Made to Love: Carmen and Cooper's Story (27 page)

Once everyone is seated again, we drink in the
company of loved ones. Marcia is at the table beside us, David at
her side. Giselle and Liam are across from them. Everyone looks
relaxed and happy, all tables in full conversation. When the salads
come, quietness soon unfolds. Then we all take our plates and head
to the buffet. I decide on seafood, I don’t need anything too heavy
just before the wedding. I grab two white rolls and refill my glass
of Moscato. Cooper of course decides on the pasta dish.

“
Sometimes carbs are good for you.
Don’t worry I promise not to ruin my physique, I will always stay
strong and hard for you,” he says.

I’m grateful the black napkin provided is in
my lap because his comment makes me spill small drops of wine. I
dab my mouth and lay it over my lap to prevent any future
spills.

“
That was not very nice, Mr.
Jackson. To say something of that nature when a girl just took a
sip of her wine. I may have to send you the dry cleaning bill for
this dress.”

We laugh and he puts his left hand
on my thigh and gives it a teasing squeeze. It reminds me of what I
do to his cock whenever he fucks me from behind. I consume a white
roll, wishing it was Cooper’s dick. He looks at me with bedroom
eyes and I want him badly. It’s the night before our wedding so I
realize that cannot happen. Maybe this rehearsal dinner needs to be
rushed along. I think about that time at Brio Tuscan Grille after
dinner, when we went at it in the men’s bathroom. I must get out of
here before there’s a repeat of that. Cheesecake is served for
desert and champagne is filled at every table. Cooper stands to
thank everyone for being here and part of our special day. I will
drink to that.

Before we get ready to leave, he calls me out
to the deserted hallway. With one hand on my hip, the other on my
face he pulls me in for a kiss that could set off fireworks. My
last kiss as a single girl. I am blessed to be able to kiss this
man everyday going forward.

“
I love you beautiful; don’t stay
up too late chatting with the girls. Have fun, though. Until
then.”

He kisses me one last time as I walk him
outside where his town car is waiting for him and the guys. He
blows me a kiss before he disappears into the open door. The ladies
come to join me outside. James is already at the back holding the
door open for us. One by one we climb in and off to my last night
at the apartment with them.

Chapter
Forty-Five

Sunday, June 7: Wedding
Day

It’s 6:30 AM and I am wide wake. I
am still processing the fact that I will be getting married today.
This has been a crazy year and to think a few months ago Cooper and
I weren’t together. Thank God that mess is over and in a few hours
we will be husband and wife. There is a soft knock on the
door.

“
It’s open,” I call
out.

Giselle comes in wearing Hello Kitty pajamas,
which make her look like a twelve-year-old girl. She has a cup of
hot water for me.

“
How did you know I was
awake?”

She smiles. “The Carmen I know worries about
every little detail and since you are anal with the center affairs,
I can only imagine what you are worrying about on your wedding
day.”

She is right, I am a worry wart. This time I
am not worried about any details, because my mom is in charge.
Marcia walks in. I tell her she stinks.

“
Carmen you are going to miss my
smoking and being able to bitch about it,” replies Marcia. “What
are you two talking about?”

Giselle states, “I am just making sure Carmen
is ready for her big day and not worrying about
anything.”

Marcia takes a seat on my bed and asks, “Are
you okay?”

I sigh because there is a lot is
on my mind. They both are waiting for me to tell all.

“
Okay,” I say. “I am not worried
about the wedding or anything like that. What if my dress doesn’t
arrive on time? Or worse I absolutely hate it? I don’t know why I
let Beverly of all people handle the most important task. All this
time her being nice to me could be a trick.”

Giselle looks concerned, but Marcia looks
pissed.

“
Slow down,” says Giselle. “You
are talking crazy.”

Marcia adds, “Giselle is right. This is crazy
talk. Beverly wouldn’t do anything crazy. Yes at first she was a
bitch, but she knows and understands how happy you make
Cooper.”

Shaking my head I say, “I don’t know. This
would be the perfect time to humiliate me.”

Giselle states, “We are not going to let that
happen. Even if you have to wear a trash bag, nothing is stopping
you from marrying Cooper.”

I smile at knowing my friends have my back.
Marcia looks deep in thought and declares,

“
Beverly will not fuck up your
day. If she tries, bad things are going to happen to
her.”

Marcia is in her gangster mood, which is
hilarious. Out of the three of us, she would be the one to faint at
the sight of blood.

Today is the perfect day for my wedding: the
sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky. By 8:30 AM we are on our
way to Maymont. My mother has texted us several times, wondering
where we are. Mommy is in planner mode which gives me a great deal
of comfort, even though she is being particularly bossy. Before
getting out of the car, the girls and I promise to have a girl’s
night once a month. We pledge to always have time for each other
regardless of what is going on in our lives. My mother greets us
with open arms. Then she starts barking orders.

We enter our designated room where the hair
stylist, makeup artist and nail techs are already set up in a small
corner. The sun shines through the bay bow windows located in the
center; it also provides a view of many fully bloomed flowers.
Beverly is nowhere in sight, now I am anxious. Marcia hands me a
Mimosa, but Giselle takes it. She told Marcia that I do not need to
drink this early. Instead, she hands me a plate of fruit, and a
blueberry muffin. As time passes, I am enjoying all the special
attention I have received. While I am having my hair curled, I look
at my watch. The time is 1:00 PM. Where is Beverly? I can feel a
panic attack coming. I grab Giselle.

“
I knew this would happen. Beverly
isn’t here and I am fucked.”

Giselle tells me to calm down. “Calm
down?”

I shout. “Are you fucking crazy?”

We receive strange looks from a few people in
the room. Giselle shakes me.

“
Beverly has been here since noon,
but you were asleep at the pedicure station. She said you looked so
peaceful and didn’t want to wake you.”

Now I feel like a jackass.

“
Sorry, Giselle.”

“
Carmen it’s your wedding day, you
are allowed to be nutty.”

After my hair is placed in an up do with a
large crystal barrette, my mother asks me if I am ready to see my
dress.

I scream, “Yes!”

The ladies dresses are hung on a
silver rack. They are covered and guarded under plastic. Marcia
hands me a flesh colored strapless bra with matching thong and a
royal blue satin garter. I am instructed to put on these items and
then stand in front of the full length mirror. It is hard to stand
still with the excitement that is running through my veins. Now I
am told that a blindfold will be placed over my eyes, while the
seamstress dresses me. Marcia is grinning; this must be her evil
idea. The wait will be over soon, a few more minutes won’t hurt. It
feels weird having someone dress me, but I can hear Giselle and
Marcia saying how beautiful the dress is. The material is soft
against my skin.

Beverly says, “Carmen you look lovely. I
really hope you love this dress.” The blind fold is removed and
when I see myself in this amazing dress, I cry.

“
Oh no. Carmen I am so sorry. I
thought you would be pleased with this dress,” Beverly says with
tears in her eyes.

Marcia and Giselle look at each
other and my mom rushes to my side.

While catching my breath, I take
the tissue from the seamstress and finally say, “I’m completely in
love with this dress, it is gorgeous. Beverly, I am so happy, thank
you so much.”

Everyone looks relieved. Beverly
did an excellent job in choosing my dress. I would have never
thought to have a red wedding dress. She mentions it was personally
designed for me by Vera Wang. The strapless sweetheart neckline is
lovely; it comes around the breast area creating a bright red
heart. Right below, silver crystals are encrusted above the snug
waist line. The dress comes out in a trumpet fashion at the bottom,
a small train trails behind. Beverly hands me a tan Christian
Louboutin shoe box.

“
I thought these shoes would go
perfectly.”

In the box is a pair of 4 inch silver
rhinestone shoes.

“Thanks, Beverly.”

She seems pleased that I am happy.
Mom states it is time for me to have my makeup applied. Since my
dress is red, we decided on a silver and black smokey eye, light
blush and a nude lip.

Marcia says, “Your garter is the something
blue, and your shoes are something new. You have something
borrowed; your mother’s tennis bracelet and something old, your
grandmothers tear drop diamond earrings. Now all you need is a
penny for your shoe.”

There is a knock on the door, it’s Liam. He
and Giselle are flirting with each other as he hands her something.
They do say weddings are the best place to get laid. Giselle gives
me a black velvet box. There is a card attached.

My Carmen, place this in your
shoe. Our lives will be filled with prosperity but most importantly
love. –Cooper

There is a $100 bill. Marcia says, “A man
after my own heart.” I put the money in my left shoe.

It is 3 PM. Soft jazz can be heard
as our horse and carriage approaches the walk way where Marcia and
Giselle wait. I take my father’s hand to exit the carriage when the
music changes and the vocalist starts singing “At Last” by Etta
James. Now it is our turn. I reach back for my bouquet filled with
red roses, swirled in a grassy mixture. We then head to the
historic structure, passing a splendid assortment of peonies,
roses, and tulips. My dad stands by my side. He looks handsome in
his midnight black tuxedo and red bow tie.

“
You ready, Sweet Pea?”

“
Yes,” I reply.

“You look so beautiful. I am so
proud of you. I love you honey.”

“
I love you too,
daddy.”

He kisses my check. My mom has requested that
none of the guest stand while I am walking down the stone walk way.
I want to enjoy the view and remember every detail of this day. Red
rose petals are scattered along the silver carpet stamped with
small black hearts. Under the cement dome the pastor is smiling,
bible in hand, ready to marry us. Cooper looks handsome in his dark
silver tuxedo; his red silk tie stands out against the groomsmen’s
black ties. All eyes are locked on me as we continue down the path
of chairs arranged on each side of the walkway.

The closer I get to Pastor Jenkins the more
excited I become. Beside my mother are two empty seats, which
doesn’t make sense, since my father is the only person who will be
sitting beside her.

When I reach her seat, she grabs something
from under her chair. Walking past, I see it is a picture of
Celeste. I smile and mouth thank you, but she points to Cooper. He
is smiling at me with tears in his eyes. I love him so
much.

Pastor Jenkins states, “The couple has written
their own vows. Carmen when you are ready.”

I have memorized my vows and
nervously I tell Cooper,
“
Cooper, you have shown me how to
forgive others and myself. How to love and receive love. We are
made to love each other. On this day in front of our family and
friends I take you, to be my friend, my lover, the father of my
children and my husband. I promise to cherish and respect you, to
care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with
you, for all eternity. This is my solemn vow.”

Cooper says his vows:
“
My Carmen, you have brought unmeasurable
joy into my life. You are beautiful, inside and out. Your loving me
has made me a better and stronger man. I will respect you, honor
you and always be faithful to you. I promise to love you for
eternity. You and our family will always come first. This is my
solemn vow.”

When Pastor Jenkins announces us
as husband and wife, I thought Cooper was going to take me in front
of everyone. We have a few pictures to take and then we will meet
the guests at the reception hall. Lindsey snaps the final picture
of us before the reception. It shows Cooper and me on the white
horse and carriage. “Just married” is written in red in the
background. We turn around smiling, completing the ceremony
portraits. We share a kiss before the horse comes to a
stop.