Chapter 41
Sheba looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She was nervous as she thought about her rash decision two weeks ago to marry David. She had grown to care about David, but was now having second thoughts about marrying him. She turned in front of the mirror. The white wedding gown she wore did little to hide her big pregnant belly. Delilah’s reflection appeared next to hers.
“You make a beautiful bride.”
“But white? I should have chosen another color,” Sheba said.
“Girl, forget tradition. You look beautiful. Don’t you agree?” Delilah turned to face the wedding coordinator, Georgia Vanguard, one of the best in the country.
Georgia said, “I do agree. Especially since she chose the wedding dress I preferred.” Georgia had had to rush and put together a wedding in a short period of time. The nice sum that David was paying her was enough for her to forgo normal protocol and drop everything to handle the wedding of David King to his beautiful bride-to-be, Sheba.
Sheba moved her body in different directions to view herself in the mirror. “You ladies are correct. It does look good. Baby bump and all.”
They all turned in the direction of the door when they heard the knock.
Georgia said, “It’s time. Are you ready?”
Sheba looked at Delilah and then back at Georgia. “If I wait any longer, we’ll be having the ceremony at the hospital.”
“I’ll let everyone know we can get started,” Georgia said as she turned and walked away.
Delilah and Sheba were now alone in the study. A lone tear threatened to fall from Sheba’s eye. She could feel a crying session coming on. She sniffled.
Delilah said, “No, we are not having this. Not today. Today’s a happy occasion.”
“But I feel so guilty. I’m not supposed to be happy. I’m not supposed to be in love with another man so soon after losing my husband.”
Delilah patted the tears flowing from her eyes. “Baby girl, let the dead bury the dead. You have to live your life.”
“The people back at home are talking about me. You know it, and last night Annette told me what folks at the hospital are saying about me.”
“Annette can go back and tell them to kiss your you-know-what. They are all just jealous. They wish they were in your shoes. Women all around the world today will be in mourning because you, my dear, are becoming David King’s wife. Many have tried, but they all failed. They don’t have that Baker girl charm.”
Sheba laughed at Delilah’s last comment. “Well, this is it. I just need a few minutes alone and I’ll be ready.”
Sheba would do her best to push the negative thoughts to the back of her mind. She had to live her life and stop worrying about what other people were saying about her.
Delilah said, “Don’t make us wait too long. As your maid of honor, I want the first dance with the best man.”
“Nathan is not your type.”
“Oh, I thought you knew. I love a man of God.” Delilah winked at her and walked out of the room.
Sheba closed her eyes. She rubbed her stomach. “Father God, thank you for sparing me and my child’s life. Thank you for having his father be a part of our life. I never would have dreamed of a day like today. Thank you for your grace and mercy as I prepare to walk down the aisle.”
Sheba heard the music. She said out loud before leaving the room, “Uriah, just because I’m marrying David, it doesn’t mean I don’t love you. You were my first love, and I’ll never stop loving you.”
Georgia returned to the room. “It’s time.”
Sheba followed Georgia out into the foyer, and the small, intimate crowd of guests, who were sitting in the white chairs outside of David’s and now Sheba’s mansion, all stood. The pianist played the customary bridal music, and Sheba seemed to float down the aisle.
She had wanted something small and intimate, and David had obliged her. The hundred guests she saw standing up were mostly David’s closest friends or colleagues. The only people in attendance that Sheba knew personally were Delilah and Annette, and they both were part of her small wedding party.
David’s smile was a mile wide as he reached for her hand and they stood face-to- face with the minister. Nathan had decided not to officiate over the wedding, because he still had misgivings about how David and Sheba ended up together. After David pleaded and begged him, Nathan finally agreed to be David’s best man.
They exchanged vows. David planted a long kiss on Sheba’s lips as the crowd cheered. He whispered in her ear as he embraced her, “Bathsheba Marie King, I promise to love, cherish, and honor you all the days of my life.”
“I love you, David,” Sheba said right before kissing him again.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you David and Bathsheba King.”
They walked down the aisle as husband and wife. David insisted that Sheba sit as the wedding processional took place and they personally greeted each guest.
Sheba kept hearing, “You make a lovely bride.” She wanted to believe them, but she knew they were all wondering why David was marrying a pregnant woman, since they all thought the child belonged to another man. David appeared noble by marrying her.
Everyone assumed it was her late husband, Uriah’s child, but she, David, Nathan, and Delilah all knew the truth.