“I would love that.”
He reached out his hands and grabbed both mine and Ashton’s.
“Holy Father, we come humbly before You on this glorious day, oh Merciful One. We thank You for keeping Your faithful hands upon us and bringing us to this day. We praise You because You are good, patient, loving, and kind. You bless us with peace and strengthen us to go through the hardships of life. Oh, blessed Lord, these two have encountered obstacles that they cannot make it through in their own strength.
“And while we know that these trying times will always come, we thank You that trials test our faith, and the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Lord, we thank You that they are able to see light, even through the darkness. You are that light, Father. These are Your children, oh Heavenly Father, and they need You. They have both had failed marriages, and they have both endured hurt. I pray to You that they are able to see their ex-spouses as You see them, as Your children. Even as You have forgiven their ex-spouses, Lord, place it in Ashton’s and Chanel’s hearts to forgive them as well.
“When they are able to forgive, then they are able to freely love. In You is love, oh Gracious One. Help them to tap into Your love that they may be whole and complete for each other. For Lord, You have shown me what is to be. You have confirmed to me that these two shall become one, and the things that they thought were impossible, You will show them is possible. You shall not only bless them, but You will bless their seed as well.”
I jolted when Pastor French placed his hand on my belly, but a warmth sprouted throughout me as though I stood in front of an oven. I knew it had nothing to do with the fireplace we sat in front of, but it was something spiritual.
“Father, we thank You for what has been, what is, and what is to come. We praise You that in all Your glory and goodness, oh Mighty One, You have been endowed with wisdom and understanding, and You use it for the good of others and to bring glory to Your name. Glorify Your name, Almighty God, as You let Your will be done. Amen.”
“Amen,” Ashton and I whispered at the same time. When I opened my eyes, the pastor smiled knowingly at me. “Your barrenness is healed, child.”
I swung my gaze to Ashton and glared at him, but he looked as shocked as I did. “Pastor, how . . . how did you know that?” he asked Pastor French.
“The Lord showed me what has been and what will be.” He glanced at his watch and slapped his thighs. “I have another meeting that I’m late for. You two, go forth and be blessed. I will see you back soon, and hopefully, it will be for premarital counseling and a christening.”
He stood in a dismissive nature, and Ashton and I both stood too. He took my hand and led me out of the pastor’s office. Another couple stood outside of the door waiting as they joked with the armor-bearer. I didn’t say a word, even as we rode home in silence. I absorbed the feeling that I had felt when the pastor touched my belly and pondered on that feeling.
“Y’all are too cute together though,” Ashton’s sister, Corinna, declared, pulling her fork from her mouth and pointing it at us. We were sitting in his family room, and his siblings and Tommi had joined us for a late evening dessert. We had gone to his parents’ house for dinner, and my parents and Aunt Carlotta andher new man had joined us there. But after dinner, his siblings and Tommi had followed us back to his house.
I was sitting on Ashton’s lap, playing with his long curls. “Thank you,” I replied to Corinna before I kissed Ashton on the forehead. He wrapped his arm around me tighter as he leaned back in the chair.
“So, when are the nuptials?” Giorgio, Ashton’s brother, asked.
“Damn, I just got divorced. Why you rushing me down the aisle so soon?” Ashton asked.
“Because I know your ass,” Giorgio teased.
“You don’t know me like that. Don’t get me wrong. I love my baby, but we’ve decided to take it slow.”
“Slow, but she’s at your house every day,” Tommi declared.
“Mind ya bizness, ma,” I teased, sticking my tongue out at my cousin.
“I’m just saying.”
“Tommi, I got a buddy I can hook you up with,” Ashton teased.
“I’m good on that. I’ve got a man,” she replied, sticking her tongue out at him.
“Hey, keep that tongue in your mouth, missy. The only tongue he needs to be seeing is mine,” I shot back.
“Ooohh, let me find out you’re a ‘my man, my man, my man gworl!’” Corinna chirped, kissing her husband, Jason.
I turned around and wrapped my arms around Ashton’s neck. I pressed my forehead against his, whispered, “I love you, baby,” and kissed him deeply.
“On that note, it’s time to roll,” Ashton’s sister-in-law, Nicole, declared.
“Why?” Giorgio asked.
“They want some alone time, and I would like some of my own, if you know what I mean,” she stated with a wink.
“We’ll see you guys after church next week. Our place next time,” Giorgio stated as he jumped up and grabbed his phone and keys.
Before any of us could say a word, he had snatched his wife out of the room.
