Page 71 of DeLucas After Dark

A chorus of giggles goes up.

We’re all supposed to shower and dress because the men are taking us out on a surprise date tonight.

“I’m going to check on our grandbabies and make sure they haven’t driven the men crazy. You…relax.”

I look at her curiously, not sure what that means.

“Okay, but I’m fine.”

She winks and smiles at me, leaving me to wonder what that means.

I head into the room, shower, and then collapse on the bed for a while. Picking up my phone, I want to hear Marco’s voice, but I heed Mamma DeLuca’s warning about the men having time with their dad.

I throw an arm over my head and close my eyes. The tears seep from underneath, and I remain in this position for several minutes, crying.

A knock sounds at my door.

“Come in,” I sniff.

The door opens, and my mother peers inside. I sit up straight.

“What? Mommy…what are you…what are you doing here?” I ask in disbelief as I stare at my mother.

“Piper Chambers! I know you’re not crying over a man.”

“No, Mommy! I’m crying because you and Daddy are breaking my heart!”

“There’s no room for all the dramatics, honey. Not today of all days. We’ll work it out.”

“I can’t go on like this. I need you, and I need Daddy, but if you’re asking me to give up Marco, my answer is a firm and resounding no.”

“Then good. Because that would be a horrible shame if your daddy and I traveled all this way today to watch you exchange vows with the man that you love, and you refuse to marry him,” Mommy says.

“What wedding vows? We haven’t even set a date yet,” I say.

My best friends, Rashida and Toya, step into the room behind my mother, and my mouth drops.

“You may not have set a date, but that man did, Piper,” Toya says, holding a box in one arm and a case in another.

My eyes go from her to Rashida, who’s holding a large garment bag.

“What’s going on here?” I ask, standing up as another woman steps inside. “Champion Smith?” I shriek.

Champion is a makeup artist for celebrities, and she has her own videography and photography business. I know that it costs an arm and a leg to have her here today, but why?

“I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“Show her,” my mother says, pointing at the garment bag.

All three ladies, my mother and two best friends, are wearing formal attire, and their hair is freshly styled. Rashida and Toya are attired in deep red formal gowns with sweetheart necklines. Rashida has a white fur shrug, and Toya is wearing a white fur stole.

Champion puts her three large bags down and proceeds to hold the garment bag while Rashida unzips it. My breath hitches in my throat as I take in the champagne-colored Italian silk mermaid gown with Leavers lace overlay embroidered with Swarovski crystals.

I know the details of this dress to the stitching, though I haven’t seen it before. I drew a picture of it for Marco years ago before I broke up with him. I told him if I ever married, that is what my dream dress would look like.

When I was marrying Kenneth, I couldn’t afford to have my gown designed. I also didn’t want to wear the gown for him that I’d shared with my lover.

I can’t believe that Marco kept that picture after all these years.

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