Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 97951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
“I think y’all love birds lucked out. Rain ain’t ’sposed to come until this evening,” the Pastor stated to him as he gripped his dark red Bible and looked up at the sky.
“Yeah… looks like a fine day for a wedding.”
They continued to engage in small talk. The reverend was in mid-sentence, talking about how he’d torn a muscle from an old football injury and needed to try out a new fitness center when the black limousine they’d all been waiting for pulled up.
It looked surreal in that forsaken area, a big, sparkly car in the middle of nowhere. It shined so much one could see their reflection crystal clear. The music switched to ‘Genesis,’ by Grimes as the driver got out, came around and opened the back. A rush of soft blue tapestry glided from the car like melted taffy floating in the wind. Women with fancy updos, tight curls, bushy afros, dyed braids, and long, flowing hair poured out in various hues of Earth, moving as if in slow motion. Pretty painted faces and feminine fingers grasping white roses, genuine belly giggles, and a parade of enthusiasm showing in their eyes and their smiles.
The groomsmen made their way to the crowd of women, looping their arms around theirs, and prepared to walk down the white lace covered aisle which divided the two sections of seating for their guests. The first order of business, however, was to announce Ms. JoAnn. The tall, statuesque woman stood there dressed in a flowing light blue gown and black low heels. A diamond pendant hung from her neck. Her dark red painted lips curved as she mustered a smile, looking a bit stiff and uncomfortable, though that made her all the more endearing. His best man, Kage, handed her a white rose, then took her arm into his, and together they walked down the aisle.
She gave a short wave to Lennox, and he blew her a kiss before she sat down beside her son, Nelson. JoAnn and he had spoken in person several times before the nuptials. She’d been over at their new, beautiful two-story house helping around the place, and the three of them had had dinner a couple of times, too. JoAnn was a woman of few words, but a couple of weeks before the wedding, she drove over to his old house when he was loading the last of his belongings on the moving truck. Nadia wasn’t around, but she seemed well aware of that. From the reddish hue in her eyes, it looked as if she’d been crying. She hugged him, and thanked him for treating her daughter well. For being a man of his word. He felt her shaking in his embrace. He hugged her tightly and promised his mother-in-law that her daughter was in good hands. Lennox scanned the front row, and his eyes landed on Nelson. Nelson leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek.
The two regarded one another for a long while before Nelson ultimately turned away. Lennox had had the pleasure of meeting Nadia’s brother a few months prior at a family dinner, and he’d really enjoyed speaking to him. The guy was funny and down to earth, and he loved his sister a great deal. Nadia’s grandmother was sitting next to Nelson—a strikingly beautiful elderly woman with skin the shade of maple, devoid of wrinkles, and possessed a sparkle in her large ebony eyes. Her black-rimmed glasses sat on the tip of her nose. She too wore a light blue dress, and she had on blue shoes to match. After getting Ms. JoAnn seated, Kage spoke briefly with a couple of guys standing about, then came up and stood beside him.
They regarded one another with respectful smiles, then bumped fists. Kage had on a black leather biker’s jacket over his wedding attire. His tattooed hands were adorned with various gold and silver rings. His hair was long in the front, shaved on one side, and straight blonde and silver strands hung over one of his satin blue eyes. He stood tall and at full attention, surveying the area as if he were the lookout for the wedding, too. Perhaps he was… They both had that heat on them in case any uninvited guests made an appearance.
In the front row sat his father, brother-in-law and sister, all sporting expressions of pride. His dad smiled at him as their eyes met, and he nodded in approval. Silva glanced back at the black car, then at him. She was dabbing her eyes with the napkin and the ceremony hadn’t even begun. She’d been so supportive—they’d worked hard these last few months to continue to repair their shattered sibling relationship, and rebuild trust. Best of all, Silva adored Nadia, and the two of them were looking forward to getting to know one another even better.