The Black Chapel (24 page)
“Is that a real proposal?” I say.
He gets down onto one knee. “Scarlett Hansen, may I have the honor of your hand in marriage?”
I start to cry, my hand hitting my mouth. I nod. “Yes, Michael, absolutely yes.”
It’s three months later, and Michael and I have spent a lot of time planning our real wedding. I’ve been able to keep Diane and my secret from everyone, including my dad. Trust me, it has not been easy. I worry Michael will become furious with me again once I tell him, but somehow I feel our relationship has been strengthened over time. He won’t mind, especially since it’s for our future benefit. At least that’s what I keep telling myself, but in reality, I’m quite nervous about it.
My dad is going to walk me down the isle. He’s still receiving treatment, but the doctors are all saying that he is well on his way to recovery.
It’s the day of my wedding, and I can’t wait to marry my best friend and lover. We’re getting married the place we met—well, officially at least—in the Portland Episcopal Church. I’ve invited everyone, even Laila and the gang from the Black Chapel. And you guessed it, Reverend Summerlin is marrying us.
“Now, are you sure you want to marry this guy?” Anne asks, in the bride’s room, helping me do my hair. I flew her in on first class for my wedding. She’s on spring break from school right now, and has been here the entire week helping me prepare for my wedding. Things have turned out exactly the way I want, I am so fortunate.
“I’m sure,” I say. And I feel it, too.
“How sure?” Her baby blue eyes squint and she smiles.
God, I’ve missed her. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” I say, and I haven’t. Michael is the love of my life.
“Good enough answer,” Anne says. She’s gained a little weight, freshmen fifteen, but it makes her look even more beautiful than before.
I slip into my dress, a Carolina Herrera, drop waist made of satin and lace. The arms are a see-through lace and the neckline a deep V-cut. I decided on a veil, too, one that trails on the ground behind me and that has the edges adorned with real diamonds.
There is a subtle knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Anne says and hops on over to open. There is Kenneth holding a painting in his hands. I can’t see what it is, because he’s holding the backside toward me.
“Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Anne says.
“It’s okay, Anne. Let him in,” I say.
Kenneth smiles. “Michael wanted me to bring this up to you. It’s your wedding gift from him.”
“Oh really? What is it?” I ask.
He turns it around and I see he’s holding
House of Parliament Sun
by Monet.
I gasp. “Is that—real?” I reach out to touch it.
“What do you think? Of course it’s real. Michael doesn’t own anything that’s not real,” Kenneth says. He sets it down by the desk.
“Good luck today, Scarlett. I’m so glad things worked out between you two. The whole family loves you so much already,” Kenneth says. He picks the painting up again. “I’m just going to put this in your limousine. Wouldn’t want you to forget it.”
“Bye,” I say. Wow, a real Monet for me? I am so grateful for Michael. Not only because he gets me what I need and want, but because he remembers the things that are important to me.
Anne hands me my flowers and ruby red roses.
“You look ravishing,” she says, and I see tears in her eyes. “I am so happy for you.”
We embrace, and I try not to cry because it will screw up my perfect make-up. Should have worn waterproof.
We walk down the tight spiral stairwell and I enter the quaint lobby. The French wood doors are shut to the chapel, but I can hear people talking inside. My heart flutters, and suddenly I’m nervous.
My dad comes in from the opposite door. He looks so handsome in his black tuxedo.
“You look beautiful,” he says.
“Thanks,” I say. Now I cannot hold back my tears. There are so many things to be grateful for and I miss my mom - words cannot express how much.
“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” my dad says as he gives me a hug.
“I just wish—” I say.
“I know. But your mother
is
here. I feel her presence,” Dad says. “Now, no tears on your wedding day. It’s bad luck.”
I nod and wipe my cheek.
Anne rushes over and helps fix my make-up. She looks me in the eyes. “Keep it together, Scarlett. It’s going to be a long disaster-of-a-make-up-day if you don’t.”
I laugh.
My dad takes my arm and we wait behind the French doors. Michael is waiting at the end of the long walkway behind these doors. Should I tell him about the secret before we get married? I still have a chance. But then we’d lose all that money. Before I’m able to decide, the French doors swing open, and the organ music starts playing Pachbel’s Canon in D.
My dad nudges me to start walking. I’m so glad he’s well enough to walk me down the isle. Immediately, I see Michael beaming at the front by the altar. I smile at him. Walking down the isle, there are so many people here. Every spot in every pew is filled, and they have all turned to look at me. They’re all smiling as I pass them. There are flowers everywhere—red roses with greenery. The church is beautiful.
I’m up by the altar now, and my dad hands me off to Michael. The tears are pressing behind my eyes, and I swallow the lump in my throat. Michael’s face is radiating love toward me.
He turns to face the altar, but before we take the last few steps, I hold him back.
“Michael, I need to tell you something,” I say. I have to tell him. I can’t enter into these solemn vows again with secrets still buried in my soul.
Michael pauses and looks at me, questions in his eyes.
“Your mom sent me a letter and she gave me my part of the inheritance already. I had to tell you before we married,” I say.
He pauses for one moment, one agonizing moment of anticipation. Will he kick me to the curb? Will he stop the wedding? Will he leave me at the altar? Now I’m kind of regretting telling him. This is just too much.
“Michael?” Reverend Summerlin says.
Michael looks at Reverend Summerlin, then back at me. “I figured she might pull something like this. But you telling me this now, means you are willing to risk everything just to be honest with me.” He smiles and guides me up to the altar. “I’m marrying you today, Scarlett. Because you are the love of my life, and I know I can trust you.”
I smile and a relief washes over me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Michael smiles.
We recite our own written vows, which of course makes me cry again, and Reverend Summerlin marries us.
“You may now kiss the bride,” she says.
Michael pulls me in close, and I feel my whole body tingle at his touch. He leans in and kisses me just enough to make me go wild and want so much more. But of course, not in a church and not in front of everyone.
“I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Manning,” Reverend Summerlin says, and we walk down the isle, a couple which God has bound together and which no man can put asunder.
As we exit the church, a shower of white rose petals rain over us. Michael helps me into the white limousine.
After he shuts the door, I ask, “So I hope you’re not mad at me?”
He scoots in closer and interlaces his fingers with mine. “How can I be mad at you when my mom set it up?”
“Well, I kept it a secret from you for all these months,” I say.
“But you did come clean, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I say. “But don’t you even want to know the details?”
“I trust you’ll tell me eventually. For now, all the details I care about are that you are here with me, as my wife and that now I can make love to you anytime I want, day or night.”
I smile. “Oh, really?”
“Really,” he says and kisses me, and there is electricity in the air.
“How about I please you on the way to our reception?” I say.
His eyebrows rise. “I suppose it’s about twenty minutes to my house.” And then we make sweet love for the first time as real husband and wife.
Table of Contents
