Watch Me Take Your Girl (10 page)

Chapter
19

Today, Tyson and
Gabrielle were preparing for their wedding reception. They’d been married for a week, back home and enjoying everything married life had to offer. Now, it was time to share their joy with the family.

Though it was chilly, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. A sunny
, winter day at the beach was a charm. With a cardigan and a glass of wine, the elements were tolerable. That’s why Tyson had the party planners set up a few tables on the deck, as well as decorate the dining room and kitchen. They would be entertaining about thirty guests – including his parents that Gabrielle had yet to meet. Gabrielle’s father and sisters were coming as well.

Additionally, he’d be welcoming his Aunt Padma and Uncle Colin, Prasad and Lalita with their children, Heshan
, Ms. Beatrice, the chefs from Padma’s restaurants and a few of his work associates traveling from surrounding areas. Tyson’s sister couldn’t make it due to her hectic work schedule.

They hadn’t extended an invitation to Dilvan.
He didn’t need to be there. Tyson and Gabrielle both knew Dilvan had issues – that he was adamant about Gabrielle being with him again. Gabrielle thought she had made it clear to Dilvan on the beach that she was done – that he needed to move on. Apparently, it hadn’t sunk in and he was back to his same old tricks.

“Everything looks beautiful,” Gabrielle said, walking around the deck.

“Not as beautiful as the woman who stole my heart,” Tyson replied, walking up to his wife, throwing his strong arms around her. “Maybe we can squeeze in a round of lovemaking before the guests arrive.” He kissed her lips.

Gabrielle beamed. “As good as that sounds, you and I both know our lovemaking sessions last well over an hour. Sometimes two.”

“Mmm,” he said, inhaling a deep whiff of her scent. “Yeah, you’re right about that. You know I can’t get enough of you.”

“I know that all too well,”
Gabrielle replied. She’d gotten out of bed early this morning to get ready for the reception when Tyson decided to join her in the shower. He took her bath cloth and loofa, washed her and she in turn, did the same to him. Then they kissed under the steady streams of water before he got a firm grip on her, pushing her back against the tiles and making love to her there, in that position.

When Tyson heard the doorbell, he said, “Let me see who that is...probably my parents.” He jogged to the door, and sure enough, his parents were standing there.

“Hello, Mother,” he said hugging her. Then he greeted his Father and invited them in.

“Where is this lovely wife of yours?” his Mother asked.

“She’s here,” he told her. “Why don’t you get settled here and I’ll go and get her.”

“A
ll right, son,” his Father said. “Like what you did with the place, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

A few minutes later, Tyson came walking into the living room, hand-in-hand with Gabrielle. “Mom, Dad, I would like for you to meet my wife, Gabrielle.”

A wide smile grew on both of their faces. His Mother
rose up off of the couch and greeted her daughter-in-law with a big, welcome-to-the-family hug. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” she told Gabrielle. “We’ve been hearing wonderful things about you from the family.”

“It’s good to meet you as well, Mrs. Alexander.”

“Oh, please honey. We’re family. You can call me Rena.”

“Okay,” Gabrielle said
elated, checking out her new Mother-in-law. She was a beautiful woman, about the same height as her – brown-skinned with black hair, dark brown eyes and a bright smile. Her demeanor was extremely pleasant.

“And you can call me John,” his Father said. “Come here daughter-in-law.” He gripp
ed Gabrielle tight in his arms.

Gabrielle could see where Tyson got his height. He was tall like his Father. Th
ey resembled each other greatly, tall, strong, sophisticated men.

“Everyone else will be arriving over the next thirty minutes,” Tyson said. “If you’re ready to eat—”

“Oh no, Tyson,” his Mother said. “We’ll wait until the other guests arrive. I want to get to know my daughter-in-law,” she said. “Go ahead with your Father and catch up so Gabrielle and I can have some girl talk.”

“A
ll right, Mother. Take care of my baby.”

Gabrielle blushed.

“Oh, get out of here, Tyson,” his Mother said, jokingly.

When the men walked away, Rena crossed her legs and looked at Gabrielle who was sitting beside her on the couch.

“So, tell me about yourself, Gabrielle.”

Gabrielle froze. She nervously twiddled her thumbs, trying to come up with something for this impromptu interview with Tyson’s Mother. She had to make a good impression.

“Well, I’m one of three children. I have two younger sisters.”

“And what about your parents?”

“I was raised in a single parent household. My mother left when I was very young. My Father raised us.”

“And how’s your relationship with your Father?”

“It’s wonderful. My Father is the rock of my little family.”

Rena nodded and smiled.

“You’ll get to meet him and my sisters today,” Gabrielle told her.

“Wonderful. I’m looking forward to it.”

After a few moments of awkward silence, Gabrielle said, “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No
thanks. I just had some tea in the car.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“I wanted to ask you something, dear.”

“
Yes?”

“I’m a
part of this great Alexander family and I hear about everything that goes on. As a matter of fact, I knew my son was falling in love with you even before he told me.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Mothers know these things. What I don’t understand is why would you let Dilvan mistreat and hurt you? Why didn’t you leave, honey?”

Gabrielle sighed. She didn’t want to go down this road again, but she also didn’t want to disappoint her new Mother-in-law. So sucking in a deep breath, she slowly released it and said, “I was afraid of him. I was alone for the first time in my life without my family there to support me and I thought this was how marriage was supposed to be. But thanks to your son, I now know what true love is and what marriage should be like.”

“Well, I just want to tell you, daughter, that I appreciate what you did for my husband’s brother. Colin would not have made it without that marrow transplant.”

Gabrielle grimac
ed. How did she know about that?

“Colin told John
about your good deed, and naturally John told me.”

“Oh
.”

“That’s how I knew you were an amazing woman,” Rena said with watering eyes, “And I’m glad my son has found himself such a selfless, beautiful young woman with a heart of go
ld.”

A wave of relief swept over Gabrielle. She was star
ting things off well with her new in-laws. “Thank you, Rena.”

“No, thank you,” Rena said, dabbing he
r eyes. “So enough of this mushy talk. Let’s get to down to the nitty-gritty...when am I going to get some grandbabies?”

The women laughed together.

“Well,” Gabrielle began, “Tyson and I haven’t discussed a timeline, but we both want children. I just think when it happens, it happens.”

“Sounds like music to my ears,” she said.

~~~~~

Over the next half hour, the oth
er guests arrived. Gabrielle was thrilled to introduce her Father, Carmen and Destiny to Tyson’s parents. She was elated that they were there, in her home. She wished they could stay forever, so she could watch her sisters grow up right under her nose. But, at least they were here for now – to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Prasad, Heshan,
John, Colin and Tyson were sitting at a table out on the deck. The women were inside, gushing over Gabrielle’s ring and sippin’ on champagne.

When the doorbell rang again, Gabrielle jumped up because she was expecting one more person – someone she hadn’t seen in a while. Someone she missed dearly. When she opened the door, she yelled, “Ms. Beatrice!” and squeezed her tight.

“Honey, you gon’ squeeze the life right out of me...I don’t mind though, ‘cause Ms. Bea miss you too, honey. It’s so good to see you, shug.”

“
It’s good to see you as well. Come on in, Beatrice.”

Beatrice stepped in the living room a
t Gabrielle’s request and said, “Hi everyone.”

They all responded with greetings
.

Gabrielle showed Beatrice to a seat, got her a cold glass of water then sat down next to her.
She missed this woman. If Ms. Beatrice wasn’t Dilvan’s housekeeper, she could see her more often.

Beatrice took a long sip and after setting the glass on the table, she said, “Honey, when I got wind of you and Tyson getting married I was so happy for you both. I said to myself, now that’s how it was supposed to be...had to say it to myself because
Mister ain’t been doing nothing but talkin’ ‘bout how much he want you back,” she drawled.

“Ms. Beatrice, I told Dilvan it was over.
”

“
I know. He told me...still don’t mean he ain’t scheming to get you back, though. I said to myself, okay...you didn’t want her when she was here and now that she gone, you can’t stop thinking ‘bout her...and men say women are complicated.” Beatrice had a good chuckle. “They say you don’t know what you got ‘til you ain’t got it no mo’. Ain’t that right, hun?”

“That’s right, Beatrice.”

“Mister was even talkin’ ‘bout coming over here today.”

“What?”

“Sho was...you know Ms. Beatrice ain’t gon’ tell you no lie, child. I heard him trying to come up with a way to get over here, but I don’t think you got a thang to be worried ‘bout. Mister know if he steps a foot over here, Tyson is going to hit him with that one-two punch again. Boom. Boom!” Ms. Beatrice had another good belly laugh.

Gabrielle didn’t remember her being so tickled. Either Dilvan was driving her insane, or she’d had a lil’ somethin’ to drink before she showed up.
“What are you talking about, Ms. Beatrice?”

After she was finally able to stop laughing, she explained, “N
ot too long ago, Mister said something about you and Tyson socked him a good one. That’s why he ain’t coming over here.” Ms. Beatrice took a sip of water then said, “So tell me, how have you been, Ms. Gabrielle, or shall I say Mrs. Alexander?”

Gabrielle smiled from ear-
to-ear. “Been good. My life with Tyson is like a fairytale.”

“Honey,
the sun always shines the brightest right after a storm, now don’t it?”

“Yes it does.”

“Hi, Mrs. Beatrice,” Tyson said, leaning over Gabrielle’s shoulder. “Can I borrow my wife for a minute?”

“Go ‘head on...never
mind me.”

“Sweetheart,” Tyson whispered in Gabrielle’s ear. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Okay,” Gabrielle said standing. “I’ll talk to you later, Beatrice.”

“Okay, shug.”

With that, Gabrielle followed Tyson. He was leading her to the bedroom. Once there, he closed the door, then pressing her against it, he plowed his lips into her mouth, kissing her with welcomed aggression.

“Tyson,” she said, once she was able to. He only moved his lips down her neck and nibbled her there. “What are you doing?”

“I’m making love to my wife.”

“We can’t.”

“We can.”

“
How?” Gabrielle said, trying to catch her breath as Tyson was undoing the button of her jeans. “You do realize there’s a party going on here, right?”

A sly smile formed on Tyson’s face. “That’s
what you call it now? A party?”

She grinned. “I didn’t mean in here. I’m talking about out there.”

Tyson lifted her and carried her to the bed.

“Tyson, baby, we can’t.”

“Why not?” he asked, removing her shoes and placing them on the floor. “The door is locked and as long as you don’t scream, no one will know what’s going on in here. Unzipping his pants and dropping them to the floor along with his boxers, his length standing attention, he crawled on top of her with an insatiable need, desiring to be inside of her body this instant as if they hadn’t made love twice already today.

Fifteen minutes later, they emerged from the room, rejoining the party
. Tyson went out back with the guys again and Gabrielle returned to the women, sitting next to her Mother-in-law.

“Gabrielle, I think we go
n’ need some ice,” Ms. Beatrice said from the kitchen.

Gabrielle
went to the kitchen to find out what was going on with the ice situation.