Lust by Victoria Christopher Murray

Author:Victoria Christopher Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Touchstone

22

Tiffanie

I’d been fine. Especially because of Sonia. The entire time as I prepared for the wedding, she stayed by my side. While my makeup was applied and my hair was styled, she kept chatting, making sure that her voice was louder than the doubts in my head. Even when the photographer arrived, Sonia stayed close, whispering, even when I was being photographed alone.

Now, in the limo, she kept talking.

“You love Damon.”

“Forget about last night.”

“It doesn’t matter because nothing happened.”

“You love Damon.”

It all started and ended with how much I loved Damon King. And since that was the truth, it became easy to make peace with my conscience.

But then the car stopped in front of Greater First AME. It must’ve been seeing that house of God that turned me into a woman about to become undone.

“Oh, come on, Tiffanie.”

I hadn’t said a word, but Sonia knew that I was about to lose it again.

“¿Qué quieres que te diga?”

It took a moment for me to push back my tears and I shook my head at her question. “No, you don’t have to say anything else. I’m just . . .”

“Ready to get married,” she finished for me.

After a very deep inhale, I nodded.

As the driver opened the door for us, Sonia stepped out first, and then instead of letting Damon’s driver do it, she reached for my hand. When I grabbed hers, she squeezed mine, sharing her courage.

It was enough to get me up the steps and inside the vestibule. But it wasn’t enough to help me face my grandmother.

“Here she is, Mama Cooper.” Sonia passed me off and then with a final squeeze and a nod, she stepped away and into the main foyer of the church.

Standing in front of me, my grandmother looked up. And she gave me that stare, which let me know that God was telling her something.

I stiffened, trying to stop myself from shaking as my grandmother peered into my eyes. She squinted and her expression was stern as she scrutinized me. That look was so familiar and made me tremble more. This was the expression she wore right before she gave me a scolding or a spanking.

The seconds ticked by, one by one, and I knew, just knew, that she knew.

But then her lips curved into a smile and now her eyes shined with tears that had not yet fallen.

“You are my beautiful little baby.” She stood on her toes to kiss my cheek. “I have dreamed of this day for a long time, and I am so pleased because God chose the perfect man for you. I’m so proud of you.”

When she wrapped me inside her arms, I wanted to fall to the floor and cry. She wouldn’t be pleased or proud if her radar had been working.

Stepping back, she said, “With the Lord’s help and guidance, you’re going to be a great wife.”

There was so much wisdom in her eyes and such surety in her tone, I had to believe her. I was going to be a great wife.

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