Icing on the Cake

Epilogue

Love is the essence of everything beautiful, the force behind everything wonderful.
Maria Fontaine.

Two months and two weeks later, they had the wedding ceremony at Sylvia’s family church in Lagos. The traditional wedding had been celebrated a week before at Sylvia’s hometown; Umueze in Owerri, Imo State. After Jaden had proposed, Sylvia had stayed for an additional week before going back to Lagos. Her parents and her best friends, Sally and Sandra had joined Chloe to plan the wedding. Natasha, Nadia, and Anita joined too. Chloe had her fashion house design Sylvia’s wedding gown and it was absolutely beautiful. They also designed Sally and Sandra’s gowns. Sylvia’s fashion house also designed Jaden’s and Keith’s suits.
Invitations were sent out and Jaden didn’t forget to send one to Dave specially. Friends, business associates, acquaintances, and family members all graced the wedding ceremony. Jaden was overjoyed and Sylvia was all smiles that at the end of the reception, her cheeks started to hurt. Now, a small after-party for just close friends and family was taking place at Sylvia’s house.
“Hey everyone, I have a special gift for the couple,” Keith announced and everyone looked at him. He stood on the platform and took a mic.
The audience consisted of both Sylvia’s and Jaden’s family, Keith’s parents, Sandra, Sally, Alex, George, Anita, Mrs. Humphrey, and of course, the new couple – Jaden and Sylvia.
Keith cleared his throat. “It’s a special song, derived from a fairytale and modified by me. It goes like this: I could see what’ll happen, and Jade didn’t have a clue. He fell in love and here’s the bottom line – our duo is down to one.”
Jaden grinned and Sylvia laughed. “Did your mum ever tell you that you watched too much cartoons?” Jaden hollered.
Keith ignored him and went on singing. “Ze sweet caress of twilight, there’s magick everywhere. And with this entire romantic atmosphere,” he looked pointedly at Anita, “disaster’s in the air.” He nodded to the deejay who took the song up from there. Then, he came down from the platform and walked to the new couple.
“Rascal,” Jaden muttered, grinning.
Keith grinned back. “I’m lucky it’s not a tribute.” He looked at Sylvia. “If he hadn’t told you he loved you and you’d left, he’d be dead by now.”
Sylvia laughed.
“Did you enjoy my gift?”
“Of course. You never told me you knew how to sing.”
“It comes with the style babe,” he said, spreading his arms.
“I taught him not to show it off,” Jaden put in.
“Jade actually thought he could make it in the music industry, but he was an artist manqué. And since I wasn’t with him, he failed in flying colours,” Keith said and the three of them laughed.
“Punk.”
Keith opened his arms and Jaden hugged him. “I’ll miss you, Jade.”
Jaden eased out of his arms. “Now, don’t tell me you’re turning gay,” he said and Keith faked a cheeky smile. “Aw! C’mon, it’s not like you won’t see me again.”
“Yeah, I know. Just that I’ll miss being first place. But I don’t mind if Sylvia’s the one who’s taking over. I know she’ll take good care of you.”
“Of course, I will,” Sylvia said, smiling.
Keith turned and hollered, “Let’s make a toast to the new couple!”
Sidney smiled. “You practically stole that out of my mouth.” He smiled at Jaden and Sylvia. “Congrats, baby sis. You too, Jade.”
“Thanks,” Jaden replied.
“Baby sis?” Sylvia repeated and he winked.
Sylvia and Jaden smiled in return.
“Do we all get turns?” Sally asked.
“Yeah, of course. Whoever wishes to say anything can,” Sidney replied and took a full glass from a waiter. He raised it up and everyone else did the same. “A toast,” he started and paused, looking at Jaden and Sylvia again, “to Jaden and Sylvia, for them to find happiness with each other.”
“To make them love each other till old age,” Chloe said.
“And never get tired of each other,” Chris added.
“To give them beautiful girls,” Alex said.
“And handsome boys,” Sandra put in.
Wayne cleared his throat. “To grant them long life.”
“And good health to go with that,” Ashley added.
“To give them grace to work out any problem,” Mr. Roberts smiled.
“And endurance too,” his wife chipped in.
George said, “To sustain their faith in God.”
“And their trust in each other,” Sally said.
“To the success of their children,” Natasha added.
“And the strength to train them and to love them forever,” Nadia said, grinning.
“To retain their kind hearts,” Anita put in.
“And their humble and modest nature,” Mrs. Humphrey said.
“And to grant each of them tolerance and patience,” Keith said and silently added, “As God did to me.”
They looked round for any other contributions before chorusing ‘Amen’ and then ‘Cheers’. They clinked glasses and drank to the toast.
“Hey! Who loved my prayer?” Chris asked.
“I did,” Sylvia replied, grinning.
“I did not,” Chloe said and everyone laughed.
Then, Jaden, Keith, Sidney, Nadia, and Natasha chorused ‘I did’. Chris looked at his wife and smirked, “Told ya, didn’t I? You owe me this time,” he said, cocking a brow.
“I owe you this,” Chloe replied and kissed him fully on the mouth.
“Wow! I forgot to add that your debt was double,” Chris said, blinking.
Everyone laughed. Then, Keith made his way to Anita.
“Hey. What are you doing?”
She turned to look at him. “Mind your business.”
He didn’t reply immediately. “OK.”
As he made to go, she blurted, “Hey! What was the meaning of ‘disasters in the air’?” she half-sang.
He turned back to face her. He didn’t want to comment on her singing voice, but he silently admitted that she was good. But then, her singing voice was also familiar. “What do you think it meant?”
“I don’t remember my parents giving me ‘Disaster’ as a name.”
“Then, you forget easily.”
She glared at him and exhaled slowly. “Why do you like making trouble?”
“I don’t like it yet. I’m still testing it out.” She arched a brow. “It’s a new hobby.”
She snorted with laughter. “Idiot,” she mumbled. Why didn’t he remember her? “It’s still a wonder how you know how to sing.”
He gave a lop-sided smile. She had just complimented his singing. But why was she always looking familiar? He angled his head. “I could teach you. Or maybe, you could.”
“Hmph. Be content with testing out your new hobby,” she said and turned to back him.
“Okay then. Have a dance with me.”
She froze. “What?” she asked, glancing back at him.
“Have a dance with me,” he repeated and signaled a waiter.
She swallowed. She couldn’t do that, no matter how tempting it was. If she did, he’d certainly find her out. “I said be…”
“I’m testing it out right now.” He smiled. “You just advised me to. You can’t turn me down.”
She sighed. Now, why had she allowed this big mouth of hers to say that?
“C’mon,” he urged, dropping his glass on the waiter’s empty tray and took her hand. He led her to the dance floor.
“Blast the speakers, deejay,” Chris hollered and drew Chloe to him. Music then filled the air. “Now everyone, either you watch us dance or you dance yourself. C’mon, honey.”
Then, gradually, everyone got to the dance floor.
Sylvia turned to Jaden. “I don’t think they’ll ever change.”
“Neither will we change,” he replied and kissed her.
“See,” she said, laughing. “Everyone’s paired up.”
“Wow, including K.” He chuckled. “That guy is up to something.”
“Maybe, he’s not.” Sylvia paused. “I never knew Keith was emotional.”
“He has a very soft heart, although you wouldn’t know by just looking at him.”
“Yeah, he hides it very well.” Sylvia looked to her right and laughed.
“What is it?”
Sylvia nodded to her right. “Over there’s a nice pair; Momma and Sidney, then, Nadia and Natasha.”
Jaden grinned. “They don’t have any other option. Now come here and stick to me.”
“Like glue?”
“More than that.”
“I like that,” she smiled.
“Good,” he grinned.
“I’m so happy. I’m glad I met you.”
“Me too. Did I tell you you’re beautiful?”
“Yeah, like a million times.”
“It is never enough.”
Sylvia grinned. “We could make our own fairytale.”
“We’re doing that already. And it’s better than Cinderella.”
Sylvia smiled. “Shrek?”
“Of course.”
“The little mermaid?”
“It’s better than that.”
“We could do it better than Romeo and Juliet?”
Jaden smiled. “If possible, but I hate dealing with deaths.”
“Same here.”
Jaden grinned down at her lovingly.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
And they danced till they were worn out.