Page 58 of Papa's Beloved

A few minutes later, I’m clean and have a towel wrapped around me. I sit down in front of my vanity to do my makeup.

Chapter 44

Nay

We women decided we would make a grand entrance. Showing at the party thirty minutes after it started. We were all dressed the same. Red silk dresses, red heels, and cuts. Our hair is up and Stormy got us all matching earrings and necklace sets to wear.

Stormy enlisted the prospects to help. We all went down the back freight elevator, then through the kitchen to the bar's back entrance. The music comes to a halt, our cue to enter. I strut out onto the stage with the rest of the ol’ ladies. We’re greeted with whistles and catcalls.

Papa hops up on the stage and takes me into his arms. He kisses me passionately. Good thing my new lip stain is kiss proof. When he breaks the kiss, music starts to play. Then I hear the first notes ofCan You Stand The Rain?by New Edition. Seconds later, New Edition comes out from the other side of the stage.

My eyes widen. I look at Stormy. She winks at me while the ladies leave the stage. Papa takes my hand and pulls me to him. We dance to the song. When it ends, he steps away and drops to one knee.

“Chardonnay Rene Danvers, you blew me away the first moment I met you. A bright-eyed young woman who wanted nothing more than to make her way through college and make something of yourself. Your words, not mine.”

I hear chuckles behind me.

“You survived unimaginable hell as a child and came out stronger for it. A fierce warrior queen who protects those sheloves. I loved you from the very moment I set eyes on you, only it took me a good long while to pull my head out of my ass. A longer while to convince you to be my ol’ lady.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I can’t believe this. He must have arranged it all. I thought the women were surprising the men.

“Would you make me the happiest man in existence and become my wife?”

Movement behind him catches my eye, and I gasp to see Papa’s twin Jimmy strut across the stage. He looks at me with a grin and hands a velvet box to Papa. Who opens the box and presents it to me. I gasp when I see the inside. It’s the most beautiful purple and white diamond ring I’ve ever seen.

“Yes.”

Papa slips the ring on my finger before kissing me again. I hear cheers everywhere. He picks me up and spins me around before kissing me again. When he puts me down, I find myself wrapped up in Jimmy’s arms. He gives me a big bear hug before letting me go.

“I finally get a sister.”

I hug him back. “Yes, you do.”

Gambit jumps up on stage and congratulates us. So does one of my favorite groups of all time. Then he takes the mic.

“I hope everyone is ready to eat. Our ladies, Trinity, Everest, and Tully, have outdone themselves to make us an Italian feast. Guests and ladies first. Let’s eat!”

Papa

I’M STANDING IN LINEbehind Nay. The ladies really did outdo themselves. They made minestrone, Italian wedding soup, and pasta fagioli. Then they made a pasta bar with several kinds of pasta and sauces so you can choose what you want. Lasagna, roasted vegetables, antipasto platters, braised Italian sausages with cheesy polenta and a dozen different kinds of desert.

I load two plates, taking them to our table before going back for soup. I love Italian wedding soup. Jimmy is sitting on Nay’s other side.

“Thanks for bringing the ring, brother.”

“I forgot a drink. I’ll be right back,” Nay says. heading to the bar.

“Anything for my twin and his boo. That’s one fine ring and it only cost half of what Jay-Z paid for Bey’s.”

I laugh. Yeah, I dropped a pretty penny on the ring, but my woman deserves it. It has a five-carat cushion cut deep purple diamond surrounded by twenty-eight round lilac diamonds. Surrounding that are twenty pear shaped diamonds that are layered to make it look like layers of petals.

“Worth every penny. I’ll show you the house plans I picked out tomorrow.”

“Has Nay seen them?”

“Not yet. If she hates the plan, we’ll choose a new one.”

“I’m sure she’ll love it. You have a good bead on your woman’s likes and dislikes.”

---