by nikki blaire
“I feel fat.” She ran her hand over her stomach.
It bulged slightly, but she was far from having a full baby bump. Still, she couldn’t take her eyes off of her midsection.
“You look beautiful, girl. I would tell you if you weren’t. I can’t even tell that you’re, you know.”
Ayda made sure not to say the word "pregnant" in front of Sasha. With her appetite for words, she would go repeating it with no abandon. Few, if any of the guests, knew about Charlisse’s pregnancy and she would hate to ruin the surprise. She and Marcus had decided to reveal their baby and its gender during their reception. It was another one of Ayda’s brilliant ideas.
“If you say so, then I guess I can come out. How much time do we have before the ceremony starts?”
“About thirty minutes. More than enough time.”
Charlisse nodded then turned back to the mirror one more time when another knock rapt on the door.
“Come in.” Charlisse called out, but regretted it as soon as the door opened and Marcus popped his head in.
“Marc!” Ayda pushed the door shut again.
“Uncle Marc!” Sasha squealed in delight.
“Get the hell out, Marc. You know you can’t see the bride before the ceremony. It’s bad luck.” Ayda leaned all of her weight onto the door.
“I have my eyes closed, damn.” Marcus replied. “I just wanted to give Charlisse a gift. It’s from me and her father.”
He squeezed his hand through the tiny space between the door that Ayda had left open to talk to him. “Here.”
Ayda took the tiny blue box and then slammed the door shut.
“Don’t slam doors in here, Ayda. Have some home training.” Marcus scolded.
“Yea, fine. Go away.” She hissed, but Marcus replied that he was staying right there until Charlisse opened her gift.
“Okay, it’s fine, Ayda. I’m opening it.” Charlisse chuckled at their banter.
She pulled the ribbon off of the box then lifted the tiny lid. A jewelry box sat inside, so Charlisse opened that next.
“Oh, Marc, they're beautiful. Thank you.” She gazed at the diamond earrings that stared back at her.
“You’re supposed to wear them today.” Marcus said from behind the door. “Something old, new, and borrowed. I put it in a Tiffany box, so it could be blue too.”
“Okay, she’s putting them on, Marc. Go away. I’m not gonna keep telling you.” Ayda barked again, but Marcus wasn’t fazed.
He continued on like he didn’t hear her. “It’s diamonds from your mother’s wedding ring and band. A few of the diamonds fell out of the baguette over the years, so I had the rest of them turned into earrings.”
Both women fell silent on the other side of the door.
“Help me put them on.” Charlisse was finally able to usher Ayda over to help her.
She worried that her hands would shake at knowing that the diamonds belonged to her mother. It was the most considerate thing anyone had done for her.
Ayda rushed over to help her, which allowed Marcus to slip into the room. As promised, his eyes were closed.
“I know I’m not supposed to see you, but I just wanted to say that I love you and I’m sure you look beautiful.”
“Get out!” Ayda finished helping Charlisse with her earrings then went back to pushing him out of the room.
Sasha used her tiny hands to push him too until he was out and the door was closed.
“Uncle Marc is funny.” Sasha giggled once he was out of the room again.
“Uncle Marc is annoying.” Ayda sighed. “Okay, Charlisse. You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” She exhaled then walked out of the door with Ayda carrying her short train behind her.
Marcus and Charlisse were getting married at a quaint bed and breakfast in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. Claudette Forde had handpicked the guest list for the highly exclusive event that was meant to be small and intimate. Still, even Marcus’ mother had no idea of their pregnancy or the impending gender reveal.
The ceremony was set up outside under an awning of tall and winding trees. Flower arrangements hung from branches, draping the seating area in splashes of green and white. Lighting wrapped around the tree trunks and were strung along posts, giving the entire space a light glow that accented the streaks of color in the dusk sky. A small band played music for guests, while a cobblestone pathway led to an elegantly decorated wedding arbor draped in fabric and flowers.
Charlisse waited patiently, while the rest of the bridal party walked down the aisle. She made sure to stay out of view, but still wanted to see some of the ceremony.
“Stop trying to look. Marc is gonna see you.” Terry whispered to her, as he got closer to his turn to walk.
Her few bridesmaids wore dark green dresses, while Terry wore a matching blazer as her “Man of Honor.”
“No, he’s not. He’s coming from a completely different way. I just want to see.” Charlisse still tried to look, but Terry blocked her.
“Can you be out of control for one day?” He smacked his teeth at her then moved her further back behind him.
“Goodness gracious.”
He rolled his eyes at her and then put on a fake smile once it was his turn to go down the aisle.
“Ugh.” Charlisse groaned.
“What on Earth are you groaning for your on wedding day?” Her father popped up behind her with his arm out for her to grab onto.
“I just wanted to see what was happening, but everyone’s being difficult.” She took his arm.
“Well, bebelle, you’ll see everything when we start to walk.” He winked at her. “Did you like your gift?”
Charlisse beamed then touched the earrings. “They’re perfect, Daddy. Literally the most perfect thing.”
“Ah, well, it was mostly Marc’s idea. I just provided the wedding ring and band. You’ve got you a good one there. He adores you almost as much as I do.”
“Thank you, Daddy.” She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Alright, we’re up.” He patted her arm in his then began to lead her down the aisle.
She caught eyes with Marcus as soon as she stepped onto the cobblestone. Her father kept her steady because the intensity of his stare almost knocked her over. Marcus wasn’t very emotional, but she could see a fresh sheen in his eyes.
She prayed he didn’t cry because that would only start the waterworks for her. Thankfully, her father got her to the aisle without a tear and then lovingly passed her hand to Marcus’ once they reached the wedding arbor.
He looked so handsome in his tuxedo. She tried to keep wholesome thoughts, as they stood in front of the reverend, but Marcus looking so good made it difficult. She touched her stomach.
That’s how this happened.
She said to herself, while the reverend began to speak to everyone.
Charlisse heard a few words, but was mostly focused on her soon to be husband.
“You look good as hell.” He mouthed to her while they held hands.
She blushed, but kept her own mouth closed. She didn’t want to risk saying something too loudly.
“Marcus James Forde, Jr., do you take Charlisse Caroline Lageaux to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer?”
The reverend turned to Marcus.
“I do.” He smiled wider than Charlisse had ever seen him smile before.
“And do you, Charlisse Caroline Lageaux, take Marcus James Forde, Jr.,” Charlisse let the words go in and out of her ears until it was her turn to respond.
“I do.” She grinned up at Marcus, who barely waited for the reverend to tell him that he could kiss the bride.
Marcus leaned in and then slowly took her lips into his before dipping her to deepen the kiss. Their guests applauded, while some hooted and hollered until Marcus turned her loose.
“And now, introducing, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Forde, Jr!”
Everyone began to clap ag
ain, while Tremaine quickly placed a broom in front of them.
“Jump on three, baby.” Marcus held her hand. “One...two...three.”
They lifted a little off of the ground then landed on the other side. Then Marcus scooped her up in his arms to carry her back into the house to take the rest of their wedding pictures.
*****
“I’m ready to take this dress off of you and get to work on baby number two.” Marcus whispered in Charlisse’s ear, while they sat at their head table during the reception.
Knowing that Charlisse was now his wife gave him a new flood of raging hormones that he could barely control.
It also didn’t help that she looked like an angel in the off-white lace gown she wore that showed hints of her skin underneath. It was driving him crazy.
“Can we find out the gender of this baby before you start talking about another one, please.” Charlisse kept her eyes facing forward at the many cameras that were capturing their every move.
That was his mother’s doing. She had been obsessed with this wedding since Marcus and Charlisse became engaged. Only a few of Washington D.C.’s elite had been invited, which turned their wedding into the ultra exclusive event of the year. Thank goodness he and Charlisse had booked the entire bed and breakfast for the rest of the weekend, which meant that they could go right upstairs as soon as this was all over. And then they would be on their way to their honeymoon.
And he couldn’t wait. “I don’t need to cut that cake to see what the baby is. I already know.”
“Do you?” Charlisse turned to him. “And how is that?”
“Because I just know. It’s a boy. Marcus Forde III. I would call him Trey for short, but that’s too much like Tremaine. So, I've gotta come up with something else.”
He looked down towards the table where the wedding party sat. Tremaine and his sister were flirting and laughing with each other, like always. It made his heart smile to see his sister so happy with someone, especially if it was anything like the happiness that he felt with Charlisse.
“So, you’ve thought all of this out already.” Charlisselaughed, while she dug her fork into her food. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome.” He scooted closer to kiss her cheek. “And as soon as these people leave, I’m taking you upstairs and I’m taking off this dress,”
“Marc, ay, Dad just walked in.” His brother approached their table interrupting him.
“Who?” Marcus hadn’t spoken to his father since he watched him move his things out of his mother’s house months ago.
He knew that his mother had invited his father to the wedding, but Marcus, Sr. hadn’t responded to the invitation.
“The nigga who looks like you and has the same name.” Dwele pointed in their father’s direction. “You want me to tell him to leave?”
“No, I’ve got it.” Marcus leaned in to kiss Charlisse again and then stood up to meet him before he came any closer.
He slowly approached, not wanting to bring attention to himself. He especially did not want his mother to see him. “Dad, what are you doing here?”
He kept his voice low once they were right next to each other. “You didn’t tell anyone that you were coming. You know that’s not okay.”
“I just came to give you a gift, son. I didn’t respond because I didn’t want you trying to figure out where to seat me.”
His father looked over in his mother’s direction. “I’m sure she would’ve saw to it that I was near the garbage cans.”
“Hey, this is not the time or place.” Marcus started to get defensive.
“No, no, you’re right and I’d deserve it if she did.” He looked down at his feet.
“I saw your article in Sports Illustrated, the story about your wedding in The Post. You really turned things around for the firm.”
“My wife did that.” Marcus corrected.
“Yes, well, it seems like you made a good choice.” Marcus, Sr. swallowed hard while he handed Marcus an envelope.
“Dad, I don’t want your money.” He handed it back to him, but his father refused.
“Eh, it’s all I’ve ever been good for.” He chuckled. “Please, take it. It’s the least I could do. Your wife kept me out of serious trouble. I owe it to both of you.”
They both looked over to Charlisse, who was now standing and greeting guests.
“Look, if this is an attempt to get back in my good graces, if you want to return to the firm’s board…” Marcus sighed. “Again, this is not the time or the place, Dad.”
“No, no, nothing like that. Just paying my dues.” He reached out for his son’s hand to shake it. “Congratulations.”
He nodded and then turned to walk away. Marcus waited and watched until he was gone then went back to Charlisse to speak to their guests.
“What was that?” She murmured to him once he returned to her side.
“Nothing. He just wanted to give us some money.” Marcus shrugged.
But deep down he knew that it was more than that. Money and gifts were the only way that his father knew how to apologize. He looked off towards where his father had gone again, but only allowed himself to look for a second.
“All good?” Dwele came up to him.
“Yea, no problem at all.”
“Good. I’m going to go get another plate.” He nodded then made a beeline towards the food.
“Okay, what’s next?” Marcus looked at the short line that formed at he and Charlisse’s table.
“We have to speak to everyone and then we can cut the cake.” She squealed.
“I told you, we don’t need a damn cake to tell us what I already know.”
“Well, I’d like to see it. After that, I think people may stick around for a little bit longer, but that should be it.”
“Thank goodness.” Marcus pulled her close just to inhale the scent of her perfume.
He just couldn’t get enough.
“Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Forde, Jr.”
Marcus lifted his head to look in the direction of the voice calling his name. He frowned once he saw that it was Councilmember Bridges and his wife, Vanessa.
“The Bridges, so good to see you.” Charlisse remained polite, but Marcus didn’t care to pretend.
He was sure that they’re invitation had been the work of his mother and purely for optics. The same reason why they were at his wedding was the same exact reason that he had attended theirs.
“Thank you for coming.” Charlisse smiled, as Marcus pulled her closer.
“It was a lovely wedding. Almost like ours. And that story in The Post about your whirlwind love affair. It’s truly...interesting.” Vanessa faked a grin that made Marcus groan under his breath.
“You look lovely, Charlisse.” Brandon’s eyes were too focused on Charlisse for Marcus’ liking, but he wouldn’t cause a scene.
He would just one up him. Marcus gently tugged Charlisse’s chin and pulled her into a slow and sensual kiss.
“She does, doesn’t she. I could just eat her up. She looks so good.” Marcus finally pulled away. “And I definitely have you two to thank.”
“And why is that?” Vanessa was clearly perturbed, but Brandon just looked sad.
“Because we met at your wedding. We wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you two getting hitched.” Marcus looked directly at her, matching her disingenuous expression.
“So, thank you for everything.” Charlisse added.
“You’re welcome. Congratulations.” Brandon began to move them along.
Vanessa gave them one last look over her shoulder before letting Brandon shuffle her away.
They finished welcoming the last of their guests when Marcus heard his sister over the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone.” Ayda tried to get everyone’s attention. “Before you leave, we all know that you should have cake, right?”
She stood at the DJ booth with a glass of champagne in her hand. “If the bride and groom could please go t
o the cake table, so we can watch them cut the cake.”
She eyed both of them while they walked over to the tiered gold cake that was topped with their initials.
“Now, I know that this is usually a moment for the bride and groom, but tonight, we’re going to do it a little differently. Everyone who’s able to drink, I’d like for you to grab a glass of champagne.”
Ayda nodded to the various waiters who walked around with trays. After everyone had grabbed a glass, Ayda instructed them all to turn their attention to Marcus and Charlisse.
“For the past three and a half months, my brother and brand new sister-in-law have been keeping a secret from each of you. And it’s been literal torture for me to keep that secret as well.”
Ayda lifted her champagne class. “They’re pregnant!”
She screeched into the microphone, which made everyone gasp and applaud.
“I know, I know, congratulations!” She smiled. “But that’s not it. There’s more. I’d like everyone to raise their glasses to Marc and Charlisse, while they cut their cake and reveal whether the newest Forde is a boy or a girl.”
“Oh my goodness!” Claudette wailed from her seat.
Marcus expected her to be surprised, but he had not thought she would jump from her seat. The next person he looked for was his brother, who just sat with his mouth agape.
“Alright, cut the cake, guys!” Ayda’s voice boomed over the microphone, while guests stood up to get a coser look while they cut into the cake.
He and Charlisse both put their hands on the knife then slid it into the top tier of the cake. They cut out a slice and then put it on a plate, revealing the blue colored layers inside.
“It’s a boy!” Marcus yelled out, pumping his fist in the air. “I told you.”
He winked at Charlisse, who was clutching her chest at the news.
“A boy! Ay!” Dwele ran up to them with his mother in tow.
“You’re really trying to kill me, son. Really. First, a surprise proposal and then a baby. Why do you do these things?” Claudette pinched him once she was close enough.
“We didn’t want to tell anyone until we knew the pregnancy was going to go well. It’s my fault, Claudette. I begged him not to tell.” Charlisse pulled her into an excited hug. “I hope you understand.”