I Want Candy (17 page)

* * *

Dallas
waved her glass of red wine around as her slurred voice continued to belt out nonsensical messages. “And anotha thang, Candy, just ’cause ya gettin’ (hiccup) married, doesn’t mean you’re s’posed to forget about us!”

“I won’t!” Candy laughed as she hugged Dallas and helped her back to her chair. The bachelorette party was a success. Jasmine’s condominium was decorated in purple and gold for the event. A long buffet table of finger foods, assorted salads, and desserts were quickly consumed before naughty games of pin the penis on the pin-up, bobbing for boobies, and scavenger hunt for condoms were played. To finish off the evening, a male stripper was on his way to wield a cop gun or two. Candy, semi-tipsy, leaned up against a wall and laughed as her family members and friends talked sordidly about their boyfriends and husbands.

“And girl,” Aunt Mildred continued, “if it wasn’t for his pension, I’d been gone!” The crowd erupted in laughter. “Ebert ain’t no good. If I had time to do it all over again, I’d get me a Chinese man.” She scratched her head, displacing her wig, and then poured herself another glass of rum and Coke.

“What? Why Chinese?” asked Kia, Candy’s favorite cousin.

“’Cause they can bring in the dough, I love their food, and I ain’t gotta talk to him! He wouldn’t understand me, and I wouldn’t understand him. It’d be a match made in United Nations heaven!” The crowd erupted in laughter again.

Suddenly, Jasmine tugged on Candy’s elbow and whispered in her ear. Candy followed her to her femininely decorated bedroom. It was in traditional Victorian style with pastel pinks, white furniture, and ornate gold trim. Candy always grimaced when she saw the over-the-top room.

Jasmine closed the door behind her. “You’re nervous about this weddin’ next week, aren’t you?” Jasmine asked matter-of-factly.

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re puttin’ on weight again. Don’t you think you two are rushin’ into this? You planned a weddin’ in four months. That’s almost unheard of. I mean, I guess I have nothin’ against Eric – he’s nice looking, and he does have a good job, but somethin’ about him just rubs me the wrong way. It’s not too late to put the brakes on this mess.” Jasmine leaned her back against the door.

“Jasmine, this is the last time I’m gonna allow you to try and mess this night up for me. First you volunteer to throw me this damn party with Dallas’s help, and then you try to sabotage it by makin’ petty comments about Eric all night. Everyone has noticed it. You’re just jealous! Finally, the one who’s supposedly the cute one of our crew didn’t get a marriage proposal. The chunky, nerdy one did, and you can’t stand it!” Candy yelled as she pushed Jasmine’s shoulder to move her away from the door.

“Wait a minute, Candy! That’s a damn lie! I’m happy for you. I just want
you
to be happy! I’ve known you for so long that I know when somethin’s eatin’ at you. I think you know deep down Eric may not be the right one, or just not ready. I’m not even sayin’ you pushed this. I know he did, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. I’m not tryin’ to ruin your party. I’m just worried about you!” Jasmine argued as Candy pushed her abruptly out of the way again.

“We’re done talkin’ about this. You’re one of my best friends, my maid of honor, and like a sister to me, but you need to consider this man my husband as of right now. I don’t butt in your sketchy love life unless you ask for my opinion. You always have somethin’ to say, like you’re some expert on affairs of the heart!” Candy yelled.

“Well, maybe you should have! That’s what friends are for. If I can’t tell you the truth about this, then what type of friendship do we have?”

“You think you can just say whatever pops into that head of yours. Learn to keep your mouth shut. It would do you a world of good – and please, try to show some self-control and damn respect!” Candy walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Jasmine behind. Candy walked back into the living room to discover a police officer standing there, taking an envelope of money from Dallas.

“Oh, here she is! We were just about to grab you and Jasmine!” Dallas laughed.

“Arrest her ass!” yelled Kia as the house music started. Candy squealed with mortification and excitement as the tall, dark-complected, muscular stripper began to gyrate his narrow, dimpled hips and strip down to nothing but a bright red thong that detailed his elongated assets. Jasmine slowly came forward, smiling uneasily as she twirled her silver necklace chain between her nimble fingers. Everyone yelled and laughed as Candy was thrust into a plush, zebra-print chair and danced over. Handfuls of crumbled dollar bills started flying as Candy’s face soon became red with embarrassment. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, increased intoxication, and cold stares between Candy and Jasmine.

* * *

“You nervous, Man?” Eric’s brother Brian asked as he redid his black-and-white striped tie in the mirror. Eric smiled fretfully then looked out of the church window. He watched as the limousine’s chauffeur parked off to the side, allowing caterers dressed in ivory coats and stiff chef hats to rush in and out of the chapel’s side door, down into the lower level hall. There they added the last of the tin trays, filled to the brim with piping hot wings for guests after the ceremony. The aroma drifted throughout as the scent of cigar smoke wafted past from an older gentleman with an embellished cane. A thick trickle of sweat ran down Eric’s temple. He touched it with his fingertips, surprised at its presence.

“Yeah, you’re nervous,” laughed Brian. “It’s cold in here, and you’re sweatin’ like you stole somethin’ and the po-po just arrived.”

Eric smiled again, this time looking down at the ground.

“Look man,” Brian began, “I was nervous too. If you love this girl, and she loves you, everything will work out.”

“I know. I know she’s the one,” Eric said with a shaky voice. “I’m just used to doin’ what I wanna do, when I wanna do it. I honestly never thought I’d ever get married, for real – been in love my share of times,” Eric said, looking back out the window. “Thought about gettin’ married a couple times before, but I never had the gumption to go through with it. I want to be with her so bad, this just seems like the right thing to do.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Brian asked with a concerned expression. He looked his little brother up and down. From the top of Eric’s curly dark hair to his perfectly manicured facial hair to his white tuxedo with shiny black vest and spectator shoes, Eric was a look of polished perfection.

“You look good, Man,” Brian added again, looking his brother up and down approvingly. “But you’ve got to look good on the inside, too. Do you feel good?” Brian asked as he put his hand on Eric’s left shoulder.

“I do,” Eric responded.

“Save that response for the ceremony,” Brian teased.

Eric laughed and paced nervously. Soon, the rest of his brothers entered the room with boisterous laughter and appreciative high-fives.

“Eric’s tyin’ the knot!” one of them yelled out as the others joined in and hugged him. His sisters, dressed in various shades of purple, walked around the church sizing up the decorations and talking amongst themselves. Diane sat proudly in the front pew, fanning herself as her husband spoke quietly to the minister. The organist entered the chapel while two ushers escorted guests to their seats.

Dallas
placed diamond tear-drop earrings on Candy’s ears. “Girl, you’re gonna mess up your makeup,” she warned in a quiet voice. “You look too beautiful, and it took me too long to get it on you for you to do that,” she teased. Candy’s eyes continued to water. She threw her head back to keep them from rolling down her face. Candy’s mother, Aubrey, entered the dressing room holding Candy’s bouquet.

“Here it is, Baby!” Aubrey squealed. “We’ve got the marriage certificate, too. You’re all set. Your daddy’s out front waitin’ to walk you down the aisle.” Candy and Aubrey looked almost like twins. Aubrey’s hair, thick and luscious like her daughter’s, was pinned up elegantly, complementing her beautiful, long, violet gown.

“Thank you, Mama,” Candy said as she hugged her tightly.

“You look like a queen,” Aubrey said as she caressed her daughter’s cheek. “Your father and I are very happy for you. I better leave before I start cryin’,” she said as she batted her eyelashes to ward off the tears that threatened to fall. Aubrey left her daughter in the care of the women in the room before the scene proved too emotional for her.

“OK, Candy – ten minutes ’til showtime. I just peeked out. The church is fillin’ up fast. Eric looks very handsome!” Dallas winked. She and Jasmine wore form-fitting dark purple dresses with white sashes. Large, exotic, periwinkle flowers adorned their hair, and their fingernails were painted a complementary lilac. Candy took a sip of her bottled water as Jasmine pulled her waist and brought her close. Candy could hardly breathe in her wedding dress. It was beautifully tied up around her back, corset-style up the stomach, restricting her. She had gained about eight pounds since her last fitting, so inhaling deeply was out of the question.

“Candy, I know you and I have had our disagreements,” Jasmine whispered in her ear. “But I’m happy for you, and I want you and Eric to have a wonderful marriage. I love you very much.” Jasmine quickly wiped a tear from her eye and kissed Candy’s cheek. Candy reached out and hugged her as other bridesmaids walked around quietly chatting.

“I know. I love you too, Jasmine,” she smiled. Candy’s father walked into the room. His silver mane was slicked back, giving his already distinguished look additional honor.

“There’s my Princess,” William said, his voice shaky, and the scent of cherry cigars still laden on his breath. “I can’t believe my little girl is this big-time career woman and now someone’s wife. It’s hard for me to not keep seein’ you as a child sometimes. I’m so happy for you, Baby,” he added as he kissed her forehead.

“I love you, Dad,” Candy replied sweetly.

“OK, now let’s go out here and wait. It’s almost time.” He took his daughter’s arm and headed to the vestibule. Dressed in an amethyst tulle ballerina dress, the flower girl twirled around happily, almost falling to the ground and spilling her basket of white rose petals before her mother escorted her upward and warned her to be still. The music continued to play, muted by closed doors. Candy heard the ushers pulling the heavy, white aisle runner. She and her father stepped aside, hidden as the doors slowly opened, allowing the bridesmaids to disappear one by one, down the aisle with the groomsmen awaiting midway. Lastly, the flower girl came down, causing laughter and chatter as she smiled shyly, throwing the petals quickly down before running in fright the rest of the way, gripping her mother’s legs. The music changed. Eric’s brother, Gerald, stood up and began to sing “You Are My Lady” by Freddie Jackson as their sister Larissa accompanied on the piano.

Candy and her father stood close as the doors opened and exposed their visual splendor. The crowd stood up in the pews, and cameras immediately began to flash. Candy’s waist-length veil with Swarovski crystals was handmade and beyond impressive. Her gown flowed beautifully against her tawny skin, hugging closely around her hips, then swimming out like white ocean foam, tapering into a long train. Eric looked at her, his mouth dropping open. He felt his body temperature rising and his heart heaving, pounding so loudly within the confines of his chest he thought it may burst. He could only see her. Everyone else seemed to disappear. When the minister asked who gives her away, Candy’s father proudly answered and took his seat, leaving his daughter there to exchange her vows among family and friends. Candy stared at Eric, witnessing the glossing over of his sentimental eyes and the smile on his handsome face. When it was time to kiss, he squeezed her tightly as he closed his eyes and pushed his full, soft lips against hers for what seemed like an eternity. His eldest brother yelled out jokingly, “Get a room!” Everyone started laughing.