A Merry Little Christmas(43)

By now the Deverauxes were pouring in the door with greetings and hugs  and kisses. The older children were there; the nanny who traveled with  them when the whole family went on the road was caring for the babies at  the hotel. The exception was Martin and Ceylon's little girl,  Elizabeth, who was not about to be left with the babies. She was being  carried in a pair of strong arms until she was handed over to Paris.

"Well, hello, sweetheart, how are you? And how's your daddy?" she cooed,  looking up at the man who'd put Elizabeth in her arms. "Martin, how are  things ..." Her words died a natural death as Paris looked into the  smiling eyes of Titus Argonne, the only man in the world who left her  speechless.

Angelique was still on the sidewalk, hugging her brothers and  sisters-in-law, when Donnie pulled up in his Jaguar. He sprinted to  where Angelique was standing and took off his topcoat. "Angel, what in  the world are you doing out here with no coat on? Sweetheart, it's way  too cold for you," he said, wrapping his coat around her shoulders.  Keeping his arms around her, he finally seemed to realize that her  family was there, too.

"Oh, hey, how's everybody doing? Come on in, y'all, it's freezing out  here." He escorted Angelique into the building and held the door for the  rest of the attendees from Atlanta. He was so attentive he completely  missed the looks that passed between certain members of the family.  Angelique, in the meantime, was beginning to feel like a much-cherished  doll being passed from hand to hand. First her mother and Bump had to  hug her and fuss over her.

"Angel, you're absolutely blooming, baby. I've never seen you looking so  wonderful. Are you happy, honey?" Her mother's concern was evident in  her intense expression.

"Mama, if I was any happier, I'd have to be twins. I'm absolutely wonderful," she assured her.

Bump looked her over carefully; he took his role as her stepfather very  seriously and the two of them were quite close. "Well, I'm sorry I  didn't get to give you away, but I must say that marriage agrees with  you. Lookin' good, Shorty!" Angelique hugged him tightly and smiled up  at him through happy tears.

"Don't make me cry, my mascara will go everywhere." She sniffed. "I've been so nervous about this, I've been a wreck."

Clay was next; he hugged her tightly and smiled down at her from his  towering height. "Angel, these are magnificent. I keep remembering a  cute little girl with pigtails who followed me all over with her little  camera, and now look what you've become. You're an exceptionally  talented and beautiful woman and I'm proud of you, baby."

Those sentiments were repeated over and over as Angelique was passed  from one brother to another. There were also hugs and greetings from all  her sisters-in-law on both sides of the family, and Donnie's brothers.  Last of all, she was greeted with enthusiastic hugs from Miss Martha and  Big Benny before finally landing back with her husband.

The private part of the showing was over; it was time for the exhibit to  open. Donnie looked down at her and pronounced her perfect. Kissing her  on the temple, he whispered something in her ear, something that made  her smile. As the doors opened, she was standing with her very proud  husband on one side and the museum director, Aneesah Shabazz, on the  other.

The rest of the evening went by in a blur for Angelique. Matt and Nicole  couldn't attend the opening, but they sent a huge green plant and a  promise to visit during the Christmas holidays. Everyone seemed to be  having a wonderful time and the pictures received great acclaim. But the  best part of the evening for Angelique was the warm words of praise and  pride from every member of her family, although the fact that she had  put something over on Paris was a close second. She'd known Titus  Argonne was coming to Detroit to discuss corporate security with Donnie,  she just neglected to tell Paris.                       
       
           



       

"You could have told me he was coming!" Paris whispered.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't know?" Angelique asked innocently.

"No!"

"Well, you'd better smile, sweetie, because he's headed this way."  Angelique could swear she heard Paris's heart beating from where she  stood.

***

The next few days were as exciting as anything Angelique could remember.  Her family stayed for two days after the exhibit and there was constant  activity, what with dining out and visiting and just plain catching up  with each other. The biggest thing, aside from the excellent reviews and  the loving response of her family, was the bridal shower her  sisters-in-law had for her. The party was held at Bennie's father's  house in Palmer Park, a huge old brick house with lots of room for all  the women and the veritable horde of children.

Angelique wept when she saw all her favorite women gathered in one  place, especially when she thought about the shower she'd sabotaged so  many years ago. She hugged Bennie tightly and wouldn't let her go. "I  was such a little wench, Bennie! How could you ever forgive me?"

Bennie's eyes filled with tears, too. "Aww, sweetie, I loved your  brother with all my heart, I couldn't help but love his family, too. And  I saw you as an unhappy young woman who needed something more in her  life. Besides, you got me my man back," she teased her. "Now come on and  enjoy this shower. There's a cake in there that looks like it fell out  of heaven and I want some."

Lillian and Martha were hostessing the affair with plenty of assistance  from the Deveraux and Cochran wives. Paris also was in attendance, of  course, as were Lisette and a few women from Cochran Communications.  Bump and Big Benny looked in for a moment but made their escape early as  neither one could handle much of the high-spirited chatter. Big Benny  did take a few minutes to spend some time with his newest  daughter-in-law, however.

They were in the solarium off the library of the big house, sitting next  to each other on the settee. Big Benny hadn't changed much over the  years: he was still the same towering, white-haired titan he'd been when  Angelique's brother married his only daughter years before. He'd  suffered a very slight stroke the same year Bennie had her tragic  accident, but showed no effects of it. His gait, speech, and demeanor  were all that of a much younger man, primarily because his wife watched  him like a hawk. She had to, otherwise he would have lived on a very  rich diet washed down with bourbon. He liked his creature comforts and  he liked his newest daughter-in-law, too.

"Babydoll, you did us proud, you know that," he told her. "I always knew  you were as smart as a whip. I'm glad Adonis had sense enough to marry  you. He needed somebody like you, somebody with some spunk and fire to  her. You two are gonna have some pretty babies." He gave her a one-armed  hug and a sly grin.

Angelique gently pounded his knee with her fist. "Not for a while, Mr. C! We just got married!"

"So what? I need a grandbaby," he said, trying to sound forlorn.

Angelique laughed. "Mr. C, you already have thirteen."

"Unlucky number. That's why I need another one. You and Adonis need to  get busy. And for God's sake, quit calling me Mr. C. Call me Daddy," he  said grumpily. "I can't be a Mister if you're married to my son and  gonna give me some grandbabies. I was always partial to the number  fifteen." Angelique was still dazed from this conversation when she  rejoined the women, who were still eating the delicious cream-filled  cake and chatting volubly. There was an array of lingerie and perfume  and personal items spread all over the living room and they were still  ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the delightful surprises. Suddenly Lillian and  Martha got everyone's attention.

They both stood up and said something no one had yet approached. Lillian  began by saying how elated she was that her only daughter had found  such happiness. "I can see that you're in a wonderful place now, Angel,  and 1 couldn't be happier. But Martha and I think it's time you started  thinking about a reception, at least The only other two who ran off to  get married were Selena and Malcolm and even they finally let me have  some kind of celebration. So what we want to know is ..."

She turned to her co-conspirator, Martha, who took over. "When do we get  to have a reception for you two? We want to celebrate your love and  commitment with a lovely celebration. So you two need to pick a date,"  she said firmly.

Angelique was stunned. She'd never considered anything of the sort and  had no idea what to say, other than to thank them and say she would talk  to Adonis that very evening. All the women cheered and began planning,  discussing whether summer or fall would be the best time, whether it  should be in Atlanta or Detroit. Angelique suddenly felt exhausted and  had to excuse herself. She emerged from the powder room to find Selena  waiting for her with a smile on her face.