My short 5’5 frame and 200 pounds were fairly proportionate. I had a whole lot of ass and hips, a handful of tits and a little belly. My dress was a size sixteen. I liked my weight. I had no health concerns, and I was active. Nobody was ever going to make me feel insecure about my body.
“Thank you, Vanessa.”
“Maybe when you’re done with your dress,” Rochelle starts. “You can loan it to your mother in hopes that one day she’ll find a man of her own.”
My mother gasps. Her eyes seem to water before she rushes out of the room.
“Oh, you got us fucked up,” Nisha says, taking her earrings off.
“Rochelle,” my father barks, turning to his youngest daughter. “You will not disrespect Angie like that. You need to apologize.”
“She’s not apologizing,” Vanessa snaps.
Rochelle smirks.
“But she was out of line,” Vanessa cuts her eyes over at her daughter, wiping the smirk off her face.
“I’m going to go check on Angie,” daddy says, glaring at his wife.
“If you do, you will not bring your ass back into my house tonight.”
No one speaks. Although I know she’s bluffing. She’s made that threat to my father so many times. And every time she lets him back in. I don’t know what it is about Romeo Williams. He must have a dick crafted by the gods, cause these two women are stupid dumb for him.
He looks over at me and then turns back to Vanessa before turning and walking out of the room in search of my mother.
Vanessa stands stoically in her spot even after he leaves.
“I’m so tired of this shit,” Rochelle shouts. “You deserve better than that, Mama. Having to share your man with a bitch he got pregnant—”
“I’m being a lot calmer than I should because it took me a while to get in this dress,” I say. “But if you disrespect my mother one more time, I will say fuck this dress and drag you across this got damn floor.”
Yes, we were in a church, but at the moment, I didn’t care. God knew my heart and my temper.
“And in case there is any confusion,” Nisha adds. “I will help.”
Rochelle stares at me, and so much hatred blazes through her gaze. Vanessa has every right to hate me. I am a product of her husband’s infidelity. A reminder that the man she loves, laid down with someone else. Rochelle, however, does not have a reason.
It’s no secret I got the short end of the Romeo stick. He lived with Rochelle and Vanessa. They got the most time with him. When he came to visit mother, he was so busy making up for the time he was away, he didn’t notice me.
If anyone should be angry, it was me. She had no right to treat me or my mother like this.
“Chelle, let’s take a walk,” Vanessa says.
Vanessa turns to me once more, and a sad smile lifts her lips. “Enjoy your day, little Joy. You look gorgeous.”
The room remains silent as she and Rochelle walk out leaving the rest of us alone. The moment the door closes, Nisha turns to me.
“That’s why her wig lifting. And neither of you heifers better not tell her.”
We all burst into laughter. Even though my cousin has the ability to lighten my mood, I still feel that pressing feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something tells me this day will only get worse.
chapter Two
It’s Time
Raziel
My black SUV with its dark tinted windows pulls up to the curb in front of the large hotel. Checking the watch on my wrist, I realized I still had a few hours before the wedding.
