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Before she knew it, they were both bouncing up and down, crying their eyes out with joy. Aunt Blue gently nudged her away, and she continued on, certain her makeup was now a mess, but she didn’t care. She looked at Lily over her shoulder a time or two, and the woman was smiling from ear to ear.
“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
Aunt Blue and Mama responded in unison, “We do.”
Iris didn’t realize until she looked into Jude’s glowing amber eyes, that her emotions were about to betray her once more.
Jude was dressed to impress—her rhinestone cowboy was clad in black from head to toe, including an expensive black cowboy hat with purple sash. He slowly tipped it, winked, then removed it from his head. Silky black tresses fell forward over his face, and he brushed them back. Eli took the hat from him and passed it down the line until someone was able to take it away.
“Howdy, gorgeous…”
He and Eli stood shoulder to shoulder, both with a picture of Cain pinned to their lapels.
“Hi… I…riiis.”
“Hi, Eli.” She smiled as she dabbed at the tears on her cheeks.
“You… looook… beaaauuut…tif…ful.”
“Thank you, honey!” She leaned in, gave him a kiss on the cheek, then went to stand next to Jude, in front of the minister. The man never took his eyes off her as the minister read various scriptures about love. At last, they exchanged vows.
“Do you, Jude Cooper, take Iris Ashley Ashford to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst of times, whatever may come, and if you should ever wonder, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?”
“I do.”
Iris was asked the same…
“I do.”
“Luke 10:33—And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”
The ceremony continued to run smoothly, until Eli cleared his throat and raised his finger, interrupting service.
“Ex…cuuuse me!”
“Eli, shhh!” Jude’s cousin reprimanded from the other side of him.
Eli continued, ignoring him.
“I’m… tell…ling… the… min…is…ter!”
“Telling me what, son?” Iris’ childhood preacher asked, leaning forward.
“I…riiisss said she… was… go-ing… to… make us… biscuits… aaaand… gravy this… morning… but… she did not. Sheee went… out… with… her friends… aaaaand heeeer friends… draaank too much… and maaaade noooise…. at… the… house be-fore… leaaaving to… a…club. I speeent… the night… just… to get… bisc…uits, and gravy. I…riiisss saw men at the club… strip-purs… and… sheee danced… all… niiight… instead… of going… to… bed! Sheeee… could… not… cook… for… us. Juuuude caaan’t cook. He burnt… the… toast. She… slept. Sheee waaaassss… throw…ing…money…at… nay-kid… men. I-riiisss should… have…come… home… and slept… so she… could make… us… biscuits… and graaavy… like… she… prom-missed!”
The entire place erupted in laughter as a mortified Iris felt her face growing hot. The bastard had overheard her talking on the phone, airing out her dirty laundry to Aunt Blue about her night on the town!I wish I had a duck right now… that would’ve shut Eli up!She’d had a hell of a bachelorette party and was too exhausted to lift a finger that morning, let alone cook. Jude was laughing so hard, his face was turning red, and that vein in the middle of his forehead began to protrude.
“Okay.” The minister grinned, obviously holding back laughter, too, “Thank you, young man, for telling me.”
“Yooou’re… welcome.” Eli nodded, as if he’d done some great service for all of mankind.
Iris was relieved when the crowd finally settled down after Eli’s flareup, and after a while it was time to exchange rings.
“Jude Cooper and Iris Ashley Ashford, through their words today, have joined together in holy wedlock. Since they have exchanged their vows before God and these witnesses, have pledged their commitment to each other, and declared the same by joining hands and by exchanging rings, I now pronounce them husband and wife. Those who God hath joined together, let no one put asunder! Jude, you may kiss your bride!”
Jude wasted no time in grabbing her by the waist, prompting much laughter. She nearly lost her footing as he brought her close and claimed her lips in a searing kiss. Cheers echoed throughout as confetti rained all around them.
After caressing her ass, he whispered in her ear, “I ain’t never turnin’ you loose. If you think you’ve been loved on hard by me before, Iris, just wait until tonight, girl. I’m going to have you speaking in tongues. Both sets of lips.”
