AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The band starts a livelier song when the first one ends, a lovely melody but a dancier beat. I grab her and spin her around, taking her off guard.
At first, her movements are tight and controlled. However, as she starts feeling the music, I can tell she’s opening up.
Another song comes on, and she seems to recognize it. She starts dancing for real, allowing herself to get caught up in the moment.
Then the music stops, and the space becomes eerily silent. “What’s going on? Is the music over already? Is there something else?”
I hold both of her hands in mine, and I kneel onto the ground before her. She gasps, covering her mouth. I pull a ring box from my jacket pocket and open it. She gasps again when she sees the size and brilliance of the enormous diamond ring.
“Ellie Lawson, will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
She steps back, her hand still covering her mouth. It’s sinking in that it’s all so real. She hasn’t taken the box or said anything. She’s just standing there, hand over mouth.
Is she having second thoughts? Was this all too over-the-top for her tastes?
Finally, she nods, and I see tears welling up. “Yes, Prince Cedrick of Solvaria, and my dear oldest friend, Ricky. I’ll marry you.”
She holds her hand out, and I put the ring on it.
The band begins playing a lively version of the Wedding March and breaks out in applause.
12
ELLIE
It’s been a week now since the proposal, and it’s been total chaos ever since. Even though the wedding is going to be low-key, with only a small group of people attending, there’s still a lot of planning to be done.
And the most confusing, overwhelming part is not being able to tell what’s real and what’s just for show. By default, I tell myself to think of it as part of the performance, but sometimes, when Cedrick touches my shoulder or laughs at my jokes, I think I see something more below the surface.
“Ellie? What do you think?” my sister-in-law Liza asks, showing me one of the bouquets in a row of flower arrangements we can choose from. Liza is helping with the flowers, Vivi is helping with the menu, and Bella is helping with the dress.
There are so many relatives and sisters-in-law to remember that it’s a strange adjustment, especially since it was just me and my mom growing up. But having three other American Black women as my new sisters, even if it’s just on paper, certainly makes the adjustment easier.
Even if it feels like I’m tricking them.
“Oh, yeah, this one’s really pretty. I love it. Let’s do that one.”
“Good, that’s my favorite, too.”
Liza and I pick out a bunch of other things throughout the day, like a band, DJ, cocktails, and about a thousand other tiny details that I never even thought about, much less thought I would have to choose.
Liza puts her arm around me at the last stop of the day, the cake store. “You nervous?”
I smile at Liza. “A little, yeah. Can you tell?”
“Not one bit,” she says, winking at me. “But it’s normal to be nervous. I know I was.”
“It just kind of doesn’t feel real. I mean, I’m getting married? It’s such a big contrast to how my life was not that long ago. Things have changed so fast.”
“But for the better, right?”
I pause longer than I’d like. “I think so. But it’s been such a whirlwind, I’ve barely had time to think about it.”
“The nerves will go away,” Liza says. She has a piece of cake in her hand, and she nudges it toward my mouth.
“God, this is delicious. Lemon and… what is that?”
“Ginger. I think they copied it from my bakery, actually.” Liza laughs a little. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
