I watched for half a second, then turned my attention back to Reni, who was still right on me.
I smacked her ass, makin’ that thing jiggle, and pulled her closer. “Come on.”
She laughed and leaned into me while I walked her to the car, openin’ the door for her before I slid in after her.
And just like that, whatever that was with me and Nelle…
Stayed exactly where the fuck it needed to be.
Becoming Mrs. Mensah…
Today was my weddin’ day and I woke up feelin’ somethin’ I couldn’t even fully explain, ’cause it wasn’t just excitement and it wasn’t just nerves. It was everything mixed together after all the shit me and my husband had been through to get to this moment.
The room I was in was full, and I mean full in a way that felt warm instead of crowded, ’cause it was all women that loved me, supported me, and really wanted to see me win.
Pluto was right here near me, soft like she always was, watchin’ me with that proud look in her eyes, and Sha’Nelle was movin’ around talkin’ her shit under her breath, and makin’ me laugh when I felt myself gettin’ too emotional.
Abeni was here, poised and elegant, sayin’ lil’ things here and there that somehow calmed the room down without her even tryin’, and Nyori was laughin’ with the other women, bringin’ that energy that kept everything from gettin’ too heavy. Then Mahmáh came in, and the whole room shifted in a quiet way, ’cause that woman carried presence without sayin’ too much.
She walked up to me slow, lookin’ me over from head to toe, and I stood there tryin’ not to get emotional too fast, but when she reached for my hands and squeezed them, I felt that in my chest.
“You look beautiful,” she said, her voice soft but firm.
“Thank you Mahmáh,” I told her, already feelin’ my throat tighten.
She nodded, then leaned in and kissed my cheek before speakin’ low to me, givin’ me her blessin’ in a way that made me feel seen, like I really belonged here, and like I had earned my place in this family for real.
By the time she stepped back, I had to blink a few times just to keep myself together ’cause I wasn’t about to start cryin’ before I even made it down the aisle.
Pluto came up behind me and adjusted my dress, her hands gentle while she smoothed it out. “You look so pretty, Toni,” she said, and she meant that shit.
“My baby gettin’ married for real,” Sha’Nelle added, grinnin’ while she looked me up and down. “And that nigga ain’t even ready for how fine you look.”
I laughed, shakin’ my head, but when I turned toward the mirror again, I had to pause for a second and really look at myself.
My dress was soft pink, and it wasn’t loud or over the top, but it was detailed in a way that made it stand out. The lace hugged my body just right, and it flowed down smooth, with layers that moved when I shifted. The top sat off my shoulders just enoughto show my collarbone, and the way the fabric laid against me made me feel… soft, but still like myself. My hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, long and full, with my veil pinned right into it, fallin’ down my back and blendin’ in with the dress.
I ain’t even recognize myself for a second. It wasn’t a bad thing at all, but it made me realize how far I had come.
Treasure walked over with My’Love, and the second my baby saw me, she lit up, her arms movin’ like she was tryna reach for me even though she was still in her grandma’s hold.
“Look at you,” I said, smilin’ through it while I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You so pretty, mama.”
She was dressed in this soft pink dress that matched mine in its own way, the fabric light and layered like a tiny version of a weddin’ dress, and her little legs kicked while she made those happy sounds she always made when she saw somebody she loved.
She was seven months now, and she was growin’ so fast it ain’t even make no damn sense sometimes. It felt like just yesterday I was holdin’ her fresh out, and now she was more aware, turnin’ her head when she heard voices and reachin’ for whatever caught her attention.
She been mumblin’ her lil’ sounds too, like she really was tryna talk, and every time she did it, it made me smile without even thinkin’ about it.
She had started eatin’ regular food a lil’ bit as well. It was nothin’ heavy, but just small stuff like mashed potatoes and macaroni, and when she liked somethin’, she would get all excited. Her hands would start movin’, her legs kickin’, and she would just light up like she couldn’t help herself.
She was a happy baby, always smilin’, always droolin’, and just full of life in a way that made me slow down and really take her in. And seein’ her like this, dressed up and right here with me on my weddin’ day, made everything hit even deeper.
“You’re going to have to let her go at some point,” Treasure said, smilin’ at me. “You can’t walk down the aisle holdin’ her.”
“I know,” I said, laughin’, even though part of me wanted to.
After a while, the room started to clear out little by little, people headin’ out to get in place for the ceremony, and before I could even take a breath, there was a soft knock at the door.
