Forever My......

47.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Bryce Parker,

I picked Dula up as he ran to my legs and just gave him a tight hug. I have missed my little brother so much it makes no sense.

"You big sister has missed you so much." I said kissing his cheek. "I missed you to mother and you uncle Eleazar." I said hugging them while I placed Dula in my hip.

"Where is the groom?" He asked after kissing my forehead.

"He is getting his last minute fitting for his suit."

"Oh well when he arrived we need to all sit and talk. Me, you, and him."

"Okay uncle Eleazar. How have you been mother?"

"I've been good Jalene. I feel better mentally and spiritually since I have visited home."

"That's good mom." I said before looking at Dula.

He has gotten so big and he's walking now. He even have a few more teeth in there now.

"I can't believe you are getting married." Mother said trying to fan her tears away. "I need a moment."

"Uncle Eleazar why do you have my groom thinking you don't know English?"

"Because it is funny listening to him when he sound confused." He said laughing.

"That is not funny uncle Eleazar."

"If you say so Jalene. Have you talk to your grandmother?"

"I have no reason to speak to her." I said walking to the living room.

Me and Uncle Eleazar sat down and I bounced Dula on my lap.

"I agree with you on that but she is still your grandmother."

"She is still your mother."

"She stop being my mother the day she left me in Ethiopia and never looked back. But she has always been your grandmother."

"She stopped being my grandmother the day she disowned me because of my American name and said disrespectful things about my very much American groom."

"Fair enough Jalene." He said giving up in defeat.

I nodded my head letting him know that I know I won this argument.

"Okay I'm all better now." Mother said sitting beside me. "I just can't believe my baby girl is getting married. Beca would be so proud of you, you know he loved Xayvion like a son ever since he first met him."

"Thank you mom. Oh let me give you the vows so you can know them." I said standing up.

I walked in the bathroom and went under the sink and straight to the pads, I grabbed the note pad that sat directly in between two pads and walked out the bathroom after tearing the first sheet off.

I gave it to uncle Eleazar making sure mother didn't see it and then took my seat and put Dula on my lap.

I watched as he read over them.

"This is nice Jalene. You wrote this?"

"I got it from a movie, I just revamped it a little bit."

"You have everything but a traditional wedding." He said smiling.

He folded the paper and put it in the pocket on his shirt.

We all sat and talked for a little while, catching up on all the life events we missed out on dealing with each other until Xayvion finally arrived home.

"Hello Ms. Jala and hey big man Dula." He said grabbing Dula off my lap. "Hello." He said extending his hand to uncle Eleazar.

Uncle Eleazar shook his hand and then gave mother a certain look which caused her to get up and grab Dula. She walked out the living room and into Dula's old room.

"Have a seat." Uncle Eleazar said causing Xayvion to sit right next to me. "I know the wedding is in three week but I have a few questions both before I perform the ceremony."

"What is it uncle Eleazar?" I asked looking at him with concern.

"Do you both want this? Do you both want marriage? Are y'all ready to deal with the struggles and pains that come with marriage? Are you both truly ready to make this lifelong commitment? Marriage is the farthest thing from easy, it's hard and y'all will have hardships. It's tiring and stressful. Marriage involves trust and that means at all time, commitment, and honesty.

They say the first five years of marriage is the hardest and I can confirm that that is the truth. I have been married for twenty years and the hardest part of my marriage was the first five. That is when I learned marriage is about sharing, sacrificing, trusting, honesty, and most importantly love. Y'all are young and have the rest of y'all lives to live so I want to make sure that y'all both now what y'all are getting y'all selves into before you say I do on the 17th of May."

After taking on everything he sat I looked at Xayvion and then back at uncle Eleazar.

"I want this, I'm willing to go through the struggles of the first five years to get my lifetime of happiness." I said looking at Simba.

He smiled at me and then kissed my cheek.

"I'm ready and I want this. I understand everything you are saying but there is nothing I want more then to marry your niece."

Uncle Eleazar nodded his head and the turned around.

"Jala bring your nosy ass out." He said causing mother to come from the room.

"I am not nosy but he is correct guys. Marriage isn't easy but I have faith that y'all will last to the end. I can see it in your eyes that y'all have genuine love for each other and that y'all are in love with each other. I just want y'all to realize the love y'all have for each other is not something you will find anywhere else so cherish it and cherish each other."

Me and Simba looked at each other and smiled before nodding our heads understanding what she said.

"Till death due you part." Uncle Eleazar said. "I too have faith that you two will last. Y'all remember me of me and my wife, Beca and Jalene, Grammy and her first husband."

"Do not come at my mother Eleazar." Mother said looking at him.

"Jala your mom has had a lot of husbands since you father passed."

"And your mother has had a lot of children since she has been born."

"I have no mother." Uncle Eleazar said looking off.

I just leaned back on Xayvion and watched as the two of them went back and forth.