by T. J. Hope
She’d befriended some of the most popular R&B and hip-hop celebrities. She, Juicy, and Agent Conner had become the best of friends. Agent Conner had resigned from the Bureau to be Jamika’s manager indefinitely.
The music industry was hard work. The actual performing was only about thirty percent of the work. She spent most of her time writing, practicing, recording, and perfecting. She used hours on end of studio time. She spent a lot of time out promoting her album on television programs and interviews for magazines.
***
Jamika heard the melodious wedding song begin on the organ. The wedding party began to march into the aisle of the church in sets of two. Jamika could not believe that she was about to be married. The last two years had proved to be more prosperous than she ever imagined.
Jamika had returned from tour only four months earlier, and now she was being joined in holy matrimony. Life was good.
She walked out to begin her stroll down the aisle. She wore a Chenille wedding gown, embroidered in pearls and clear rhinestones. Her train was a full twelve feet long. Her headdress sat on her head around her beautiful up-do, with spiral curls. The veil added to the beauty of her silhouette, floating seemingly effortless toward her groom.
Her eyes became misty as she saw him patiently awaiting her. He looked handsome in his tuxedo. She saw him nervously shift from one foot to the other, as he offered her a genuine smile. He had always been handsome to her, even now with the limp he’d obtained from the bullet permanently lodged in his hip, near the bone.
She remembered staying in the hospital with him until he had recovered. She remembered how he’d confessed his undying love for her, when they’d gone on their first date together in years. He’d said, “Jamika, I know that I hurt you in the past. I was young, stupid, arrogant and unaware. Unaware of how real love feels. I knew in middle school that you were something special. In high school, you caused my heart to speed and my stomach to twirl. When I lost you, my world seemed incomplete. I came to realize that there isn’t a me without you. Now that I have found you again, I will never let you go.”
At that moment, she realized how it felt when you really knew in your heart that someone was sincere. It was an unquestionable reaction; a reaction she could no longer deny. After all, she had always loved him, too.
Mark supported her career, and took a vacation from his business to accompany her on her recent tour. Jamika knew without a question that this was her soul mate. She believed that if they hadn’t had the experiences they were forced to endure; their love could not have possibly been this real and strong for one another.
She continued walking down the aisle. She looked to her right to see Big Momma, Marjorie and Rasheeda, smiling at her with teary eyes. Monie, Shaquita and Nalisha were all in the wedding party and looked at Jamika adoringly. This is what she’d wanted, a small, intimate wedding surrounded by her and Mark’s closest family and friends. Juicy was the only famous person in attendance.
She reached Mark and stood opposite him, and the minister began. “We are gathered here today to unite this man and woman in holy matrimony.” As he continued, Jamika’s attention was solely on Mark. At that moment, nothing else seemed to exist. Never, in her wildest dreams could she have imagined she would be wed to Mark Rosier.
His eyes were fixed on her as well. He looked happy and content. “You look beautiful,” he mouthed to her. Jamika smiled, because she knew it was sincere. Somehow, she had become the most beautiful woman in his world.
“I understand that you have prepared your own vows,” the minister was saying. Jamika took Mark’s wedding band from the ring bearer’s pillow, and began to speak. “Mark, you mean much more to me than I can express in words. You are my man, my protector, my lover, and my very best friend. You are my soul mate. I promise to love you, honor you, trust you, and respect you. I am forever only yours. I take you as my husband, until the day that death does us part.” She slid the ring on his finger.
Mark held her gaze and it seemed as if their eyes were speaking more emotion than the beautiful vow Jamika just made to him. Mark reached over to the ring bearer’s pillow to retrieve the ring intended for Jamika. “Jamika, you are my sun, my moon, my earth, and my eternity. You are the light that brightens my darkest hours. I promise to love you, cherish you, trust you, and respect you. No other is before you; you are my world. I take you as my wife, until the day that death does us part.”
Then he slid the diamond wedding band, filled with baguettes on Jamika’s finger. It looked stunning against the three-carat marquis cut solitaire he’d purchased for her as an engagement ring. But, more beautiful than the look of it, was the feeling it gave Jamika. She was overflowing with joy, and fighting hard to suppress the happy tears that were rising in her throat.
They went into a long passionate kiss before the minister could say that it was time. The minister let out a chuckle and said, “Oh yes, you may kiss the bride.” As Jamika kissed her old friend and new husband, she briefly thought over the events of her young life. She thought about all the sour situations and circumstances life had dealt to her. She realized at that moment; that it truly didn’t matter what lemons life had thrown at her, she’d somehow transformed it into sweet lemonade.
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