I stood in the front room of the hotel. “Hi,” I greeted him.
“Wow, Reese you are breathtaking,” said Kev. When Kev looked at me he made me feel down in my soul what he felt about me. I could see how he felt about me in his eyes. When he looked at me he made me feel like I was beautiful.
As soon as he saw me standing there, he instantly turned the television off. My heart was racing. I felt like I had a middle-school crush, all warm and fuzzy on the inside. I felt like the hair on my arms was standing straight up as he got closer and closer to me. It almost was as if we had an electric, magnetic connection. Whoo! I love that man!
He grabbed my hands gently then closed his eyes and kissed them. “Hey, you have a nice time down there? Did they take good care of you?” he asked, putting my hands to his chest. “You look beautiful.”
I nodded and blushed.
“I love you, Reese. I hope you know this. I’m not playin’ games. All my cards are on the table, baby, and I want a fresh start, with you and your sons by my side. You understand?”
I couldn’t help my eyes from getting moist. The gentleness of this man was so unreal to me. I had never experienced such a love in my life, except the love of God.
“Yes, I understand, Kev.”
Kev got down on one knee, then reached in his pocket and pulled out a four-carat heart-shaped diamond ring. I wasn’t expecting him to have a beautiful ring. We had just decided to get married, so it made me lose my balance and Kev had to lead me to the couch. He sat me down then got back on his knees.
“Reese Taylor Bradford, will you marry me?” He paused then said, “Right now?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitating.
Kev took my hand and put the ring on my manicured finger.
I was in the bathroom soaking in the bubble bath whirlpool tub. The minister’s wife was waiting for me to finish so she could lead me to the chapel. She was an older, gray-haired woman, jazzy though. Her hair was cut in short spikes and her clothes were saucy.
“Honey, you almost finished in there? We need to get to the chapel,” she yelled from the front room.
“Yes, ma’am, I’m ready,” I said. I got out the tub and put on some sweats to go downstairs and get prepared. I grabbed all my belongings and walked with the lady. We went down the elevator to the main floor where the sanctuary was.
“Here we are, baby.” She motioned her hand for me to go in the room. She looked down at her watch. “You still have a little bit of time to get ready. Do you need any help?” She smiled.
“Actually, I do need some help. Thank you,” I replied. “Can you help me with my dress?”
She was such a sweet lady. She had so much joy. “Of course I will.” She got my dress off the hanger. “Is your mother and family here?”
I got quiet then said, “My mom passed. She’s in heaven. I don’t have any other family besides my two sons and they’re in Ohio right now.”
She grabbed me by the hand and said, “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
I thought about the question the lady asked. Wow, Momma. I so wish she were here with me. It made me so sad but I was determined to enjoy and remember this day for the rest of my life. I am going to make him an excellent wife, I said within myself.
I stood up proudly.
“All right, beautiful, you ready to do this?” The woman turned me around to a mirror that stood in the hallway.
I looked at my reflection. “Beautiful,” I said, touching my face. “I can’t believe this is me. I can’t believe this is me in this wedding dress about to get married.” The gown was extraordinary. I selected a soft gold gown that was beaded from top to bottom. It was fitted to my body, showing off my curves in good taste. The back of the gown dropped real low, showing the small of my back.
Once again I had to fight the tears away. “Don’t cry, Reese; wait until the ceremony. You don’t wanna mess up your makeup, baby.” The woman smiled, crying herself as she looked on.
I took the woman by the hands and rubbed one of them. “Can I have a minute before I go out there?”
“Yes, of course. If you need me, I’ll be right inside my office here.” She left and I watched her go into her office.
I continued to look at myself in the mirror. “I look so beautiful.” I then backed away and said, “God, if I haven’t said this in a long time, I love you. Thank you so much for my new life. Thank you, Jesus, for my husband. Please bless us and allow us to spend the rest of our lives together as one.”
I hesitated for a moment, then said, “In you, Father.” I looked up at heaven and cried inside with joy.
I was sure Kev was inside the chapel, losing his mind waiting for me. He was so nervous and excited all at the same time. I went and peeked inside the sanctuary and watched Kev for a minute. He walked back and forth looking toward the door every few seconds to see if I was there yet. He looked suave standing there ever so debonair, with a black tux with a white vest, and his shoes were black-and-white snakeskin. He had gone out and got him a fresh cut and the shadow on his face was edged up real tight. He looked so good.
I shut the door back, closed my eyes and I was ready to walk in the sanctuary and heard my cell ringing. I thought maybe it was Jason and he was there, so I went and looked at it. It was Kev calling. I picked it up and answered it. “What are you doing calling?”
“I’m out here on the other side of your door.” He told me. I was curious to why of course. I was a little nervous, thinking maybe he changed his mind. I went up to the door and leaned my head against it to hear what he had to say.
“Hello, Reese?” he asked as if it weren’t me. I believed he was just a little nervous. “You ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready,” I said nervously.
Both of us were nervous. We were stepping into a new life, and all we had was each other.
“Reese, there’s something I need to tell you before we do this.” He paused and my heart beat a mile a minute. “I love you.”
I closed my eyes, locking in my tears so that my makeup wouldn’t get ruined. “I love you too.”
We held the phone in silence for a few seconds, then said a couple of “You hang up first. No, you hang up’s.” Then we both hung up.
