Page 77 of Maceo

I sighed. “Yes, Salima. Maceo has told me a thousand times that I was going to be his wife. It’s just… he won’t admit it, but I know he’s afraid. One person he was close to is dead, and the other is missing. It’s like they are being picked off one by one. If something happens to either of us, I at least want to say I got to experience the joy of having him as my husband before one of our eyes closed for good. It’s not me being desperate or settling. I love that man, and he loves me.

“He’s given me a life I never dreamed of growing up. While my heart’s desires are at my fingertips, I love him for who I get to be when I’m with him. Myself. My loud, obnoxious, ghetto, larger than life personality is everything he loves about me. I’ve never had to change who I am for him to see me.”

She swiped a tear from her eye and pulled me in for a warm hug. For a moment, we stood there, locked in our embrace. When she pulled away, she kissed my cheek.

“You grew up on me,” she jested.

I giggled. “Just a little.”

Our mothers came back over with more than shoes in their hands. I shook my head. No wonder they had taken so long. My mother was holding up a beautiful yet sexy, white carousel dress with sheer puff sleeves. Aunt Karen held up the perfect pair of heels to compliment it.

“Where y’all going in that?” I asked, hands on my hips.

“It’s not for us,” my mother said, thrusting the dress at me. “It’s for you.”

“Me? Why me?”

“Because you have the shape and legs to pull this off.”

I looked at the dress and shoes before playfully flipping my hair. “You know… I would look good in this. I don’t know where I’m going to wear it, but I’ll try it on.”

“Good!”

My mother was a little too excited, and I didn’t know why, but something told me I would soon find out.

Everyone was definitelyup to something.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted. I was so tired that I didn’t even bother to put away the mountain of clothes and shoes I’d purchased today. I simply put it in the corner of the room, stripped, and climbed my ass into bed. I wasn’t sure where my man was, but I needed this nap.

A few hours later, I was awakened by featherlike kisses on my shoulder. My eyes fluttered open to see Maceo hovering over me with a smile.

“Hey, beautiful,” he said softly.

“Hey, baby.”

“You must have been tired for you to leave everything out.”

“Man, those women ran me ragged today.”

He chuckled. “You sound like Grams. Did you have a good day, though?”

I nodded as I reached up to touch his face. “I did. Thank you for treating us.”

“No problem.” He reached over and turned on the light beside the bed. “You got enough energy to come somewhere with me?”

That was precisely the moment I realized he was dressed in a suit. His locs were freshly redone and styled into a low bun. Damn, my man was fine.

“Why are you looking like my favorite meal?” I asked.

“So I look like a fish sandwich basket from Mr. Luckey’s?”

I giggled as I playfully slapped his chest. “Shut up. You know I love my fish sandwiches.”

“I know. What do you say?”

“I guess I can make myself presentable. Ironically, my mama and aunt picked out this bomb ass dress and heel combo for me today. I had a feeling they were up to something.”

He grinned. “You don’t say?”

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