Book 4- 1968 (Michael Jackson)

Chapter 25- Wedding Night

                Chapter 25- Wedding Night

                Date: Saturday, November 30, 1968

                Time: 5:27PM

                REBBIE'S POV

Stress was overwhelming me today. I had so much on my mind to begin with, but today it was nearly too much to bear. The church was jam-packed, Joseph arrived literally ten minutes ago, the decorators were not on time... and so much more. It seemed as though what was supposed to be my day would turn into a disaster.

I didn't even want to get started on the fact that my brothers weren't here. Everyone, including Johnny and Kayla, were off in Apollo, introducing Sam and Dave to the crowd of fans. They didn't want to go, they said. They actually would have rather been at my wedding, but no, Joseph has to work them. 

Yes, I understood that we needed as much income as possible, and that this was scheduled a couple months in advance. Yes, I understood that this could be reflected on later. However, it seemed as though Joseph was maybe working the boys a touch too hard. I mean, the youngest in the group was nine years old. They were almost entirely on their lonesome, in the frightening state of New York, performing for big-time stars. 

It made me wonder when the last time they got a break was. I figured they had their last major downtime in 1967, more than a year ago.

What a depressing thought... 

But there was nothing I could do to save them from the fate that was destined for the band. If there was anything I could have done, it would have been a long time before this. In fact, the only thing I should have been focusing on was my marriage, which was about ten minutes away. Still, thoughts about the kids plagued my mind more so than the dress I was wearing, the family and friends outside, the inviting scent of flowers and perfume, and the soft, slow jazz playing outside of my room.

"Ma'am," a lady said, interrupting my thoughts. I turned around, careful not to ruin anything, and stared at her expectantly. I suppose one could say it was rude, but I was in my own little world at the moment. 

A few seconds later, she added, "It's time. He's waiting for you."

"Oh," I mumbled, sounding less pleased than I truly was. "Where's Joseph?"

"He's in the front row."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "Isn't he supposed to be giving me away to Nathaniel?"

The lady sighed wistfully. "He refused to. He told me that your grandfather is giving you away, instead. He's probably just in a state of shock... It's happened before with more people than you'd believe."

If I was in an iffy mood before, I was ticked now. After Joseph agreed to attend the event, I assumed that, like nearly ny other father, he would be giving me to Nathaniel. The fact that he had the audacity to ask Samuel to perform his simple task for him just drove me up the wall.

I couldn't let my feelings show, not on my wedding night. "Oh... okay." 

The words left a horribly sickening taste in my mouth. The bitter taste would only worsen when I would head for the altar. At least I had Nathaniel there to comfort me. He was like the silver lining in my cloud.

No, not a silver lining, I told myself. He's much more than that. He's an angel from Heaven. A platinum lining, if anything material.

The lady ushered me and my all-too-long dress out of the room. Behind me, another woman carried the dragging end of my dress, so that the white color would not fade into a less desirable tone. At this point, the only reason why I wanted them to carry that section of the dress was for Nathaniel. Joseph didn't deserve to look at it, I thought.

The organist was already playing as the doors opened. There was Samuel, interlocking our arms together the way that Joseph should have been doing. Up ahead, I could view the back of his horrifyig buzz cut. The mere sight of him nearly infuriated me. How could someone so casually decline the offer of giving the bride away as Joseph had?

As we stepped past the aisles of benches, I attempted to rationalize with myself. Come on, Rebbie.Is Joseph that bad?... I'm his first daughter. He could just be scared to give me away to someone he doesn't know very well. Or maybe he thinks I am trying to get out of our current state of squalor. I'm somewhat sure that he has his reasons. He has to.

That hadn't calmed me down in the least, but at least I was thinking semi-optimistically. I would take whatever optimism I could get, because without it, I got the feeling that I would have popped a cork by now.

I daintily walked up the altar, hearing the click-click of my heels as I made each dignified step. Nathaniel's gaze met mine, his loving eyes not peeling away from me. The soft expression he held told me that he had an unconditional love meant for no other. I knew that he could make me feel warm and wanted on the inside and out, just how I needed him to be.

That thought was enough to make me smile.

After a moment, the Justice of the Peace pulled out a rather large book and recited our vows. It was easy on both of our parts to say "I do", as I realized we did have a kind of love like no other. I could honestly say that our relationship was not guided by lust or infatuation. I realized his flaws and forgave his mistakes. We were truly in love, and only we knew it.

I didn't even think a single thought about Joseph and his beady, disapproving stare while the event proceeded.

"You are now-" the pastor took a pause- "man and wife." Turning to Nathaniel, he tastefully added, "You may now kiss the bride."

The whole moment was surreal to me. The magic, the madness, the love, the butterflies, everything that had been building up inside of me was finally released into a long, deep, passionate kiss. There was nothing too sensual about it-- we had to remember that Joseph was nearby. But that didn't matter. This was the most love I had felt in a few years. It was as though I was living a love song. 

When we departed from one another, a few claps spread across the room. We both grinned widely, knoing that we would never part from one another's sides. I was his everything; likewise, he was my everything. We fit together like jam and peanut butter. In other terms, we were inseparable.

Just as we half-skipped off of the altar, the organist began playing to Herb Alpert's hit, "This Guy's in Love With You". Herb's smooth voice echoed through the room, only making an odd noise when the organist missed a beat. Nathaniel even sang along to the song for me. 

In the midst of all of the excitement, I got lost in his words. The song suddenly had a hundred times more meaning than it used to, and all because of Nathaniel.

You see this guy, the guy's in love with you

Yes I'm in love who looks at you the way I do

"This guy is in love with you," Nathaniel whispered. He took a lock oof my hair and twirled it with his fingers delicately. Nuzzling my cheek, he added, "Only you, always and forever."

Always and forever... 

I hugged him for the first time that night. "... I love you, Nathaniel." I had meant that with every fiber of my being. Of all the people I have loved, he made me feel like a queen even when I was upset or blue. If I was mad, his soft, husky voice would soothe me, ease my soul. I always felt relaxed and confident aroud Nathaniel... My man.

I felt completely, totally, absolutely immersed in the best kind of love there ever was. I felt wanted and needed, as well. I felt Nathaniel's sweet caress.

He turned my life around, even with Joseph's occasional annoyance in the picture. What more could I say?