“You are far from being late. Go make yourself presentable. You look like hell.”
*****
Shelby stared at herself in the full-length mirror, her expression critical. The dress was simple with no flair or fuss and showed off her full figure to perfection. It was not white but a champagne color that looked great against her skin. It was close fitting, the skirt drifting down over her wide hips and flaring out at the ankles. Simple rosebuds made up the waistband. The neck was high but dipped low in the back making it impossible for her to wear any form of underwear except a corset that was made for the dress. Diamond studded her lobes and at her right wrist. The dress had sheer sleeves that drifted down to her wrists, gathered there by sparkling diamonds. The shoes were strappy sandals that were not too high and quite manageable. Her hair had grown somewhat during her pregnancy and she had not cut it and it framed her face unadorned. Her makeup was flawless and made her face glow.
She looked up to see her mother coming into the room. She had spent the night and had helped out along with Monica and Barbara in the feeding of the children even though the nannies had stayed over.
“You are so beautiful,” Sylvia murmured, folding her hands in front of her. “You make a beautiful bride.”
“Thanks Mama.” She said with a smile. They were not close, not by a long shot but at least they were talking, and her mother seemed to love her grandchildren. “You look nice. Is that new?” she gestured to the soft pink dress she was wearing. Shelby had offered to buy her something new, but she had declined, and she had not pushed.
“I bought it some time ago and never wore it.” She murmured. “The boys are ready and look so handsome in their matching grey jacket suit.”
“Gray is wearing grey,” she shook her head at that. “He wanted them to have matching suits.”
“He really loves them.”
“He does. He is going to spoil them rotten.”
“You are both good parents.” She came further into the room. “I want to apologize again Shelby, for everything I have put you through. I have asked God to forgive me, but I am having a very hard time forgiving myself.”
“I am sure time will take care of that.” She walked forward and took her mother’s hands. “Mama, I am happy. Happier than I have ever been in my life. I am in love with a very good man who is not perfect but then neither am I and I have two of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. I am ecstatic and cannot wait to become his wife.”
Sylvia squeezed her hands. “I am happy for that. Shall we go?”
“Just one more thing.” She let go and went to get her bouquet. “Now I am ready.”
*****
Reporters swarmed the cobbled sidewalk where the largest Cox’s department store stood in all its pillared glory like something from out of the Gothic ages! The building rose proudly from the ground up with its pink and grey treated stones and uniformed ushers standing at the open doors to greet their shoppers. Muted music played in the background, interrupted intermittently by the announcements of the store’s grand opening as well as the many discounts that was being offered. The next big announcement was the wedding of the CEO of the store to African American plus sized designer, Shelby Antoinette Fraser, also the mother of his twins. People crowded along the downtown block, waiting to catch a glimpse of the bridal party, specifically the bride and groom. Inside the store, shoppers milled around, taking advantage of the numerous discounts and the elegant interior of the superstore. Instead of elevators, there were elegant staircases that led to different floors and escalators for the less adventurous. Gray and his party were already waiting in the floor designated for everything to do with a wedding, standing under the gaily decorated arbor. The area had been cleared away to make room for chairs to seat their guests and guards had been put at each door to keep people from coming in.
At approximately 2 P.M. the wedding party started coming in, and the guests were asked to stand to their feet. Gray still felt a little weird from last night, felt his stomach churning slightly. He straightened as he watched Leesa and Kelly each come in holding one of his sons in their car seats. His lips trembled as they came up to him and he took the time to kiss their foreheads before they took their seats at the front with the babies. He caught his breath when he looked at her. She was on the arm of Benjamin who had cleaned up nicely, even though his eyes still looked a little red. He stepped forward and met them halfway, holding out a hand to take hers.
“I was not planning on running away with her. You could have waited.” Benjamin told him dryly.
“I was not sure.” He lifted her hand and kissed it gently. “Hi, my love.”
“Hi.” She searched his face. “You don’t look too bad for a man who spent the night drinking and whoring.”
Gray’s eyes flew to his uncle.
He shrugged. “She asked and I could not lie. I told her that you did not have sex with her though.”
“Thanks.” Gray said dryly.
“You are welcome.” He lifted Shelby’s hand from his arm and kissed her cheek. “You are too good for him darling.”
They stepped up to the arbor where the minister was waiting and stood before him. The ceremony was short and intense, each repeating the vows that bind them together for life.
“The rings please.” The minister announced. Justin handed them to the man, and he prayed over them. Within minutes they were pronounced husband and wife and Gray was told to kiss his bride. Just as his lips touched hers, one of the babies started crying and they broke apart and went to take him from Leesa, holding him between them. Gray leaned forward, sandwiching the baby between them as he took her lips with his, their tongues touching and igniting the fire inside them. He released her after a moment and handed their son back to Leesa and went to take their places.
“I now introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Gray Anthony Cox!”
*****
“You can still leave him for someone better,” Benjamin murmured as they danced around the floor. The ceremony had ended, and the meal had been eaten as well as the cutting of the cake. They had had their first dance as husband and wife and now Shelby was dancing with Benjamin while Gray was twirling Kiara around the floor.
“I don’t think there is anyone better.” She tore her eyes away from Gray to look at his uncle. “And you don’t think that either.”
“You are right.” he said with a grin before he sobered. “You have changed him for the better.”
“He has made a lasting impact on my life as well. I am sure he told you of my childhood.”
“A little.”
She smiled at him. “He tells you everything. I never had what the two of you have and I envy that.”
“You have your people now.”
“I do.’ She said with a wide smile as she looked over at where her husband was laughing at something Kiara said to him. “And it is something that I will never take for granted.”
“Hey, Mrs. Cox.” He whispered as he swung her back into his arms.
“I bet you were just waiting to say that,” she said with a whimsical smile.
“I love the sound of it. Mrs. Cox, it is time for us to take our leave.”