Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Thank you, Daddy.”
He kissed her cheek and hugged her tight again.
“They said you were in here, so I just wanted a quick second with you, alone. I love you… so proud of you, baby.” He begrudgingly released her, then slowly walked away.
Her chest swelled with warmth and gratitude. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands. She could smell the age of the church, a building that had withstood the test of time. The smell of old hymn books, worn pages in Bibles, and dark wooden pews, mixed with the new smells of fresh flowers and a small waterfall that had been placed near the entrance, covered in ivory rose petals.
To her left, the photographer and videographer were setting up. From the other side could be heard the melodic tunes of her singers. Towards the front, directly in the middle, was the pastor podium, but off to either side rose two white pillars with vines and flowers wrapped around them, and candles all around.
“Thank you, God. I’m at a loss for words.” Her voice trembled as she spoke in a low whisper. “I don’t know what else to say… but I know one thing for certain: I am a witness to your love and mercy!” She wrung her hands, then tossed her head back, forcing the tears to go back from whence they came, not wishing to ruin her makeup.
“I believed I would be alone. Never married. Not one child to speak of. I was fine with that. I was not upset because I’m comfortable being alone. I’m comfortable in my own skin, but you knew that wasn’t the desire of my heart!” She sniffed and held herself. “I refused to settle, and you told me to wait on you… that I’d get the man I wanted and deserved. You delivered!
“All I had to do was do my part… Work on myself! And when you brought him to me, I needed to HEAR HIM. SEE HIM. SPEAK FOR HIM WHEN HE COULD NOT. He arrived to me broken, but he didn’t need me to piece him back together again… He did the hard work, with your help. Lord, he hears me, too… he SEES me, the real me, and he spoke for me when I too was tongue-tied or too prideful to admit my true feelings. THANK YOU, JESUS!”
Turning away from the altar, she raced to the back doors to go downstairs and join her bridal party before it was too late. Along the way, she couldn’t help but sport a big smile as white feathers scattered beautifully along the floor, billowing up with every quick step she took…
Jaheim’s, ‘Forever’ played as Caspian stood at the front of the church with Legend, Axel, Noah, and several of his friends from Georgia as groomsmen. People filled the pews, including Mrs. Florence’s husband, Clifford, and her niece, Monica. He’d invited all of them, not certain they’d come…what a pleasant surprise.
He was grateful Azure had insisted the families sit together, versus having his family on one side and hers on the other. It wasn’t until right then that he acknowledged he had no family except for Noah, an estranged aunt who lived in Pasadena, and a few cousins he barely knew… He knew nothing of Uncle Bobby’s side, except for when he saw them briefly at the fucker’s funeral—and he had no intention to reach out to them and tell them he was a member of the family. A surge of sorrow washed over him, but then, he looked at all the happy, smiling faces in the church, bodies swaying to the music.
Today was a day of happiness. A day of celebration. A day to rejoice.
Family… sometimes is blood, many times it is not. Family could be a stranger you met online who showed you nothing but support and upliftment. Family could be your best friend, the lady across the street that comes by with casseroles when you’re sick, or your favorite teacher…
Azure’s father had pulled him aside that afternoon at the church, hugged him, and said, “WE’RE your family now. You’re not my son-in-law, you’re my son. I’ll be yo’ father. Forget race. Forget background. Forget that damn DNA test. God and me got this. We’ll step in where others failed. I wasn’t the worst father to Azure and I wasn’t the best, but me and my daughter are workin’ on things. I owe that in part to you. You helped her feel more comfortable talking to me. You spoke up for her when she couldn’t speak for herself…”
Caspian shook the heartfelt memory off and noted the bride’s maids, all lovely in various shades of green dresses, with purple sashes. Two of them were White women: Cassie and Edith. They were good friends of Azure’s from the Michael’s store she managed. One friend was Indian—Vasu. He loved seeing the diversity of the people she rubbed elbows with.