Chapter Fifteen

 

Ahmalee

 

 

I’m at Sonji’s wedding reception at The Hall at Landmark. She and Khalid had to scramble to have the wedding moved up since this place was available. Khalid was just fine with that. The last time I talked to Sonji, she sounded like she was hyperventilating at the amount of work they had to pull off in such a short period of time, but when me and Jamie stepped up to take care of decorating the reception, that calmed her down a bit. I made forty-eight Soothe My Soul candles – the small, four-ounce lavender-vanilla jars for the guest tables, all tied with twine and decorated with lavender sprigs. And since dinner is about to begin, they’re all lit – got this place smelling magical.

Khalid is on the mic telling everyone how the buffet works and while the hungry guests scramble to find their favorites, I’m looking around for my husband. I texted him the address. He was supposed to be here by now. When we talked last night, he said he would go to bed early so he could wake up early and take the drive back here to Knightdale. I glance at my watch. It’s a little after six – dinnertime at the reception. It’s bad enough Cain missed the wedding. Is he not going to show up for the reception?

“Let me tell you something,” Jamie says, sashaying my way with her crinkly blonde hair. “Sonji and Khalid shelled out some major cash for this here shindig.”

“Why do you say that?” I ask.

“Look around, hun. They got bars and there are servers walking around with pre-dinner whore derbs.”

I chuckle. “You mean hors d’oeuvres?”

“Yeah. That’s what I said. When is the last time you went to an event and they were serving whore derbs? Like, never, right?”

“Right,” I say, still tickled.

“Did you get any?”

“No, I didn’t,” I say. I haven’t eaten anything. I’m so nervous waiting for Cain that I don’t have an appetite.

“And Sonji’s dress…oh em gee! Gorgeous!”

“Yeah, it’s nice. I’m sure they put they’re all into this wedding. And their parents probably helped, too. People usually come together to offer money and make sure everything is taken care of for weddings no matter what the cost.”

I look around again, thinking about the wedding I never had – not that I wanted one – just making an observation. A what-if observation. Like, what if me and Cain would’ve done this whole song-and-dance? Walked down the aisle on a bed of roses in front of two-hundred guests, a flower girl, fancy wedding-day music and rice-throwing family members? How would it have gone down? Would his parents have shown up? How would it have been without my father being there to give me away? To have our father-daughter dance? Would I be reduced to tears at the thought of my mother never seeing me in a gown and marrying a man they’d never know?

Before I can travel any further down that never-ending highway, Jamie darts into my thoughts. “Honey, those lavender-vanilla candles are a real hit! They make the dinner table centerpieces look good.”

“You know I couldn’t have finished them without your help.”

“I know, but you came up with the design. You got an eye for creativity. I friggin’ love those. You should sell them in the store just like that.”

“You think so?”

“Definitely! I mean, come on. They’re pretty and they smell heavenly.”

“Okay. I’ll definitely think about it, then.”

“They’ll also make good special-order candles, too. I bet if that tall blonde who came in for her candles would’ve seen those first, she definitely would’ve chosen them and paid a premium.”

“Maybe. I’ll make a few on Monday and put them out front to see what the response will be.”

“Good idea.”

I check my watch again and look around to see if Cain is anywhere in sight. I glance at my phone. Nothing. At this point, I’m getting worried but I’m still a little mad.

“So, where’s bad-boy Cain this evening?”

I chuckle. “That’s who I’m looking for. He was supposed to meet me here. And why is he bad-boy Cain, Jamie?”

She shrugs. “There’s something about him I can’t quite put my finger on. He got kinda an edge about himself with them dreadlock thingies on his head, looking like a mighty warrior. He’s done come a loooong way, Ahmalee. A long way.”

“Yeah. He has. I just wish he’d get here already. I can’t get him on the phone.” I check my watch again.

“Everything okay in paradise?”

“For the most part.”

“Uh-oh…what is it?”

“It’s…um…” I dance around the idea of saying anything, but I’ve been bothered by this so at this stage, I can use an outside perspective. So, I tell her about his travel back and forth to Charlotte and the uneasy feeling that gives me.

She says, “Girl…now I ain’t one to stir up no trouble.” She laughs at herself. “Okay, maybe I am, but I saw a Lifetime movie once where this man had two wives in two different cities. They didn’t even know about each other. Think about it…while you’ve over here playing innocent, Little Mrs. Cain, he could have another woman over there in Charlotte. I never understood why he gave you a fake name when y’all met, anyway. I thought that was a lil’ fishy.”

“Well, we met under difficult circumstances. He said he discontinued the use of his real name when he was homeless because he didn’t want anyone to know who he really was.”

“Mmm-hmm…I can lose my house tomorrow. Bet’chu I ain’t changing my doggone name because of it.”

Laughing, I say, “Okay, Jamie—I know you believe in your conspiracy theories and Lifetime movies, but Cain does not have a secret life in Charlotte.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know. I love my husband and I know.”

“Have you ever been to Charlotte?”

Dang. She got me there. “No.”

“Sooo…you don’t know where he lives or how he lives?”

“No,” I answer, but now she’s got me asking questions. Why don’t I know where he lives?

“Has he ever asked you to go with him on one of his little business trips?”

“No, but that’s because he knows I have to run the store.”

“That may be true, but you have to admit it’s a little suspicious. Look, the bottom line is if something smells a lil’ funky then don’t ignore the stench. Funk has to be addressed.”

A waiter walks past us with a tray of champagne. Jamie grabs two and says, “Here. Drink this, Little Mrs. Cain.”

I take a sip, pretending to be merry, but Jamie’s got my head in another space now. Why hasn’t Cain asked me to join him in Charlotte on one of his trips? What kind of job does he have that tolerates a new employee being missing for the better part of the week? When am I going to meet his parents? Where does he live in Charlotte and who does he live with? I remember he told me he rented a room. Is that still his situation?

Jamie nudges me and says, “Hey, hun…all your questions can be answered if you ask him upfront.”

“I would if he was here,” I say.

“Well, you’re in luck. He’s walking across the courtyard. Lawd have mercy…” Jamie says and starts fanning herself. “Screw this weak champagne. I need some ice water and a shot of tequila.”

I look in Jamie’s direction and see Cain in a black tux with a blue bowtie and a pair of glasses that look more expensive than my car. He has his dreads tied back. Beard on point. He must’ve seen me because he hasn’t diverted from the straight path leading to me. He ain’t paying nothing else any attention. I can’t see his eyes, but I know he’s looking at me. I can feel it.

You know how they say a man can own a room by his presence? Cain is owning a whole freakin’ courtyard.

“These women all up in your man’s face, Ahmalee. I tell you what, tho…if I were you, I wouldn’t care how many wives he had back in Charlotte just so as long as I was one of ‘em.”

“Hush, Jamie,” I say, laughing at her raspy cackle.

She says, “I’ma head off before you cause a scene.”

“Me? You’re the scene-causer.”

“True, but you’re the one upset because your man got here late.”

“Better late than never. I’m not about to cause a scene at Sonji’s wedding. My frustrations with Cain can wait until we get home.”

“Yeah. Right. When you get home, he’ll have you speaking another language. The luv language.”

“Jamie!”

“You ain’t gotta tell me. He got that look.”

“What look?”

“That look? That brawn and fire. The kind of man you know got some skills,” she says, then waggles her brows.

“Okay, stop talking about my man and go holla at Billy.”

“Forget Billy. Does Cain have any brothers, ‘cause I’m thinking about crossing over to the chocolate side.”

“OMG—okay, put the champagne down, girl, and go get that ice water.”

“You’re right. It’s the champagne talking, or is it?” She does this weird open-mouth-wink combo and slowly backs away from me, inadvertently bumping into someone and almost causing them to spill their drink.

I shake my head. The woman’s crazy.

I focus back on my husband. My heart races at the sight of him. My body flushes and I’m sure if I wasn’t wearing blush it would totally look like I am now. I’m like Jamie – I need some ice water, but all I have is this champagne, so I pour it up, gulp it down but I’m hotter than I was before. With each step closer to me, Cain has me nearly hyperventilating. Is this a normal reaction for a newlywed woman or am I trippin’?

I’m probably trippin’…

Whatever the case, I’m happy he’s here – just in time for dinner, and dancing. I’m elated I get to spend the evening with him. I’ve pushed aside my previous frustrations. My heart automatically opens like the blooming petals of an exotic flower. I got it bad. I’m aware of this. But he’s my husband. I’m highly attracted to him – mind, body and soul. We’re everything together.

In my mind, I feel like he’s walking in slow motion – looks so different from when we first met. At times, I have a hard time believing he’s the same man who came to my home with nothing. Now, he looks like he could own the world. That’s the vibe he puts off. I feel it. These single women who’re waiting to catch the bouquet feel it, but they better feel something else before they catch these candle-making hands because that man is mine.

Cain steps right up to me like the boss of the world and says, “Hey, sweetheart.”

He pulls me into his arms. I find myself not squeezing as hard at first, then I cave. His cologne has me in a stupor. Got me nibbling on my lips and listening to myself moan.

He releases me and asks, “You okay?”

“Yeah. I am now. I was worried, Cain. Where were you?”

He kisses my worries away and he doesn’t do so lightly. He holds my head firmly between his massive hands, parts my lips with his tongue and dives in. I close my eyes and go with it.

When he finally decides to let go of my lips, he asks, “What was your question again?”

“Question? I had a question?”

“You did.”

“Oh. Right. Why are you so late? Where were you? I was worried.”

“I’m sorry.” He steals another quick kiss then explains, “I had to do something last minute for work, then I had to wait for AC techs to come by the house.”

“Why did you have to wait? Why couldn’t someone else do it?”

“Someone like who, baby?”

“Like the people you live with. And why weren’t you answering your—”

He leans forward to kiss me yet again, silencing my concerns. He literally sucks the words right out of my mouth. Then he says, “I’m here now, Ahmalee. Let’s celebrate your friend’s marriage. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“We’ll talk after we make love tonight.”

I smile. “That’s a bit presumptuous of you, don’t you think, Mr. Wesley?”

“Nope.” He leans close to my ear and whispers, “You know you want this.”

The first thought in my mind is, where’s the lie, but I also keep in mind that we still have to talk. So, I commit to having a good time. We eat lasagna and salads for dinner and then after Sonji and Khalid share their first dance, we’re on the dance floor.

At one point, we’re dancing so close, I feel like I’ve absorbed into him. I close my eyes and remember our first dance as husband and wife. And he’s steadily whispering sweet nothings in my ear, kissing on my neck and nipping at my earlobes. As far as I’m concerned, it’s only me and him.

I love this man.

Love him.

Don’t know what I’d do without him.