“Finally.” Destiny looked like a deflated balloon. “You need to talk to her,” Destiny whispered, and looked at Melody.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just talk to her,” Destiny whispered back.
Melody was sitting in a chair in front of a makeup table; she was wearing only a white satin bra and panties and was crying her eyes out. Her face was wet with tears, and her nose was all red. There was a pile of crumpled-up tissues lying on the floor by her chair. It was more than obvious that she had been crying for a while.
“What’s up, Melody?” I asked.
“I can’t go through with it,” she managed between heaving sobs.
“Why can’t you?” I handed Melody another tissue and pulled out a chair to sit beside her. The last time I had been in there, the entourage had been eating, drinking, and laughing. Now everyone was silent and looking very worried.
“I’m not ready to be anyone’s wife,” Melody sobbed.
“Everyone gets cold feet. It’s only natural. Your life is about to change forever.” I had talked numerous brides and grooms down the aisle, and I was proud to say they were all still happily married. “Now let’s get you in this beautiful dress so you can strut down that aisle. I know Myles is going to love you in this.”
Melody smiled for a moment at the thought and then cried a fresh batch of tears. Her stylist had combed her hair into one of the most beautiful updos I had ever seen. A tiara with Swarovski crystals completed the style. Even with no makeup, Melody was still a very pretty girl. She had delicate features and big doe eyes like Bambi. She looked just like a princess. She pulled the tiara out of her hair and tossed it on the makeup table.
“No. I can’t do it.”
“Melody! Why?” I was horrified. No one had ever gone to this extreme; this was pretty over the top, even for Melody.
“I just can’t go through with it,” she continued as she pulled the pins out of her hair and shook her head until all her hair fell down her back.
I heard her stylist gasping for air. Melody’s hair was the real deal. I had watched earlier while her stylist had done his thing with a blow-dryer and a flatiron.
No one said a word. We only watched in shock as she pulled on a pair of faded, ripped jeans and a simple white tank.
I couldn’t let this happen. I finally found my voice. “Melody, you don’t want to do this. Myles loves you so much, and I know you love him. He’s going to be so hurt.”
“I don’t want to hurt Myles, but I just can’t go through with it. I’m not in love with Myles, and I don’t want to be married.”
“You do love Myles. You’re just frightened,” I reminded her. I thought about all the meetings in which Myles could barely function without calling Melody and telling her how much he loved her. I didn’t remember her ever calling him. Maybe she really didn’t love him.
Myles had always been more excited about their wedding than Melody. He’d made all the arrangements—not Melody. In my experience, the bride always had the vision for the wedding, not the groom, because it was her day. I’d had a few grooms who were really into the details of the wedding, but for the most part, the men were usually unconcerned. It was up to the bride.
Melody hadn’t chosen anything, not even one flower. Myles and I had planned the entire affair. All Melody had done was write a check for the reception.
I watched as she picked up her oversize Louis Vuitton bag. I had seen that bag at the boutique in Century City and had gone downtown to try to find a knockoff. I bet things always come easily for her, probably too easily. This girl had everything, even the love of a wonderful man like Myles Adams, and she was throwing it all away.
Melody pulled off the five-carat diamond engagement ring and pressed it into my hand. “Give that back to Myles for me, please.”
“Melody! You mean you’re not going to tell him yourself?” I couldn’t believe the nerve of this heifer. She was truly a piece of work, and Myles would definitely be better off without her.
“No. He’ll just talk me into getting married. I always have a hard time telling him no. It’s better this way. A nice, clean break.”
Nice? I wonder what you would consider cold, I almost said out loud.
“What about your reception at the Beverly Hills Hotel?” I thought about the tens of thousands of dollars that had been spent on everything. It was such a waste. She should have told Myles she didn’t want to marry him when he’d first asked.
“Have a fabulous party on me.” Melody smiled. “And tell Myles to be happy. This is so much better and less painful than a nasty, expensive divorce.”
“Melody, why are you doing this?” I had to know. I just couldn’t fathom a sister running out on a man like Myles.
“I never wanted to be married. Myles was the one who wanted marriage. He started to trip about the sex. He said he had to do the right thing and make me an honest woman. Granted, the sex was great, but I don’t have any issues with not being married. If Myles hadn’t insisted on getting married, we’d still be together. This is really all his fault, so he’ll just have to deal with the consequences. He should have just let things be the way they were. We were so good together.” She looked at her maid of honor, who had taken off her dress, too, and was also in jeans and ready to leave.
“She’s a cold piece,” I heard Destiny whisper in my ear.
“Let’s do this.” Melody smiled at her friend and then at me. “Oh, Tiffany—tell Myles that Wendy and I will be taking the Jamaica honeymoon. I’m definitely in need of a vacation after all this drama.”
And then she was gone. Someone had brought her convertible Mercedes up to the church, and I heard her zip away. Nobody moved, and no one said a word. We were all too shocked.
I stood there, shaking my head. I just couldn’t believe it. Melody had just gotten up and left. Poor Myles. He had definitely missed it when he’d chosen her as a wife. This definitely wasn’t God’s plan for his life. The Word said not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Melody had made it quite plain that she was not a believer, but Myles had gone ahead with his plans anyway.
I looked at Melody’s Vera Wang gown that she had tossed carelessly aside just like she had tossed Myles. I didn’t know what else to do, so I hung it up. Despite everything, Myles would be better off without her. God opened one door and closed another.
I wondered if Myles would take Melody back if she returned. I shook my head at the thought as another quietly enveloped my mind. I’d had a major crush on Myles since our first meeting. He was single and available now. Maybe this was God finally sending me my husband. I got butterflies at the thought and tried not to smile. Me and Myles?
I looked at Destiny, who was speechless. “I guess we’d better let everyone know Myles won’t be getting married. At least not today,” I said softly as I freshened up my makeup before I made my visit to the groom. Now I was glad I had listened to Shay and worn those heels and bought a new dress. Everything happened for a reason.
I dabbed at my eyelashes with mascara and touched up my cerise lipstick with a dab of clear gloss. I smiled at my reflection as I smoothed a patch of highlighted hair in my new sassy, short haircut. It was colored perfectly for my cocoa skin. Once I was alone out in the hallway, I couldn’t resist trying on Melody’s engagement ring. It fit perfectly. The diamond overpowered my small finger, but it was so pretty. All things are possible with God. Jennifer Lopez had gotten her guy in The Wedding Planner. Maybe I would, too.
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
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New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2007 by Sheila Copeland
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-6180-9
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Sheila Copeland, Diamond Revelation
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