CHAPTER 15
Finally, …
"Why aren't you nervous?" the makeup artist Luella asked Liv as she applied the final touches "You are the calmest bride I have ever worked with"
Olivia laughed. She and Abby were dressed in robes as the makeup artist, Luella, applied their makeup.
"I guess it's because the important things are done" Luella looked at her confused so Liv explained.
"I think the only things people should worry about on a wedding are; are you marrying the person you love? does the person love you back? and are you free of any doubts about how the two of you feel about each other?" Liv said listing out the three items on her fingers.
"I am three for three on all that Luella. A tornado could run through that wedding and as long as nobody was hurt? I wouldn't care" she explained "White dress, cake, champagne that's just…."
"…. Icing on the cake…" Abby said finishing the sentence for her "You're like a fucking broken record with the icing on the cake" she turned from the mirror where she was admiring the makeup Luella had just applied on her.
"This whole new Zen thing you have going is a pain in the neck" Abby turned to Luella "you have no idea how hard it was to convince her to have the white dress, cake, champagne and flowers; she fought us on everything!" Abby groused
Olivia smiled. She had fought them. She just wanted to be on a beach somewhere exchanging vows with Fitz. She didn't want a wedding with two hundred people, where she would spend the whole time smiling and pretending to have a good time when all she wanted to do was to be in a quiet place with the man she loved while they spoke the words. The words that tied them together.
However, that would have meant breaking her mother's heart. She couldn't do that. Olivia was Maya's only daughter…her only child. She only got to do this once. So here she was…with the white dress, the cake and the champagne. At least she didn't have two-hundred guests! They had fifty-five. Maya being Maya had managed to squeeze in an extra five people on the guest list.
"I think you probably have it right" Luella said as she swiped mascara on Liv's lashes "If I was marrying Idris Elba, I wouldn't give a good shit about the damn cake, the dress or the whatever! All I would care about was that fine ass being mine for life…and the wedding night!" Luella licked her lips.
Abby and Liv laughed "Well Luella, Fitz is my Idris…though I would be lying if I said I wouldn't consider running off with all that fine" Liv said smiling lasciviously.
"Don't be greedy, you got your man. Leave Idris to the singles out here" Luella chastised her.
Olivia pretend pouted "Fine…but I am not happy about it" the three women looked at each other and laughed.
"What's so damn funny" Maya said walking into the room
"Idris fine as hell Elba!" Luella said
Maya looked at them as if they were crazy
"Why are you talking about another man on your wedding day?" she scolded Olivia "Now let's get going, its five pm and you don't even have your dresses on" she held the door open and Liv, Luella and Abby walked past her with silly grins on their faces.
"Though I tell you if I was fifteen years younger the things I would do to that man would make all of you blush. I would wreck that; he would never get over what I'd do to him"
"Mom!"
Abby cackled and Luella pumped her fists in the air agreeing with Maya.
"What? I am not dead Olivia. I can look"
"Oh baby…." Maya stood in front of Olivia crying. Abby stood of to the side trying to take pictures with her phone but it was difficult to focus the lens with tears in her eyes. Maya was right Olivia looked beautiful.
The simple white dress had a sweetheart neckline and was off the shoulder with long sleeves and an empire waistline that led to a beautiful flowing skirt. She was seven months pregnant and looked like a freaking goddess. She had the entire room crying; even Luella.
She had her hair up in two messy goddess braids that had wisps of hair escaping. The look was tied off with a beautiful plum flower to tie in with her wedding colors.
"You look so beautiful" they all said as they cried in front of her.
"Everybody needs to stop crying or we will ruin all of Luella's hard work" she scolded, blinking furiously to keep the tears from flowing.
They heard the front door bell ring.
"That's the car, we need to get going. Somebody needs to help me put on my shoes" Liv said. Abby rushed to the box near the bed and pulled out the plum colored ballet flats Liv had purchased to wear with the dress. She hadn't even tried to buy heels. Her feet would have been killing her before she even walked down the aisle!
Abby slipped the shoes on her fit and wrapped the ribbon around her ankles
"Your golden girl" she told her as she stood up. Liv smiled down at her and rose with difficulty from her chair.
"Ready?" Maya asked
"As I'll ever be"
Abby, Maya and Liv made their way to the waiting Rolls Royce Phantom and Luella headed off to her Audi. She would be meeting them at the reception.
Liv, looked out the window as they headed to the church. She took time to think about how important this day was. This was the day she made Fitz hers and she became his…officially at least. Truth be told they had belonged to each other from the moment they had met. Fitz had known that, it had taken Liv a while to catch up.
"Do me a favor, will you Liv?" her mother said breaking into her thoughts
"Anything mom, what do you need?" Maya reached out and grabbed both of Liv's hands
"Be happy?" Liv felt tears prickling behind her eyes
"Okay, mom…Okay" they sat quietly looking at each other for the rest of the short ride to the church.
Fitz was wearing a wearing a path on the grass by the lanterns where he stood waiting for Olivia. The wedding organizer had done a great job. Lights lit up a small path down the aisle. There were 30 chairs on each side of the aisle. No grooms side or brides side… they hadn't wanted that separation among family and friends. Guests were greeted by sign at the entrance of the aisle:
"Friends of the bride or friends of the groom…please sit where you want to sit! There is plenty of room…."
He looked at his watch. Five more minutes, she should be here in five minutes.
"The wedding lady said they are almost here. She asked us to take our places" Quinn said walking up to him. She was dressed in a tuxedo similar to his except she had fitted pants and five-inch black heels. She was his best man.
"Thanks for doing this Quinn, I don't know how it happened but other than Olivia you are the closest thing I have to family. I wouldn't want anybody else but you to do this" he said sincerely.
Quinn blinked back tears "Yeah, well…your welcome. Plus, this whole male/female androgynous look I am rocking right now is fucking sexy as hell. Your boy David Rosen hasn't been able to take his eyes off me" she looked over at the guests and spotted his college roommate David among the guests. She sent him a smile full of promises. He swallowed and looked away.
"Quinn behave" Fitz said smiling and shaking his head
"No way, I am working this look for all its worth" she said smiling at him wickedly. He laughed and started to respond, but then he spotted the Maya's mother. Liv must be here. He felt his chest tighten.
The wedding coordinator walked up to them looking harassed.
"Okay face forward. The bride's mother wants there to be a reveal, so you need to look forward until you hear the song, okay?" she was off before he could respond.
Feeling like he had no choice but to obey the crazed woman, he faced forward and ignored the muttering from the crowd. Even when he had the oohs and ah's.
Five minutes later he heard the song. The song they had chosen together. The guests were quiet, expecting to hear the traditional wedding march or any of the countless scores people chose to walk down the aisle to. That wasn't what they got.
A strum and a beat…A strum and a beat...
It was now their song. He proposed to her with it. She would be dammed if she would walk down the aisle to anything else!
She looked over at Victor the guitar player. She had met him on the night they got engaged and insisted he play her down the aisle. He played beautifully.
A chuckle went out among the guests at the unusual song choice. Livvie smiled at everyone and put up her hand in the rock out sign. The guests laughed and clapped. A few whistled loudly.
Fitz couldn't wait any longer he turned around and felt his heart actually stop beating. Liv stood at the end of the aisle and she looked…indescribable. She looked at him and smiled. She turned to her mother and they both walked down the aisle.
She was finally stood in front of him and he reached out to grab her hand. An electrical current went through his hand as soon as he touched her. The voice, that voice that had been whispering to him since he met her was still there. It still spoke to him
…. this is the one…she is the one
It still sent shivers down his spine. He couldn't help himself he reached down and kissed her. He couldn't wait. The guests laughed and Maya swatted him playfully not yet she mouthed. Liv laughed against his lips and pulled away her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
They stood in front of the officiant and recited their vows while Victor played softly behind them. The ceremony was short. Fitz had insisted on it.
"You may now kiss the bride"
You damn right I can. He leaned in kissed her, bringing his arms up to cup her face as his lips moved gently, reverently over hers. Oliva cupped his wrists, stood on tip toes and returned the kiss.
The guitar picked up behind them, but they didn't notice. They didn't notice anything or anyone. Couldn't hear the applause. Liv only heard the beat of Fitz heart where she held him. Fitz only knew the soft touch of her lips.
Maya had to cue them to walk down the aisle they were so lost in each other. They pulled apart and walked down the aisle accepting felicitations from their family and friends. Their hands clasped tightly to one another.
As far as Fitz was concerned he was good. He could go home now and start to spend the rest of his life with the love of his life…his wife…He swallowed the emotion.
They walked down the aisle towards the buildings at the arboretum. They were going to spend some time alone there before joining the guests for dinner at the Corinthian columns.
He couldn't wait to be alone with her. She was finally his wife…let no man put asunder…
"Behave" Maya said as she closed the door behind Fitz and Olivia in the room they had been led into after the wedding. Yeah right, she thought, she had seen the way Fitz stared at her Livvie. There was no chance of that happening but she had to try.
Liv and Fitz looked at each other smiling
"Hi"
"Hi"
She giggled and jumped into his arms. He caught her and spun her around laughing; joy pouring out of his entire body. He hugged her to him and then pulled back to look at her.
She looked back at him. The smiles they had on their faces slipped as the emotion overwhelmed them. Fitz leaned in and kissed her softly. He pulled back and looked at her. She leaned up on tiptoes put her hands behind the back of his head wrapped her fingers in his curls and brought his mouth down to hers.
The kiss was no longer soft. They moved their heads, their tongues delving into each other's mouths. Fitz kissed her and kissed her. Olivia kissed him back. The kisses went on and on. Sometimes it was soft…little nips at each other, and other times it was hard with his tongue pushing into her mouth trying to get as much of that intoxicating taste that was Liv.
There was a soft knock and their mouths drew apart, their bodies did not. They wanted to stay connected in whatever way possible.
Abby walked in and was surprised to see they were still decent…well Liv's mouth looked like it had been put through the wringer but considering how Fitz had been looking at her during the ceremony, she was surprised they still had their clothes on.
"Everyone is seated. We're ready for you to make your grand entrance as Mr. and Mrs. Grant" Abby said. She remained calm for about five seconds before squealing and running towards Liv pulling her out of Fitz's arms and hugging her. Olivia laughed and returned the hug. Fitz complained.
"Hey!"
"Oh, shush. We all know you're going to be all up in her business in a couple of hours, can I hug her before you go off and befoul her for the entire night?"
Fitz smirked "Is that what I am going to do…befoul you?" he raised his eyebrows up and down diabolically.
"You can do whatever you want Mr. Grant, I have my own plans for you…" she stuck out her tongue and licked her lips sensually.
Fitz groaned "tell the guests Liv wasn't feeling well Abby. I am taking her home" He moved before either of them could stop him and picked her up making a move towards the exit. Liv and Abby yelled out together
"No!" The laughter in the room drew Maya's attention and she walked into find Fitz near the exit with Liv in his arms.
"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, put that girl down. You will have plenty of time for shenanigan's later on tonight"
"Yes Ma'am" he said as he gently placed Liv on her feet.
Olivia and Abby looked at each other and burst out laughing while Fitz stood off to the side sheepishly.
"Please welcome Mr. & Mrs. Grant"
Liv and Fitz walked in between the Corinthian Columns in between their guest's tables and waved. The sit-down dinner was delicious. Only having fifty guests had allowed Liv's mother to splurge. Fitz had wanted to pay for the entire wedding but Maya wouldn't hear of it. She had been saving for her daughter's wedding for years. In the end they had compromised. Fitz took care of the venue and Maya took care of everything else.
Liv watched her mom beam with pride as the guests fawned over the food. There was nothing a black mama loved more than knowing people were well fed. It gave them goosebumps.
Fitz watched as Olivia ate her dinner…and then his. He was too happy to eat. Olivia did not have that problem.
"It's the baby, the baby is hungry" she said as she stuck her fork in his filet.
Finally, it was time for him to speak. He had made a deal with Liv. She would give a speech at the wedding rehearsal dinner and he would give a speech at the wedding.
"Thanks for joining us everyone. I appreciate it…well, actually I would have been fine with all of you not showing up, because then I could be off with my beautiful bride instead of being here trying to find the words to describe something that I fear is indescribable" He paused and picked up the fork on the table and fiddled with it for a minute, nervous.
"Which is good news for you because that means I will keep this short and sweet" the guest cheered mockingly. Fitz turned to Liv
"Olivia you are the love of my life. I didn't know it but I was waiting for you my whole life. I was sitting and waiting for you and didn't even realize it…until I saw you. I exist for you. I belong to no one but you. We belong together. This past year, has brought me the kind of joy I didn't even know I wanted because I didn't know it was possible. I love you and I can't wait to have a baby with you… I can't wait to have everything with you…good, bad… all of it. I look forward to it; because I get to do it with you"
Liv stood up and reached out to kiss him. He was glad. He was struggling towards the end and she had sensed it. She saved him from going off the emotional deep end in front of their guests. Boy did he love her…
The catcalls started ringing out as they made out. A few people reached for their napkins overcome by the genuine love displayed in front of them.
Olivia got to dance with her mom. Her father was long gone, but her mother was no poor substitute. She was her rock and she loved that she got to dance with her. Liv cried when she heard the song her mother chose. She remembered her mother singing to her in the kitchen while Madonna played in the background...
You must be my lucky star, cause you shine on me wherever you are
She remembered Maya twirling her around the kitchen singing into a wooden spoon telling her
Starlight, Star Bright, first star I see tonight…
The song was perfect. She danced with Fitz too. She couldn't remember the song, it didn't matter.
They cut the cake and fed each other a piece. They did all the things that they needed to do to make the day perfect…for Maya. They already had what they needed.
She got Abby to let her throw the bouquet early.
"I'm exhausted. It's the baby" she said, feeling guilty. The baby had turned out to be a gold mine when it came to making up excuses.
Abby went all defensive lineman and caught the bouquet, as if here was ever any doubt! Finally, at midnight she and Fitz were in the car headed home. She laid her head against his chest and was snuggling up to her when a loud sound startled her. She looked out the back window to see fireworks bursting in a kaleidoscope behind them.
"Oh my god, Fitz! "
"It wasn't me, it was Maya. She insisted!"
Liv laughed and watched the rainbows of colors explode across the sky before she turned back around and snuggled into Fitz. He pulled her into him, they were both quiet on the drive home.
The driver opened the door when they got to the house. He pulled Liv into his arms and carried her into the house, across the threshold.
"Haven't we done this before?"
He nodded agreeing "Yes, but that was practice this is the real thing. Welcome home Mrs. Grant"
"It's good to be home Mr. Grant.
He carried her into the bedroom and placed her gently on her feet. He kissed her softly
"I'm so in love with you, this is forever Liv"
"Forever Fitz. Its forever"
They hugged each other for a while. Fitz pulled back first
"So, how do I get you out of this dress so I can finally make love to my wife" he said
She laughed and turned around giving him her back. She moved her hair out of the way.
"Pull that zipper down boy, I am going to rock your world"
He laughed pulled down the zipper and turned her around. He lifted her up out of it and placed her on the bed. She lay flat and sighed. The bed felt so good.
He reached down to untie the ballet flats from her feet. The knots were a bitch to untie but he finally got hem open. He pulled them off along with her thigh high hose. He placed a kiss on her leg. No response. He stood up
"Liv?"
His response; a small snore from her. He groaned and then laughed.
She had to be exhausted. It had been a long day for him. He could only imagine how she felt. He walked into the closet and grabbed two old shirts. One for him and one for her. He undressed her carefully trying not to wake her. Within ten minutes he had them both in bed with her cuddled up beside him. She moved and made a little snorting sound. He laughed.
It wasn't the way he had envisioned spending the night, but he was married to the woman he loved now. He had a lifetime to make love to her. One night made no difference.