“You know what, Max? I like Yvonne. She’s good for you and for Sasha.” Juliana propped her fists on her hips. “Do right by her, okay? Don’t screw it up.”
He shook his head, chuckling to himself. “Trust me. I won’t.” She doesn’t need to know how close I came. With a wave, he and Sasha departed for home.
* * *
The second Saturday in July dawned with a beautiful blue, cloudless sky. And from the moment Yvonne rose that day, she wore a smile that nothing could erase.
Today’s the day. It’s finally here. Weeks of frenzied planning, of cake tastings and dress fittings, of phone calls and appointments, were about to come to fruition. And when it was all over, she’d be Mrs. Yvonne Markham-Devers.
A knock sounded at the door. “Von? Are you awake? It’s Del.”
“Good morning, Mama Del. Yes, I’m up.” She’d come to love her future mother-in-law over the past few weeks, and she looked forward to joining the Devers family.
“Come on down for breakfast soon as you’re ready, darling.”
She popped out of bed, opening the door.
Delphinia stood in the hallway wearing a floral housecoat, bunny slippers, and a head full of pink curlers. “Well, hello, sunshine.”
Pulling Delphinia in for a hug, Yvonne said, “Thank you again, for everything. For letting my mom, Zelda, and Athena stay here, and for hosting the wedding…”
Delphinia waved her off. “I’m glad to do it. Now throw on your robe and come downstairs, honey. You’ve got a big day ahead of you.” With a smile, she walked off.
After eating a small portion of the lumberjack breakfast Humphrey and Delphinia had prepared, Yvonne and all the women retreated upstairs to get ready while Humphrey left to go over to Maxwell’s, where the men were making their preparations.
In the guest room where she’d been staying, Yvonne smiled as her mother helped her into her dress. The white chiffon gown, an A-line silhouette with a diamond-shaped back cutout and a beautiful Venice lace overlay, was a bear to get into. But when she looked at herself in the mirror, she could see all the trouble had been worth it. Her eyes were misty as her mother pulled the lace-edged veil down over her face.
Her mother brushed away tears of her own. “You look beautiful, baby. Just like an angel.”
“You look really pretty, too, Mommy.” She hugged her mother, careful not to wrinkle her mint-green taffeta sheath.
Zelda and Athena entered then, wearing their gold satin cocktail dresses. Pretty soon, all four of them were hugging and crying.
“Okay, quit.” Yvonne dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “I can’t go out there looking like a raccoon, so y’all pull yourselves together.” She turned to Athena. “Did my mascara run?”
Athena shook her head, laughing. “Nope. Looks like it’s just as waterproof as the tube says. That’s a first.”
Yvonne looked in the mirror one more time. She touched the old, borrowed locket around her neck, a gift from her father to her mother on their first wedding anniversary. The diamond clusters in her ears were her “new,” a wedding gift from Maxwell. And her Granny Vera’s blue handkerchief, embroidered with music notes, was wrapped around the stems of the sterling roses and baby’s breath that made up her bouquet.
Delphinia poked her head in the room. “Well, look at you. You’re a vision.”
“Thank you.” Yvonne held it together, determined not to ruin her makeup.
“You ready, sweetheart?”
She nodded. Her forever with Maxwell was about to start, and she couldn’t wait. “Yes.”
Downstairs in the parlor, she stood with her father, watching as the wedding party made their way out to the pergola set up in the backyard. Rows of white chairs filled the yard, and she could see Maxwell standing there with Jeffrey, whom he’d chosen as his best man. Maxwell looks so handsome. The sight of him in the smart gray tuxedo trimmed with black satin made her all the more eager to become his wife.
As she and her father stood just out of sight, the procession continued. Maxwell’s three married frat brothers went out first, escorting their wives. She’d gotten to know them all, and she now considered them all good friends. She nodded to Tyrone and Georgia, Xavier and Imani, and Bryan and Alexis as they passed her. Last, Orion accompanied Kelsey down the aisle, each of them holding one of Sasha’s hands. Sasha, the official flower girl, was now a year old, and she drew plenty of “awws” from the guests as she toddled down the aisle with her aunt and godfather.
Finally, the doors were propped open, and she stepped out onto the patio on her father’s arm. While the hired musician played Phyllis Hyman’s “Meet Me on the Moon” on the acoustic guitar, Yvonne moved toward the man she loved. Her eyes met Maxwell’s, and she held his gaze until she reached him. And when her father placed her hand in Maxwell’s, she felt the tears rising in her throat.
She viewed his face through a sheen of tears as they exchanged vows and rings. When Reverend Emerson pronounced them husband and wife, she fell into Maxwell’s arms and let him kiss her until her knees went weak.
Later, they sat at the head table beneath the big tent. The sun had set, and the interior of the tent was lit by candles and the strings of white lights hanging from the supports. Every few seconds, they leaned close to one another to steal kisses, to the delight of their guests.
“Mmm.” Maxwell nipped at her ear. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
She giggled. “Yes, but it never gets old.”
He teased her earlobe with love-gentled teeth. “I’m about ready to get you out of here…and out of that dress.”
She popped his hand. “I’m sure everybody here can tell, with the way you’re carrying on.”
“Well, let’s dance.” He stood, held out his hand. “After we dance, there’s no reason we have to stay.”
She cued the DJ, who started up their song, “Where Would I Be (The Question)” by Kindred the Family Soul. As he twirled her around the dance floor, she felt her very soul was at peace. A life with him was all she needed, the joy she never even knew she was missing.
As the night deepened, they escaped into a chauffeur-driven sedan under a shower of bubbles, leaving Sasha with Maxwell’s parents as they headed off to their hotel for the night.
Yvonne dissolved into laughter as Maxwell lifted her up and carried her over the threshold of their honeymoon suite at a hotel near the airport. “Easy there. You don’t want to be limping when we catch our flight to Turks and Caicos in the morning.”
He set her down, slapping her on the butt. “Don’t worry. If I hurt myself, it’s gonna be in that bed. I’m about to work that body like a nine-to-five.” His eyes sparkled with mischief.
The fire rose in her blood, her body demanding the satisfaction she could only get from his touch. “Well, husband, I’d say it’s time to punch the clock.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, using his foot to kick the door shut.
“I love you, Max.”
“Not half as much as I love you.”
And in the darkness of their room, he stripped her out of her gown and expressed that love in many new and delightful ways.
The End
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my readers, and to my wonderful friends in the Destin Divas writing groups. You all keep me going! Also, my thanks to the folks posting on the Black Greek hashtags on social media, which provided me with a lot of inspiration. I hope the series has given people a peek into the very special traditions associated with these storied organizations, founded on the principles of brotherhood and service to the community.
About the Author
Like any good Southern belle, Kianna Alexander wears many hats: doting mama, advice-dispensing sister, and gabbing girlfriend. She’s a voracious reader, an amateur seamstress, and an occasional painter in oils. Chocolate, American hi
story, sweet tea, and Idris Elba are a few of her favorite things. A native of the Tar Heel State, Kianna still lives there, and still maintains her collection of well-loved vintage ’80s Barbie dolls.
For more about Kianna and her books, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.
Connect online:
authorkiannaalexander.com
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Southern Gentlemen
Author Kianna Alexander brings enduring friendship, heartwarming romance, and true southern hospitality to life in the charming Southern Gentlemen series
Back to Your Love
When Xavier Whitted goes to his best friend’s wedding, he’s blown away to see his high school sweetheart, the only woman he’s ever loved and whose heart he broke years ago. He’s got a lot to make up for…
Couldn’t Ask for More
Fashion designer Alexis Devers agrees to work for Bryan James’s company—but there’s absolutely no way she will fall for her brother’s best friend…
“Worth every moment…true depth of feeling.”
—Harlequin Junkie for Back to Your Love
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Never Let Me Go Page 29