Love So Heavenly (A Clean Christian African American Romance)

by Shannon Gardener

  “I am so sorry,” Erica muttered ducking her head in shame and wishing she was anywhere else but sitting at the table and talking to this woman whose husband she had slept with so many times.

  “I really believe you are,” Marion put down her cup and looked at the woman thoughtfully. “Why did you do it my dear?”

  “I don’t know,” Erica whispered in an anguished voice, spreading her hands on the Formica table top and looking down at them. “I was lonely and mad at my husband for leaving me and I was hurting so much. John – I mean Reverend Simmons showed me love and sympathy.”

  “You did not have to spread your legs to pay him back my dear,” Marion told her kindly.

  “I am sorry,” Erica wanted to just disappear into the floorboards. She had been avoiding this and had wanted to run away from everyone who knew her and she was now wondering why she had agreed to meet with her but she had felt as if she owed her some explanation.

  “So what are you going to do now?”

  “I am going to Florida to stay with some cousins of mine until I sort myself out. I really am sorry Sister Marion. I just want you to know that I am not that type of person.”

  “The type to be in a committed relationship with God and at the same time is sleeping with the pastor?”

  Erica nodded wearily, past the point of shame now. She just wanted to go somewhere and be by herself and try to sort out the mess that was her life.

  “You go and do that my dear and there is nothing God will not forgive us for just remember that.” Marion told her kindly.

  “Thank you,” Erica whispered very close to tears.

  Chapter 10

  Tuesday, February 14th dawned bright and sunny without even a drop of snow although it had been forecast that they were in for flurries. The ceremony was being at two p.m. and the church was decorated for the biggest wedding they would ever see. She had been adamant about not wanting her father to officiate. “He is a hypocrite and I am sorry but I do not want him to conduct the ceremony.” She had told Tyrese stubbornly.

  “Look babes,” he had tried reasoning with her. “The man has already apologized and he has stepped down from active preaching as a sign of penitence, maybe you should just give him a break.”

  “Whose side are you on?” she had asked looking on him furiously.

  Tyrese sighed because he knew that if he did not say hers she was going to be mad. He hated this friction between her and her father and it was putting a pall on their relationship.

  “Yours and you know it.” He had told her quietly. “But you are the one who is always telling me that forgiveness is a part of the package and that God is big on forgiveness. So I am simply saying it is time you forgive him Kayla, he is always going to be your father.”

  “I will walk with him up the aisle for appearance sake but that is it.” She had told him with a glint of tears in her beautiful dark brown eyes.

  He had pulled her into his arms and she had resisted at first. “This thing is tearing you apart and I hate what it is doing to you. I am helpless my love and I don’t want to feel helpless where you are concerned.”

  “I can’t see how he did that Tyrese,” she murmured into his chest. “I keep thinking about my mom and the rest of the people who looked up to him and I cannot see how he could have possibly done what he did.”

  He eased her away from him a little bit and pushed the hair away from her face. “He is human baby and it is easy for us to fall but it does not mean that we will not get back up, sometimes we just need a helping hand.”

  “I cannot be that helping hand Ty, not now.” She said softly, the fight gone out of her.

  “It will take time.”

  *****

  The dress was a stunning virginal white that had been sent over with several others for her to choose from. The bodice was form fitting and was simple with very thin straps dotted with diamonds all over. The waist was a flouncy white, billowing around her like a gentle cloud and fell in gentle waves to her feet.

  Her hair and makeup was being done professionally and was swept up from her face and secured with pins at the back of her neck. The tiara was real diamond and had the same material as the bottom of the dress flowing down to her waist. Her makeup was light and she had diamonds in her lobes and around her neck. She took the elbow length gloves from Lorelei and slid them on. She had already taken off the engagement ring and given it to Tariq who was going to be the best man.

  Kathy was her matron of honor and was wearing winter green; a lovely gown that fitted her to perfection and Lorelei one of the five bridesmaids was wearing a delicate shell pink gown.

  “Ready?” Lorelei asked her as she stood there staring into the mirror in her bedroom. They had not decided what to do with the apartment yet but they were coming back to it after the wedding to spend some time alone. Kayla had a concert on Saturday so they had decided not to go on their honeymoon yet.

  “I think so,” Kayla took a deep breath. “I am marrying a man who is not a Christian and even though I know I love him, I feel as if I am disappointing God.”

  Kathy looked at her and then at Lorelei and politely asked the other girls to excuse them for a bit. “Honey I have seen the way Tyrese looks at you. He is in love with you totally and deeply and everything else comes after.”

  “I have never seen him this way with another woman before and I am sure you know that he has been with quite a few.” Lorelei added gently.

  “Suppose I don’t match up to those women he has been with? I have never been with a man before what if I disappoint him?” Kayla asked agitated.

  “Then he will teach you and I am sure he will have fun doing so. That man loves you like a world without end and you have changed his life, don’t forget that.” Lorelei told her firmly. “Come on let’s go get you hitched.”

  *****

  “Nervous?” Tariq asked his brother with a small smile. They were at the manor where all the men in the bridal party were getting dressed. There were four brothers from Kayla’s church there as well and had stared in awe at the massive structure of the manor.

  He was in his bedroom with his brother and Raymond had gone to see about the other men. A maid had served them refreshments before they were supposed to get ready.

  Tyrese stared at himself in the full length mirror. He was wearing a pearl gray suit complete with vest and jacket as well as a crisp white shirt. He had an orchid in his lapel, part of the bouquet Kayla was going to be carrying.

  “A lot,” he responded with a little laugh. “I don’t want to screw it up.”

  “You won’t,” his brother assured him. “I have seen you around her and know that you are head over heels man, I have never seen you like this and I am amazed at the transformation.”

  “I want to do everything in my power to make her happy. I want God to be pleased with me as well and I would find myself praying even when we are not together.” Tyrese admitted ruefully.

  “You have it bad bro,” Tariq said clapping him on the back. “I am proud of you.”

  *****

  The church was packed to capacity both inside and out and the photographers were jostling each other to take a picture of the bride and of course the bridegroom. There were celebrities of all kind. Clyde the famous basketball player was sitting up front and Brianna was conspicuously missing. There were several members of the music industry, several actors and actresses and associates of both brothers. The entire staff members were there as well.

  The crowd became hushed as she made her inside the church on her father’s arm. The reporters would later report that Kayla Simmons had eyes only for the tall handsome man standing at the front of the aisle and that he did not wait for her to come and meet him but met her halfway and would describe her stunning dress in full details and how she looked in it. The stunningly beautiful virginal bride as they would put it.

  The minister: a pastor Donald Wright who had taken over the preaching for the time being beamed at them as they joined him. “My
dear brothers and sisters we are gathered here to join this man and this woman, our own dear sister Kayla Simmons in holy matrimony and I want us to realize that the love between a man and a woman is what God intended. Let us pray.”

  Reverend John Simmons sat in his place on the pulpit beside his wife and watched his daughter with her head bowed and her eyes closed as she stood beside the towering figure of the man she was about to marry. He was proud of her and could not believe how beautiful she was. He had seen how the young man look at her and knew he was genuine about his feelings for her. His wife spoke to him in polite but distant tones when they were at home but put on a loving and supportive front when they were in public. He was not sure how much longer he could stand it and knew he was being paid back for the way he treated her and he had been praying for forgiveness ever since. She had told him that she had met with Erica and he had asked her why and she had simply said: “I wanted to hear her side of the story.”

  Pastor Donald was talking to them about putting God first in their marriage and never letting go of his unchanging hands. “Make sure He is the only third party in your union.” He told them soberly and Rev. John Simmons could feel his wife’s eyes on him.

  He then asked if there was anyone opposed to the union and Tyrese found himself holding his breath before the pastor continued. “Tyrese Anthony Malcolm: do you take Kayla Leah Simmons to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and to cherish in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” Tyrese said clearly.

  “Kayla Leah Simmons: do you take Tyrese Anthony Malcolm as your lawfully wedded husband to honor and obey and cherish for the rest of your life?”

  “I do,” Kayla answered solemnly.

  “The rings please,” he turned to Tariq who handed him the rings. He held them up between the couple and declared. “The wedding band has no beginning and no ending, the circle continues and that is how the love between a husband and his wife should be: a never ending circle of love.”

  He gave Tyrese the rings to place on Kayla’s finger and then asked Kayla to do the same.

  He took their hands and placed one over the other. “You are now man and wife and the Bible tells us to leave father and mother and stick to each other. What God has put together let no man put asunder. You are going to come up on a lot of challenges as a couple but as long as God is at the helm of your relationship you will always have a rock to run to. By the power vest in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

  Tyrese slowly removed the veil from over her face and using his big hands he cupped her face gently, bending his head to take her lips with his in a kiss that started the heat between them. He broke off the kiss and felt the answering tremor in her body. With gentle fingers he smoothed her cheeks. “I love you,’ he told her softly.

  “I love you too,” she murmured, holding onto his wrists.

  “Ladies and gentlemen I now present to you Mr. and Mrs. Tyrese Malcolm.”

  They walked down the aisle to thunderous applause and well wishes and headed out to where there was a stretch limo waiting for them. There was a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket and caviar and several delicious snacks for them to eat on their way to where the reception was being held. It was one of the hotels owned by Malcolm Enterprises. He looked at her quizzically. “Champagne?”

  “You know I do not have much head for alcohol,” she told him with a laugh.

  “How about one glass and a toast between us?” he asked her persuasively.

  She nodded and he popped the cork open and poured them each a glass, passing one to her. “To my wife, the most beautiful woman I have ever known and to us for a long and lasting love affair.”

  She lifted her glass and said: “To my husband, the hottest and handsomest man I have ever met and I know our live will stand the test of time and changes.”

  “Hottest?” his thick brows lifted in amusement.

  “Hmm” she sipped the champagne and the bubbles tickled her nose. “Just stating a fact.”

  They drank the glass of champagne and ate several of the finger foods and she told him that she thought the caviar tasted gross after taking one bite.

  “It’s an acquired taste,” he told her leaning forward to wipe something from her lips, his touch lingering. “I love you so much,” he whispered bending his head to claim her lips with his. It was several minutes before they noticed that the vehicle had reached its destination.

  *****

  The speeches were made including one from the bridegroom. “I want to thank you all for turning up to the most important day of my life. My wife and I,” he stopped at the catcalls and the whistles. “My wife and I want you to know how appreciative we are for your support and want to tell you to just enjoy the rest of the evening and also to let you know that we have no intention of sticking around for very long.” He sat back down to whistles and thunderous applause.

  Her father stood up and Kayla looked at him in surprise. He was a part of the head table along with her mother but she never expected him to be making a speech and found herself reaching for her husband’s hand as he stood up. “I have never told my daughter how proud I am of her.” He looked across the table at her and smiled. “I know you probably wondered whether or not I was and I want to tell you now that I am one proud papa! You have shown yourself to be much better than I ever was and I am humbled by that. I wish you a lot of happiness in the world and from the looks of things it appears that you are going to be happy. I love you my dear and I hope you can forgive me.”

  “Thank you,” Kayla whispered huskily and he nodded with a smile. Tyrese leaned over and wiped the tears from her eyes, kissing her softly on the lips.

  Then it was time for the cutting of the cake after they had eaten the sumptuous and delicious meal and then time for them to have their first dance as husband and wife. She had a surprise for him but she was not ready to share it with him yet.

  “Want us to get out of here?” he asked her huskily as they circled around the room.

  “And miss all the excitement here?” she teased him.

  “We are going to make excitement all on our own.” He said bringing her closer to him.

  “Soon.” She whispered closing her hands around his neck and resting her head onto his chest. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  A few minutes later he released her reluctantly to dance with her father.

  “I appreciate what you said earlier.” She told him as he held her lightly in his arms.

  “I want you to know that I meant every word.” He said soberly. “I messed up pretty bad Kayla and I have no idea how I am going to get past it.”

  “You will,” she heard herself saying. “God is very forgiving and he does not hold our sins against us.”

  “I should be the one preaching that sermon,” he said with a short laugh. “I am so sorry my dear.”

  “Okay Dad, I am finally realizing that even fathers are humans, even if they are also pastors.”

  *****

  “Mom are you okay?” she asked the woman as they sat together after she had done her obligatory dance with Tariq and Raymond and a few others. Kathy and Lorelei were still on the dance floor and her husband was talking to some of his friends.

  “Why because this is a wedding and I see how happy you and Tyrese are and realize that my marriage means nothing much?” Marion asked with a little laugh that lacked mirth.

  “Mom are you going to leave Dad?” she asked in concern. Her mother had on a lavender skirt suit that looked great on her and a matching hat.

  “We are going to work it out my dear and we are going to ask God to intervene,” she patted her daughter’s hand. “I am so proud of you. I want you to go and live your life and be happy with that man of yours.”

  “I will.”

  *****

  Tyrese looked up at the sound of her voice, his breath caught in her throat as he watched her coming towards him, microph
one in hand and singing the song she had done at the concert while she had been looking at him. She had taken off the gauzy material of her wedding gown to reveal a slim satin skirt that molded her curves like a lover and came to her knees.

  Her eyes held his as she sang about a love that had awakened her from a long and dreary sleep and how much she owed it all to him. She took his hand in hers and it was as if they were the only two persons in the room. He fought back the tears as her words and her voice wrapped around him and held him in an embrace that felt as soft as cotton. She hit the high notes and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. She finished the song and handed the microphone to one of the men standing nearby and went right into his arms.

  *****

  He took his time with her. All the way to her apartment he held her in his arms. He had told her how she had undone him with her song and he had never felt such emotions before. He slowly undressed her and stood there staring at her body and told her huskily how beautiful she was. He took his time with her because he knew it was her first time and after he was finished they clung to each other, trembling in the wonderful aftermath of intense passion.

  “How about some hot chocolate?” he asked her two hours later after he had brought both of them to the edge of ecstasy and beyond for the second time. He had reached for a thin silk robe and wrapped her up into it and pulled on his own terry robe.

  “How about finishing the champagne?” she asked him mischievously as they headed to the kitchen, hand in hand.

  “You want alcohol?” he asked her, his brows lifted.

  “I suddenly feel like it.” She said with a grin as she snuggled closer to him.

  “Okay your wish is my command.”

  They sat at the marble kitchen counter and sipped the champagne and ate pieces of the cake that had been sent to her apartment. “Do you think we will always be this happy?” she asked as she spun the stool around to face him. She loved how his body was muscled and well toned and the smattering of chest hair revealed by the opening of his robe. He had a magnificent body and made her want to touch it every minute.