Present Time
With an askew grin, Drake Beckford proudly scanned the crowd that filled the sanctuary on Valentine’s Day, which happened to also be his wedding day. His family and friends were all there, sharing this special moment he seemed to have waited for all of his life. In particular his mother, Suanne and his two older brothers, Armando and Kevin who’d flown in from their homes overseas. They were standing alongside Levi, all sprucely attired in grey tuxes, as Drake had chosen all three to be his best men. Even his bride’s best friend, Hunter Rose looked amazing as the maid of honor in her flowing fuchsia gown.
However, no other person in the room captured Drake’s attention like Sasha McKay, his glamorous bride who was slowly gliding down the aisle in a fitted, off-the-shoulder wedding dress. He’d fallen in love with her when she was just a snotty, twelve-year-old in junior high and now as a mature, gifted woman, his love for her had tipped the scale as borderline obsession. Even through her decorated translucent veil, Drake could see that beaming smile on her heart-shaped face.
As a young promising pastor, Drake needed a woman like Sasha by his side. She was greatly admired for her integrity and her ability to connect with all classes of people. That beaming smile and her even temper were strong traits of a true First Lady. Although his three-year stint at Valor Christian College in Columbus, Ohio had been a challenge for their long distance relationship, Sasha understood how important it was for Drake to be accredited by such a reputable college. He’d assured her that as soon as he graduated, they would tie the knot in grand style.
Someone tapped Drake on his shoulder and handed him an anonymous handwritten note. The only reason Drake didn’t stuff the note in his pocket to read at a more convenient time was because of the familiarity of the paper. It seemed to come from the baby blue writing pad he’d purchased for Sasha during his last summer visit to Devin’s Cay. When he opened the note and saw the custom-made insignia, he smiled. No doubt Sasha had it sent to him – maybe to remind him of her love for him. She usually did little sweet things like that. He skimmed the two sentences, which nearly gave him an aneurysm.
Think twice about marrying Sasha. I have proof that she was sleeping with your best friend while you were overseas. This is from a concerned friend.
Drake looked up, subtly searching the crowd for that face who would send him this disgusting note. Had they no respect for the happiest day of his life? And how dare they accuse his Sasha of being unfaithful to him – and with his best friend, of all people! This sort of thing only came from miserable souls whose hearts were set on making someone else miserable. And it was of a truth: Misery certainly loves company. Drake would not entertain such absurdity. He crumbled the note and shoved it in his pants pocket. He hoped that person would see that they hadn’t the power to stop this ceremony.
His gaze once again found Sasha, who had now paused at a decorative pew in anticipation of his arrival. The glow on her face said it all. She loved him and he loved her. It was implausible to think that she’d been unfaithful to him. This was his angel – the one who God had customized for his life. Together, they would excel in their God-given purposes and create one of the most nourishing environments to raise their five children. Drake could envision their happiness, as he continued down the red carpet to meet his bride.
Kenny Lattimore’s love ballad, For You sealed the moment for the couple. The lyrics themselves were the exact promises made to Sasha by her Prince Charming. From now to forever, he would be there for her, to comfort her and sustain her with a life of stability. Drake’s heart began to beat against his chest when Sasha locked her arm through his and they began to march toward the altar. The crowd agreed with the union and in response, exploded in a standing ovation. Everyone just knew that Drake and Sasha were meant to be together.
They finally arrived at the altar, both with tears of joy in their eyes. And as the presiding Bishop of El Shaddai Ministries prepared to give the opening words, something pulled Drake’s attention away from his beautiful bride. He would have dismissed it had a feeling of uneasiness not yanked at the strings of his heart. His best man, Levi Johnson hadn’t stopped staring at Sasha ever since they arrived at the altar. It was not a stare of innocent admiration, but a deep gaze that pulled Levi’s face into a grim expression.
Why the long face and sulky attitude? Drake thought. I thought we’d gotten over that silly disagreement. About a month leading up to the wedding, he and Levi had had a fiery exchange of words concerning the timing of Drake’s marriage to Sasha. Levi felt both Drake and Sasha were too young for such a level of commitment, especially with Drake just recently finishing Bible School. How was Drake going to support a new wife with no steady means of income? Sure, Drake received a small stipend from the church for serving as one of the associate pastors, but it was not enough to provide for the life Sasha deserved.
But Drake argued that God would be their provider and despite their young age of twenty-four, Drake and Sasha loved each other and were committed to the survival of their marriage. In Drake’s eyes, Levi was too much of a freethinker anyway to give advice on such a sanctified union. Levi simply wouldn’t understand. Drake soon shrugged off the uneasiness and returned his attention to his bride. It was not unusual for Levi to express his distaste for a situation, even if it happened to be on the happiest day of Drake’s life.
The wedding ceremony proceeded without any hiccups. In less than an hour the couple had said their vows and were running down the steps of the church, trying to avoid the showers of rice being thrown at them. But just before they entered into a late-model sedan that had “Just Married” sprayed on the back windshield, Hunter Rose handed Drake two small white boxes. In them were custom-designed jewelry pieces from her collection. The old wedding tradition was then completed with strings of cans trailing behind in the street, certainly a vintage wedding to remember.
Of course, the crowd was excited – too excited for Levi’s taste. He furtively slipped away to the side of the church and found a quiet spot. There, he released his true emotions. First the tears came and then the swearing beneath his breath. How could Sasha do this to him? He was supposed to be the one marching up the aisle with her. Not Drake. Levi suddenly scoffed at his thoughts. Who was he kidding? Sasha would have never married an irreligious bartender like him anyway. Because she would rather marry for convenience than for true love.