Page 91 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

Epilogue 1: Memphis & Naomi

MEMPHIS

I stood under the wooden arbor my father made with his own hands, my gaze set at the end of the short aisle between the seated small crowd of people here to witness me marrying the woman of my dreams. I scanned the first rows. My mother dabbed at her eyes, tears already falling, and we hadn’t even started the ceremony. Next to her my father sat, pride evident in his puffed-up chest, wearing his favorite suit. Granny was all smiles sitting in the very first seat wearing a new dress and her favorite pearls and church hat. Each of my sisters wore their Sunday best, Sydney per usual dressed to the nines looking like she’d just walked out of a fashion magazine.

We didn’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen because we didn’t feel it necessary with such a small event, not to mention the fact I had a handful of sisters. Picking between them would have been a nightmare. Still, my family had gone above and beyond, making my mother’s lush garden even more glorious by adding twinkling lights, mason jars filled with glowing candles and pots of blooming flowers throughout. In the back, there were a handful of large round tables, already decorated for the reception, using flowers from the garden as the centerpieces.

Beyond my family, I saw some of my friends. Faith and Joel Castellanos were present, their two little girls sitting quietly between them. In the same row were Ruby and Nile Penningtonwho’d flown in from London just for the event. Ruby winked and flashed me a thumbs-up in encouragement. Next to her was Jade, wearing a chic black suit, her hair slicked back, and bright red lipstick adorning her lips. At first glance I would have mistaken her for Alana, but I knew better. As much as Jade didn’t want to admit it, she was enamored with Alana, and being her protégé for The Marriage Auction was a position she didn’t take lightly.

I had finally received a text from Alana stating they were indeed okay. She said they had been in hiding from the same person that had blown up the office building in New York that belonged to Julianne and her crew. Instantly, I started to give her my condolences on losing her family members, but she told me that the three of them were actually okay and that announcing their deaths had all been part of a bigger plot to catch the person behind it. Which supposedly they did. I looked forward to hearing the full story when Nay and I returned from our honeymoon.

Thinking of Naomi must have conjured her because the acoustic guitarist my sisters hired started playing a soft melodic tune and requested everyone rise for the bride.

My palms started to sweat, and I tugged at the collar of my suit and tie trying to loosen it enough to get a full breath of air. It didn’t matter. The minute Naomi appeared at the end of the small aisle, I lost my ability to breathe.

She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes on in my life.

Her father looked stoic at her side, but there was a new softness to his features. I think almost losing his only daughter had truly changed him. We even had a sit-down this morning where he apologized for his behavior and promised he’d support our union and future moving forward. After he spoke to me, he had a quiet minute with my parents and my granny, too, which Iwas told by my mother ended in forgiveness and well wishes for both of their children’s future together. Honestly, I thought then that I couldn’t be happier, everything was finally working out.

I was wrong.

Nothing prepares you for the moment the woman you love walks down an aisle toward you, ready to enter into forever by your side. I’ll never forget it.

The sheen of the slinky, elegant satin gown that glided along her curves, flowing with her movements.

The rosy hue of her cheeks.

Her slow blink as our gazes met and I stared in open awe of her glory.

How her glossy pink lips shifted into the most stunning smile…just for me.

It was all for me.

For us.

For this day where we would become one.

My gaze never left hers when they approached, her father passing her hand to mine before going to sit with her mother.

I interlaced our fingers and I held on.

I wanted to hold her hand forever.

It all passed in a blur of I do and I will, whispered words of love and commitment, and sultry sweet kisses.

Through it all, I held on.

I wanted to hold her hand forever…and now I could.

“It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor.”

* * * *

NAOMI

Married life was not what I expected.

It was better.

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