Page 359 of Kentrell

Gold cufflinks. A single cream rose with gold-tinted foliage pinned to his lapel.

Markeisha and her team snapped to attention like they were coordinating a celebrity appearance.

Everybody in this room looked like money. Like what you’d expect from elite Black Chicago.

I couldn’t wait to see the pictures.

“Zoeeee!”

Wave’s voice called from the door behind my daddy as he and Oshon filed in like they’d just been released into the wild.

“Hey, Wave.” I giggled, watching him scan the room like he had first pick of every fine woman waiting for this wedding to get started.

“Damn… y’all look good.” He rubbed his hands together, giving a little hungry-lion-in-the-safari smirk.

“Yes, indeed,” Oshon chimed in, grinning just as wide. “We came to pick up the mamas.”

Oshon extended an arm in front of my mama like he’d rehearsed it. “How you doin’, Miss Zora?”

“I’m doing good, baby,” Mama said, giving him a kiss on the cheek as she slipped her arm into his.

“I know that’s right.” Oshon smirked at the gesture, making all of us laugh.

“Hey… watch yourself, young blood.” My daddy said with a light warning, but you could hear the smile under his voice.

“Aye… I see you, Mr. Anderson. I ain’t tryna step on your toes,” Oshon playfully conceded, holding both hands up like he was under arrest… but still keeping my mama’s arm right where it was as he walked her out.

“Hey, Wave…” Shaniece stepped in next, looping her arm into his with that signature twinkle in her eye.

“Damn… I can’t even say what I wanna say… ‘cause I know Trell gon’ kill me.”

“Just whisper it to me.” Shaniece winked, making Wave blush, which sent the whole room into another round of laughter.

They left with Auntie Zonda trailing right behind them, still chuckling to herself.

“It’s showtime.”

My daddy turned back toward the rest of the room, giving the cue for my bridesmaids—Mars, Ayesha, and Stacia—to head out.

“See you on the other side, Zoe!” Mars called over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door, Ayesha and Stacia right on her heels.

And just like that…It was just me and my daddy.

“Lemme see your face before I give you away,” he said, walking over and gently lifting my veil.

“You look just like ya mama, Zoe…”

His voice cracked just a little… eyes just as misty as mine.

Since Thanksgiving… he’d been making the effort.

Coming out to Hinsdale several times a week… sitting with me… sharing stories…Bringing pictures. Photos of me and him—from when I was a baby… up until about age three. Even a few with his parents…Whom I got to meet again at Christmas. They were overjoyed to be invited to my wedding.

My uncles Marcus and CJ… their wives… their five kids split between them…And Auntie Niecey flew in from Atlanta with her husband and three children…Filling our home with noise and laughter again… just like Thanksgiving.

“Thank you,” Daddy’s voice pulled me from my memories.

“For what?” I blinked a few more tears away as he pulled a cream handkerchief from his jacket pocket, wrapped it around his finger, and dabbed under my eyes.

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