by Dwan Abrams
“Your offer is tempting, but I can’t do that to my parents. They’d be so hurt and disappointed.”
He stood in front of her and held her hands. “I wrestled with this all night. We’ve been through so much. We should already be married. I’m tired of waiting.” He looked deep into her eyes. He got close to her, and then backed away. “I know what you said about disappointing your parents, but this is torture for me. Not because I can’t handle abstaining; that’s not the problem.
“My reasons for wanting to marry you are many. You’re a part of me. You make me want to be a better man. You’re insightful, opinionated, and honest.”
Bria laughed. “You think I’m opinionated?”
“That’s a good thing. You bring out the best in me by challenging me to be the best version of myself. I know I want to spend my life with you. I want to involve you in every aspect of my life.” He looked her in the eyes. “When that doctor told me I didn’t have long to live, everything changed for me. It taught me not to take anything for granted. Life is meant to be lived every single day. Tomorrow may not come. All we have is now.”
Bria felt herself melting like ice cream in sweltering heat.
“By the grace of God I don’t have cancer. I have a lipoma, and I can live with that.”
She had a concerned look on her face. “Is that serious?”
“No. Lipomas don’t generally require treatment. Because they aren’t cancerous growths and can’t become cancerous, they don’t need to be removed. My doctor removed mine because it had grown; that’s all. I’m fine. Just a reminder for me to take care of myself. Nothing for either of us to worry about.”
“Okay.” She touched his cheek.
“Baby, my career is on the rise. I have to travel, and I want my wife to accompany me.”
She could understand that. “But I’m a businesswoman. I’m not always going to be able to travel with you. I have to run my company.”
“I get it.” He held her chin with his thumb and point finger. “And yes, I want to make love to you, but that’s only a small part of it. That’s definitely not the driving force for wanting to marry you. I’m attracted to you, and it’s getting harder and harder to deny my desires. If you make me wait much longer, I’ll be all right as long as I’m not close to you. No kissing, no hugging, no touching, no nothing. And when I do see you I want you wearing loose-fitting clothes.”
“What? You can’t be serious.” She hoped he was joking.
“As a heart attack.”
She thought about everything he had just said. She could admit that she loved this man, and she believed with every fiber of her being that he loved her too. He gave compelling reasons for why they should get married now, and they all made sense to her. “Okay, let’s say we did go down to the courthouse and get married. Can we still have the big wedding anyway?”
“I never said we couldn’t.”
She mulled it over. “But we’d have to tell people that we’re already married. Otherwise, that would be deceptive.”
He tilted her face toward him and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I’m fine with that.”
For Bria, Spade brought out a more “throw caution to the wind” type of attitude. He made her feel as though she needed to stop playing life so safe and live a little. She knew that Spade viewed life as an adventure, and she wanted to experience it with him.
She thought about Spade’s cancer scare. Even a young and seemingly healthy person couldn’t be sure he’d be around the next day, week, or month. She didn’t want to live a life of “what-ifs” or regrets. She searched herself and realized she had always lived a life of delayed gratification. It wasn’t enough for her to postpone getting married until after she graduated from college, but she had to wait until she finished graduate school. Thinking back, she could’ve married Spade when they graduated, got a job, and went to grad school part-time. That mind-set spilled over into other aspects of her life as well. Even when she ate she saved the best for last. Nya often teased her that she ate like a little kid, and it was true. She remembered her parents taught her to eat her vegetables first and eat the meat last. She continued to do that to this very day.
Completely out of her character, Bria couldn’t believe what she was about to say next. “Okay, let’s do it. Let’s go down to the courthouse and get married.” She had never felt more liberated in her life than she did right now.
“You mean it?” His grin spread across his face.
She nodded her head. “Yes, I do.”
“Save that for tomorrow.” He picked her up and spun her around.
She laughed as she held on tight. She had come to realize that even the most well thought out plans weren’t guaranteed. Look at how her relationship with Spade took unexpected twists and turns, she mused. There was nothing wrong with playing it safe and being cautious, but with Spade, she was able to be spontaneous, which proved to be more fun. She liked the fact that he brought out that side of her. For once, she was doing what she wanted to do and not what everyone else expected her to do.
Thirty-four
Bria called to tell Dani that she would be taking the day off from work and Nya would be in late.
“Why? Are you sick?” Dani asked concerned.
“No, no, nothing like that. We just have some things we need to take care of.” It took everything within Bria not to tell Dani that she and Spade were going down to the courthouse to get married and that Nya would be her witness.
“I’ll hold it down. Let me know if you need me.”
Bria trusted Dani. She knew that she could rely on her to handle business in her absence. They ended the call, and Bria finished getting ready. In the back of her closet, she found a strapless fitted white tea-length dress that she had never worn. She had gotten the dress from Nordstrom and figured the right occasion would present itself for her to wear it. How could she ever have known the dress would turn out to be her wedding dress? she thought.
With a small part on the right side, her hair hung straight down. She applied a coat of lipstick before fastening the strap on her white lace ankle strap heels.
She looked in the mirror and felt excited. She was getting married! Small butterflies danced in her stomach.
Spade called to tell her he was outside. She grabbed her clutch purse and filled it with her compact, lipstick, breath mints, Kleenex, and an envelope containing her driver’s license, birth certificate, and Social Security card. Her overnight bag was packed with lingerie, clothes, shoes, makeup, and toiletries. She picked it up as she hurried to meet her man, her soon-to-be husband.
As she locked her front door she realized that the next time she walked through those doors she’d be a married woman! Mrs. Spade Spencer. What an honor! She looked up at the clear blue sky and thought, what a great day to get married.
Spade held the door open for her. Nya and Chance were parked in front of her house waiting to trail them to the courthouse. She waved at them as Spade placed her bag in the trunk and she slid into the passenger seat.
“You look gorgeous, love,” he complimented her as he closed the door behind her.
Dressed in an all-black suit she thought Spade looked handsome and told him so. “You look handsome.”
“Thanks, baby.”
They held hands for much of the smooth ride until Spade called his mom. When she answered, he placed her on speakerphone and said, “Guess what?”
“What?” She sounded impatient.
“Bria and I are getting married today.”
She screamed into the phone. Bria and Spade exchanged glances. “Congratulations, baby. I’m happy for you. Give Bria my love.”
“You can do it yourself,” he said. “She’s right here. I have you on speaker.”
“Bria,” she said. “I told you he’d come back. I love you. Welcome to the family, baby.”
Her warmth exuded through the phone and touched Bria’s heart. “Thank you. I love you too.”
“Later, Mom,” Spade said b
efore ending the call.
They passed a Chick-fil-A on the corner, and Bria’s heartbeat sped up. She knew they were literally just moments away from the DeKalb County Courthouse. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
“You all right?” he asked.
“This is one of the best days of my life. I couldn’t be happier.”
“Mine too.”
They parked in the garage and waited until Nya and Chance finished parking their car before walking up to the courthouse together.
“You look like a doll,” Nya told her as she handed her a small but adorable bouquet. She then pinned a boutonniere on Spade’s lapel.
Bria liked the way Nya paid attention to details. She always remembered the little things.
“Yeah, you look a’iight,” Chance said, grinning. His big and expensive camera dangled around his neck. He hugged Bria, and then shook Spade’s hand. “This is it. Congratulations. When we leave up out of here, you’ll be Mr. and Mrs. Spencer. How’re you feeling?”
“Ask me afterward,” Bria said. She felt the butterflies again.
“I can tell you now,” Spade announced. “I’m sitting on top of the world.”
“Thanks for agreeing to play amateur photog,” Bria said.
“No problem.”
The engaged couple walked hand in hand until they reached the security checkpoint. When they finished, they all got on the elevator to the Marriage License Department where Bria and Spade filled out their paperwork to apply for their license. Spade paid the fee, and they received their marriage license right away.
Nya pulled Bria to the side. “You ready for this?” Nya asked her best friend.
“Absolutely.”
She lowered her voice. “What about birth control?”
Bria’s eyes grew wide. “Remember when you told me I should start taking birth control at least one month before my wedding to give the medication time to work?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I picked up a three-month supply of birth control pills from my gynecologist when I thought Spade and I were getting married the first time, but when he called things off I never started taking them.”
Nya gasped. “Oh no. You don’t have a choice but to make Spade use condoms until your pills become effective.”
“I don’t want to use a condom my first time. That’ll kill the mood.”
“Nothing kills the mood more than a screaming baby.” She tapped her head. “Think about it.”
Bria sighed. “Fine.” She was about to join Spade and Chance but Nya stopped her.
“Did you guys have the STD talk?”
“He doesn’t have any sexually transmitted diseases, and you know I don’t.”
“Did you ask to see the paperwork to prove it?”
“This is Spade, remember?”
Nya dusted a fallen lash off Bria’s cheek. “Okay, now we can go.”
They got on the elevator again and went to the justice of the peace to perform the ceremony. They had to wait outside of the room while the couple before them finished getting married.
“You getting nervous?” Spade asked his bride-to-be while they waited.
To Bria’s surprise she wasn’t nervous at all. “No. You?”
“Not even a little bit. I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”
They were notified that it was their turn to exchange their vows and went inside the chambers. The officiant greeted all of them and asked for the names of the bride and groom. The judge then performed the ceremony which seemed to take less than five minutes. Chance played amateur photog and snapped pictures with his digital camera.
The judge said, “Today, we are here to join you in marriage and to share in the joy of this occasion, which should be one of the most memorable and happiest days of your life.
“On this day of your marriage, you stand somewhat apart from all other human beings. You stand within the charmed circle of your love; and this is as it should be. But love is not meant to be the possession of two people alone. Rather it would serve as a source of common energy, as a form in which you find strength to live your lives with courage. From this day onward, you must come closer together than ever before, you must love each other in sickness and in health, for better and for worse, but at the same time, your love should give you the strength to stand apart, to seek out your unique destinies, to make your special contribution to the world which is always part of us and more than us.
“Being assured that you are aware of the meaning of this ceremony I will now ask you to repeat the marriage vows.
“Do you, Spade Spencer, take this woman, Bria Murray, to be your lawful wedded wife, to love, honor, and cherish her through sickness and in health, through times of happiness and travail, until death do you part?”
“Yes,” Spade said.
“Place this ring upon her finger and repeat after me.”
Spade took the ring and slid it on Bria’s finger.
The judge said, “With this ring, I thee wed and forever pledge my devotion.”
Spade repeated his vow.
The judge spoke to Bria. “Do you, Bria Murray, take this man, Spade Spencer, to be your lawful wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish him through sickness and in health, through times of happiness and travail, until death do you part?”
She looked dreamy eyed at Spade and responded, “Yes.”
“Place this ring upon his finger and repeat after me.”
Bria took the ring and slid it on Spade’s finger.
The judge said, “With this ring, I thee wed, and forever pledge my devotion.”
Bria repeated her vow.
The judge directed them to join hands, and they did. “By the act of joining hands you take to yourself the relation of husband and wife and solemnly promise to love, honor, comfort, and cherish each other so long as you both shall live. Therefore, in accordance with the law of Georgia and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the law of Georgia, I do pronounce you husband and wife.”
Bria couldn’t believe they were married! Just like that!
The judge continued, “You came to me as two single people and you will now leave as a married couple, united to each other by the binding contract you have just entered. Your cares, your worries, your pleasures and your joys, you must share with each other. The best of good fortune to both of you. You may kiss the bride.”
Spade held his bride close to him and gave her a tender French kiss.
When they stopped kissing, the judge announced, “It is my privilege to introduce to you for the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Spencer.”
Nya stood there sobbing and blowing her nose. Bria kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for being here for us.”
They all took turns hugging each other and exited the chambers.
“How y’all feeling, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer?” Nya asked them.
“Still on top of the world,” Spade said.
“Yeah, what he said,” Bria laughed.
They headed to the elevator and pushed the button. While they waited, Bria and Spade held hands and occasionally kissed each other. When the doors opened they pressed the button for the main floor. As soon as the doors opened and they stepped out Bria was horrified to see Kerryngton.
There was an awkward silence until Bria spoke up. “Kerryngton, what are you doing here?”
“Traffic court. Ironically, I got a ticket one night while I was coming to visit you.” He eyed her up and down. “Did you get married?” he asked, his stare intent.
She nodded.
“I would say congratulations, but I won’t.” His tone was harsh. He then proceeded to verbally rip Bria a new one. “I should’ve known you were nothing but a gold digger. You didn’t care about me. You’re full of games. I don’t have time to entertain some silly—”
Whatever composure Spade had, he lost it. He swung on Kerryngton and before Kerryngton could retaliate, security hemmed Spade up real quick. Spade yelled, “How you gon�
�� disrespect my wife, fool?”
Bria wanted to slink her way back into the elevator and go anywhere but there. She couldn’t believe Kerryngton had acted like such a jerk. She looked into his dark eyes hoping that she could see some resemblance of the decent person she once thought he was. Instead, she saw anger. Unbridled, untethered rage!
Kerryngton clenched his fists, but he was lucky that security was there. Spade looked like he wanted to beat Kerryngton within an inch of his life. He touched the spot on his jaw where Spade had punched him. There wasn’t any blood.
He said disgustingly, “You can have her.”
“Sir, do you want to press charges?” the officer asked.
Kerryngton gave Spade a stern look. Even though the officer had asked the question, Kerryngton spoke directly to Spade. “No, he obviously had a lapse in judgment.”
The officer released Spade, who then grabbed Bria by the hand and led her out with Nya and Chance trailing behind.
When they got outside Bria said, “I’m so sorry, babe. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He shook his hand, and Bria looked at it. He had punched Kerryngton so hard he cracked the skin on his knuckle.
“We have to get some ice for your hand,” she said.
“Kerryngton has lost his mind,” Nya said. “You dodged a bullet with that loose cannon.”
Chance shook his head. “I can’t believe he acted like that. I thought he had more class than that.”
“His ego is as bruised as my hand,” Spade said. “He lost a great girl, and he’s feeling salty about it.”
Nya hugged and kissed Bria and Spade on their cheeks. “Please don’t let this ruin your day. That was nothing but the devil. The enemy obviously saw a godly union worth attacking. Don’t let him win.”
“We won’t,” Bria promised her.
Chance hugged Bria. “Proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head. He then gripped hands and bumped shoulders with Spade. “Take it easy, man.”