”
Janette dropped her head and I could tell that she felt bad for being partly responsible for how things went down a few hours ago. I could see her searching for something to say to ease my conscience.
“I know our family had some messed-up secrets, but Beanie and Earl love you.”
“I know. I just would have liked if they could accept me and be here for support.” I was trying to hold back the tears I felt welling up in my eyes.
“Ask and you shall receive,” she said, and nodded her head toward the bottom of the stairs to direct my eyes at my parents.
We carefully continued down the stairs and I stopped directly in front of the people I knew as my parents. It was still unbelievable to me th
at they were biologically my aunt and uncle.
“I’ll leave y’all to talk.” Janette slipped her arm from under mine and walked out toward the ceremony space.
I was standing in front of my parents, holding my breath, and praying that this encounter would be a lot better than the last one we had.
“You look absolutely beautiful, baby girl.” My father spoke up first with a tear in his eye.
“Thank you, Daddy, or Uncle Earl. I don’t know which one I should call you now.” I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful. I really had no clue what was what anymore.
“I will always be your daddy,” he said kind of matter-of-factly.
“We’re sorry we didn’t tell you sooner. I made a promise to Joe right after we took you in that I wouldn’t say anything until he was dead and gone, and when it happened I couldn’t bring myself to say the words.”
My mother’s speech was endearing and I could hear all the regret she carried in her voice. I couldn’t find the words to respond so I let her continue.
“Junebug loved me enough to give me something that I could no longer give to myself. And he loved you enough to give you the home you deserved. You see, baby girl, God doesn’t make mistakes. You and I were meant to be.” My mother’s words were tugging at my heartstrings, and the fact that tears were flowing down her face didn’t make it any better.
I was trying my hardest for the sake of my makeup but I could no longer hold it in. I burst into tears and leapt into my mother’s arms. She was right. I was fortunate to have the parents I did with the childhood they gave. I didn’t always like my childhood, but it probably would have been much different if Bug hadn’t cared so much.
“I love you, Mama,” I whispered in my mother’s ear.
“I love you too, baby.”
I finally lifted up from her embrace. She wiped the tears from my face and fixed my makeup. I gave her a genuine smile from my heart and realized that I loved her even more for what she did for me and her brother.
“Now that that’s done, you sure you want to go through with this ceremony?” my daddy interjected.
I took a deep breath and prepared myself to go back into this homosexual battle.
“Guys, I know that this isn’t the ideal marriage that you had been dreaming about my whole life, but Ahvi is the most interesting, kind, loving, respectful person I have ever met. She loves me unconditionally and, at the end of the day, isn’t that what you want for me?”
My parents looked at each other, waiting for someone to speak up first. I dropped my head in disappointment because I just knew they were about to turn and walk right out of here.
“Well, I guess I better get you down that aisle then.” My father stretched his arm out for me to hook on to and my face lit up. I grabbed hold of his arm and tried to stop the tears from flowing once again. I didn’t need my face to go through any more trauma before I saw Ahvi.
My father guided me toward the ceremony space, while my mother skipped ahead to take her seat. We walked out where I could see everyone seated. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone here, but my whole family came out. Some people were still in their black outfits from Uncle Bug’s funeral. Those people were only here for the spectacle of seeing two women go at it. If I weren’t so anxious to get this over with I would have had them removed, but my focus was strictly on Ahvi.
Everything looked so beautiful. I had no idea where they were able to get all these purple orchids from on such short notice, but they adorned the rows and bridal arch that was at the end of the aisle. I was extremely excited to see the Plexiglas runner that flared out into a mini stage at the end. I was not about to walk and stand on that grass and have my heels sink into the dirt. The music started playing and I knew that was my cue.
“This is it, kiddo. You ready?” I could feel my father shaking.
“Absolutely.” I slapped a smile on my face and took a deep breath. My moment was finally here.
Walking down the aisle almost felt like walking on stage at a pageant, except I actually wanted to be here. I could hear a couple of gasps and ahs as my father and I walked slowly down the aisle. I wanted to look around to see the faces that came but my eyes were fixated on Ahvi. She looked so amazing. A white body-hugging dress with lace and beading detail adorned her tall, slender frame. Her makeup was simple with a splash of color on her lips, and her hair was in an elegant bun. I had seen Ahvi look great before, but I had never seen her look more beautiful than she was right now standing at the end of the aisle.
My father and I ended what seemed like a twenty-minute stroll and a tear fell down Ahvi’s face when we were eye to eye. My father stuck out his hand and softly grabbed Ahvi by the fingertips.
“We didn’t get much time to get to know each other, but I’m entrusting you with my most precious gift. Please be good to my baby,” he said just loud enough for the three of us and the official to hear.
“Believe me, I wouldn’t dream of being anything but.”
My father placed Ahvi’s hand in mine and took his seat next to my mother. I looked into Ahvi’s eyes and saw our beautiful past and our hopeful future. She gave me so much strength and love over this last year and especially this weekend. I was put at ease with having my family know the real me and them witnessing me marrying this amazing woman. The official started his speech and I floated through the ceremony as if I were on a cloud. This was what pure bliss felt like. I guessed my mother’s favorite statement was the theme song to my life. God doesn’t make mistakes. Well played, Lord.
Chapter 35
Henry
I had to admit, for my first lesbian commitment ceremony, I enjoyed myself. Both of the brides looked gorgeous from head to toe. I wanted to say that it was really sad that two women this fine ain’t trying to mess with the male species, but listening to Morgan’s vows I could tell she was really in love. It was definitely not the same for her and me. I had never seen that look in her eyes when she looked at me or heard her talk so passionately. I couldn’t hate on that. It put me more at peace with us moving on as just friends, and I was happy that she was happy.
The ceremony only took about forty-five minutes and now everyone had begun to party at this reception/ reunion banquet. It was amazing how these people could just hop from one event to another, but I guessed that’s what family did. I was just happy that we didn’t have to move to another location and there was an open bar. I spotted Beau at a table macking his cousin’s sorority sister. I made my way over to him to mess up his game.
“There you are, you big chocolate man,” I said, trying my best to sound like a gay man.
“Man, get outta here with that.” Beau did not seem impressed with my antics.
“Oh, so now you don’t know me after all the years we have together? Is he telling you he’s different from any man you’ll ever meet? I wonder why, girl.”
Both the girl’s and Beau’s faces were absolutely priceless, and it was taking all I had not to burst out in laughter. Beau seemed to be irritated and I was loving every minute of it. It was very rare that I got to throw salt in Beau’s game, so I made the best out of it.
“I didn’t know you two were together. I’m really not trying to be in the middle of this.” She got up and tried to walk away.
Beau grabbed her hand to try to plead his case. “Baby, he’s just playing. We’re just friends.”
“Yeah, right. I know all about you down-low brothas. You don’t fool me.”
I waited until she walked out of ear range before I started to hysterically laugh in Beau’s face. He wasn’t amused, but tears were beginning to roll down my face and I was having a hard time catching my breath.
“Not cool, bruh. She was fine.” He grabbed his glass and took a big gulp while I tried to catch my breath.
“Yes, she was,” I tried to say through gasps.
“What the hell you come over here messing up my flow for anyway?” He took a sip of his drink, still a little upset that I messed up his game.
I
wiped the tears from my eyes and tried to slow my heart rate. All jokes aside I did need to talk to him about important business. I never thought I would be telling my best friend that I’d be leaving without him for a better opportunity, because we were supposed to ride together, but I had to. Besides, even if I could take Beau along, I doubted he would ever truly leave home.
“I wanted to talk to you about the business.”
“Man, if this is about me takin’ the Escalade out the other night, my bad, bruh; but Vanessa was too fine to be rollin’ in my car.”
I could feel myself about to react, but at this point it didn’t matter because he was about to become the boss. “Because I have big news for you, I won’t even get into that. Beau, I think it’s time for you to take over the company.”
Beau’s face had a mixture of confusion and excitement on it. I could tell he was searching for a proper response. “Wait, if I’m taking over what will you be doing?”
“I’ll still be an owner, but I’ve gotten an opportunity to travel for a different company and I’m going to take it.”
I had been so excited about my new position, but saying it out loud now to Beau it was a little sad. It was becoming real that I was about to leave everything that I knew behind.
“You’re leaving and you’re going to let me run your baby for you?”
“Yeah. You are like my brother and I trust you one hundred percent.”
Beau’s silence was kind of worrying me. I had no idea what he was thinking. I needed him to want this because it would be hard for me to leave unsure of the state of my company.
He took another sip of his drink and then stood from his chair. “Bruh, I’ll be more than happy to take over for you.” He extended his hand toward me.
A big smile spread across my face, and I grabbed his hand and stood to give him a hug. I knew I would be able to count on him. Beau may have had his issues but he was as dependable as they came.
“This means I get to have whatever car I want and give myself a salary right?” he asked in my ear as we continued to hold our embrace.
All in a Day Page 16
