“What do you call yourself doing?” he asked as Chynna closed the bedroom door behind them and gave him access to a full view of her butt cheeks peeping through her bodysuit, before she eased him back on the bed and began kissing him.
“You know what I’m doing. Whatever you like,” she said hungrily, and continued kissing and touching him all over, bringing him to a point where he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist. Only God knew, and Chynna, that he didn’t want to resist. He wanted Chynna. He missed her. Needed her. As much as he told himself what he was doing was wrong, he couldn’t stop and didn’t want to stop.
Chynna wouldn’t let up. She always had a hold on him and tonight was no different.
“Let’s make this last night of freedom your best night,” Chynna said. “Let me show you how much I still love you and how much I’m going to miss us, Dray. How much I’m going to miss what we had,” she whispered as she took control of the night.
Hours later, when they were done, Dray was spent. The alcohol, combined with their consuming lovemaking, rendered him weak. His eyelids heavy, he watched as Chynna climbed out of the bed, put on her few clothes, smiled, and like a thoroughbred stallion strolled out the door.
The week leading up to the wedding, Dray rarely saw or spent time with Bethany. He tried not to think about what happened the night of his bachelor party but it was hard not to. He missed Chynna, missed what they once shared, but there was no turning back now.
Guilt consumed him, but Steve convinced him that he was still single and whatever happened between him and Chynna that night was not really cheating. It was a man sowing the last of his wild oats.
“Man, you were closing out a chapter of your life so you can start a clean slate with Bethany,” Steve told him. “Don’t sweat it.”
Dray agreed, but his heart said otherwise. Since the night of the bachelor party he hadn’t heard a word from Chynna. No text messages, nothing. It was almost like she had disappeared off the face of the earth, and he missed her. Several times he’d picked up his phone, dialed her number, only to hang up before the call went through. Stop it, he told himself. You’re about to be a married man. What you and Chynna had is in the past. Let it go. He prayed he could.
Bethany was super busy making sure everything would be perfect on her wedding day and for her bachelorette party taking place in a few hours.
Bethany and five of her girlfriends reserved a private car on the train to New Orleans for her bachelorette party. They planned, after the six-hour train ride, to go on Bourbon Street and the French Quarters. A two-bedroom hotel suite was reserved for the girls but they didn’t know if they would use it. As soon as they exited the train, a limo was waiting to take them on Bourbon Street.
For the next 24 hours, Bethany was determined not to think about whether or not she would be making a mistake by marrying Dray. This is my bachelorette party for goodness sakes! No time to be second-guessing, over thinking, stressing out, and thinking stupid thoughts. It’s time to party with my girls. Celebrate. Turn up, have fun!
Bethany and her girls walked along Bourbon Street, stopping in almost every restaurant and café, tasting food, having virgin mixed drinks, and venturing along the French Quarter, people watching, laughing, and having the best time.
Bethany began relaxing, became at peace, let loose, and enjoyed the blessing of friends and family. At the thought of becoming the future Mrs. Draymond Hawkins, she began to feel joy instead of uncertainty. What God ordained she wasn’t about to let no man or woman put asunder.
“Let’s turn up! Yayyy!” One of her friends said, laughing, dancing, and encouraging the others to join in and they did, including Bethany. It was a real life girls’ trip. In two days the life Bethany lived up to this moment would change. She prayed it would be the best decision she ever made in her life.
“I cannot believe you crashed that man’s bachelor party,” Kee remarked, shook her head, looked in her side mirror and switched to the left lane of the highway. “You really want to mess up that man’s wedding, don’t you?”
Chynna laughed. “You are so funny, Kee.”
“It’s not me who’s funny. You are one of a kind.”
“Forget about me for now. You got an invitation to the wedding so are you going?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I have to see this wedding for myself ‘cause I know you’re going to want me to tell you every detail.”
“Good, pick me up Saturday at two.”
“Huh? Me? Pick you up? What? I know you aren’t going. You weren’t even invited.”
“Uh, I don’t need an invitation. I don’t think anyone is going to try to stop me from coming into the church unless they want to cause a scene.”
KeeKee stared at her friend briefly before focusing back on the road. “Girl, please tell me you’re not serious about going to that man’s wedding?”
“Uh, yeah, I’m serious. Now will you pick me up?”
Kee shrugged. “Uh, okay.”
“Cool. Now let’s go get something to eat. I have a taste for some good ol’ fried rice and sweet iced tea.”
16
“Karma never loses an address.” Unknown
Dray stood at the front of the church with his groomsmen and best man, looking with teary eyes at his beautiful bride. His white tuxedo with blush pink vest and bow tie made him look like a replica of Tyson Beckford.
This was a moment he had waited for. Grateful to God that he was able to walk on his own to welcome Bethany as his wife. He pushed thoughts of Chynna out of his mind as the traditional “Here Comes the Bride” began in the background. Dray stared ahead, waiting on the doors of the church to open and welcome in his bride to be.
Bethany’s slender frame looked absolutely radiant as she glided up the aisle of the beautifully decorated church in a fitted, blush pink sequin, strapless wedding gown. Opting not to wear traditional white, she was her own person, something that endeared Dray to her. One minute she acted prudish and the next she exemplified a style and mind of her own.
As she arrived at the altar and her father relinquished her hand to his soon to be son-in-law, disruption came from the back of the church.
As the crowd of guests oohed and aahed, another veiled bride walked up the aisle solo. A ravishing smile was on her face as she made her grand entrance. In her hands, she held a bouquet of white roses that matched her stunning pure white wedding gown, the total opposite of Bethany’s dress. The touching song, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri wafted through the speakers of the church. I have died everyday waiting for you…darling, don’t be afraid I have loved you…
Bethany’s bouquet dropped from her trembling hands as she staggered like a drunken woman. Her eyes immediately released tears and her knees buckled. Fortunately, one of the groomsmen grabbed her by the waist before she hit the floor. Everything was as if it was in slow motion. Her head felt like it was spinning. Was this a dream that she had to be awakened from? Surely, it must be. Who was this woman; this stranger dressed like a princess, stealing her time, her day, her moment? Had she somehow entered the wrong church?
Bethany thought she heard murmurs and then loud sounds coming from somewhere. She couldn’t tell. Her mind was doing so many things on its own.
Dray helped Bethany to the front pew and she sat down on her own accord. Releasing her hand, he stood in the middle of the aisle.
“What is this?” his voice boomed. No one said a thing.
The mystery woman continued walking up the aisle toward Dray. When she arrived next to him, she looked at him and then lifted her veil. Gasps filled the church but none louder than the one from Bethany.
“My God, what are you doing?” Dray yelped as he looked on the face of Chynna.
“You know that song, don’t you, Dray? It’s our song. I have loved you for a thousand years… Her voice was that of an angel as she song the words eloquently and perfectly.
Dray shook his head. “This can’t be happening.” He looked over his
shoulder at a distraught looking Bethany. He turned and went toward Bethany but she got up and ran toward a door leading to the back of the church.
Her father stopped her before she made it to the door and the preacher flanked her as if keeping her from harm’s way.
“Enough, Chynna. Get out of here,” Dray yelled.
KeeKee rushed up and positioned herself next to Chynna, sorry beyond measure that she had come along with Chynna to entertain such foolishness. What could she have been thinking to agree to do something so absurd and so, well so crazy? This could land her and Chynna behind bars. Did that make her crazy too? Her bestie was deranged, for real. KeeKee put her arms around her but Chynna brushed her away.
“Dray, I promise to love and to cherish you,” Chynna began saying. “I will never leave you or forsake our love. You used to tell me if nothing lasts forever will you be my forever. I used to laugh it off until I came to understand that no one has ever loved me like you, Dray. From this moment forward I will be your forever and even then forever ain’t enough, and it will never be enough for the love we have for each other, my darling.”
“You told her the same thing you told me?” Bethany stopped, turned around, and cried out after hearing Chynna repeat the love quote she thought was for her ears and heart only. How wrong she had been about Dray.
“Please, get me out of here,” Bethany screamed, pleading and looking into her father and then her pastor’s eyes. Her mother and sisters ran up to her while her brothers gave Dray the evil eye. Her mother held her daughter as they respected her wishes and began to lead her out of the sanctuary, but again Bethany stopped. Unable to move, she listened to the exchange between Dray and Chynna.
“What will it take for you to realize it’s over between us, Chynna? Why do you keep doing this? You need help.”
“I don’t need help. I need you, Dray. I love you, Draymond Hawkins and I know you love me. You always will. Why do you think you made love to me the night of your bachelor party? There is no denying what we have. Bethany will never understand you the way I do. She can never love you and go the lengths I have gone just to show you how much I love you.”
“Oh, my God. You slept with her? How could you?” Bethany broke loose from her mother and father, and like a pit bull, raced toward Dray and Chynna.
Dray’s back was turned away from Bethany but Chynna saw her and began laughing.
When she reached the blushing woman, KeeKee yelled, “Watch out, Chynna,” and tugged at Chynna’s arm, but Chynna shoved her away
Bethany grabbed Chynna by her veil along with a handful of her weave, and pulled and tugged at the woman. She began pounding her face and chest with her fists. Dray and his groomsmen tried to separate the two women as Chynna kicked and yanked Bethany, tearing shreds into her wedding gown, and exposing her breasts. They tussled and fought until they landed on the floor of the sanctuary with Bethany on top of Chynna pounding her until blood splattered all over their wedding gowns. She yanked clumps of hair and weave and tore Chynna’s gown too. It was a horrific and unforgettable scene as guests scattered, some running out of the church and others videotaping the whole ungodly scene.
Someone evidently called the cops because two police officers rushed in, yelling for the women to stop their fighting, but to no avail. They broke through the crowd and managed to pull the women apart.
“You crazy, low down, evil witch,” screamed Bethany. “You’re sick as they come,” she continued screaming. “And you, you let this happen,” she turned and screamed at Dray. “How could you do me this way? I told you she was crazy. This is all your fault. I tried to make you understand,” she continued crying while Dray dropped his head in shame.
The police led both of the women out of the church and put each of them inside individual patrol cars.
Once at Jail East, the women were ushered into a big room with phones on the walls. There were a few cells where they searched and fingerprinted the women. Placing a wristband on them, they then ran their names in the NCIC to see if either of them had any other warrants. Bethany and Chynna waited for hours to talk to someone in pre-release and hoping for an automatic cash bond.
Bethany, still hysterical and out of sorts, called her father. At this point in time, Dray was the last person on her mind. Dealing with him had caused enough problems. So far, they had a disturbing of the peace charge with a $100 cash bond.
The cash bond was the easy part. That could be easily taken care of, but the damage caused at what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, well that was a horse of a different color. She didn’t know if what happened today could be salvaged. Maybe this was the sign from God that Dray was not the man for her after all.
Chynna looked at Bethany and smirked. She was glad the wedding didn’t happen. God had a way of working things out and for that she was more than glad. She watched as Bethany boohooed and cried into the phone, pleading for someone to hurry up and come get her out of this godforsaken jail. Chynna put a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. What a weak female. How could Dray call himself in love? Dray loved strong women, women who were in control, women who could act sophisticated and like a “B” at the same time. From what she’d seen, Bethany didn’t fit the bill at all.
Bethany sat on the hard steel chair and waited. She was cold, tired, and heartbroken. She didn’t notice Chynna when she walked up on her. She opened her eyes and that’s when she saw her legs. She looked up and met Chynna’s cold stare followed by an evil grin.
“Get away from me,” Bethany demanded. “Somebody get her away from me.” The two other ladies in the holding cell looked at Bethany like she had lost her mind. No one was going to come to her defense. This was jail, not the white house.
“You didn’t think I would actually let you walk down the aisle and marry my man, did you?”
“I said get away from me,” Bethany said again, looking away from Chynna with red eyes.
“You’re not right for Dray. You’re too weak. You can’t handle your business like I can. I wish I had killed you that day. You don’t know how bad I wanted to see your guts spilled all over that concrete pavement, but noooo, Mr. Hero had to run to your rescue, push you outta the way. That was your lucky day. But I’m here to tell you as long as you’re living and breathing, baby, you will never ever become Mrs. Draymond Hawkins. Believe that.”
Bethany looked and listened to every word Chynna said. Chynna all but admitted that she was the one responsible for the hit and run. She tried to kill her? She so much as said it.
“When will you accept the fact that Dray doesn’t want you, Chynna? If it’s not me, it’s still never going to be you. He doesn’t want you. He can’t stand you. He wishes you were dead. Maybe you should have killed me that day, but you didn’t. God has other plans and you’re going to pay for what you’ve done. For all the things you’ve done. You wait and see.”
Chynna hit a fist against the concrete wall above Bethany’s head, causing Bethany to almost jump out of her skin.
“Look at you. You’re so pathetic. If I ever see you with Dray again, next time you won’t be so lucky.”
Bethany stood, walked away from Chynna as her name was called and the holding cell door opened. Looking back over her shoulder, she rolled her eyes.
Chynna laughed and threw a finger sign at Bethany. It was almost two hours later, after Bethany left the holding cell, when Chynna’s name was called. KeeKee paid her cash bond and she was released.
17
“Forgiveness is the best form of love. It takes a strong person to say ‘sorry,’ and an even stronger person to forgive.” SayingImages.com
Bethany couldn’t wait to tell the police Chynna confessed to the hit and run. After hearing this they brought in Chynna and questioned her again.
Chynna was so angry when the police interrogated her again that she confessed to the crime. She was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and assault against Bethany for the shen
anigans at the wedding.
In the end, though unpleasant, Bethany and Dray attended Chynna’s hearing.
In court, Chynna stood before the judge. “Chynna Latrice Robertson, how do you plead?”
“Guilty as charged, your honor. Haven’t you heard? Karma has no menu. You get what you deserve and they deserved everything they got…and then some.”
Chynna was sentenced to serve two years in jail and was to undergo mandatory psychotherapy treatments while incarcerated.
“I hope we can move forward with our lives now that all the drama is over,” Dray told Bethany after they left court. Since the day of what was supposed to be their wedding, Bethany had refused to talk to Dray. How could she dream of having a happily ever after with a man who couldn’t protect her, who wouldn’t stand up for her against the likes of a woman like Chynna? A man who cheated on her. She felt angry, hurt, and betrayed.
“I told you, Dray. It’s over. I can forgive you but I will never forget this.” She walked hastily toward her car.
“Bethany, I love you. Doesn’t that count for something? Maybe I could have done more, should have done more, but you and I didn’t know how deranged Chynna actually was. I mean, to think she tried to kill you and me, is beyond my comprehension. But, baby, I’m sorry. You are the woman God sent me. I know this. I know it more than ever.”
“Yeah, but what God are you talking to?”
“What do you mean?” Dray asked, looking confused.
“I said, what God are you talking to ‘cause my God told me to keep walking and don’t look back. See you, Dray.”
“I’m not going to give up, Bethany. I love you,” Dray pleaded as she kept walking. “I’m going to win you back. You just wait and see.”
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