Five

Brayden sent several big boxes to Jada’s house that morning. He sent a tuxe for Charley with shoes, a pink satin dress and shoes for Charity. There was a pink ice and white sapphire tennis bracelet for Charity, and a smart watch for Charley with notes telling them how happy he was for them to be his family. In addition, there was a maroon satin Gucci gown for Auntie with a Gucci purse and shoes. He wanted to make Jada’s dream come true of having a formal wedding ceremony even though it would just be their families there. Charity had been so excited, calling Jada a princess and Brayden her prince that he wanted her to be part of the whole experience. Auntie Marilou had been an integral part in getting their relationship going, so he wanted to show appreciation to her as well. Charley would be walking Jada down the isle, so he wanted to make him into a debonair gentleman today.

Later that morning, a dozen Roses arrived for his bride. The note read, “waiting anxiously for my beautiful bride.” Jada wiped tears of happiness away from her eyes. The sulky “rude” man she met that first day had turned out to be quite the prince in disguise, Jada thought. She looked at pics on her phone of the two of them on their “dates” and smiled, thanking God for answering her prayer and going way beyond what she ever expected. She thought about the passages that spoke of Him making a way where there seemed to be no way, and about Him making streams of water in desert places. Her life was just about as dry and lifeless and hopeless as it could be…and then God sent her a man that changed all that. “Thank you, Lord,” she prayed aloud.

Mariou excitedly got everyone ready for their big day. She was blown away with Brayden’s gifts, acting like a teenager going to the prom as she got herself ready. Once they were all ready, Marilou inspected them all, making last minute adjustments and taking pictures with excitement. The doorbell rang, and Gerard was there with a white limo, ready to take them all to the mansion.

Jada FaceTimed her father and showed him how they all looked and talked to him about the wedding. Lawrence was so happy for her and wished her much happiness today and in her marriage. He told her how he wished he and her mother could have been there for her wiping tears from his eyes. “I know you will both be there with me in spirit today, Daddy,” she assured him. He gave Charley some words about walking Jada down the isle, being a gentleman and told him how proud he was of him. Charity did all the talking when it was her turn, telling him all about their “prince” Brayden and how he had made her and Jada look like princesses today. He said a few loving words to her before talking with his sister Marilou. She dabbed at her eyes as she told him how happy she was that things turned out the way they had. They both gave God credit for answering their prayers in such an amazing way. They all sent words of love and said goodbye to their father.

Jada was getting nervous and wringing her hands in the limo ride over, and Marilou comforted her, assuring her that everything would be perfect today. “Angels will surround you and keep you safe, my sweet girl. And they will be rejoicing with you as you and Brayden become man and wife today,” she assured her, squeezing her hands. “This marriage is chosen by God himself,” she said, looking her in the eye to make sure she understood. Jada nodded, accepting her aunt’s words. Marilou had been a mother, a best friend and confidant to Jada, and she was so thankful to have her. “I love you, Auntie,” Jada told her, hugging her carefully.

Brayden stood outside the mansion beside his best friend and assistant Carl waiting for his bride to arrive. He smiled and walked over to her, taking her hand and kissing her gently on the cheek. “You look absolutely stunning, Jada,” he said, admiring her. Jada scolded him for seeing her before the wedding. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck?!” She spoke. Brayden smiled and assured her that luck had nothing to do with their union. “My angel, God sent you straight from heaven. You are an answer to my prayers,” he told her. His words made her so emotional that she dabbed at her eyes. Marilou was quick to scoop in with a tissue and correct any damage to her perfect makeup job. Brayden noticed the rest of the family at that time and complimented them all on their appearances. Charity started chatting with Brayden as he bent over to listen to her chatter, grinning.

Carl locked eyes with Marilou, thinking how gorgeous the woman was. Marilou noted his attention and gave him a flirty smile, winking at him. He walked over to her and greeted her personally, taking her fingers to his soft lips and pressing a kiss on them. They started conversing as Brayden put his arm around Charley’s shoulders and gave him a pep talk about escorting his bride today. Charley nodded and Brayden looked up to see Marilou and Carl getting acquainted. He had a side smile as he whispered to Jada about the two. Jada nodded and smiled. She too had noticed the pair.

Brayden’s mother stood with a younger very pretty lady, and they both looked like they were not at all happy about this arrangement. The woman had arrived about the same time as Jada, so Brayden had not noticed her until that moment. He stopped in his tracks, stunned to see her. Jada watched as he stepped quickly over to the two. “Daphne... why are you here?” He demanded, obviously not happy about her arrival. “She’s here to keep me company. I asked her to come,” his mother spoke with haughtiness. “Why, Mom? Why would you ask my ex-wife here on my wedding day? What do you two have cooked up? I thought you were mortal enemies, now all of a sudden you are best friends?” He asked incredulously. Jada watched the exchange and felt anxious, seeing how bothered Brayden was. She decided to join him in support. He looked at her and put his arm around her waist and his angry expression softened. “Don’t try to cause any trouble today,” he warned.

Brayden turned with Jada and started to leave, but his mother hurled insults. “Remember what I said, Brayden. She is nothing but a contract wife. This is not a real marriage, and I will never accept her as a DeRoya. Daphne is your true wife. This girl is nothing more than a surrogate. Remember, girl, you signed a contract. I will hold you to your promise,” she shouted.

Brayden let go of Jada and marched back to his mother. “Daphne divorced me for another man, Mom, or did you forget about that? She aborted your only grandchild; did you forget about that too?” He shouted. “Jada will be my bride today and you will not interfere. You will accept her as my wife, and you will treat her respectfully. Go home, Daphne. You have no reason to be here, and I want you to leave,” he told the other woman in anger.

Daphne threw her chin up in the air defiantly. “I will stay here as long as your mother wants me to. I am her guest,” she insisted. Mrs. DeRoya nodded sharply in agreement. “And I am your mother and mistress of this mansion, Brayden. You have no control over what I say or do. Go, have your fun with your new bride, but in the end, you will see that she is not the one for you. How could she be? She’s nothing but white trash from the slums of New York,” Evelyn DeRoya shouted back at him. “That’s enough, Mother! I will not hear anything more from either of you today,” Brayden said, walking away from them in anger.

“Brayden, Honey, calm yourself. It will be okay. Let’s go get married and forget about them,” Jada suggested. Carl put his arm around his shoulders. “Yes, my friend. Let’s go have a wedding. Shall we?” He urged, coaxing him to go inside the mansion. Brayden looked at his friend and then at his bride and decided they were right. It was their wedding day. He would not allow bad attitudes to ruin their day.

Brayden and Jada stood before the minister and took their vows. “You may kiss your bride,” he said, and Brayden playfully dipped Jada, giving her a passionate kiss to everyone’s amusement. Well, not everyone. Two women were very offended at their show of affection. They both looked like they could eat nails and spit tacks. Brayden payed them no attention at all as he danced with his bride and whispered sweet words into her ear.

Marilou danced with Carl who was a handsome well-built man of color. He had a hint of Jamaican in his accent. She asked him and was pleased to know that he was raised in Jamaica and then his family came to Florida. He went to high school and college in the United States, he told her. That’s where he and Brayden had met, in Business School. They became good friends, and when Brayden took over his father’s canned foods company, he brought Carl in as his personal assistant and business partner, he continued. Marilou liked Carl very much, and he was quite fascinated with her as well. They made plans to go out when Jada took the children to the Old Mansion to live.

Brayden danced with his mother despite her attitude. She danced with him, but she was not happy that he planned to have an actual marriage with this low-class woman. She started to complain, but Brayden hushed her and asked her to just enjoy the moment with her only son. Evelyn loved Brayden more than anything else in the world, so she decided to keep her mouth shut and enjoy the moment as he said. “I love you, Mom,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “I love you, My Son,” she said, looking at his handsome face, so much like his father, she thought.

Daphne cut in then and Evelyn allowed her to take her place, dancing with Brayden. Carl danced with Jada, but she got distracted when she saw Daphne in his arms dancing. “I assure you Brayden has no feelings for Daphne except contempt,” Carl assured her. Daphne put her hands on his chest and spoke to him with her lips dangerously close to his. Carl quickly swung Jada close and said “switch.” Before Daphne or Jada either one knew what happened, they had switched partners.

“Hello, my beautiful bride,” he said, beaming at her. Jada was a little upset that he allowed that vile woman to touch him. Brayden could sense her displeasure and kissed her cheek. “I promise you; Daphne doesn’t cause any feelings in me except the urge to slap her,” he told Jada. “I don’t like her touching you, pawing all over you like that,” Jada admitted, pouting at him. “Trust me, my love, neither do I. She took the opportunity while I was laying the ground rules to her to do that just to upset you. Don’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she succeeded, My Love,” he said, swinging her around playfully and finishing the dance with a kiss. He had succeeded in getting her mind off Daphne with his playfulness.

Jada laughed as they walked arm in arm to a table where the children and Marilou sat. Carl came to the table carrying punch for the children and champagne for he and Marilou. A waiter passed by, and Brayden picked up two glasses of champagne for he and his bride. “I’m not old enough to drink,” she reminded him. “It’s your wedding day, My Love. I assure you that no one here dare ask for your driver’s license,” he said, clinking their glasses. Jada looked warily at Marilou and she nodded at her to go ahead. So, she took a sip of the bubbly drink and decided it wasn’t bad.

Marilou suggested they cut the cake and Brayden took a chunk of cake, holding half of it in his mouth, urging Jada to grab the other half with her lips as they kissed and ate their bite of cake together. They both laughed and played, including the children in their silliness to make it fun for them.

Jada threw the bouquet and of course Marilou caught it, waving it in the air teasing Carl. He laughed and nodded, playing along. He enjoyed her spunkiness and playful expressions. He definitely wanted to get to know her better.

To Jada’s surprise, Brayden scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder, bounding up the stairs. “Brayden! What are you doing?!” His mother scolded him, embarrassed with his lack of decorum. “I’m going to get acquainted with my bride, Mother. I bid you all Adieu,” he said, turning and bounding up the stairs to his room with her. The children thought it was funny that Brayden had kidnapped Jada. They laughed and joked about it.

Carl offered to drive them back to her apartment in the suburbs, and Marilou accepted his offer. When he walked her to her door, Marilou sent the children inside. “I enjoyed our day together, Marilou. I look forward to our date. May I text you?” He asked. She put her info in his phone and told him she should go see to the children. Carl nodded. “Goodnight, Marilou,” he said, wondering if he should kiss her. He wanted to, but he hesitated. To his surprise, though, Marilou reached up and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. “Goodnight, Carl,” she said smiling as she slipped inside her apartment.