“Open your gift,” Tiki urged.
Glimmer looked down at the box in her hands. She had almost forgotten about it. She tore the paper and revealed a medium-sized jewelry box. When she lifted the lid, she gasped. Inside was a full set of jewelry. Glimmer knew expensive diamonds when she saw them, and these were definitely very expensive diamonds. The necklace sparkled and looked timeless with a nice teardrop diamond at the center. The necklace had teardrop diamonds around the entire thing with a dainty design,and the earrings were teardrop and would look perfect with her updo.
But the thing that brought new tears to her eyes was the ring. It was clearly an engagement right, and ironically, her first one. Trick had never thought to get her one, and though this one wasn’t given to her in the traditional way, it meant a great deal to her.
It had the same teardrop design as the rest of the set. There were diamond clusters around the main stone, and the shine on them damn near blinded her. It was classy and timeless, but there wasn’t a chance anyone would ever miss it sitting on her finger. She grinned through her tears. She sensed that was on purpose. Gideon seemed like the type that didn’t mind letting everyone know she was his.
His.
The thought was insane to her, but what felt even more out there was the fact that she really didn’t mind the idea of it all.
“Glimmy, wow, look at all those damn diamonds.” Kyomi squealed as she looked over Glimmer’s shoulders.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would say that man loves you, Glimmer. Wow,” Ivy said.
While the women fawned over her new jewels, Glimmer stared at them in awe. There wasn’t much time for her to admire them though. Deja and Kyomi put the jewelry on her while she watched in the mirror.
Ivy and Tiki watched, and they all smiled widely when everything was in place.
“You are glowing, girl,” Deja whispered.
They admired her for a moment longer before they remembered they were on a time crunch.
“Do you need anything? The ceremony is about to start, but I can get you a drink, a shot, or some food real quick,” Ivy offered.
“I think I’m okay,” Glimmer replied. A shot actually sounded good to calm her nerves, but she didn’t think it would be a good idea. She’d barely eaten because she was still so full from the night before, but the last thing she needed was feeling sick while sayingI do.
“Okay, we’ll see you downstairs,” Tiki said. She and Ivy left the room.
Kyomi ran her hands down Glimmer’s arms in excitement. “We have just one more thing for you. From Haze and Gideon.”
Kyomi handed her a cell phone, and Deja spoke next. “Dial the number programmed in there. We’ll give you some space.”
With her brows drawn in, Glimmer watched as the two women left the room. She unlocked the phone and found the number programmed. It was saved underTea Party Man. Glimmer was even more confused as she pressed on the contact and put it on speakerphone.
After only half a ring, a deep voice answered, and the wind was knocked completely out of her. She stumbled back and sat on the ottoman at the foot of the bed.
“Daddy?”
There was a slight pause, and she could imagine her father trying to get his emotions together, just like she was doing at that very moment.
“Hey, baby.” His voice came out in a rough rasp.
When she heard his voice again, she laughed. She laughed for so long and so hard that tears spilled from her eyes. The night before, she had told Gideon about how her father used to host the most extravagant tea parties for her, and it was all his doing. One thing about Juke, he loved his baby girl. Since her mama refused to do that kind of shit with her, he did it happily. The name Tea Party Man had her so tickled, and hearing his voice had her filled with so much joy.
“What’s so funny?” he asked with amusement dancing in his voice.
“I’m just so happy to hear from you, Daddy. How are you?” she managed to say once she calmed down.
“Aw, baby. I’m fine. Haze and Gideon set me up real nice. I’m lovin’ my new setup. They even got me a phone. We can talk anytime you want.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. I’ve been so worried about you.”
“You know you could have taken some of my calls, baby.” His voice sounded wounded.
Glimmer frowned. “I haven’t gotten any calls. Trick didn’t allow me to have a phone. Mama said she was keeping you up on everything going on.” There was a long pause, and Glimmer’s heart sank. “That bitch. She didn’t, did she? Have you even talked to her?”
Anger seared her heart as she thought about Camille.
