"Can you undo this for me? I forgot that I had an army of women helping me into it."
Warren was happy to oblige in undoing the row of tiny lace-covered buttons. When the buttons were undone, the low cut strapless bustier she wore under the gown was revealed. Warren stroked her velvety back and was chastised by his bride.
"Oh, no, you don't! You made me wait forever for this night and now you have to wait for me." She turned around and pulled him down by his tie to kiss him. "But not very long. You'd better be ready for me, my love." And she disappeared back into the bathroom, leaving her love-addled husband alone.
He recovered nicely, though, and went to take a quick shower and don the opulent-looking silk jacquard robe Lisette had purchased for him. It was a rich creamy French vanilla color that looked wonderful against his dark brown skin. Earlier, Valorie had come up to the suite and added a few special touches. There were expensive candles scented with gardenia, a stand with an ice bucket in which a bottle of Moet et Chandon chilled, two Baccarat crystal flutes, a basket of fruit, cheese and chocolates and an array of romantic CDs. The bed had been turned down and there were pink rose petals and white gardenia petals strewn across the bed.
Warren lit the candles in the bedroom as well as the ones in the living room. He put on a Kevin Mahogany CD and was about to uncork the champagne when a soft noise drew his attention to the bedroom. Lisette was standing in the doorway wearing an outfit that made him bless the day he had asked Angelique to go to that auction. It was a very short gown made of silk organza with lace cups and very thin straps. A lace thong was visible through the nearly transparent fabric and she was also wearing a short matching robe that was open to show off the sheer gown. On her small feet she wore a pair of high-heeled satin mules with a silk flower on the toe. One of the gardenias from her wreath was nestled in her hair, right above her ear. She looked incredible: sexy, yet innocent and totally in love. He held out his hand to her and she came to him at once, floating across the room like a goddess. He sat down on the chaise longue and pulled Lisette into his lap, where they kissed for several long minutes before either of them said anything.
"Lisette. My Lisette," he said softly. "Is this real or another one of those dreams I've been having about you?"
By way of an answer she took his handsome face in both hands and pulled him down to kiss him softly, gently and thoroughly. "This is as real as it gets, Warren. I've been waiting for you my whole life; I don't want to wait any longer," she breathed.
He offered her a glass of champagne, which she refused. "Not right now. Right now, I want my husband," she said with a wealth of meaning in the simple words.
Warren stood up with her in his arms and said, "As always, Lisette, your wish is my command." He carried her off to the bedroom to begin their lifetime of love.
***
Donnie was looking at his wife with his heart in his eyes. They were in the kitchen of their home eating a midnight repast that consisted of scrambled eggs, grits, toast and grilled ham. Angelique had found that one of the best ways to avoid morning sickness was to eat when the baby said it was hungry, which was why they were eating breakfast food at such a late hour. Lisette and Warren's wedding reception had ended earlier but they had opted not to attend any of the after-parties; they just wanted to go home. Angelique had changed out of her gown and was wearing a cute sundress with little flowers all over it; she often wore it around the house. Donnie had also shed his tuxedo and was wearing a pair of drawstring pants and an old T-shirt. They talked about the wedding and how happy Lisette and Warren had been.
"It was so beautiful." Angelique sighed. "It was the wedding she dreamed of ever since she was a little girl. She was so happy."
"Warren was so happy he couldn't stand himself." Donnie laughed. "He's so in love with Lisette, he was crying when she walked down the aisle. You hear about stuff like that and you think it would be embarrassing, but it was nice. It was very appropriate for him; he holds nothing back from her."
Angelique nodded in agreement and began to clear the table in her usual frenzy to put things back in order. Donnie took her wrist and stopped her. "You sit down, baby. I'll take care of this. You do too much around here as it is. Mrs. Montez feels like you don't want her here," he said, referring to their weekly housekeeper.
"I had no idea," Angelique said sadly. "I'll try to do better. And Mrs. Montez should just wait until the baby comes, there'll be plenty to keep her busy."
She continued to sit at the kitchen table, deep in thought. Donnie watched her for a moment as he put their few dishes in the dishwasher. He joined her as the table, taking one of her long, slender hands in his as he leaned forward to get her attention.
"Angel, I have to tell you something. I finally remembered it, all of it. Our wedding, I mean. When I was standing at the altar today watching you, it all came to me out of the blue."
Angelique's eyes grew huge. They had never talked about it before. Even though Angelique's memory of the Las Vegas nuptials had come back to her after her amnesia went away, they had never discussed it. But now that they both had a recollection, it seemed right. Donnie continued to hold her hand and led her through the dining room into the living room where there was soft music playing and a couple of her favorite candles were lit. A provocative fig fragrance drifted through the room and seemed to personify the late summer. They sat on the sofa-rather, Donnie sat and Angelique sat in his lap with her legs elevated. She laid her head on his shoulder and he began to speak.
"It started when we were on the plane going to Vegas. You were sitting with Matt and I was sitting with Nicole, who never shuts up, by the way. She talked and talked and told me all about you, about what you were like in school, what kind of friend you were, how wonderful you were and I had to agree with her because I knew it was true. I could look across the aisle where you were sound asleep and all I could think about was how pretty you looked, how much fun you were, how I looked forward to seeing you every day. When I came back to Detroit after being out on the road, all I wanted to do was see you, make you laugh, kiss you." He kissed her then, a soft one on her forehead.
"When I saw you all hugged up with Matt, I wanted to break his skull. I really did, I'm not proud of it, but I did. And on the plane, wow, you just looked so sweet and adorable, I couldn't think of anything else but the possibility of not being with you. The flight attendant started bringing around drinks and you woke up and we all had champagne. We started drinking toasts to Matt and Nicole and I drank a toast to you, then another one ... I was pretty mellow when we got off the plane. When we got to the chapel, Matt and I kept drinking champagne while we waited for you and Nicole to find a dress. Well, I should say that I kept drinking, Matt kept pouring.
"While they were getting married, I kept looking at you and I knew I wanted to be the man you married. I didn't want to get on another plane and fly back here without making you mine. I kissed you and said that I wanted to take care of you forever. You kissed me back and said that we should take care of each other. I kissed you again and said you had to be mine, that no one else could have you. You kissed me back and said you wanted me, too. And we kept kissing, right there in the chapel and the justice of the peace said the next wedding had canceled and he had an opening if we wanted it. And we both said yes, yes, we wanted to be married right then and there, and we were. We weren't sloppy falling-down drunk. We were pretty merry, but we weren't passing out or anything.
"We held hands and he said the vows and we kissed some more and we were really happy because we knew it was meant to be. It sounds corny and ridiculous, but that's the way it happened, or the way I remember it. It wasn't sordid at all, Angel, but it wasn't right."
Angelique froze in his arms. His recollection mirrored hers, except for the part about her being asleep on the plane. She hadn't been asleep, she'd been wishing she were on her way to her own wedding with Donnie. And now he was saying that it wasn't right
His arms tightened around her and he kept talking in his low, deep voice. "It wasn't right because we should have had a beautiful ceremony like Warren and Lisette. We should have had flowers and candlelight and music and all of our nieces as flower girls. Your family should have been there with mine, and everybody should have seen how happy we are to be together. That's what should have happened, Angel, and that's what could have happened, but I couldn't wait. I wasn't man enough to wait until we got home and court you like you deserve. So I'm asking for a second chance, Angel. I want you to marry me all over again in front of God and everybody. Please say you will, say that you forgive me for not controlling myself and that you'll allow me to make it up to you."