by Zi'ere
What he assumed was the unkind woman trouble that was the norm once a month was actually his fiancé losing their first child. Carlos was sensitive to a woman’s time of the month simply out of love and understanding from his baby sister. Surely he could make his soon to be wife feel better by giving her extra attention and love no matter what emotion she felt. After testing the water, he led Amina into the shower stall. Under the dual shower heads, he took care to wash off her body. As he cleaned, he kissed. From the top of her head to her toes, Carlos had every inch covered. When he no longer tasted the salt in her tears he assumed it was safe to end the shower.
He worked over time to keep her body warm by wrapping her with an oversized towel and drying her body with another. Despite his efforts Amina was still shaking like a leaf. In below what could be called a whisper, she told him the shakes were the result of the pain from cramps. Amina had gotten the prescription for pain pills filled at the same time she had gotten the script for the toxic pills. He understood she needed pain relief. He hustled to get her redressed in clean night clothing. Amina stood in awe as she watched her man line a maxi pad into her panties before he held them out for her to step into them. Amina’s heart was full of love in that moment. Sure, she had the best friends any girl could hope for. And added to that, she knew a lot of women. She had never heard any woman brag about any man taking care of them in that way. It was such an intimate moment. Amina couldn’t help but kick Satan’s negative thoughts out of her head and heart. This man loved her. Most men wouldn’t even go to the store for female products let alone know the perfect procedures to keep her clean. She continued to stare at her man as he quickly moved around her. She was unsure what she had done to deserve such a selfless man. She thanked God for him as he picked her up and carried her to their bed as she settled her head on his shoulder. When he saw the huge pain pills she would have to swallow, Carlos all but crushed them to powder dust to make it easier for her to get the medicine down her throat. Amina’s already thin frame, her pain, and the need for prescription pain medicine concerned Carlos. Amina could look in his eyes and tell that no one in his franchise corporation would see him that day. She knew from the gate that his number one priority was to care for the women in his life. And that is exactly what he did day in and out.
One member of the team being knocked out of the money making game was cause for the entire Haywood family to put their lives on hold and come to aide. Even if the help was so small as to generate a smile for their weak loved one, no situation was too small to keep the family away. Amina stressed her need for peace and quiet for over an hour solid to keep Carlos from allowing the entire family to bombard their home. He being home with her, holding her, and giving her attention was all she needed at the moment. When she heard him firmly turning down his families help, Amina realized marrying into the Haywood family was going to be an event like she had never seen. She thought about the corniest family she had ever seen on tv. The Haywood’s did not have anything on the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family, or what went on with Aunt Bea and Andy Griffith in Mayberry. If she wasn’t in pain she would have laughed at becoming a member of the nosey and overbearing clan.
For hours she laid on her side in silence looking her man directly into his eyes and he was in the same position staring intently into her eyes as well. Seemingly during that time the two of them were sealed as one far beyond what any marital ceremony would benefit them. There wasn’t a word spoken between the two of them. There were no distractions. There was only nose to nose connection as the only point of contact being made. Both of them were exactly where they wanted to be, with the only person in the world they wanted to be with. As the pain eased up, Amina got comfortable enough to fall asleep during the peace and serenity of hearing Carlos breathe. Every time Amina reached for him, Carlos was in arms reach. She felt secure enough to let her guard down and continue to rest.
4
“Can you believe the nerve of that bitch?” Emani screamed out as she entered the private suite.
Emani was Amina’s twin sister and was her senior by a long two minutes. Amina was seated in an oversized chair beside the window. As she was getting her face professionally beat to perfection, she could look down at all of the wedding preparations still being made for her liking. Amina had been chilled to a calming mood by her soon to be sister-in-law Stephanie refilling her flute with Moet constantly. She’d lost count on the number of times she’d heard a cork being popped by a bell hop for all of the women in the room to enjoy. There was champagne, fruit, and cheese for all of the women to snack on as they took their time being transformed into perfection for the nuptials. The entire wedding party were conversing and having a good time getting to know each other better. Each woman had identical hair styles, matching nail and toe polish, jewelry, and gowns. Amina was no amateur when it came to putting on a grand production of a fashion show. Her wedding was identical to a runway show with couture fashion no one had ever seen before on beautiful women that were the envy of their community.
“What bitch would you be referring to this time big sis?” Amina said dryly.
She was over Emani’s diva tantrums. The suite was filled with all of Amina’s bride’s maids and best friends that would serve as her bridal party. Not one of the women had come to Amina with any problem let alone be heated enough to call another woman out of her name. Where Amina was tired of Emani, the other women were just as irritated. Nonetheless they were still interested in what new problem had occurred to bring her diva attitude back to level twenty out of ten. Each woman braced themselves. They were prepared to tune in, and waited for another episode starring Emani as bridezilla. The entire bridal party was made up of women who loved Amina and Carlos. As her twin sister, the women did not all share the same respect for Emani.
Every woman in the room hushed in anticipation of what Emani’s next words would be. It had seemed she had made some new enemies at the rehearsal dinner the night before. Money had been set on bids for Emani’s next victim. Amina had heard one too many complaints about Emani’s bad attitude and harsh words with her staff. Surely no one wanted to tangle with the Tasmanian devil today of all days. Every other woman in the room had walked on burning coals to make sure Amina wasn’t bothered with anything that could potentially be a problem for her on that special Friday. The other women fulfilled their bridal party duties to pamper the bride and make the entire scene all about her, just as they should have. There was no one else present that would have dared to take Amina’s shine.
Amina was well liked in the community, which was being shown as the gifts and RSVP’s began to roll in. It didn’t matter that the wedding was on a Friday evening. Only a true boss would get married on a Friday anyway, that boss was Amina. Even though Amina didn’t believe in tooting her own horn, today was her day to shine bright like a diamond. The day was specially designed to be Amina’s special day to shine separate from her sister for the first time in her life. Emani would have her own wedding day to be all bridezilla about. Emani’s wedding was scheduled for the next day as a matter of fact. Every small detail had been taken care of and worried about by a professional and monitored by her soon to be mother-in-law. All Amina had to do was write her vows and point out anything she wanted. There certainly was no need for Emani to be complaining about anything, yet she was.
“I am referring to that bitch that gave birth to us! What kind of mother doesn’t show up for her own daughter’s wedding? You would have thought when I gave her and her assistant that tongue lashing on that vague-assed RSVP they sent, she would know that I wasn’t having her shit today and for damn sure not tomorrow!” Emani walked in circles screaming at the top of her lungs.
Amina was so thankful that her make- up artist started to work on her eyelashes. She had no desire to witness her sister pace the floor in a hissy fit that would certainly kill her buzz. She certainly wasn’t going to acknowledge anything she was saying. Bren had been their mother for a solid thirty two years but she had n
ever had a maternal bone in her body. Their Mexican nanny Zi had been the one raising the two cocoa skinned twins. Bren hadn’t shown up to their graduation from high school or college. She had not even shown up for the opening party for their business. There was no reason why would she break her tradition and show up on their wedding days. Amina smelled the sweet scents of her best friends beside her. Laini was standing on the right and Zoey on the left. The other women in the room wouldn’t dare buck at Emani. On the other hand Amina’s best friends would shut her down without a second thought.
“Ok, here’s the thing- we’ve already talked about this situation. We all went over every ‘what if’ scenario we could think of. There is no need to get that rived up today of all days about Bren. Emani you already know that.” Of course Laini would be the first one to speak.
Zoey was there to stand in support of a three to one vote to squash the situation. Emani stopped pacing and settled her attention on the last person she wanted to deal with. Laini Jefferies lived to be a menace to her supposedly best friend. She had no problem being a thorn in Emani’s side whenever the chance presented itself; she actually took pride in it. Laini was the older twin just like Emani but Laini was not a retched witch sometimes dipped in chocolate for pretend the way Emani was.
“Ya’ll are getting real good at this ganging up on me shit!” Emani spat.
Amina opened her available eyelid in time to see her sister throw her hands in the air and storm out the room. Without another thought the celebration in the room continued. Even though she was quiet as a church mouse, Stephanie had witnessed the entire scene standing in the background. Amina caught the look of disgust on her face.
‘Emani is starting off on the wrong foot. She had best simmer down before her wedding is cancelled. All it would take was a bad report from Queen Bee number two of the Haywood family for Emani’s dreams to be brought to a screeching halt, and she’s acting like she doesn’t even know it.’
Amina had a conversation in her own head about Emani’s behavior. She was sure she would hear the subject again, but it would not be around any other Haywood. Laini would certainly read Emani her rights when they were in private. Amina thought too soon.
“Mina can I do anything for you sweetie?” Laini asked her sweetly in her ear.
“No sis, I’m fine.” She whispered back.
“Ok, I will be right back okay.” Laini gave Amina’s hand a squeeze.
A few seconds later she heard the door to the suite slam closed once again.
‘Yea go get her ass Laini!’
Amina smiled like a Cheshire cat at the thought of the pow-wow that was about to take place in Emani’s own personal suite down the hall.
“Dang, I want to be a fly on the wall so bad!” Zoey spoke up.
“No, I want to be that lamp sitting on the end table in the room. It’s about to go down in there!” Amina winked at her friend.
“Mrs. Amina Barton- soon to be Haywood you better get your sister! I’m not responsible for what I may do today!” Steph decided to chime in on the conversation.
“Big mama you can’t fight nobody with all that post pregnancy weight still on you!” Out of nowhere Mama Anna was in the mix.
“Ma, I just asked you this morning if I was losing weight and you said I was. How you gonna call be big mama in front of all these people?” Steph put on as if her feelings were hurt.
“You are losing weight but you are still bigger than I have ever seen you.” Anna kissed her daughter on the cheek.
And, just like that the shine was taken off of Emani’s hailstorm and back on all of them looking fabulous for the wedding.
“Steph, stop looking like that! You know Mama is only playing with you!” Amina couldn’t contain her chuckles. “Laini isn’t here to verify right now but your gown is an eight just like Mama’s. You haven’t reached double digits, you good girl!”
“She just talking noise because she had five babies and she is still a size eight. She thinks she is something tough out here in these streets!” Steph sat in her mother’s lap.
“I tell you what, I know somebody who liked me in a sized fourteen, nine months pregnant with your butt and my man is still hooked on these hips today boo!” Mama Anna bragged on her successful marriage to the same man for over forty years. “You don’t even need to try to loose no more weight because Cedric is going to have you pregnant AGAIN in a few hot seconds, watch what I tell you.”
“No he’s not! I already have four kids, my hands are full as it is. It’s a wonder I’m not a size zero and bald headed. Those children keep me running.” Steph admitted.
Amina’s own tragic situation tuned out the rest of the conversation going on around her. It took every ounce of strength she had not to break down in tears. Steph had inherited three children when she married the man of her dreams. She’d only had their new baby a few months ago, bringing her total to four kids all ranging from the age of sixteen to the newborn. Steph definitely had her hands full but she wasn’t tackling it alone that was for sure. Still Amina began to meditate on actually getting married first. Then she would certainly be pregnant again in no time.
5
Three hours later a pampered Amina made her way down the aisle of an exclusive garden area, solo. All attention was centered on Amina as she married her one and only true love, Carlos Haywood. She stood at the altar in a tailor made white and sheer striped strapless sweetheart gown with a nude brown sheer sash tied around her waist. The gown flowed from three different bands of ruffles that fell to her ankles in six inch heels in the front and to a six foot train in the back. On her feet were nude platform Louboutin stilettos. Carlos was dressed in a white tux with matching nude brown accessories. The entire wedding party was in white as well. The ladies in white lace strapped airy dresses with nude brown sashes around their waists. The hems of the dresses went down to their ankles as well. Of course the groomsmen were in white tuxedos as well and nude men’s Louboutin dress shoes. The flow of the entire theme was everything Amina stood for as a woman: couture and simple romantic. She felt that she would faint when Carlos placed her wedding set on her finger. Because of the unique way they met and the quick turnaround for a proposal then to have an actual wedding, she never received the stunning rock or a grand proposal.
However, as Carlos recited his own personally written vows he placed an oval shaped four karat clear diamond on her finger with a unique band that accommodated for the unique shape of the diamond. The band had matching clarity of diamonds that enclosed the complete circle of the band in baguettes. She nearly fainted but she thanked God that her man could pick out something so rare for her to have on display until death did them part. She couldn’t stop the tears from falling from her eyes, watching Carlos fight to hold his own tears in. The wedding started as planned on time at five o’clock pm. There were only a few Barton family members present but they partied with the Haywood’s until three am. Amina Barton-Haywood was on cloud nine. No one could pluck her from the high she was on after receiving the undivided attention of her man the entire night. Carlos was glued to her hip. He stared into her eyes as if he was looking at her soul. The chemistry and passion between them was very evident. Carlos refused all three of his brother’s attempts to cut in on the dance floor. He only agreed for the traditional father- daughter dance to go on only because his wife would be dancing with his dad.
Amina knew it was important to Carlos that his wife develop and keep a special bond with his parents. It was obvious that her parents weren’t a percentage of what they should be. Even though she never said a word, it had hurt her feelings that her parents did not show up for the ceremony after they both said they would. Naturally the elder Barton’s had long divorced. Yet they still were not civil enough after over twenty years apart, to mutually support their children with their presence. Amina knew that one did not show for thinking the other would be in attendance with their new spouse. Amina knew her mother. She thought her relationship with her father was getting b
etter but it obviously was not. The twins childhood nanny Zi was there looking more radiant than Amina had ever seen her. It has been a long time since Zi had a monetary worry in the world thanks to both of the Barton girls. Amina’s Nana, Mrs. Gert who also served as her executive assistant in the business that she’d had her entire adult life, was also present with her husband. Between Zi and Mrs. Gert, Amina didn’t need her parents or her step parents in her life at all. Emani didn’t have the same relationships that would’ve served as back up supporters in her life. Emani was close to Zi but not as close as her sister. Emani acted as if she hated Mrs. Gert with every beat of her heart.
She was convinced her sister was green with envy. Amina knew the wedding scene on Saturday would not be as peaceful as her wedding had been. She started to pity Emani. If only she could get her sister to recognize her own cut throat ways, there might be a way for her to get everything she needed in the love and support department as well. Amina had been trying to get Emani to see the error in her ways for years and had been unsuccessful. Between Amina, Zoey, and Laini- they could not figure out how Emani had everyone fooled that she was a good person. After the ceremony was official with the traditional jumping of the broom, the celebration for the already tipsy guests began in full swing.
6
Amina was on a double dose of Xanax to handle her older sister’s attitude and altitude on Saturday. Emani just so happened to be marrying Carlos’ older brother, Darrell Haywood. The family members that had traveled from all over the world were to be present for a two for one trip wedding. Amina was out of the hot seat on Saturday and she had to admit she was admiring the view. Even though she had the title of maid of honor, she had not done one thing in her job description in preparation for the wedding. Being the accomplished designer she was, Laini had long been signed on to design Amina’s gown and each of the ladies gowns in the wedding party. Even Anna’s gown was made by Laini. Emani hit Laini across the face and wore Vera Wang. Emani had trusted no one with the details of her ceremony, not even Amina or their mother-in-law Anna. That fact was a huge point maker for Emani on the Haywood’s bad side automatically. There was no right that would fix the wrong of Anna not being able to lend a helping hand in even the simple task of meeting the accommodations of her family members that would be attending the wedding.