DUBIOUS (41 page)

Holding my arm, Randy escorted me down the aisle to my future. Sherman was handsomely dressed in ivory, suited and booted with a large diamond earring blinging in his ear. His goatee was freshly shaped and his bald head was shinning. My fingers tightened around Randy’s arm the closer I got to Sherman and the minister.

It was a small ceremony with just Randy and Talisa standing for me, and Sherman’s best friend Reggie and cousin Rodney standing for Sherman. I noticed the twinkle in Reggie’s eye as he watched the sway of Talisa’s hips. She had put it on the brother, and it was my bet that they would be the next couple to waltz down the aisle.

Randy turned me around to face him as he lifted my veil. He kissed me on both cheeks before he let me go. I saw the tear leaking from his right eye, and I wiped it away with my gloved finger.

“
Be happy,” he whispered then took his place next to Talisa.

I took Sherman’s hand. He pulled me close, causing my knees to shake with desire. Love for him swelled in my stomach and rose to my heart. I could feel the tremble in Sherman’s body as the minister pronounced us man and wife. We turned to each other and kissed. It just didn’t get any better than this.