The moment was finally here. Sasha stood in her suite in front of a full length mirror surrounded by people she had come to love and who loved her in return.
“You are radiant,” Tracy stood and walked over to the bride. “That dress was meant for you and so was this.” She put a gold bracelet with a small cross dangling from it around Sasha’s wrist. “Al gave me this the day I left for college. This is your something old, from me to you.” She kissed Sasha’s cheek then stepped back.
Kaylan stepped up. “I was responsible for something new.” She pulled a charm from her purse and hooked it to the bracelet. It was a gold ‘L’. “This represents your new life with a man who loves you enough to give you his last name forever.”
Ryan walked to stand next to Sasha then unwrapped the tissue paper in her hand. “This is your borrowed. This is the diamond from my mother’s wedding ring. My father gave it to me on my wedding day. I think it’s only right to allow my daughter to wear it on her day.” She hooked the diamond charm to the bracelet. “May it bring you the happiness your father has brought me.”
“Enough with the sappy shit and tears,” Monique said as she strolled over to Sasha, who had tears streaming down her face. “Look girl, it took me a minute to accept you as a sister, but hell, you are here now, so I guess I have to keep you.” She connected a round blue item to the bracelet.
“That’s an odd color blue,” Sasha glanced down at the item. “What is it?”
“It’s a life line,” Monique answered. “Always carry it with you. Whenever you need me, all you have to do is touch it and it will let me know you are in trouble. No matter where I am, know I’m coming for you.”
Sasha looked up through tears, smiling. “I have my own superwoman?”
Monique nodded. “I’m badder than Superwoman, but you got the idea.”
Sasha laughed as she glanced around at the women in the room. “I’m so happy I found all of you. I never thought being surrounded by family was a thing before, now…I can’t imagine a life without any of you. Thank you for loving me and please know, I love each of you with all my heart.”
The women all gathered in a group hug.
“Now, let’s go get married,” Sasha wiped away the tears and walked towards the door.
On the top deck, Luke stood at the railing with his father. Joe at his side.
“This is a vision I will remember for the rest of my life,” Luke looked over the Mediterranean Sea with the sun about to set.
Joe chuckled. “That’s what you say now. In about ten minutes, this beautiful ocean view will be replaced with a vision that will cause your heart to swell, your mind to become void of any common sense, and your eyes to spill tears of pure unadulterated love.”
“Is that what you felt on your wedding day?”
Shaking his head his father replied. “Not just on that day, but every morning since, when I open my eyes and see your mother lying next to me.”
Luke nodded in understanding. “Hence the twelve children?”
“What can I say, your mother gives good love,” Joe laughed. “We Lassiters have been blessed with the rare love gene. My gems and gents recognized love the moment it entered their lives. Not only do we see it, we know love’s value. You see, real love brings into your life all the wealth you will ever need.”
“You worked two jobs to provide for our family and in all that time I never once heard you complain. That’s because you knew the value of Sally’s love.”
“I knew it then and I’m sharing my knowledge with you now,” Joe turned from the scenery to look directly at him. “All of the contracts you’ve had over your football career will never measure up to the one you are about to embark on now.”
Luke hugged his father. “Thank you, Dad. For everything you have taught me about work ethic, about family and about love. I’m the man I am today because of you.”
The music began to play.
Joe smiled. “That’s your cue. The best of your life is waiting for you.”
Precisely at 7:00 p.m., the guests of Luke and Sasha were on the main deck of the ship. Cynthia had the staff build a twenty-step staircase that was lined with over a thousand white roses with greenery, leading up to the main stage. A runner lined the steps with Sasha and Luke’s initials, with an “L” in the middle and the date of their wedding beneath, trimmed in black against a pure silk finish. Large five-foot glass candleholders were on the staircase, outlining their walk to the top. There on the stage was a diamond-shaped archway that had the beautiful backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea gleaming through. The chairs for the guests were white upholstered chairs for comfort and just the right touch of elegance. For the children ten and under, the seating was the padded benches in their own personal area.
The guests were all dressed in formalwear and seated when Calley Rippatoe took the stage to the left with her cello. She began playing her soulful rendition of “A Couple of Forevers” by Chrisette Michele. Halfway through the song, Cynthia had to smile at the couples in the audience who reached out to take their partner’s hands. The music was setting the mood.
Just as the sun began to set, the music changed to “Forever, For Always, For Love” by Lalah Hathaway. Taylor Brooks and Silk Davies appeared next to Calley and began to sing. The captain appeared at the top of the stage, dressed in white. Kaylan was dressed in a black, off-the-shoulder mermaid-style dress. Across from her, Adam walked, dressed in a white tuxedo. They met at the bottom of the staircase, then walked arm in arm up the stairs. Next, Monique walked in, in a black one-shoulder mermaid-style dress. Across from her, Matt appeared, dressed in a white tuxedo. They followed the same path as the couple before them.
Luke walked in from the right, dressed in a black tuxedo, then stopped at the bottom of the staircase. To the left, Al appeared with Sasha on his arm. Luke put his hand over his heart as he looked at the love of his life.
Sasha was wearing a lace mermaid gown that seemed as if there was nothing under it except for her beautiful nude body. Strings of pearls seemed to be hanging from her shoulders, holding the gown in place. Her hair was held up by a comb of diamond and pearls, showing off her long neck, with a single pear-shaped diamond hanging right above where the lace covered her breast, with matching diamond and pearl earrings. The dress was simply elegant and perfect for the woman who was wearing it.
Al walked her to him. The closer she got, the more Luke’s knees seemed to buckle. Joe stood from his seat to brace his son.
“This is love,” he whispered to Luke.
Luke grabbed his father’s hand and held on until he was face-to-face with Sasha. Then the strength from his love for her kicked in.
“I’m good, Dad,” Luke said.
Joe squeezed his hand, then sat back down.
Al reached out and took Luke’s hand and placed Sasha’s hand inside. “I give you my precious gem, Sasha.” Al leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Be happy.” He smiled, then took his seat next to Ryan.
Cynthia spread the train to Sasha’s dress out. Luke was right. The dress was being held up by two stands of pearls that draped over her back.
He leaned over and whispered, “You don’t have on no drawers under this dress … do you?”
Sasha looked over at him and smiled. “Easy access for a Luke-A-Thon.”
To the guests, it looked as if the couple was whispering sweet words of love.
“I heard that,” Cynthia said then looked up, nodded and stepped away.
Calley changed the tune to “Stairway to Heaven” by The O’Jays.
Luke and Sasha ascended the stairs to their future, and just as the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea, they exchanged their vows, taking it step by step to their happily-ever-after.
As the couple sealed their union with a kiss, fireworks exploded in the air, giving the entire deck of the ship a glow of love.