The cat was out of the bag, and controlled chaos broke out. The food was forgotten temporarily as everyone made a fussover us. Mama Rush and my sisters shed a few tears of joy. Papa Rush and Rocky patted Russell on the back, and they whispered among themselves.
“Did we miss something?” Rowdy said as he and Noelani entered the kitchen with their son, Rowan, who was a little over a year old.
I held my left hand up and wiggled my fingers. Noelani’s eyes widened, and she gasped as she rushed over to me for a hug.
“You finally locked her down? That’s wassup, Bruh. Congratulations!” Rowdy said, approaching Russell with Rowan on his arm.
We finally settled down to eat again, making room for Rowdy, Noelani, and Rowan. I looked around at my family with the biggest grin. It felt so good to be truly happy.
“My sisters are going to kill me,” I told Russell as I applied my makeup.
“My brothers won’t be too happy either, but they’ll get over it.”
It was Tuesday morning, and today was supposed to be my first official day back at the flower shop since I was kidnapped. I’d gone in yesterday for inventory, but since we were closed and my sisters and I spent more time gossiping than doing inventory, it didn’t feel like an official workday.
Russell hadn’t said anything, but I was sure Preston was dead, and I no longer had to be confined toThe Compoundor on high alert. It felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders, and I was sure he felt the same.
“They’ll think something is up when I don’t show up for work.”
“Tell them you have a headache.”
Everything was so simple in Russell’s mind. When we woke up this morning, he asked me to marry him again. I thought it was sweet, so I agreed, but he followed up with, “Will you marry me today?”
I laughed because I thought he was joking, but my fiancé was as serious as a heart attack.
“Yes, baby, I’ll marry you today,” was my response, and we’d been preparing since then.
I texted my sisters to let them know I had a headache and would try to come in a little later, and they were fine with it. We went to the main house to ask Mama and Papa Rush to be our witnesses for our courthouse wedding. Russell thought they’d be perfect, and I agreed, and, of course, they were honored to be asked.
Over the years, some may have called me a tomboy, but I could beat my face to the gods when needed. After putting my braids in an updo and using gel to create very modest baby hairs, I was ready to get dressed.
I had a fitted knee-length off-white dress that I’d never worn. It was simple but had a few elegant details, and I paired it with gold heels.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror and was pleased with my appearance, especially considering we’d only decided to do this a few hours ago. Russell stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my neck.
“You look beautiful, baby,” he said as I turned to face him.
“Thank you, and you’re looking mighty handsome yourself.”
“Are you sure you’re good with a courthouse wedding? We can have a big wedding whenever you want, but I don’t want to wait any longer to call you my wife.”
I smiled and cupped his face.
“I feel the same, Russie. Let’s get married.”
I pecked his lips because I didn’t want to mess up my makeup, and he was satisfied. Before we walked away from the mirror, I forced him to take a few selfies with me that I would post later.
With Mama and Papa Rush dressed in their Sunday best, I took a few more selfies with them before we piled into my car and headed to the courthouse.
“I’m excited for you two, but your siblings will be hurt that they didn’t get to experience this with you,” Mama Rush said.
“I told him the same thing, but he doesn’t care.” I agreed.
“It’s not that I don’t care, but this ain’t about them. We’ll renew our vows whenever you’re ready and have a big wedding if that’s what you want.”
I honestly didn’t care to have a big wedding, but I had five sisters, and we were very close. They would definitely have a problem with me excluding them from a moment like this. Even if I didn’t have a big wedding, I had to do something that would include them.
We parked in the courthouse parking lot, and I suddenly remembered a very important detail.
