By 6 pm Saturday the church was packed. The ceremony was set for 6:45, but it seemed no one wanted to take the chance on not being able to witness what Virginia society had deemed the wedding of the year. The balcony was full and the only seats unoccupied were designated for the President of the United States and those of the family who would be walking down the aisle. Outside the church it seemed as if all of Richmond and the surrounding counties had come to show their support for the Mayor and his soon to be wife. Television cameras were in the rafters that had been built for the occasion, and police cars lined the street to keep traffic away. Only vehicles with invitations to the wedding were allowed on the street. Valets were on hand to park cars and the Richmond trolley system was available for those who did not wish to battle with the traffic.
In the Highland Park side of Richmond, in front of the Lassiters’ home were three black stretch limousines and a white one waiting for the bridal party and family to emerge. The neighbors who were not attending the wedding were on their front porches anxious to get a glimpse of the bride.
“You know you could have gotten dressed at our house. It’s closer to downtown,” Diamond stated.
“I wanted to get dressed here, in our bedroom,” Phire said “This is where you always dressed me.”
Opal smiled. “We did. But I think this time outshines them all.”
“Oh my,” Joe said from the doorway.
“Hi, Daddy.” Phire turned in her wedding dress and smiled at him.
“My baby is all grown up. LT is a very lucky man.” Joe held out his arm. “Shall we get this show on the road?”
“I’m ready.” Phire took her father’s arm then walked out of her old bedroom.
“I have the bouquet,” Jade shouted.
“I have the veil,” Ruby responded.
“I got the shoes, Pearl yelled.
“I got the bride,” Joe said as he began descending the staircase. All of the Lassiter siblings and their spouses stood in the family room to watch as the baby of the family appeared all in white.
“My gosh, you look like Sally,” Samuel said as he squeezed his daughter Samantha’s hand a little tighter.
“I think she looks like a princess,” Teddi said as she held on to her father Joshua’s hand.
“I think you are right.” Matthew smiled.
“Who would have thought it?” Adam shook his head.
Sally stood at the bottom of the stairs. When they reached her, she kissed her daughter’s cheek, then reached over to palm her husband’s face. Her lips met his in a steamy, you are definitely getting some tonight kiss. “Thank you for giving me beautiful children.”
“We can go for twelve more if you want?” Joe smiled.
“NO!” echoed around the room.
Cynthia appeared in the doorway. “It’s time to head to the church.”
With that, everyone took their spouses and children, loaded up in the limousines then waited for Phire, Joe and Sally to emerge. The moment Phire’s feet hit the front porch the neighbors cheered.
“Go get em, Phire.”
“You look beautiful, Phire.”
“Don’t come home pregnant, Phire.”
“No, now you can come home pregnant,” another yelled.
Phire waved at all of them, then got into the white limousine.
With a police escort, they made their way to the church where crowds of people lined the street.
“Son, are you sure you don’t need me to give you any last minute instructions?” Mr. Green asked as the groomsmen all sat in the dressing room at the church.
“If he don’t know what to do by now, he’s just going to be lost,” Al Day, who was like an older brother to LT stated.
“Oh, I have a feeling if he don’t know what to do, Phire will tell him,” Tucker laughed.
“Don’t you fret none about LT,” Ms. Natalie asserted. “He’s been preparing for this all his life.”
There was a knock at the door, then it opened. Ebony stepped inside. “Well, don’t you all look handsome.”
“You look pretty good yourself,” Nate replied.
“Thank you, kind sir.” She gave a slight curtsy. “LT, your visitor has arrived. Shall I show him back?”
“Yes, please do,” LT replied.
“Visitor? What visitor?” Ms. Natalie asked.
Someone cleared their throat in the doorway. Everyone turned to see Mint standing there. He cleared his throat again. “Good evening.”
“Hello, Mint,” LT said. “Come on in.”
Mint hesitated then stepped inside.
“Ebony, come in and close the door,” LT asked.
“All right.” She did as requested.
LT looked around the room and smiled. “As long as I can remember the people in this room have been at my side. I am the man I am today because Granny whipped my ass when I was wrong. Al and Tucker put me behind bars to help me to see the error of my ways. Ebony, Cameo and even you Mint, took the hits and scrapes along the way. I could not imagine this day without all of you being a part of it. Grant, you saw something in me that I did not see in myself. That’s why I want you to be the first to know when I return from our honeymoon in Bora Bora, I will announce that I am running for re-election.”
The room cheered and clapped.
“Thank god,” Mint exhaled.
Surprised eyes turned his way. “You know, I can be an ass at times, but you did some good shit around here.”
LT walked over and held his hand out to Mint. “We had our differences. Let’s leave them in the past.”
Mint took his hand and grabbed him into a hug. “I missed you, man.”
“I missed your crazy ass too.” LT hugged him back.
Cameo and Ebony glanced at each other and smiled. It was good to see the two making amends.
There was another knock on the door. This time Joe peeked inside. “I delivered her. Now, it’s up to you to keep her.”
LT smiled. “I have no intention of giving her back.”
“That’s what you say now.” Joshua stepped inside with Timothy behind him.
“Damn you clean up nice.” Tucker stood.
“I know,” Joshua replied.
“I was talking to Timothy,” Tucker laughed.
“May I join you for a minute?”
Everyone stood. “Of course, you can, Mr. President.” LT walked over and took the hand held out to him.
“No Mr. President today. It’s just JD,” he said. “I wanted a moment to tell you how honored I am to know you. You are a man of integrity and have a hell of a lot of courage to marry Phire.” Everyone laughed and nodded. “She is a special young woman. I expect to see a lot from the two of you as a couple. And when you need it…and believe me you are going to…I will give you pointers on how to take her for a walk every now and then.”
LT laughed. “I will be calling on you for that.”
“It’s time, folks,” Cynthia’s voice rang out. “Mr. Lassiter, I need you back with the wedding party. Mr. Green, will you escort Ms. Natalie to her seat?”
“I see Green every day. I want the President to escort me.” Ms. Natalie stood.
“Ms. Natalie, I don’t think…” Cynthia began but JD stopped her.
“It will be my honor,” he said holding his arm out to her.
Cynthia raised an eyebrow. “Well, all right then. The rest of you find your seats and let’s get this show on the road.”
The lights in the church dimmed allowing the candles which had been placed strategically around to illuminate the sanctuary. The white roses placed on the inside end of each pew with black and white tulle streamed between them, filled the air with the fragrance of fresh blooms. The traditional wedding march began to play.
To everyone’s surprise, President JD Harrison with Ms. Natalie Palmer on his arm, strolled down the aisle with Mr. Green following along. He seated her on the right side of the aisle then allowed Mr. Green to sit next to her. He eased into his seat next to his wife Tracy.
Next Samuel strolled down with his mother Sally on his arm. He seated her on the left side of the aisle then sat in the seat behind her. The bridesmaids and groomsmen proceeded as the music continued. The ring bearers, King Arthur and Gabriel walked, bouncing the rings on the pillows. Then the drama queen Samantha wanted to walk down the aisle by herself. Zoey kept motioning for her to come on; when Samantha continued to ignore her, she turned back around, grabbed Samantha’s hand and pulled her down the aisle until they got midway. Zoey gave Samantha a sideways look then began dropping petals to the floor. That’s when Sally stood and glared at Samantha, causing the girl to follow her cousin’s lead. The doors of the sanctuary closed. The music changed, then the doors re-opened.
Sapphire appeared in the doorway on her father’s arm. LT literally fell to his knees. It took Cameo a minute to help his friend up because he too was stunned by the woman standing in the doorway. Joshua stepped over to pick LT up from his knees. It was fortunate not many saw when the Mayor dropped because their eyes were on the young woman who had transformed into a stunningly sexy bride right before their eyes.
The form fitting A-line gown with the daring drop between her breasts stopped right above her navel, with a waist band displaying her small waist and curvy hips. If the guests did not gasp in surprise from the front view, the back was sure to get everyone’s attention. At the top of each shoulder, a cape like train hung low, exposing her back down to her waist. If that was not enough, Denise, Roc and yes a very pregnant Amber, held the train at the entrance. When Sapphire reached midway, she stopped. Her sisters-in-law spread the train out. As she walked past the guests, the lettering around the edge of the train read: My Heart is in Your Hands. Above it in the center of the train were two hands holding a heart. No one else in the church other than LT and Sapphire, knew the significance.
When the minister asked who gives this woman, Joe and Sally both said, “We do.”
Joe kissed Sapphire’s hand then placed it in LT’s. She took the one step up, turned to face him then gazed into his eyes.
Neither took their eyes from each other throughout the entire ceremony. When they were announced as man and wife, LT cupped her face between his hands and whispered, “I survived the brothers.”
Sapphire replied, “I waited. I’m just saying.”
The two laughed, until their lips met. All the laughter ceased, only the pure love that existed between them filled the air. His hands fell to her waist, her arms circled his neck and their bodies, their hearts, the very soul of them merged as one before all their friends and family. In honor of his mother, Cynthia placed the elegantly decorated wedding broom at the bottom of the step. LT gook Phire’s hand. “This is for you Mommy,” he said. The two jumped the broom with a stylist flair that was captured by every photographer in the room.
“That’s going to be on the front page of tomorrow’s news paper,” Phire smiled. “Good job, Mr. Mayor.”