God Has Spoken (21 page)

“We just have to pray for her, baby,” Dwight continued, eager to ease the emotional pain inflicted on her by his mother. “You are with me, not her. It's our relationship. Okay?”

Eleanor looked over at the opened window, a barrage of emotions splashing across her face. Eve Humphrey's words had sliced through like a meat cutter, shredding her dignity to threads.

“Hey, look at me,” Dwight said, pulling her closer to his chest. “I love you,” He spoke softly after she turned around to him, kissing her all over her face; lips, nose, forehead, eyelids and cheeks, punctuating each kiss with an “I love you.”

Eleanor couldn't stop herself from giggling at his antics. Only Dwight could put her back together after coming apart. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked him, halting his kissing spree. “I don't want to come between you and your mother.”

“I have told you everything about my parents and our strained relationship,” Dwight replied. “If it wasn't you, my mother would have found something else to nag me about. They want everything to be done their way, and I won't allow it. I also won't let them ruin what we have. I hope you feel the same way.” He searched her face anxiously.

Eleanor looked at him, and her heart swelled with love. “No, I won't let them ruin what we have,” she shook her head. “Mama Pearl told me earlier to count my blessings, and I'm starting right now. I love you.”

Dwight grinned and pouted up his lips. Laughing, Eleanor kissed him.

“Oh, by the way, you are looking at the new assistant human resources manager for BDO Jamaica,” Eleanor said proudly, opening her arms wide, bowing her head.

“Yes! You got it!” Dwight stood up with Eleanor in his arms, spun around and around, both of them laughing until they got dizzy.

“You are so crazy,” Eleanor said when they fell on the couch exhausted, trying to catch their breath.

“We are going to be okay, sweetheart,” Dwight glanced at her. “Everything will eventually fall into place. Just wait and see.”

Eleanor looked at him, praying in her heart that it was so.

It had been a year since Eleanor started her job at BDO Jamaica. She quickly grasped everything that Mr. Wallace taught her, combined it with her theoretical knowledge, pleasant personality, and the drive to succeed as she performed her duties in an effective and efficient manner.

Today was a celebratory day, in more ways than one. Eleanor was twenty-five-years-old, and Dwight was promoted to general manager for the Treasury Division of NCB.

Mama Pearl wanted the family to have dinner in Port Royal for the special occasions but Dwight requested that it be postponed until the weekend.

“I got plans for my baby tonight,” he had told Mama Pearl. “I hope you understand.” Mama Pearl understood.

So later that day, Eleanor left work early. She took a cab directly to Dwight's house. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she walked up the empty driveway, excited to put her plan into action before Dwight got home. Taking the keys from her handbag that Dwight had given her a few weeks ago, she opened the front door.

With a puzzled look on her face, Eleanor closed the door behind her. She sniffed loudly when a delicious aroma tickled her nostrils. “Dwight?” she called as she walked slowly toward the kitchen. “Are you home?” No response.

“Surprise!” Dwight yelled when Eleanor walked into the kitchen. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded, sporting a sexy grin. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

“What are you doing here?” Eleanor was surprised.

“Huh? I live here.”

“Dwight Humphrey!”

“Okay. I came home earlier than you to surprise you,” Dwight said smugly. “And I did.”

“I was going to surprise you.” Eleanor playfully sulked. “I wanted to make dinner, but it looks as if you beat me to it.” She glanced over at the covered dishes on the kitchen counter.

“Thanks, babe, but it's your birthday.” Dwight walked over to her, pulled her into his arms. “Happy birthday.” He wrapped his hands around her small waist and kissed her.

“Thank you,” Eleanor replied when they broke the kiss. “Congratulations, Mr. General Manager,” she hugged Dwight again, “I'm so proud of you,” she whispered into his ear.

“Thanks. And I'm proud of us,” Dwight remarked, giving her a tight squeeze. “Do you want to freshen up before dinner?”

Eleanor nodded and walked toward the doorway. “I'll be right back,” she said over her shoulder, then gave a little wave with her fingertips before she sashayed toward the bathroom, Dwight's love-filled eyes followed her until she disappeared from sight.

Eleanor returned a few minutes later. “Something smells good in . . .” She paused and looked around the dining room in amazement. The windows were closed, curtains drawn, making the tapered candles on the dining table shine brighter. The gigantic bouquet of red roses sitting in the middle of the table set for two seemed to be swaying to the soft music that permeated the air.

“Oh my,” was all that Eleanor could mutter. She glanced over at her man who was leaned over on a chair that was already pulled out, watching her. The pair of blue jeans sculpted to his hard thighs, his T-shirt stretched taut over his broad chest, his dreamy brown eyes enhanced by the glow of the candles, his dimples deepened in his handsome face. He was the epitome of masculine sexiness. “Oh, my,” Eleanor repeated.

Dwight smiled, pleased at the reaction he got from his girlfriend. “After you, madam.” He waved his hand toward the chair.

Eleanor giggled, walked over to him, and sat down. As Dwight took his seat across from her, she took in the many saporous dishes of food, anxious to dig in. They ate in a comfortable ambiance, talking about her job and his new promotion.

Feeling like she was about to burst, Eleanor leaned back in her chair, looking at the damage that she and Dwight had done. Almost all the dishes on the table were empty. “I'm not eating another bite for at least a week,” she groaned.

“I think I've heard that before,” Dwight teased her. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “I'll be right back.” He winked at her before he turned and walked out of the room.

“Oh, Lord. What is he up to now?” Eleanor muttered under her breath. She had come to know that look very well. Dwight was up to something.

Suddenly the music changed.
“Now and forever, together and all that I feel is my love for you . . .”
crooned Air Supply, reverberating throughout the house, knocking forcefully on Eleanor's heart.

Wide-eyed and totally speechless, Eleanor watched as Dwight reappeared in the doorway, his hands behind his back. She watched him slowly approach, singing the words to the song, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. She searched his face for a clue, but Dwight had his poker face on.

He walked up behind Eleanor and pulled out her chair. Robotically she turned to him, peering at him intently. “Oh my God,” she whispered when Dwight fell to his knees in front of her. Her heart pounding, she swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes locked with his.

“Eleanor, you are the most amazing woman I have ever known,” Dwight said and held up a small, square box to her. “You came into my life when I least expected it,” he opened the box and the huge diamond ring sparkled. “I am so in love with you,” the tears ran down his face. “I can't imagine my life without you. Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”

Eleanor sobbed. With her face buried in the palms of her opened hands, her body shook from the heavy sobs. Moments later, her face still streaking with tears, Eleanor fell to her knees in front of Dwight. “I . . . I . . . I love you too, Dwight Humphrey,” she wrapped her arms around his neck, “I don't know what I did to deserve this but, yes, I'll be your wife.”

Dwight threw his head back and screamed,
“Yesssssss!”
Taking the ring from the box, he slipped it onto Eleanor's trembling ring finger. Their lips met and held for a long while . . . the future Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Humphrey.

“I'm going to invite Sister Lola, Sister Margaret, Sister Norma, Brother Terry, and Sister—”

“Mama Pearl, stop.” Eleanor laughed and moved over closer to the older woman on the couch.

“What?” Mama Pearl's face was lit up with happiness. “We have a big wedding to plan. This is going to be the wedding of the year.”

“No,” Eleanor said shaking her head. She took Mama Pearl's hand in hers. “I don't want a big wedding.”

“What?” Mama Pearl shrieked, horrified. “But . . . But, why?”

Eleanor smiled. “I just want the family to be there,” she stated. “That's it.”

Mama Pearl looked at her for a few seconds. “Okay,” she finally remarked, disappointment in her voice. “It's your wedding so we'll have it your way.”

“I know you are disappointed,” Eleanor said to Mama Pearl. “But I'm trying to make do with the only family that I can have at my wedding.” She took a deep breath, blinking her eyes rapidly, her lips trembling.

Mama Pearl opened her mouth to ask Eleanor what she meant by that remark but reached over and hugged her instead. “You and Dwight are going to be happy, and I pray that one day soon your family will be completed.”

 

 

Over the next few months as her wedding date approached, Eleanor felt like she was on a roller coaster. She was excited to be marrying the man she loved, but her heart bled to know that Aunt Madge and Dupree weren't going to be there.

Dwight brought up the subject a few times, trying to get her to change her mind about contacting Aunt Madge and Dupree, but Eleanor wouldn't budge. She refused to let anything happen to the people she loved just for her own selfish reasons.

On Saturday, December 24, 1988, Eleanor and Dwight stood on the green, landscaped grass in the forest garden at the beautiful Hope Botanical Garden to get married. They were surrounded by a variety of exotic, colorful flowers perfuming the air with their enchanting scents and giant, green, shady trees, from palm to oak, their leaves blowing gently in the soft breeze, the bright Jamaican sun kissing their faces.

The stunning bride wore a beautiful, simple, long, white-laced dress, and the handsome groom, a black and white tuxedo. Rose stood up with Eleanor and Omar with Dwight. The guests, consisting of Mama Pearl, her four sons, their wives and children, Dwight's other best friend, Edward, and his wife, and his aunt Clover, who flew in from New York, sat on white chairs facing the wedding party and the pastor.

“Dearly beloved, we are . . .” the pastor's voice tapered off as he looked over the heads of the guests. Everyone turned around to see what had caused the distraction.

Dwight felt his blood begin to boil as he watched his mother and father strut toward them. “I'll take care of this, babe,” he whispered in Eleanor's ear before he angrily marched toward his parents, Omar hot on his heels.

“So you think you can just walk in here and ruin my wedding, huh?” Dwight hissed in a low voice when he came face-to-face with his parents. “I want both of you to turn around and leave right now!”

“Son, we—”

“Or I will throw both of you out,” Dwight said his fists folded in anger. Omar stepped closer to assist him with the job, if necessary.

“We didn't come to cause trouble, son.” David Humphrey took a step closer to Dwight, tugging his wife to his side. Unbelievably, his eyes were filled with tears. “My only son is getting married, and we want to be here.”

Dwight looked at him for a moment, trying to decipher the truth in his words, his face still masked with fury.

“I know we've had our differences over the years,” David Humphrey began, “and we still do, but this is your wedding day. We would never forgive ourselves if we missed it. Right, darling?” He gently elbowed his wife who stood silent by his side.

“Right,” Mrs. Humphrey said through her teeth, her eyes looking everywhere but at her son. Dwight had no doubt that his father had given her an ultimatum which was why she was there. He probably threatened to tighten the money bag. It was going to take more than her only son's wedding to a woman she despised to thaw out the ice queen.

“I don't want any trouble from either one of you,” Dwight said tightly, his eyes going back and forth between his parents. “Say one thing out of line, do anything inappropriate, and I'll never forgive you. You got that?”

“Got it,” David Humphrey said with relief on his face. His father had sat in the front row for his wedding and he was lucky after everything that was going on between them that his son was allowing him to stay at his wedding. Family tradition meant everything to him.

“Mother, did you hear what I just said or should I walk you out?” Dwight stared pointedly at his mother.

“I won't cause any trouble,” Eve Humphrey mumbled, rolling her eyes.

Dwight sighed loudly. “Come and have a seat then and behave yourselves,” he warned again.

As they walked back, Dwight noticed a worker hurriedly adding two chairs in the back row. He walked over to the man and whispered in his ear. The worker nodded, went, and got the chairs, placing them in the front row beside Aunt Clover.

Eleanor watched as Dwight's parents took their seats in the front. It was the first time she was laying eyes on David Humphrey, but it didn't take a genius to see that Dwight was a replica of the older man. “You are amazing,” Eleanor whispered to Dwight when he took his place again beside her. “I know it took a lot to do what you just did.”

Dwight winked at her. “Okay, I'm ready to marry this beautiful woman,” he said loudly to the pastor. Laughter rang out, easing the tension as Dwight and Eleanor became man and wife.