He swung me around, almost knocking over Claudia, who was coming back into the room with the food.
“Perfect timing,” I heard Dad say.
I kissed Seth until you could not tell where his lips ended or where mine began.
To God be the glory for the wonderful things He had done in my life.
Epilogue
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the
floods drown it.
–Song of Solomon 8:7a
“We have gathered here today before God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. We believe that God has joined them together and no man shall separate them. The bride and groom have written their own vows and would like to share them at this time,” the preacher said.
“Honey, God has given me another chance at love. I dare not take this opportunity for granted. You are the beat of my heart, you are the melody in my song, and you are the blues in my thigh,” he said as the crowd laughed no doubt recognizing that last part as a line from the movie Love Jones. “You are the woman who calms me and settles me when I become afraid of growing old. You are the woman who completes me—makes me whole. We cannot get the time we lost back, but we can redeem the time by enjoying the love we share now,” he declared.
“Darling, I would have never thought I would find my way back down Lovers’ Lane. I had given up on love. My heart had waxed cold, but you came back into my life and gave me warmth, which started my love flowing again. I wish I could tell you I had all the answers. I wish I knew what the future holds. But all I know is we are two imperfect people serving a perfect God, who makes all things new. And I am grateful that He did not restore our love, but He made it new,” she said.
There was not a dry eye in the church as my mom and dad got married for the second time around. The love in the building was almost tangible.
Then the preacher said, “I want to read a passage of scripture from the book of I Corinthians, the thirteenth chapter, and verses four through thirteen from the Message version. It reads, ‘If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut. Doesn’t have a swelled head. Doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.’
“‘Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like an infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.’”
The audience clapped as he concluded reading a very famous passage of scripture for weddings. He then led them through the ring ceremony, the lighting of the unity candle, and the proclamation.
“You may kiss your bride,” he said to my dad.
My father took my mother’s face in his hands and kissed her passionately. I was almost repulsed looking at them kiss, but sitting next to me was Seth, who was the perfect distraction. He looked down at me and kissed me on the lips.
“Soon that will be us,” he whispered.
“I know, and I absolutely cannot wait until that day,” I whispered back.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you again Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Chase,” the preacher announced.
The church erupted in applause.
I would have never imagined a year and a half ago, when I got married, that I would now be divorced and engaged again. And I certainly never anticipated my parents getting back together. A lot could happen in a short period of time. It all started with a wrong wedding and ended up with a right one.
The reception hall was elegantly decorated. I had tried to convince my mother to bling everything out, but she had opted for the simple, classy feel. She had said that at their age, a big wedding and a fancy reception were the furthest things from her mind. She was no longer trying to impress anyone but wanted to do what made her happy so she could get on with living.
“Mom, Dad, you both look great,” I said as things were coming to an end. “You made me very proud today.” I kissed them both on the cheek.
“We are equally as proud of you. In less than six months you will get your second chance at love, and this time, just like this time is for us, it will last,” Mom said.
“I believe it, Mom. So what time do you leave for your cruise?”
“We fly out of Atlanta to Miami at six in the morning. I think the ship leaves around ten,” Mom replied.
“Okay, you all enjoy yourselves. Don’t come back with any babies.”
“And why not, Allyson? Are you afraid you won’t be the baby girl anymore?” Dad asked.
“No, I am afraid I will lose my parents in your attempt to be the new Sarah and Abraham.”
We all laughed. I hugged them, Seth came up to wish them a safe trip, we said our good-byes, and Seth and I left.
We boarded the chopper and headed back to Carson Land. As I always did, I leaned my head back against the headrest and thanked God for another day. It had been wonderful.
“What’s on your mind?” Seth asked.
“Oh, nothing much. Just reflecting on the day. It was beautiful. I am genuinely happy for my parents.”
“Indeed it was. And I am happy for them too. Everyone deserves to feel love and be in love.”
“I agree.”
“What do you want to do tomorrow?”
“Sleep. I am exhausted. Between helping Mom plan her wedding, planning another one of my own, and running things around Carson Land . . . I am spent.”
“I totally understand. You should be.”
“Did you have something in mind for us to do? Why did you ask?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to know how I could cater to you.”
He always knew how to make me smile and feel like a queen. He picked up my foot, slid my shoe off, and massaged my heel and arch. I slid down a little in my seat and relished the stellar treatment.
As I settled into the embrace of relaxation, my thoughts detoured to a replay of my life. In spite of my rough childhood, my bumpy teenage years, and my unhealthy young adult years, God had kept me. Through danger seen and unseen, He had kept me. Many times the devil could have taken me out, but even when I did not know it, I had angels watching over me.
It was unknown to me what God had in store for me, but since He had done a good job thus far at leading and guiding me, I knew I would forever put my trust in Him to continue doing so. He had turned my tears of sorrow into tears of joy. He had turned my mourning into dancing. He had restored my soul. Even when I did not know to pray, He was patient with me until I learned to pray.
Who couldn’t serve a God like mine?
“What are you smiling about?” Seth asked.
I opened my eyes and looked at him. “Just thinking about the goodness of the Lord.”
“A woman that prays is so attractive.”
I smiled. “Is that right?”
“Yep. Complete and total turn-on.”
“Well, you just wait until I become your wife so I can show you
what a turn-on is.”
“I was thinking. Why do we have to have a wedding? Let’s get married tonight.”
“Ha! Are you getting fresh with me, Dr. Carson?” I grinned mischievously.
“I’m just saying. We could get married tonight so you can back up all this talking you are doing.”
“Get your mind right, mister. In due time, you will have me and as much of me as you want.”
“I already have the part of you I wanted the most.”
“And what part is that?”
“Your heart.”
Urban Books, LLC
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The Preacher’s Wifey Copyright © 2013 DiShan Washington
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-6016-2379-9
First Trade Paperback Printing March 2013
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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Preacher's Wifey Page 24