When she learned that I didn’t have any family and that I had lost my grandmother, she became the surrogate grandmother that I never knew I needed. She wasn’t anything like my Christian, spiritual based, calm grandmother, but she was just as protective and loving of me as my own grandmother had been.
In Amani, Wynter, and Autumn, I found the sisters that I always longed for, though I was closer with Autumn than any of them. She and I had a lot in common having been in a relationship where the man had a separate life ongoing in the background.
She had the sweetest little girl, Auburn Summer. I loved her name and everything about her. She had the cutest little ginger curls and looked just like her mother. She was very smart and talked all the time, but she was as sweet as pie.
Auburn loved running up to me and placing her hand on my belly, saying “Hi, baby. You in dere?”
Even now, she ran to me with her curls flying behind her. Her little floral tiara tilted sideways as someone tried to catch her, but she escaped their hands.
“Oh!” I exclaimed when she slammed into my leg.
“Auburn,” Autumn hissed, making her way toward us as she held the long skirt of her dress in her hands.
I smiled and waved her away. “I’ve got her.”
Everyone giggled as Autumn gave Auburn the stink eye. I kneeled in front of Auburn and clasped her cheeks in my hands. “Hey, pretty girl. You did a wonderful job of throwing the flowers. You think that you can hold onto Aunt Sevyn’s hands while I finish saying my vows?”
“Yes,” she replied with sad eyes as she bobbed her head and then looked at Deuce and smiled.
He kneeled and opened his arms, and just like that, I was forgotten as she ran into his outstretched arms. Everyone laughed again as he stood and held onto her.
“Looks like we’ve got a third party in the wedding. I’ve never performed one of these before. Unless you’re up here to object, little princess.” The minister teased Auburn, but she shook her head firmly and seriously, before she stuck her two middle fingers in her mouth.
“You have both written your vows. Now is your time to make your commitment to Sevyn, Naeem,” the minister explained, calling Deuce by his first name.
“The day that I first met you was unlike any other. I had lost everything in the world that meant anything, and I did not understand why I needed to remain behind. But seeing you in those fleeting moments and the panic in your eyes made me wish that I could erase the moment that I entered your life.
“As you clung to life in those early days, I sat by your bed praying and speaking life over you, when I barely had any of my own. In time, you became the purpose and my reason for living.You breathed new life into me and eventually gave me a reason to wake up every day.
“Sevyn, you continue to be my reason for waking up every morning. You radiate your sunshine into my darkness and chase the clouds to the furthest recesses of my mind. Your love is tender, your heart is gentle, and your passion is without limits. With this ring, I vow from this day forward to cherish your laughter, dance with you to no music, protect you from the monsters, provide for you even when I’m penniless, and love you when it’s not always easy to love you. You are it for me, Sevyn,” he pronounced, sliding the ring on my finger.
“Naeem, you knew me when I had no recollection of yesterday, today, or hope for tomorrow. You shared experiences with me that I had no awareness of. You stood by my side through every challenge and downturn, encouraging me, applauding me, and being my biggest cheerleader as I worked to create a new life. You gave me a place to call home when I lost everything and family turned their backs on me. You loved me while battling your own personal storm. With this ring, I vow to always be that shoulder you need to lean on, to be the holder of your secrets, your peace after a troubling day, your friend when the world has turned against you, and to build a home for you to rest your weary head. I will always love you, because loving you is not a choice for me, but it is who I am, Deuce.” As he shifted Auburn in his arms, he held out his left hand, and I slid the ring on.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride,” the minister announced as Deuce turned to his brother Asad and passed Auburn to him.
He pulled me into his arms and pressed his soft, warm lips against mine. I clung to his linen suit, never wanting the moment to end. My eyes opened briefly to find my husband staring back at me.
There was nothing more perfect than this moment. Not even the golden autumn trees around us on Sorrel Island or the beautiful attire everyone was dressed in.
Frost, who had given me away, had not only covered the expense of our wedding, but he had everyone flown in to support us: Deuce’s parents, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews, Waverleigh and her mother and sister, Wynter, Autumn, October, GiGi, and Wynter and Autumn’s parents.
Deuce pulled back from me and smiled as he looked over our heads. I looked up just in time to see a pair of white doves descend and rest on my shoulders. Tears fell from my eyes as I looked from the birds on my shoulders and back to my husband.
The doves immediately flew away as Auburn squealed in delight.
“Baby, did you see that?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think . . . could it have been . . .”
“Your grandmother and father? I think so.”
Waverleigh, who was my maid of honor, spoke up. “Honey, I know that they both would be proud of you. There is no way that they could have seen all you’ve been through, overcome, and not be proud of you.”
“Thank you, Waverleigh.” She leaned in and kissed my cheek.
“I now introduce to you all for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Naeem Tyree Fullwood the second.”
