“I’ll do my best, Mama.” Jamie chuckled. “I’ll make sure to ask for extra napkins and you can tuck them into my collar and my belt buckle, okay?” Catherine gave a demure smile.
“Will the media be present?” Francine asked, patting her hair in place.
“Why?” Julie quipped. “Waiting to get discovered by Hollywood?”
“Children,” Catherine said. “I want you to be on your best behavior. This is an important night for your brother. And James has chosen us to be his personal guests for the evening instead of…well, instead of anyone else.” She smiled up at Jamie and hugged his arm.
When they reached Meeting Room A, Jamie opened the large double doors and they entered.
“Oh there aren’t many people here,” Catherine said looking around the mid-sized room set up with round, cloth-covered tables, each seating six.
“Don’t worry, Mama,” Jamie said. “They will be soon.”
* * * * *
“What exactly does this award mean?” Virginia asked. “It must be important if they’re holding the presentation at a luxurious downtown hotel.”
“Oh it’s highly coveted,” Lyla said.
“Businesswoman of the Year,” Dawn said as the limo pulled up to the hotel.
“Very important,” David agreed.
“Who’s going to be there?” Virginia asked as they walked into the hotel. “People like the mayor and the media?”
“All the people who matter most will be there, Mom,” Lyla answered. “That’s why I wanted you to be here with me tonight.”
Virginia looked at her daughter in surprise. “Really?”
“Really,” Lyla answered, looping her arm through Virginia’s and patting her mother’s hand.
“I must say you look very smart and slender in the dress you chose,” Virginia said. “I’m not sure I’ve seen you in brown before,” she added, fingering the copper-hued bugle beads and sequins adorning Lyla’s gown. “Very chic.”
Eating up the rare positive attention from her mother, Lyla smiled. “Thanks, Mom. That means a lot to me.”
“I didn’t know they held these dressy awards dinners in the middle of the week,” Virginia said. “I would have thought it would be on a weekend.”
“It’s probably because Wednesday night,” Lyla said with a smile, “is the best night of the week.”
When they reached Meeting Room C, David opened the large double doors and they entered.
* * * * *
“Is everybody from your side here?” Jamie whispered.
“Yes,” Lyla whispered back. “My family is in room C and I told everyone else to go to room B, just the way we planned.”
“Good, my family’s all in room A and I sent everyone else to B too.”
“Oh Jamie, all of a sudden I’m terribly nervous. You really think this will work?”
“God only knows.” Jamie wrapped an arm around Lyla, tugging her close. “But at least we’ll be giving it our best shot. By the way, you look gorgeous tonight.”
“Thanks. You look mighty handsome yourself.”
“You’re positively glowing,” Jamie added.
“Thanks,” Lyla said again. “Um…actually, there’s a reason for that glow.”
“Because you love me so much?” Jamie kissed the tip of her nose.
“Well, yeah, there’s definitely that, but there’s another reason. And I hope you’re as happy about it as I am.”
* * * * *
“My goodness, James,” Catherine said, tsking. “Was that you I heard whooping and hollering like a hog caller a few minutes ago?”
“Yes indeed. It sure was, Mama.”
“Did you just find out you’re getting another award or something?”
“Yeah, something like that. Ready to get on with the event?”
“Well, yes,” Catherine said, craning her neck as she took a count of the people in attendance. “But where is everyone? It’s still relatively empty.”
“I just want you to remember one thing tonight, okay, Mama? I just want you to remember that I love you and I always will.” He kissed his mother’s cheek and then signaled the two men who stood at the bank of folding doors that acted as a partition between the meeting rooms.
With the sections of the wall-to-wall partition removed, meeting rooms A and B became one. As planned, Jamie could now see the partitions between rooms B and C being taken down. The crowd of people who had been waiting in the center room milled about, filling the entire space, and it took a few minutes before Jamie saw recognition in his mother’s eyes and then his sister’s as they finally caught sight of Lyla and her family.
“James…James, what’s going on?” Catherine began to rise from her chair.
“Just sit tight for a minute, Mama, and remember what I told you.” Jamie left the table, crossing the large room and meeting Lyla halfway. “This is it,” he told Lyla. “It’s show time.”
“Let’s do it,” she said, taking his arm and walking to the front of the room.
Jamie took the microphone from the nearby podium in hand. Lyla sucked in a deep, quivery breath before giving Jamie the nod to go ahead. She focused half her energy on trying to keep her knees from knocking and the other half on trying to ignore the fire-monster glares shooting their way from their mothers and Jamie’s sister Francine.
“Lyla and I would like to thank all of you for gracing us with your company tonight. Each of you is here with us because you’re special to us and we wanted you to share in this very special occasion.” Lyla took Jamie’s hand in hers, squeezing so hard she was afraid she’d snap his bones.
“As you probably already guessed,” Lyla said, taking the microphone from Jamie, “you’re not here for any awards ceremony. You’re here for…” She sucked in another shaky breath. “For the wedding of Lyla Lassiter and Jamie Donlon.”
The room stirred with surprise, excitement and finally applause and shouts of approval.
“We’ve passed on wearing the usual bridal wear,” Lyla went on, gesturing to their specially selected garments, “opting for chocolate and vanilla apparel instead.”
Shooting a venomous look, first at Lyla and Jamie and then at Dawn and David, Virginia got up from her table and headed for the exit, while Francine and Catherine were doing the same on their side of the room. Lyla watched Jamie signal to the back of the room. Two big men moved to each of the three double-door exits, blocking them.
Virginia threatened while Catherine and Francine blustered until it eventually became evident they weren’t going anywhere. Three of the men escorted the women to a much larger round table up front, where they were seated together and joined by Julie, Dawn and David. Jamie’s cousin Felicia came from the middle of the crowd and sat with them.
“To those of you who helped us pull this together over the last three months,” Jamie said, “Lyla and I offer our eternal gratitude. We couldn’t have managed without you.”
“You knew about this sham, didn’t you?” Virginia accused as she looked from Dawn to her son-in-law.
“Only for the last three months.” David shrugged.
“Are you her mother?” Catherine said, her icy words practically crystallizing in the air.
“Only because my son-in-law won’t let me disown her,” Virginia spat. “Are you his?” She gave Catherine a cautious appraisal.
“Yes.” Catherine elevated her chin. “And you should know I’m not at all happy about this.”
“You?” Virginia said incredulously, folding her arms across her chest. “Hah!”
“How could you not tell me about this, Julie?” Francine asked her sister.
“You must be joking. You would have done everything you could have to stop it.”
“You’re damn right,” Francine admitted.
“We’d like to introduce you all to our family,” Lyla said and then she nodded to the back of the room. “Beginning with Miss Megan Lyla Hogan, accompanied by her paternal grandparents, Moira and Steven Hogan and her uncle, Jeff H
ogan.” All eyes turned to watch the trio bringing the baby to the table and presenting Megan to Virginia who looked amazed. The Hogans then took a seat.
Lyla smiled as Virginia hugged the baby close. “I’m hoping that with your granddaughter in your lap, Mom, you might be less prone to be quite as…vociferous as usual.” Lyla winked and then made the rest of the introductions.
“I know you think you have this very well planned out, James,” Francine said, standing. “Right down to bringing that sweet, innocent baby into this so we won’t raise our voices and make a scene, but you cannot make us sit here and watch this travesty.”
“Sure I can.” Jamie smiled. “You don’t have to like it necessarily, but, yes, I’m afraid you do have to stay because we won’t allow you to leave.” He offered a warm smile.
Megan cooed and then belted out an exuberant, tuneful series of la, la, las, eliciting a smile from those at the table.
“You’re looking for a happy storybook ending, Lyla,” Virginia said quietly as she jostled Megan on her knee. “But this isn’t a fairy tale. This is real life and you’re going to be facing some ugly situations.”
“Dawn.” Lyla crooked her finger and Dawn went up front where Lyla whispered something in her ear.
“Lyla, really?” Dawn said, her voice bubbling with excitement. Lyla nodded. After giving Lyla a hug, Dawn returned to the table, took little Megan from Virginia and placed the baby in Catherine’s lap. Both Virginia and Catherine let out surprised gasps and baby Megan gave Jamie’s mother a big drooly smile.
“Jamie tells me it’s been quite a while since you held a baby in your arms, Mrs. Donlon,” Lyla said. “Isn’t my niece sweet?”
The stiffness and awkwardness with which Catherine held Megan began to diminish as she gazed at the plump, lively youngster with strawberry-blonde curls. “Yes…yes, she is a little sweetheart.” The tentative smile Catherine gave Megan was returned with a gleeful, baby talk greeting and Catherine chuckled. “Adorable.”
“I’m glad you think so, Mama,” Jamie said, “because we just learned today that in about six months you’re going to be a grandmother.” He turned to Lyla, wrapping her in his arms and giving her a chaste kiss.
Congratulatory shouts broke out throughout the room, with people standing and clapping, while Virginia, Catherine and Francine sat agape.
“Oh no.” Virginia dropped her head into her hand, shaking it back and forth slowly. “No.”
“James…James, have you thought about the problems? Do you have any idea what—” Gurgling her delight, Megan stopped Catherine’s question by sticking her little fingers into the woman’s mouth and tugging on Catherine’s bottom teeth. Catherine removed Megan’s fist and looked at her chubby fingers a moment before kissing them.
“We know it’s not going to be easy, Mom, Mrs. Donlon,” Lyla said. “But we’re determined to make it work. And it would be so much easier if we had the support of our families, especially our baby’s two grandmothers.”
“Lyla, you can’t expect—” Virginia started.
“I’m sorry,” Francine interrupted, “I just can’t be all rah-rah and excited for you. And don’t expect me to give you a hug and say welcome to the family, Lyla. I just don’t feel that way.”
“I understand.” Lyla nodded. “We’ll take it slow.”
Jamie nodded to the back of the room. One of the men opened a pair of the double doors and two men walked in, one white and one black.
“Reverend Peters!” Catherine gasped.
“Pastor Johnson?” Virginia said, cocking her head.
“Indeed,” Reverend Peters said with a bright smile as the duo marched to the front of the room. When they reached the podium he continued, “Pastor Johnson and I are proud and delighted to be here together to join this beautiful, happy couple in holy matrimony today. Isn’t that right, Joe?” He threw his arm around Pastor Johnson’s shoulder.
“Absolutely, Ed.” Nodding his agreement, the pastor clapped the reverend on the back. “Reverend Peters and I have had the opportunity to sit down together and talk with this lovely couple several times.”
“And we think they have their heads on straight,” Reverend Peters said. “They have a good solid understanding of the trials and tribulations they’ll be facing as an interracial couple.”
“And their love and respect for each other is evident. Wouldn’t you agree, Virginia?” Pastor Johnson offered Lyla’s mother a warm smile. Virginia glanced up at him quickly and then averted her gaze. “Which is why, “he continued, “in the interest of bringing this entire family together, we’ll both be officiating at today’s ceremony.”
“This may not be a church,” Reverend Peters began quietly, “but I feel the presence of the Lord in here with us just the same,” he finished with a booming voice and a little jump. “Can I hear an amen to that?”
The greater portion of the room responded with a hearty amen!
“Catherine Donlon,” Reverend Peters cried, “can I hear a big amen from the grandma-to-be?”
Catherine gave her son a narrow-eyed glare before offering up a little squeak of an amen to the reverend.
“That’s a fine start, Catherine,” Reverend Peters said warmly.
“How about you, Virginia?” Pastor Johnson asked. “This is your grandchild too.”
Virginia glanced up again. With a quick look left, then right and finally up at Lyla, she expelled a deep breath, offering an almost inaudible amen.
“Lyla, wait,” Dawn called out just before the ceremony began. She reached under the table and retrieved a box. “Come here,” she called to her sister. Dawn drew a veil and pearl-encrusted headpiece from the box and held it out to Lyla. “This was mine, Lyla. I…I’d,” her voice cracked, “I’d be honored if you wore it today.”
“Oh Dawn, thank you.” Lyla blinked back tears. “I’d be proud to wear it. Will you help me put it on?”
“Lyla,” Julie said after the veil was in place. “I have something for you too. I had it specially made.” Exchanging smiles with Dawn, Julie reached into the same box, withdrawing a much smaller box. “Oh!” She dropped it and Jeff Hogan, David’s brother, caught it before it hit the floor.
“Here you go,” he said, handing Julie the box. Lyla saw a certain look pass between them as their fingers brushed.
“Thank you, Jeff,” Julie said softly.
“My pleasure.” Jeff grinned.
Lyla glanced at Dawn and Felicia and realized they’d seen that little bit of magic pass between Julie and Jeff too. They traded smiles. Catherine had obviously witnessed the spark as well, but she most definitely wasn’t smiling.
Julie opened the box, lifting out a chocolate-brown satin garter, trimmed with frilly cream-colored lace. A small jeweled centerpiece nestled amid a looped cluster of coppery-brown and ivory ribbon. “One day when I find a man as fine as my brother Jamie, maybe you’ll let me borrow this back.” She smiled and gave Lyla a hug.
“Oh Julie, this is beautiful. Thank you. It would be my pleasure.” Lyla sniffed. “Okay, now see what you two have done? I really didn’t want to cry.” Fanning her eyes with her hands, she laughed.
The wedding ceremony proceeded without incident, with Reverend Peters and Pastor Johnson dividing the duties. Jamie and Lyla had each written a short set of vows that they read. By the end of the ceremony, when Jamie kissed the bride, every woman seated at the family table had tears in her eyes.
Virginia embraced Lyla and they cried together as Virginia told her she loved her. Francine pulled Jamie into a hug and told her how much she loved him. She also promised to try to be more accepting of her new sister-in-law. Catherine also embraced her son, crying and expressing her love.
As soon as Jamie and Lyla had taken their seats, servers bustled into the room, with groaning serving carts piled high with covered dinner plates. Champagne was poured and everyone oohed and aahed when a magnificent four-layer wedding cake with two chocolate-frosted layers alternating with two vanilla-frosted layers was
wheeled on a cart to the front of the room. The chocolate layers had ornate vanilla icing squiggles and the white layers had chocolate squiggles. Topping the cake were a bride and groom made of white and milk chocolate.
The level of tension had significantly decreased at the table and even the mothers and Francine were engaged in polite small talk with the others.
Jamie caught Lyla’s hand and looked into her eyes. “We did it,” he whispered. “We pulled it off.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I love you, baby, my sweet, beautiful wife.”
“And I love you, my wonderful, handsome husband. And once we get upstairs to that honeymoon suite,” Lyla whispered into his ear, “I have a very special wedding gift for you.”
Jamie’s whole face brightened. “You mean…?”
“Exactly.”
Chapter Twelve
“What’s this?” Jamie asked after they’d arrived in the honeymoon suite and Lyla handed him a shirt-sized box wrapped and tied with a ribbon.
“A special little present,” Lyla cooed. “Your wedding night ensemble—something I want you to wear tonight. Well…at least until I tear it off you.” She gave a husky laugh. “You put that on while I put on my special outfit. I’ll be right back. Oh…and don’t bother to button up the top because we both know I’ll just make you tear those buttons open. Honestly,” she grumbled in mock dismay, “we go through more shirts that way.” She winked and headed for the large, ornate bathroom.
Less than ten minutes later Lyla strolled back into the room wearing a sheer, floor-length, chocolate-brown robe, trimmed in shiny brown satin and open to reveal the matching teddy underneath. A long rope of ivory beads around her neck and a pair of mile-high cocoa-brown stiletto heels completed her outfit. Jamie’s eyes popped and she caught sight of the swift hardening of flesh between his thighs.
“Hey, wassup, homeboy?” Lyla’s teasing words flowed with honey as she struck a seductive pose. She smiled, confident he liked what he saw.
Wednesday Nights With Jamie Page 15