Chapter 50
"Come on, nina, stay still," Mac's grandmother said as she arranged the headpiece. She had been dressing the girls, and they had been a handful.
"It's itchy, Abuelita," Mac whined, trying to dig at an offensive spot.
"No digging! My gosh, child, you are just like your papi. I just got your sister settled and now you're acting up."
"Why do we have to wear these dumb dresses?"
"They're yucky," Kira added.
"Because your papi is getting married and you're going to have a new mami. You need to look nice."
"Can't we just wear regular nice clothes?" Mac asked.
"No. This is a special day, and it's for special clothes. Papi and Montana spent good money for these pretty dresses and it's only for one night."
"We got to wear this all night?" Kira wondered.
"Just until everything's over," the grandmother replied.
"Eww, that will be forever," Mac wrinkled her nose.
"Now you girls be good. Logan has to wear special clothes too and you haven't heard him fussing."
"Logan's a boy; he gets to wear pants," Mac said. "And no dumb flowers in his hair."
"But look how pretty you are. My precious little jewels. Come on; let's go show you off."
The bride's room:
"My goodness," Dotty sighed upon seeing Montana, "you are absolutely beautiful, dear."
Montana turned and smiled, giving the older woman a brief hug. "Hi, Dot. How's Daddy?"
"I think he's in worse shape than the bride, and he's only giving her away. You should have seen your father carrying on all day, wondering if this went with that, if his shoes were shined all right, if he looked old, and everything else on this green earth. Good lord, one would have thought he was the one getting married!"
"Well, he didn't exactly have this opportunity at Sly's wedding. The only difference is that our captive audience will be much smaller."
Dotty nodded while fixing the arrangement in Montana's hair. "I always liked smaller weddings; they're so elegant and more intimate. Never saw the fuss in these big gala ones like your father told me about Sylvester and Tasha having. You know, Harold and I were married at the courthouse and then went out to dinner. We were only nineteen then, married for thirty five years before cancer took him from me. I thought I would be lost after Harry died and then I met your father at that widowed group."
"Well, I must say Daddy's been much happier since he's been with you too," Montana smiled.
"He had it so rough, raising you and Sylvester alone after losing Naomi," Dotty sighed.
"But he made it," Montana replied. "Daddy could have laid down, been defeated by his limitations and felt sorry for himself, but he didn't. You know, Dot, I see a lot of him in Paul too. Neither ones of them will back down from a challenge. Just like Daddy, he lost his children's mother unexpectedly too, but still continued to raise them despite those circumstances. I really think Reggie would have been proud of how well those girls have turned out because of their dad being in their lives, even though it wasn't always easy for him."
"Your mother would have been proud of you too," Dotty smiled at her. "Those little girls are just lovely and you adopting them is the most noble thing any woman could do outside of having her own children."
She handed Montana her bouquet. "So are you ready for your big moment?"
Montana gave a quick sigh and smiled confidently. "Let the main event begin."
The groom's room:
Paul had just finished giving himself the once over and had bent over to tie one of his shoes when he felt someone grab his ass. He let out a loud yelp, getting Sly's attention.
"Looking good, PL!" Brian laughed, giving it a playful slap as Sly chuckled.
"You're really asking to get your head ripped off and used for a bowling ball, aren't you, Midget?" Paul asked. "While I'm at it, I may rip off your dick too, especially after that shit you pulled last night."
"Go ahead, you could probably use the extra two and a half inches I got on you for your wedding night anyway. Then again, I wouldn't have anything to tap that fine ass of yours."
"Dude, come on; this is my wedding. Could you knock off the gay references for at least one day?"
"Hey, who can resist an ass like that sticking out in the breeze? It isn't like anyone could miss it or anything."
Brian turned to Sly. "I'm telling you, Sly, this is one dude that could make even the straightest man on earth gay in five minutes or less."
Sly laughed heartily. "Oh, I'm sure."
"Thanks a lot, Spanky; why not just tell the damn world?" Paul gave him an annoyed look.
"Don't worry, I already did. Anyway, I'm going for a smoke before bell time if anyone is looking for me."
Sly raised an eyebrow. "Uh, you know this is a church, right?"
"Only Brian would go out for a smoke in front of a church." Paul shook his head. "Hell, with no sense of shame he has, if he had his way, he'd do it naked too."
"Yep," Brian agreed. "I'm out. Be back in about ten unless things get underway before then."
"Lose that ring and you will lose your head," Paul warned, watching him exit.
A few moments later:
"Oh look at you two; such little living dolls!" Montana gasped with delight upon spotting Mac and Kira. "Your grandma did such a good job."
"This is yucky," Kira complained.
"Yeah, we look goofy," Mac agreed. "How long do we have to wear this stuff and carry these dumb baskets? These flowers on my head itch."
"You do not look goofy, and you can take the flowers off at the reception."
Mac brightened. "Promise?"
Montana smiled down at her. "I promise. And you don't have to carry the baskets anymore when the wedding is over."
"YAYYYY!!" they cried in unison.
"Okay, now go back with your grandma until you're told it's starting. I have to finish here."
Outside:
"Oh, that's attractive," Mariah said, flopping down beside Brian. "Nothing like smoking in front of a church."
"Be thankful I'm not smoking inside one," he countered. "Aren't you divine in all your frills. For a second there, I didn't recognize you, Mimi. You actually look like a woman."
"Keep it up and one of these heels will be firmly planted in your ass."
"Jesus, is everyone out for a piece of me today? First PL wants my head, now you're after my ass."
"Yeah, I heard about the bachelor party and how he chased you around the building." She dug in her handbag. "Shit, I was going to join you for a smoke, but I loaned Shaun my lighter earlier and forgot to get it back."
He flipped his own lighter. "Allow me to light one for a fellow rebel."
"Hey, gee, thanks a lot, BK. This thing hasn't even started yet and I'll be glad when it's over."
"Well, at least they're letting us do casual at the reception once the photo sessions and all the other shit is over."
Cars passed by, their occupants staring at the two sitting on the front steps openly enjoying a cigarette and dressed in wedding attire.
"WHAT?" Brian yelled at one car, arms outstretched, before turning back to Mariah. "Jesus Christ, you'd think people never saw anyone fucking smoke before."
"Must be the wedding finery," Mariah joked, taking another drag.
"Hey Smokey One and Smokey Two," Tasha called to them. "I hate to interrupt your fun, but the big event is about to get underway."
"Ah, the time has come," Brian crushed out his cigarette and helped up Mariah. "Let's go watch PL make a total ass out of himself."
"The sooner, the better," Mariah nodded. "These shoes are killing me."
