Page 17 of Tap In

“I’d like to thank the committee for this honor. Broughton Firm works tirelessly to match families with their home happiness and hopefully their forever home. We are proud to provide resources and embellishments to our community when it comes to homeownership. It is no secret that the black to white homeownership gap is there and not accidental due to intentional exclusionary zoning that is sponsored by the government. Predatory lending schemes along with redlining have kept many black people from purchasing and sustaining a home. Sadly, the homeownership gap between blacks and whites is wider than when there was legal segregation. Something has to be done.

“Broughton Real Estate Firm has taken a stand to be a change maker by being in the room where policies are talked about and made by being advocates for our community by demanding equality in this market. That is what makes us prestige. Prestige is what we all should strive to be.”

I glanced next to me at Lark who faced me with her pride showcased on her face. “This woman to the left of me is the love of my life. I used to think being a successful real estate agent for my family’s company was my biggest success and highlight. Since meeting this woman, I’ve come to realize waking up next to her and doing this thing called life is the highlight.”

If Lark’s skin tone was any lighter than it was, her entire face would be red. She stood there pulling her index finger. It was what she did when she was nervous.

“That is why here tonight, in front of our family and everyone else, I want to ask her to do this life thing with me as Mrs. Broughton.” I pulled a ring box out of my pocket, opened it, then got on my knee. “What do you say, Lark? Can I change your last name and have you as my forever?”

Tears messed up her makeup. With a little jump, she answered. “Yes! Yes!”

The crowd erupted in cheers while I placed the engagement ring on her finger. When I was on both feet, she wrapped her arms around my neck and crashed her lips against mine. “I love you, Lark.”

Tonight was a perfect plan that came together just as I wanted it to. When I decided that I wanted to marry her, I spoke with my parents about it, and they were ecstatic. My father told me that I needed to get her mother’s blessing. I flew up to Maryland and did just that. It was my first time physically meeting her, but we spoke via video chat often. Once I had her blessing, my mother gave me her engagement ring to give to Lark.

If you would have told me that I would meet the love of my life in a sex club, I would have thought you were crazy. The universe had a different plan, and I was grateful. Lark may have tapped out the first time, but I was happy that when it counted, she tapped all the way in.

A WHILE LATER… MRS. LARK DAWN BROUGHTON

Today wasthe day that I married the man I was obsessively in love with. When he asked me to marry him at my gala, it took me completely by surprise.I love surprises!Another shock was the engagement ring. I felt so honored that his mother wanted to pass down her engagement ring as the beginning of a family heirloom.

“I always knew you would be a perfect bride. When you were six years old, you used to plan weddings for you and your stuffed toys,” my mama said from her seat beside me at the head table at my reception. “I think the one I liked the most was when you married your Tickle-Me Elmo.”

We both chortled. I remembered those weddings. I would have one once a month. They used to be more often, but my cousins got tired of coming to them. We all compromised that I would get fake married once a month. Getting married had always been in my life plans. When Derrick and I broke up, I thought it would never happen.

“Thank you, Mama. You know my weddings were everything. Thank you for always making sure I had cake for the reception.” My mother always gave into my shenanigans.

I looked over the dance floor at everyone having a good time. Chance, Joston, and my father-in-law were on the balcony smoking a cigar.

“Girl, don’t let me have another drink,” Jacobia said when she plopped down in the seat on the other side of me. She leaned up to look at my mama. “Mama Georgia, if you see me with another drink in my hand, pop me.”

My mama rolled her eyes. “Lil girl, I’m going to do more than pop you. I’m going to slap your ass.” My mother reached over me and grabbed her hand. With her serious motherly eyes, she glared at my best friend. “Jacobia Justina Christianson, get your fuckin’ self together in here. Ya mama and daddy left to be nasty, but don’t think I won’t call Chelle back to tell her to come get you,” she sternly said.

There was a sadness in Jacobia’s eyes. “Come on, best friend. Let’s hit the dance for.” I grabbed her hand, stood up, pulled her out of her seat, then pulled her to the dance floor.

The DJ must have heard my heart. When the beat for Tamia’s song came on, I knew it was up from there… hopefully. Jacobia and I loved to line dance. We immediately fell in step. After a couple rounds, I felt arms wrap around my waist from behind. They fell in step with my moves.

“I missed you,” Chance whispered in my ear.This man is everything.

I stopped the line dance to turn in his arms. “Did you now? You were just with me less than an hour ago.”

“What that mean? Lark, I miss you before I’m gone. Just the thought of you not being in my presence causes me pain.” He smacked my ass. “Act like you know.”

I laughed at his facial expression. He looked at me like I had two heads. “I apologize, Mr. Broughton. I do know.”

He kissed my neck. “I know you do, Mrs. Broughton.”

The music changed to another line dance song. It didn’t matter, because Chance and I were slowly dancing to a beat all our own. I heard and saw the flash from the photographer’s camera. I was so happy that we took most of our pictures yesterday. We were leaving for our honeymoon in a week and a half. I took my real estate licensure exam in a few days. I had put it off to plan my wedding.

Chance and I went with something different for our wedding guestbook. We did a vintage audio guestbook. We had two phones on special tables that we rented from a company calledAfter the Tone.Our guests simply went up to the phone, picked it up, waited for the tone, and left a special message for us. I couldn’t wait to hear the messages because I had seen plenty of our tipsy guests on the phones.

“So, how soon can I get my baby?” Chance broke into my thoughts with his question.

My ear lowered toward my shoulder, and my lips pursed out. We had a conversation during our premarital counseling about how soon we wanted to have children. Both of us were tapping the door of forty, so time was of the essence. “Well, I took my birth control out in preparation for this. It’s really up to how soon can I get my dick.”

One of our assignments in counseling was to abstain from sex for the month before our wedding. At first, I didn’t think we’d be able to do it, but we did. Without the sex, we discovered other ways to be intimate. It was crazy because during the last month, our friendship deepened to a level that I never experienced with Derrick.

Derrick was also a topic during our sessions because shortly after our little apology meeting, he popped back up. He wanted toat least be friends.He asked me out for lunch. Chance and I accepted the invitation.We are one.Derrick left the lunch without my friendship and a fractured jaw.

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