The chill in the air was the only thing that made sense about there being in the cemetery that morning.
"Do you have the flowers babygirl?"
Kimberly walked up with her head low trying to hide the single tear falling from her eye, "yes, daddy" her voice trembled.
"Ok, go ahead and sit them down right here," he said pointing to the grass by the tombstone. "You have anything you want to say to her?"
Kimberly looked up to her father.
"She can hear me?"
"Always," he smiled down at her.
"Okay. I love you...mommy and..." She said just above a whisper.
August smiled at his brave daughter. Staring at her as she began to speak from the heart towards the tombstone, he noticed how mature she was being, yet still being a young lady. He began to feel regret of the things she witnessed this year and a half. August felt like he hadn't been the best father towards her. Yes, he of course loves her with his whole being and provides everything for her, but he wasn't sure he paid enough attention to her. So worried about providing a good life and a good woman for her to look up to, he forgot to cherish the little moments with her as well. She was another year older already. Time was getting away from him. He vowed to himself to change that.
"Okay baby go have a seat on that bench. I'll be over in a minute" he said as she finished saying her words, giving her dad a tearful hug. August hugged and kissed her forehead as she pulled out of their hug, walking away.
August turned toward the gravesite with tears in his eyes, letting out a deep breath. He reached down to trace the letters of the tombstone like he had several times before.
"I just want to thank you for showing me real love. Without you I would've never made it to today. You taught me what it meant to be a good man to a good woman and for that, I will forever be grateful. You would've made an amazing mother to Kimberly; she reminds me of you everyday with her little mannerisms that's just like yours."
He smiled to himself.
"God sent me a wonderful women to care for but I just know you had a hand in picking her for me. I thank you for saving her that day; if his gun hadn't jammed you'd both be looking down on us today. Instead I know I'm leaving here, with your blessing, to go to that church and say my vows to Rebecca . Thank you Sabrina, I love you always."
He smiled up to the sky as puffy white clouds move to show the bright ray filled sun.
.....
Becca looked at herself in the floor length mirror making sure her eyes graced every inch of her self from the crystals planted securely on her head to the the train that followed her. She wanted to make sure nothing was out of place.
"Lo are you sure you can't tell?" Becca said still looking at her sister through the mirror.
London sighed loudly looking back at Becca, "I'm going to say this one last time, the next time I will just ignore the hell out of you. Rebecca Marie, your baby bump can not be seen."
"I just want to make sure sissy. I don't want to tell anyone until it's safe to do so." Becca said looking down at her stomach.
"Sis, you are well past 13 weeks and I have faith all will be just fine." London said hugging her sister. "Now lets get you down that aisle before your soon to be husband bust down this door. "
They laughed as they picked up the bouquets.
***
Before the church doors open, Becca bowed her head giving a quick praise to God for this moment. It helped her calm down by letting go of the wedding jetters she had. As the doors opened, she looked down the aisle towards the man who would soon be her husband and smiled.
Everyone in the church stood as Becca began to walk down the aisle.
She looked into the faces of her friends that she now viewed as her family. So much has happened in the past year, she couldn't have imagined a better support system than the one she has.
She gracefully walked past her friends who were in tears looking at the beautiful bride.
She looked at Danielle and Sean, the wild couple still going strong. She smiled at Sean knowing his secret. In a few short weeks, he would be asking her best friend to marry him. He winked at her sensing her thoughts.
Becca looked at Diggy who wasn't acting in his silly, joking manner, but a handsome younger brother proud to see his sister walking towards the man of her dreams. He gave her an encouraging smile almost as if he was telling her "you've got this."
From the oposite direction of the aisle, August stood in awe watching his bride to be walk towards him.
August's heart was beating out of his chest as if it were the first time seeing Rebecca. It was like everything and everyone vanished in that moment, she was the only one he could see. She was breathtakingly perfect. As she smiled walking towards him, he felt tears escape his eyes unexpectedly. This was the woman of his dreams. A dream he didn't even know he wanted to be true. Gratitude from God was an understatement of how he felt in his life right now. Rebecca was the one he planned to spend the rest of his life with, his calm when the world around him is in a storm, the missing piece to his puzzle and the one carrying his child...
Yes, he knew she was pregnant, he knew Rebecca as if she were apart of his being. August smirked to himself noticing the way she used her flowers to carefully block her midsection. He was not going to ruin whatever plan she had in mind to revealing pregnancy to him.
Rebecca felt like it was taking an eternity to get down the aisle, but she knew it was just anxiousness. As if sensing her feeling, London gave her a look letting her know to keep going she was almost there.
London has been Rebecca's rock while going through her own life events. London had her daughter Lianna Marie a few months back with both Chris and Drake by her side. Such a odd situation however its her life story and in her eyes it's perfect. Drake has been amazing to Lo and the baby. Although Lianna shares Chris's blood, he is letting Drake be the leading man in her life right beside him. He will always be there, but this is Drake's moment to be a father too.
Becca finally made it down the aisle, standing in front of August feels like this is what she was meant to do all her life. Soon as she stood in front of him all of those fears and jitters vanished. August grabbed her hands and smiled at her. As they looked into each others eyes the officiant spoke the usual words to the congregation of people and to the bride and groom.
When it came time to say they are vows Rebecca spoke first.
" August you have made me the happiest woman that I could have ever believed to be. I thank you are being in my life during the most difficult parts that I have ever experienced. You have not only been a friend but my very best friend," she turned to look at her friends. "No offense to you ladies."
They all laughed.
"We'll let it slide for today, " Danielle said.
Becca laughed and continued, "August you see me for me. Not who I could be but who I am standing before you today. I couldn't have asked for a better partner in this life and I pray that God continues to bless us and keep us close as we go through this journey of marriage. I vow to continue to pray for you, be your peace in the air of chaos, be the light when the days are dark and make you smile on those not so great moments. I vow to continue loving Kimberly and any children that we may have."
She smiled to herself.
"Thank you August for loving me the way I'm supposed to be loved.
August wanted to kiss her right then but remembered he still needed to say his vows.
He took a deep breath, "you want me to follow that?"
Everyone chuckled.
He cleared his throat pulling out the paper with his vows.
"Rebecca I never thought I would find love again in my lifetime. However, you came into me and my daughter's life and gave it a whole new meaning. You are heaven
sent for me. I ..."
August got a little choked up with emotions. He is not a person who shows his feelings in front of people, but this moment was pulling at his heart. A tear escaped his eyes, this is the second time he teared up in this ceremony.
He felt little hands gently grab his arm. He looked down to see Kimberly smiling. He bent down to her level so she could whisper in his ear.
"Daddy finish like we practiced," she whispered. "Also, you owe me $50 for crying."
August chuckled thinking about the bet he made Kimberly some nights before that he wouldn't cry.
"I couldn't have dreamed up a woman so perfect as you are for me. You accepted me and Kimberly from day one. You have been my ride or die without even knowing it. There is no woman that can compare to you or ever take your place in my heart and in my life. I vow to protect you, love you unconditionally, always remain faithful to you, provide for you and our family and will always remain your loyal life partner."
He let out a breath, he was so proud he finished because internally he wanted to break down in from all the nerves built up in the moment.
The officiant continued with the ceremony.
"August Anthony Alsina Jr., do you take Rebecca Marie Newman as your lawful loving wife to love, protect and defend as long as you both shall live?"
"In this life and beyond, I do." August said with no hesitation in his voice, looking into the eyes of the woman standing in front of him."
"Rebecca Marie Newman, do you take August Anthony Alsina Jr. as your lawful loving husband to love, protect and defend as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." She said with the most reassuring eyes towards August.
They exchanged rings and the officiant continued.
"With these public promises and vows, and the symbolic exchange of wedding bands, I now pronounce you, by the power vested in me husband and wife. You may now kiss..."
The officiant couldn't finish his words before August had Becca in his arms giving the most passionate kiss a man could give his new wife.
Everyone stood clapping with tears in their eyes. As the new bride and groom jumped the broom before walking down the aisle.
They walked out of church and into a vintage white Rolls Royce.
They were all over each other the whole ride to the private airport as two jets waited for their arrival. They didn't care about the driver watching.
They arrived greeted by smiling faces.
"Damn! Y'all niggas can't wait for doing all that when you get on your plane," Chris said standing there with China laughing.
"Shut up and let them have their blissful moment," she said nudging him.
Beside them stood the core crew. London, Drake, Diggy, his lady, Danielle and Sean.
"I guess y'all ready for Vegas part two," August said with his arm around Becca's waist.
"Hell yeah we are," Diggy said walking towards the private jet behind him.
Everyone laughed as they boarded. Each thinking of how the crew would get in trouble this trip.
_______________
Family this was THE hardest chapter for me to write. (Hence why it took me a few year LMAO). I'm so sorry for the longest wait in history. I just wanted it to be as perfect for this story that I could possibly do.
Thank you for sticking around and reading over and over again. Never would I have imagined each book in my trilogy series would have 2million views each and thousands of comments/likes!
I hope you loved this series and it gave all that it could have given!
I am writing another story. Its a CB story though. However, I won't post until it's completely finished so there is no lag time LOL
Thanks for holding me down and being apart of my twenties. Shawty is a wife and mom now LOL.
I love y'all!! 🥰
-Lys 💜