Page 358 of Kentrell

Meanwhile, Markeisha was behind me, lifting my veil back over my head with the help of Ayesha, my maid of honor.

Ayesha looked stunning—just like Mars and Stacia—dressed in the floor-length, spaghetti-strapped, rich chocolate brown satin slip dress we picked for the bridesmaids. The three of them looked like a Vogue editorial.

Ayesha’s hair was pinned into a soft, wavy waterfall updo… Stacia’s matched with the same style… and Mars—who’d goneand chopped all her hair off two weeks ago—made up for it with a flawless, glossy finger wave that hugged her head like it was painted on.

We looked like royalty.

“Alright, Zoe…” Ayesha’s voice pulled me back, her hands steady as she held the part of my veil that would stay over my face until I got to the front of the altar.

“Oh, shhh!” My mama suddenly shushed everybody like we were sitting in a movie theater, tears already building up in her eyes… like Shaniece… like Auntie Zonda, who was dabbing at her face with a tissue.

“Goodbye, Zoe Davis,” Ayesha teased, dramatic as ever, before letting the veil drop over my face.

The minute it fell… my vision blurred… not from the veil… but from the tears I refused to let fall.

“You bet not be under there ruining my makeup!” Ayesha snapped, already knowing me too well.

“Awwww! Zoe!” Mars cooed like she was about to burst into tears herself.

“Our baby is getting married!”

“I know!” Stacia added, her voice already thick with emotion as she dabbed her own eyes. “I can believe it… but I’m still not ready to let her go.”

“Right!” Ayesha moved to stand with them, bouquet in hand. “She got the man, the ring, the baby… and the damn house out in the boonies.”

“Castle,” Mars corrected with a laugh, making all of them burst into giggles. “Shit… kinda like this one here.”

Her eyes danced around the room… the walls… the ceiling… taking in every bit of the space like she was mentally bookmarking it.

“Kentrell love him some Zoe, honey… ‘cause this is too raw.”

And she wasn’t lying.

On every single count.

My honey loved him some me.

We really did live in a castle out in Hinsdale.

And this venue—St. James Hall on South Ellsworth in Hyde Park—felt like home.

Grand staircases… gold uplighting… chandeliers older than my grandmother’s generation… a library wing already prepped for our wedding photos… a ballroom that felt like magic…

And this bridal suite… upstairs…

Right above the grooms’ lounge that wassupposedto keep Kentrell from sneaking up to see me.

Something he completely ignored…And did anyway.

“Ladies…”

A throat cleared behind us. Every head in the suite turned toward the sound.

My daddy.

Looking as suave as ever… standing there like the walking, breathing definition of Black excellence.

He matched my mother perfectly… a champagne-silk tux jacket with contrasting chocolate satin lapels… slim, perfectly tailored chocolate brown tuxedo pants… crisp cream shirt with subtle satin-striped detailing… the same glossy, chocolate brown patent leather lace-ups as Kentrell and all his groomsmen…

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