On the Other Side(4)

Once the ceremony was over, limousines were waiting outside the church to take the wedding party to The Waldorf. The Grand Ballroom was opulence at its finest. The recreation of the Court Theatre in Versailles, reminded Damita of her and Neal’s quick visit to Paris six months earlier. She had been so busy with work while planning the wedding that Neal had taken over many of the details, including choosing the venue. Every detail was a reminder of their incredible courtship.

“Is all this really for me?” Damita asked.

“I promised you I’d give you the world, didn’t I? Besides, this place is an architectural dream.”

Neal and Damita kissed once again.

“Thank you, baby,” she said.

Not surprisingly, the reception was everything Damita dreamed it would be. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, but none more than she was. When it was time for the couple to have their first dance as husband and wife, Neal was as gallant as she expected, as he danced her around the room to the tune of “Unforgettable.”

Karen watched as her daughter and son-in-law danced and instinctively knew what her daughter would soon think of: her father.

“May I cut in?” Karen said.

Damita put up her hands as if to dance with her mother.

“I’m here to dance with my son-in-law, not you,” she said teasingly.

Neal was fully aware of the fact that Karen only tolerated him, so he was understandably surprised. Karen was not only thinking of her daughter but also her son-in-law. His parents were deceased and she couldn’t bear thinking of either of them having anything but good thoughts on their special day.

The moment the two started to dance, Damita’s friend, Brandon, appeared to act as a substitute for the father-daughter dance. Damita looked at Brandon and smiled.

“Are you here to save me again?” she asked.

“From the looks of it you don’t need saving. I’m here to fill in for old man Whitmore.”

“My dad would have loved that. Remember how he used to call you a pretty boy and tell you how many girls you were going to have. My dad was never wrong, was he?”

“I plead the fifth,” Brandon said.

“Yeah right.”

Brandon was movie star handsome. He had naturally curly hair, cappuccino-toned skin and a slim athletic build that women loved. Damita couldn’t resist on commenting on his attire for the evening.

“You must have been cursing me out when you got dressed today. I know how much you hate wearing a suit and tie.”

“Yeah, I’m more of a jeans man. And, don’t worry, the tie is coming off as soon as it looks like everyone is too drunk to notice.”

Damita laughed and continued dancing with Brandon as the music changed from “Unforgettable” to “Insane in the Brain.” As the floor filled with guests eager to dance to the upbeat tune, Damita and Brandon enjoyed their walk down memory lane, as they sang along.

While Brandon and Damita laughed at the guests and he joked about how hot her mother still was, Neal watched the pair intently.

“I think old boy is jealous,” Brandon said.

“No, he’s not.”

“He hasn’t stopped staring at us since we started dancing.”

“He’s not staring at you. He’s staring at me. I’m just that beautiful,” Damita assured him jokingly.

“Okay; whatever you say. I still think we should end this little dance now, before I go home with a busted lip.”

“My baby doesn’t have a violent bone in his body.”

“That’s nice to hear.”

After everyone had eaten and all the toasts had been made, they were all dancing and enjoying the party. Damita spotted Neal heading toward her with what appeared to be a scowl on his face.

“What’s he doing here?” Neal asked, pointing across the room.

“Who, baby?”

“You know exactly who. What is your ex doing here?”

“My ex? Who are you talking about?” Damita asked, laughing.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“Okay, baby. I’m not laughing at you. I’m just not sure who you’re talking about. There are no ex-boyfriends of mine here.”

“What about him?” Neal asked, pointing in Brandon’s direction.

“Brandon? Is that who you’re talking about? Brandon is my play brother,” Damita responded, in an amused tone. “I can’t believe it. We’ve been married all of two hours and you’re jealous already,” Damita teased.

“Damita, I’m not joking. Who invited him?”

“My mom . . . and me,” she added, not wanting Neal to resent her mother.

“I figured it was your mother. All I want to know is why she despises me so much. I have been nothing but cordial and respectful to the woman. Yet, she likes that nobody better than she does her own son-in-law.”