Joseph
Today has been an amazing day, and I am so glad Peter and Lennox were finally able to get married. I felt guilty for being the reason they postponed their wedding. Peter and Lennox looked so happy, and I think I saw a few love connections here tonight. Speaking of love connections, I see Asher tracking the lawyer that Peter introduced us to earlier. She can’t be more than five feet four inches tall, but she looks like she would fuck someone up in court. I have heard about her before; you don’t get the title of best lawyer in Mississippi without being known. Asher is watching her every move and I am not sure if she even knows he’s alive.
I felt a little frustrated when it was time to dance but Joy didn’t make me feel inadequate and just started dancing. And I do not know how Josh and Savvy missed the exchange between Skai and Jabarri, but I am going to mind my business on that one.
“I just wanted to spend some time with you before we go to our room for the night. You have been amazing and looking stunning this evening. I do not know if I am ever going to regain the use of my legs and there are times that it gets to me, but I am trying to be optimistic. I love that you do not make me feel like less of a man, less than human because I cannot do the things I used to do. Thank you. I have decided to get the surgery that Lennox suggested but I want you to understand that the odds of me walking again and not walking again are the same. Could you really be with me long term if I never walked again?”
“Of course, I could!”
“Don’t just say that. Joyce, I may never be able to walk, carry you, dance with you, nothing. Is that something that you could honestly live with? What if another man comes along who can offer you all of that?”
“Solo, I have never been with a man without my contract and was more than content to never be in another serious relationship for the rest of my life. You are worth it! YOU are worth it, not what you can or cannot do for me. Your love, strength, generosity, trust and honesty will always be enough for me! You are enough for me. I love you.”
“You know when my brothers met their wives, they knew who they were immediately, and they never second guessed it. There were times I wondered what made me not just give up on you, but deep down I knew the truth, and I knew it the moment I met you. You are supposed to be my wife, and I am sorry I am not the man I wanted to be as a husband, but I will be everything you could possibly want and need. It’s been a long road for us in more ways than one, but I can’t fathom going another day without asking you to be my wife. Marry me. Joy, will you marry this broken man and allow him to love and pamper you?”
“Yes Solo, but I am not marrying a broken man at all. I am marrying you, the man that I never knew I needed but couldn’t imagine my life without.”
I pull her to me and kiss her softly on the lips. Reaching in my pants pocket, I pull out the jewelry box I brought with me and pull the ring out to place on her finger. I take her hand and slide the ten-carat pear shaped cushion cut ring on her finger.
“Solo, it’s beautiful.” She crawls in my lap and her and I sit there like that until it is time to go back into the reception. She slides the ring back off and hands it to me. I take it but look at her confused.
“It’s Lennox and Peter’s Day and you know our nosey family would spot that ring as soon as we cross the threshold. I do not want to take any attention away from them. I will wear it tomorrow.”
“You’ll wear it tonight, as soon as we get back to our room.”
“Yes sir!” she says, and I place the ring back in the box and we head back in the reception with the rest of our family.