“Love and Happiness”

That day, the birds sang even in the afternoon.

The sky above was the color of love.

Paisley.

And though they’d lost their child due to the miscarriage, on the day the baby was due, December 19, the vows had been exchanged and the I Dos had been sealed with a forever kiss. Sealed to cement the union between two people who’d met, of all places, at a swinger’s club.

The long walk down the aisle by a brand-new husband and wife had been taken, and all the family members and guests had caravanned behind the couple’s black stretch limousine, the short distance from the church, across the causeway from Miami to the private tropical island oasis of the Mandarin Oriental Miami hotel for the elegant reception. The Asian serenity was the perfect paradise of private beaches and prestigious bay views. Eighteen-foot ceilings, silk and velvet wall coverings, crystal chandeliers, and glistening skylines framed the spectacular room that was totally decorated in only black and white.

Guests finished up their meals, laughing, joking, smiling, and enjoying the celebration of true love found. The happy couple sat at the wedding party table for two, ready for their reception, him in his black tux and tails with a cream tie, her in her cream satin strapless gown with a black sash and jeweled bridal shoes. Her hair was swept away from her face, curled loosely down her back. Diamond and pearl drop earrings accented her classic beauty. Her wedding bouquet was made of exotic white magnolias and White Naomi roses. They’d spend their wedding night in the Asian serenity of the five-star hotel’s Dynasty Suite on the ninth floor, and head off on an eight-day South Caribbean cruise to Aruba the next morning.

Miller’s son and his wife and child, and Miller’s daughter and her child, were all seated at a table with Magnolia’s grandmother, Gigi, who sat next to Miller’s ex-wife, Beth.

Rebe and Darla, the maids of honor in all black, sat with two of Miller’s friends who were the best men, named Rich and Juan. While Rich was extra friendly with new mother Rebe, Darla was busy enjoying talking to her lover, Grainger. And on the other side of Darla was her father, who for the life of him, couldn’t take his eyes off of Gigi at the other table. And Gigi noticed him notice her. It looked to be her pleasure.

Darla had a look of amazement on her face while taking a moment to nudge her father. She asked, speaking only loud enough for the two of them, “Daddy. Are you staring at Magnolia’s grandmother?”

He didn’t lick his lips but he looked like that was the next step. “Darlin’, it’s been years since I’ve seen her. She’s sure held up nicely,” he said, giving a “Mac Daddy” grin, peeking at her beyond the lavender chrysanthemum centerpieces.

Darla seemed as though her ears had deceived her. She’d never seen her father like that about anyone but her mom. She looked away, trying not to make too big a deal, but made a point to honestly tell herself it really was long overdue. She distracted herself from her father’s visual-admiration party, and turned toward Rebe, asking, “Are you enjoying living in the new house?”

“I am.” Rebe told the others, “I bought a new place in West Lake Village. Just really getting settled in.”

“Nice. In Hollywood?” Rich asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“Cool area,” he said. “I work in that county. As a sheriff.”

“Really?” Rebe watched his full, brown lips as he spoke. “Small world.”

“Indeed.” He looked at her lips, chest, and all that he could get his eyes on from where she sat.

And sitting to the left of Rebe was Trinity, holding her three-month-old, off-the-charts long, baby brother. She handed the baby boy, who had a cleft chin, over to his mother.

“Cute baby,” Rich said to Rebe, admiring her big brown boy with the full head of hair.

Rebe said, “Thanks. Actually, these are my two children. My baby son, Tristan, and this is my daughter, Trinity.” She put her hand on Trinity’s back.

“Oh. Wow. Nice-looking family,” Rich said. He turned toward his friend Juan and they began talking.

Rebe moved her focus from him to Darla. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Darla came to a stance.

Trinity took back her baby brother. Rebe planted a kiss on Tristan’s lips, and then as Rebe stood, she kissed Trinity’s forehead. Trinity, dressed in ivory chiffon with teal and lime gemstone dangle earrings, wore the angel charm Magnolia had given her. Trinity closed her eyes briefly and smiled.

Darla joked in Rebe’s ear as they walked, “Surprised you didn’t have twins like you joked, considering the way you described the night you got pregnant. Tristan is a doll, sis.”

“Thanks,” Rebe said, with a chuckle. She held Darla’s hand, still very aware after all the years that had gone by since she had betrayed her friend. But she just couldn’t bring herself to come clean.

Rebe and Darla approached Magnolia and her new husband, standing right in front of them at the bride and groom table, and raised their glasses high, as did Magnolia, Miller, and everyone else.

Rebe said, “Today is your wedding day. When 2009 started out, we had no idea a wedding would even be happening for you, Magnolia. Miller, yes, she was the one out of the three of us who always joked about being the bridesmaid, never the bride. Well, today, Magnolia, you are the bride.”

“Yes she is,” Miller said, platinum band on his finger, holding his new bride close.

“When we started out the year, we had no idea that some of the things that happened so far would’ve happened at all. But God had other plans than ours. If it wasn’t for our New Year’s promises, Darla probably wouldn’t have her new store, I wouldn’t have my new child, and Magnolia, you wouldn’t have a new husband. Miller, thank you for coming into Magnolia’s life and loving her the way she needed to be loved. For cherishing her and making her laugh. She’s changed in a way I can’t explain, but it’s a beautiful thing to see. I guess that’s what real happiness will do for you.”

Darla took over, raising her glass even higher. “May you both enjoy the sanctity of marriage in a way that is the ultimate love for the world to see. What God has put together, let no man put asunder. Here’s to you, Mr. and Mrs. Miller Lockhart. We wish you all the happiness in the world and pray that the love of your hearts reaches beyond your God-given years, into eternity. May you never be farther than the arms of your hearts can reach. Magnolia, you found your soul mate. Cheers.”

The bride and groom and everyone else said, “Cheers,” and took sips to seal Rebe and Darla’s words. Magnolia had a tear rolling down her cheek, and Miller kissed her right where it flowed.

The song “Spend My Life with You” by Eric Benet began, and Miller removed his tux jacket, took his bride by the hand, and led her to the dance floor. When Magnolia heard the words, “Never knew such a day could come,” she fanned her flushed face with her hand. She faced her new husband in her vintage dress as their family and friends watched, and placed her head on his chest, left ear to his heart, and the words continued, “I was incomplete till the day you walked into my life.” And then, the record scratched, and Magnolia and Miller looked at each other with a question mark, looking over toward the DJ, who began to play Heavy D & the Boyz, “We’ve Got Our Own Thang.”

Miller suddenly sang along like he was okay with it, getting the feeling, “Everybody shake your body, we don’t ill we chill at a party,” and he broke out into his own corny version of poplocking, attempting to moon-walk to the beat, encircling Magnolia as she watched him like she was shocked, but by the next chorus, Magnolia raised the fabric of her petticoat, exposing the baby blue garter Darla had given her, and turned around to him, backing it up and working her hips. He put his hands up in the air, waving them around like he just didn’t care. “Started with a pow and I’m going to end it with a bang, we’ve got our own thang.”

Everyone started clapping, and singing along, while Magnolia and Miller did their prerehearsed routine, skipping and jumping, doing some youngster moves, and then heading over to those standing around to bring them into the mix, even Trinity who had stood up with the baby, and Magnolia’s Grandma Grace took Darla’s father by the hand, bringing him onto the floor, hugging him while they did a funky slow dance version.

Miller’s son and daughter and their families jammed too, even his ex-wife, and Darla and Rebe danced together, with Rebe making a point to head right on over to Miller, bringing her backside around to his front side, and she shook her moneymaker around in a circle, while he first looked at Magnolia for approval, but before he got it, he focused down at what Rebe was working with, pretending he was rummaging through his pockets to look for dollar bills, throwing fake bills up into the air to make it rain. Rebe pretended to catch each one and stepped back to Darla after passing by Magnolia who gave her a look of warning and pointed her finger. “Okay now. Don’t let me tell Darla on you,” Magnolia whispered. She then held her hand up. The silver heart friendship bracelet from Rebe dangled. She gave Rebe a high five, and said, “Our sixty-nine days are over, girl.”

“Agreed,” said Rebe, without a word of disagreement.

Rich, Miller’s best friend, took Rebe by the hand and they danced, doing what Rebe loved to do most. They did a version of the whop, holding hands the entire time. She smiled continually, finally a real true wide, continuous grin. Like maybe if she kept dancing, the curse would be broken.

Darla danced back over to Grainger and sat down, staying close while he whispered what he was going to do to her when they got back to his place. Darla swatted his arm and then hugged him closer, whispering back to him to bring it on.

And Magnolia looked in the eyes of her new husband, her arms draped around his neck, feeling as though she could really truly exhale, her large rock and his diamond band on their ring fingers shining bright as symbols of their life together.

The next song was theirs alone.

The floor cleared and Etta James resounded from the speakers. “At Last.”

Magnolia’s gaze was triumphant. Her life was like a song. Her love had come along just when he was supposed to. They moved in slow dance, swaying to the tune, Magnolia humming the song to him, Miller humming the song to her. The song later wound down with all eyes still on them.

As the song “Perfect Combination” by Stacy Lattisaw began, another selection of Magnolia’s, Gigi appeared behind Magnolia, though shorter than her, on her tiptoes, touching her on her back and making an effort to whisper in her ear as Magnolia leaned back to get closer.

Magnolia could smell her peppermint breath as she spoke in a low tone. “Excuse me, baby girl, this is your new husband’s ex-wife. Her name is Beth. And she is the most beautiful spirit. She asked me to introduce you.” Gigi looked at Beth. “Beth, this is my granddaughter, Magnolia.”

Magnolia ceased her dance and turned toward them, keeping one hand clasped in Miller’s.

Gigi stepped away, headed back toward Darla’s grandfather, whose eyes expected her return.

Beth stepped forward, giving a quick smile and head nod to Miller, who looked frozen, and then she took Magnolia’s other hand into both of her hands. “You are a beautiful bride.” She smelled like roses.

“Thank you, Beth. It’s nice to meet you.”

Beth was short and slightly plump, in her sixties, but looked hip in black caged Louboutins, in a black tulle dress with pearls, and auburn hair cut into a classic bob. She wore three-inch red nails and bright red lips. “And I want you to know, you are my children’s stepmother. We welcome you. I honor you for allowing me to come today and see my children’s father get married. A lot of women wouldn’t have been able to do that, but you did. I got your invitation and was thrilled. That’s all I wanted to say. Thank you.”

They gave cheek-to-cheek kisses.

Magnolia told her, “Thank you for coming. That’s so nice of you to take the time to be here, and to introduce yourself. Believe me, if my mom says you’re okay, you’re okay.”

Beth patted Magnolia’s hand and then let go. “I’ll let you two finish your dance.

Magnolia took Beth’s hand into hers. “No. Here. You dance with Miller.” She placed Beth’s hand in Miller’s hand.

Beth looked surprised. “Are you sure?”

Magnolia looked certain. “I am.”

“Miller?” Beth asked, seeming cautious.

Miller gave a bow, as in, May I have this dance. “My wife knows me, Beth. It’s my pleasure.” He pulled Beth close, and they danced together, chatting while he led the way.

And Magnolia walked away in her designer wedding dress, feeling nothing but happy. Nothing but secure. Nothing but free. Free, now knowing what the feeling of being cherished can do.

Having learned to trust and experience life from the other side. Magnolia Lockhart, just like her best friends, was changed.

And changed for the better by trying something just a little bit…different.