fifty-two. We were both starving, so immediately after checking into our hotel we ordered room service. Michael came out of his work clothes and lounged around in his boxers, a wife beater, and some sweat socks. I changed into some pajamas from the Victoria’s Secret sporty collection. We ate so much and were so tired that we went right to sleep without having sex. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before Michael would ask for some. I was just waiting for that time to come.
“Celess, I am so nervous. I don’t believe I’m about to give somebody the rest of my life,” Tina said in my cell phone.
Michael and I were on the road, driving to Albany. We had rented a car on Friday. Tina had called me and asked that I talk to her for the entire ride. She was in her own suite alone getting ready for her wedding ceremony.
“Celess, what if I trip down the aisle or what if the minister says my real name because I had to give up my real name for the paperwork, but I did tell him that I wanted to be called Tina, so…”
“Tina, Tina, Tina, calm down. You’re just excited. Everything is going to go just right.” I tried to settle her.
“How far away are yall?” she asked for the fiftieth time.
“We just passed a sign that said we are seven miles away,” I said.
“As soon as yall get here, come straight to my suite. I need you, girl,” Tina said.
Michael waited in the lobby while I went to Tina’s rescue. Tina was sitting in a chair looking out the window when I entered her suite.
“Celess!” she squealed, holding her arms out to hug me. Tina sounded like a little girl.
“Hey, girl,” I said, hugging her tight.
Tina stood up and walked over to the dresser. “I’m so glad you could be here for this, Celess,” she said, glancing up at me as she rummaged through the top drawer.
She retrieved a small box from the drawer and handed it to me. “Celess, I want you to have this. Even though you are not in the wedding, I want you to wear this today so we’ll both have one on.”
I took the diamond choker from the box. There was a big heart-shaped diamond dangling from it that had to be at least five carats alone. On the back of the heart it read, “Forever My Friend.” It was beautiful. I had never owned so many diamonds on one item before in my life.
“This is beautiful,” I gasped. Tears were forming in my eyes.
“Don’t start crying, ’cause you gonna make me cry and it took too long to put on this makeup,” Tina said.
It was five-thirty. The wedding was scheduled for six. I helped Tina get into her gown. She looked amazing. It was a straight, form-fitting gown that brushed her ankles. It was white, of course, with diamonds embroidered on and around the bustline and on the spaghetti straps. It was very simple but very pretty. She wore a simple slide with a diamond-covered strap across the toes and a small stiletto heel. She carried a single white rose. Her hair was pulled up into a bun and she wore a Chinese bang that was cut neatly and even just over her eyebrows. Her veil was lined with jewels that matched the ones in her dress and shoes. Everything was custom-made with real diamonds. I took plenty of pictures, touched her up, and left her alone so that I could be on my way to the ceremony.
It was a little after six. Michael and I were at the park where the wedding was to take place. Derrek was already there, patiently waiting for his bride to arrive. Terry was there with a new woman on his arm. No wonder Tina had sent me two train tickets, I thought.
“Hello, Celess,” Terry said as he took his seat beside me. “Beautiful day out, hahn?”
“Yeah, very nice,” I said. “Oh, Terry, this is Michael. Michael, this is Terry, my brother-in-law-to-be.”
The two men reached over me and shook hands.
Terry finally decided to introduce his date. “And guys, this is my lovely girlfriend, Princess. Princess, Celess and Michael.”
She looked really nice and she had a pretty face, but I knew she was a man. It was just one of those things you could sense. Plus, her name was Princess. Only pets, drag queens, and strippers had names like that.
“Nice to meet you, Princess,” I said with a fake smile.
For some reason, I was jealous. I didn’t know why, considering I really didn’t like Terry and I had somebody who looked three times better than him anyway.
It was a total of fifteen people present for Tina and Derrek’s wedding-small and private just like they wanted it. There was no bridal party. There wasn’t even a best man or a bridesmaid. But that’s how Tina wanted it to be. Her exact words were, “No offense, but I want the emphasis to be on me and my husband and nobody else.” I respected that.
The ceremony lasted about a half hour and it went smoothly. Tina was so happy. I could see it all in her face. Derrek was her dream come true and she was his. The two of them were like little lovebirds. Everybody danced and mingled at the reception-all fifteen of us. Michael and I had fun.
“He’s nice,” Tina said, commenting on Michael. “He’s not who I’d expect to see you with, but he’s all right.”
“I know. I said the same thing,” I agreed.
“Well, have fun with him and be careful,” Tina said.
“I will, I will. You don’t worry about me, you go and enjoy your honeymoon,” I said.
“Oh, I sure will. Hawaii, Brazil, and Italy? I’m not going to know what to do with myself for these next thirty days!” Tina exclaimed.
I gave her a big hug and saw her onto the helicopter that had come to whisk the newlyweds off to the airport. I slid Tina an envelope with her wedding gift in it. Inside was $3,000 in cashier’s checks. It was the last little bit of my diminishing stash. I knew she didn’t need the money. She had just married a multi-millionaire. But I figured she could put it up. Rainy days do come up, even for wives of rich men.
September
“So why don’t you show me some of that yoga?” Michael said out of the blue.
I put my soda down on the ceramic table. “What yoga?”
Michael nudged my shoulder, trying to get me off the sofa. “The yoga you teach to your classes,” he reminded me. “Come on, don’t be shy.”
“Baby, we’re in the middle of watching a good movie. I’m not doing yoga right now,” I whined.
“Since when did
“Well, we’re eating popcorn and drinking Cokes, so…”
“So anytime you eat popcorn and drink Coke you’re watching a good movie?” he asked.
“It feels that way to me,” I answered.
I never should have told him I was a yoga instructor, I thought.
“Whatever,” he said. “Come on, show me some moves. I want to do yoga.”
“All right!” I finally gave in. I figured I could fake him out with a few things I had learned from class.
I moved from Michael’s cozy, fluffy couch onto the hardwood floor. I opened my legs to stretch a little. Thank God I was wearing sweatpants. I was bending forward, allowing my nose to touch the floor.
“First it’s important to stretch your muscles,” I said with my head facing the floor.
“Is that right?” Michael asked as he crept up behind me, placing my small waist between his thighs.
I sat up and closed my legs abruptly.
“You’re not watching me,” I protested.
“I am watching you,” Michael said as he nibbled on my ear.
Michael’s hands found their way from my waist to my thighs. He was caressing me and it felt good, but I had to stop him.
“Hands to yourself,” I whispered, placing Michael’s hands on the floor.
I wanted the same thing Michael wanted at that time, but I just wanted it to be on my terms, not his. I had to be the one in charge, or else he would have a chance to learn all about me. I stood up. Michael grabbed on to my calves while he remained seated on the floor.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
