Under the Cypress Moon (75 page)

Tamia attended Shylah's party but was the only one to give a non-sexual gift, instead giving Shylah a gift card to a nearby spa to pamper herself soon after the honeymoon.  Even Pearlina, much to Shylah's surprise, got her daughter a coupon for sexual favors to be shared between the honeymooning couple, along with various oils.  It was at the moment of opening this gift that Shylah's face turned ghostly white, eliciting the uproarious and raucous laughter of everyone else in the room, Tamia included.  Tamia now felt like she could say just about anything and do just about anything and still be welcomed into the King family.  She could finally start to open up more and not have to feel so uncomfortable and scared.  If T.L.'s mother were laid back enough to get such gifts for her own daughter, Tamia thought, then she must be the easiest person on Earth to get along with and someone worth getting to know.

With the rehearsal dinner over and the bachelor and bachelorette parties soon to be, there was a great air of the washing away of anxiety pervading everywhere that Mark, Shylah, or any of Shylah's family were.  Mark, however, drunk as he soon was, still felt uncomfortable and worried over having the stripper grind and touch all over him.  He received what most would call "total V.I.P. treatment" all night long.  He enjoyed it but felt that he might have to pay for it all later.  He could only hope that all of the other men would never let the secret be made known to Shylah, for any reason.  Mark was thankful that he would not be around Shylah that night.  If she smelled the oil and other scents of the other woman, she would be apt to want to kill him. 

The wedding was to be held the next day, at ten a.m.  Some wondered why the bachelor part was scheduled so close to the wedding, but it seemed to work out better that way and was the only night that the Muddy Water could be rented. 
T.L. already had his tuxedo at Mark's house, the plan being for him to accompany Mark home and sleep there, both of them to arrive at the church together by a little after nine.  Neither was in adequate shape to drive home but somehow, followed by Darius, arrived safely at nearly one in the morning.  Shylah was already long gone, fast asleep at her parents' house.  Mark feared that he might not be in good shape to get married the next day, but he was also very ready to begin his new life with the most beautiful woman he had ever known.

When Mark stepped from T.L.'s truck, he began to feel himself sober up, and tossing his keys to his friend to allow him to go inside, Mark stepped toward the cypress grove that he and Shylah so loved.  He quickly traced the initials of his parents carved into the trunk of one of the trees, and staring up at the December sky above, could see the ample light of the moon shining through the tall cypress trees.  It was that cypress moon that let him know how blessed he was, how wonderful his life with Shylah would be, and that his Creator had a plan for him.

Dropping to his knees in front of his parents' tree, Mark threw his hands up in a supplicating manner, pouring out his heart to the Lord, giving thanks for everything that He brought into the life of one so mortal and frail.  Mark prayed for guidance, for the ability to make Shylah happy, to be the best husband and father possible.  He prayed that the wedding would be all that Shylah ever dreamed of, the fairytale that so many girls wished for but never got to live.  He even prayed that if Shylah ever found out about what he had done that night, that she would find it in her heart to forgive him and let it go. 

Rising from his knees, Mark slowly wandered back to the house and into to his room.  In less than nine hours, he would be bound to Shylah, before God and before everyone that they knew.  He was certain that he would feel the effects of his bachelor party, but it would not matter, so long as he could say the two words he had practiced so many times and stare into the eyes of his wife. 

Chapter 33

Mark woke at exactly six-thirty, ready to begin the biggest day of his life so far.  He could already smell fresh coffee sifting its welcoming aromas down the hall and through his bedroom door.  He wondered if it would be enough, no matter how much had been made, to jolt him to full alertness and ease the pounding that he was sure would come soon to his head.

Mark walked into the kitchen to find T.L. sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in front of him, a cigarette in his hand.  "Mornin', Man.  Glad you're up.  I hate sittin' here alone."

"How long you been up," Mark asked as he pulled a coffee cup from the cupboard.

"Woke up right at six, got up at more like a quarter after.  I didn't wanna get up, but I knew I had to.  It feels weird, not goin' to work today.  I hope they do ok without me."

"You know they will, Man.  It'll be ok. You're only missin' one day, and you get paid for it.  Sorry you had to use a personal day for this, though."

"Hey, not a problem.  You're my best friend.  You gettin' married to my little sister, how often is that gonna happen, once, maybe four times in a lifetime?" T.L. could not hold back his laughter and lost himself in the hearty clatter, nearly falling from his chair.

"Yeah, well, we better just be gettin' married this once.  I know I won't wanna do it again, and we ARE NOT gonna be one of those couples that gets married, divorced, remarried to each other, divorced again, and so on.  Your sister better take me for better or worse until the end of time.  Think about this.  This is a scary thought.  In just four hours or so, me and you are no longer gonna be like brothers.  We're gonna be brothers!  It only took close to twenty-four years, too."  Mark's laughter now matched that of his friend but much more for his own comment than for T.L.'s.

"Guess so.  It does seem kinda odd.  I guess you really are gonna be part of the family.  Think about that, the great-great whatever grandson of a slave bein' brothers with the great-great whatever grandson of the guy that owned his family.  Funny how life works out, huh?"

"Yep.  It is.  But you know, as much as I hate what they did back then, it did provide some good things, like me bein' able to keep people workin' that need it and me bein' able to provide for your sister. I know it's awful how the money got here, but it does do some good.  Well, anyway, I gotta know... you gonna be ok without your girlfriend at the wedding?  I wish she could be there, but I couldn't let the rules be broken for her.  She's a new employee, and she couldn't get the day off so soon.  I know it sucks.  It's just how it is.  I can't show favoritism."

"Nope," T.L. stated, downing the last gulp of his coffee.  "I understand.  I wish she was there, but oh well.  I understand. She said she understands.  I'll see her when she gets off work tonight.  She's gonna come straight from work to the reception, what's left of it anyway."

After finishing his first cup of coffee and his first cigarette of the day, Mark excused himself and walked out the backdoor of the house, heading to the family cemetery a few hundred yards away.  Kneeling in front of his parents' graves, Mark opened his mouth as though his parents were there with him.  He felt that they must be, that they could, at least, hear every word that he spoke.

"Mama, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, I know you already know, but your little boy is about to tie the knot.  I know ya'all knew Shylah, at least for a good while, but if you saw her today, saw the beautiful, amazing woman she is, you'd be so proud of me.  She's the best I could ever find, all I could ever want. 
She's... She's the light in my dark world.  I wish all ya'all were here to see this.  If you could see it, I know you'd probably laugh, but you'd be so happy.  I can even see Daddy wipin' his eyes.  Daddy, I know me and you had our differences.  I know I wanted to blame you for so many things.  I know you made a lot of mistakes in your life, and maybe all you really showed me was what not to do with mine.  I want you to know I do love you, Daddy.  I know you really had good in your heart, no matter the bad things you did.  I wanted to hate you for cheatin' on Mama, and I'm sure she already knows about it.  That whole mess not only pained me but put me through Hell.  I suppose, though, that Sara might be right there with you.  I hope she understands that I don't hate her for what she did, and I know she has to be in a better place now.  Her life wasn't easy, and she couldn't help the things she did.  She needed help and never got it.  I hope that one day, when I get to Heaven, we can all sit down together and put aside all the differences and just be happy, all of us.  Mama, Daddy, I'm sorry you didn't get to be around to see your first grandbaby.  I just want each and every one of you to know how much I love you.  Mammaw, Pappaw, you two were inspirations.  You meant everything to me, and I can't wait to see you again someday.  Mama, you were the light in my life from day one til the day you passed.  No offense, Mammaw.  You were, too.  Both of you instilled in me the ways a man should treat a woman and the ability to keep on fightin', through the worst of life.  I would stay and tell you so much more, but I know you know how I feel 'bout all of ya.  Wish me luck.  I love you, every one of you, and I'll see ya'all one day, on the other side.  Just hold a place in Heaven for Marcus James Crady and his family."

As Mark stood up, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace take hold.  It seemed as though his entire family were wishing him well and displaying their pride in the man that he had become.  He knew that they had to have seen how happy Shylah made him and how dedicated he was to marrying her and starting a very long and happy life together with the woman.

It was as if only a brief flash took Mark from standing in the cypress grove to the inside of his truck.  He allowed T.L. to drive the Markmobile, as he often called it but could not get others to.  It was already nine-ten, and Shylah was at the church, with her mother, maid of honor, and bridesmaids readying her for the big event.  A hair station and a makeup station had been established nearby while Shylah pulled her very large, very expensive, and very flowing gown the rest of the way onto her body. 

Inside, Shylah was a big ball of nerves.  She could not believe that the moment of truth had finally arrived.  It was the biggest day of her life, and she had no plans of letting anything fall short of
being spectacular.  Her Lilly of the valley bouquet brought all around her to tears.  It was one of the most extravagant of pieces of the day's expense, the eight thousand dollar gown aside.  The church was carefully bedecked in the most beautiful of ivy garlands, the guests that were already arriving marveling at the sight.  So many had been invited that both Mark and Shylah felt unsure that the church could hold them all.  To add to the high number of friends and family, all of the members of the church's congregation had been invited, not to mention all of the plant's employees that did not have to work that day or could get the day off.

Shylah knew that the ceremony had to go on without a single hitch.  She worried that something might get in the way, particularly, that she would have a dress malfunction, that Mark would become speechless, or worse, that she would, that someone might object, that the rings would be forgotten, or any number of other possibilities that could ruin it all. 

Mark, knowing that he still had a while until he needed to be at the altar, and feeling nearly the amount of nervousness that Shylah felt, stood in front of the church, smoking cigarette after cigarette and greeting guests as they arrived.  More than one guest snickered as the passed, at seeing a man smoking in front of the house of God.  The mother of the bride, leaving her daughter in the hands of the other women, went outside for a breath of fresh air, and upon seeing her soon-to-be son-in-law in his sinful state, felt it her place to speak up.  "Marcus Crady, you get that filthy thing out of your mouth!  You are in front of the Lord's house!"

"Mrs. King, Ma'am, Mo... Mom?  I'm sorry.  I just can't help but feel all shaky.  My nerves are gettin' to me.  I don't mean no disrespect to the Lord."

"You think your bride is any less nervous," Pearlina chuckled.  "She's worked up somethin' terrible!  You got it easier than she does, but besides, you want her to come up to you and smell all that nasty smoke?  You might wanna think about that, Marcus.  You do what you want, but you think about your lovely bride and all she's goin' through.  I ain't your mama... yet."

Mark immediately tore the cigarette from his mouth and stamped it out with his foot.  Seeing the still judgmental face of Pearlina King, however, he quickly picked the cigarette butt off of the pavement and shoved it into his pocket.

"Now, you give your almost mama a hug, Marcus," Pearlina barked. 

"Oh, Mrs... Mama," Mark choked out as he put his arms around Pearlina, "You were always a mama to me!  The only thing that's changin' is that there's gonna be a piece of paper sayin' it's official."

"That's right, Baby," Pearlina agreed, giving Mark a kiss on his cheek, "but it's also gonna be official with the Lord, and that's what really counts.  I'll see you inside.  I gotta go check on your bride before she keels over from worry.  She's all affright.  You just have your skinny little butt up there at that altar come ten o'clock.  You hear?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Mark bellowed, now worried that Shylah was so worried.

T.L., standing in the door of the church, listening to the conversation between his mother and his best friend, found himself barely able to stand, laughing so hysterically that he had to lean on the doorframe to prop himself. 

"And what, pray tell, Tiberius Lamar King, is wrong with you," asked Pearlina as she stepped to the church entranceway.