A Deal With God: The Power of One (16 page)

“You have my full permission and blessing,” Leon said. “On August 31st, we will officially be one big happy family.”

As Delores predicted, Matthew and Mark finished the school year with really good grades. Matthew got two A’s, two B’s and two C’s. Mark got three A’s and three B’s.

As a reward Deana signed them up for soccer. Luke was thrilled but Matthew and Mark really wanted to play football; but they were too late to sign up for football because registration had been back in the spring. Plus, the football league was in Athens which would be a major burden on Leon and Deana. She’d be late to work every Thursday. Football practice was Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and some Saturdays. Saturdays were either games or practices.

Soccer was much easier. Registration was in the summer. The soccer club was only a town away. The drive was only ten minutes. All three boys could practice at the same time and same night. Practice was only two nights a week; Tuesday night and Thursday night. Most importantly, Mike Richards, a boy up the street would be on Luke’s team. Mrs. Richards allowed Deana to take the four boys on Tuesday nights to and from practice. Then Mrs. Richards would drive all the boys Thursday night when Deana had to work. The games were on Saturdays between 8am and 2pm so Deana and Leon would be able to see all the games.

Deana made an agreement with Matthew and Mark. “If you want to play football next year you will have to train hard and be in excellent condition. Nothing is better for conditioning than soccer. If you will play the entire season of soccer and get in shape and keep your grades up I’ll coordinate things with your father so you can play football next year.”

After finishing up with the boys, Deana looked at her calendar and was disappointed. Like Valentine’s Day, her birthday this year was on a Thursday. Last year she spent her birthday in the hospital and the year before she was at a training seminar for her new job at the finance company.

“I’m not going to torture you the way I did Valentine’s Day,” Leon said on the way to the boys’ first soccer game. It was the Saturday before Deana’s August 22nd birthday. “I talked to Mr. Vito last night and he said you could have your birthday off. I took the day off also. Luke’s birthday is on Friday so I thought we could go to my parents’ house. We can have a little party for the two of you. At night my parents can watch the boys for a little bit. We can go back to the restaurant you liked so much that we went to on our first date.”

“Can we go back to the lake again?” Deana asked. “Now that the weather is warmer, I have something special in mind.”

“How can I say no to that?” Leon said smiling.

Luke’s game was first at 8am. He’d played some form of soccer almost every weekday since the previous November. He was really good. He had two goals and two assists. His team won 8–4; Leon was quite impressed.

“It looks like Luke has gotten some pretty good coaching,” Leon said complimenting Deana. “He is one of the youngest players yet one of the best.”

Matthew and Mark’s game was at twelve o’clock. They were on the same team. Deana was surprised both boys won starting positions, even though they had very little soccer experience. Deana had taught them how to defend against an attacking forward from the other team and some other basics. It paid off because the coach put both boys back on defense. Matthew sometimes got subbed out but Mark played the entire game. He was a relentless, physical defender. They won 2–1.

During the past few weeks Deana had been planning the finishing touches for the wedding and party. The guest list was set for 80 people. One day at work she looked stressed out. Robert the cook noticed and asked what was wrong.

“Half the people coming to my wedding are from church and very devout,” Deana answered. “If I serve alcohol at my wedding, they will be offended. The other half are expecting a big time party. If there is no alcohol they will be disappointed and may not have a good time.”

“Deana, I think I can solve your problem for you.” Robert said. “Consider it my wedding gift. Tell your church friends you won’t be serving or providing any alcoholic beverages. I’ll discretely sneak in a few coolers full of adult beverages on my own for the party crowd. Everyone should be happy.”

“Thank you so much,” Deana replied. “If my dress alterations go well, the rest should go pretty smoothly.”

Deana had found a beautiful designer dress at a consignment shop in Athens. It was an Italian style “Princess” wedding gown. It featured draped satin detail with subtle hints of pearl embroidery. The detachable shrug and draped net pick–up skirt created added elegance. She was so excited about how she looked in it.

Mr. Vito was going to cater the wedding. He was actually closing the restaurant for the night. That way all the employees could attend.

The big surprise of the evening would be the band. Deana put out a feeler for the best band she could get. The resounding answer was the Jacobson Brothers Band; the band that played at the big church near Morrison Georgia. Eli Jacobson played lead guitar; his brother Edwin played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals. They also had a drummer and bass player in their band.

One afternoon, Deana made an appointment to talk with them. They had burned a four song CD of their music for her which was outstanding.

“I would love to have you play our wedding,” Deana said. “Your music is amazing. Do you think I could perform a few songs with you? I’d be very grateful.”

“That would be fantastic,” Eli exclaimed. “If you could do the first couple of songs with us, it would really get the crowd going.”

“I could do two with you in the beginning in my wedding gown,” Deana stated. “Right before I leave with Leon, I’ll do two more in regular clothes. It will be so much fun. We can practice the Monday and Tuesday before the big weekend.”

Mid afternoon, August 22nd, it was off to Athens to Leon’s parents’ house to celebrate Deana and Luke’s birthdays. It was Deana’s actual birthday; Luke’s birthday was the next day. He didn’t mind celebrating a day early. Deana had baked him a banana–coconut custard cake earlier in the day. It was Luke’s favorite.

Matthew and Mark both had two wrapped gifts with them. Two were for Luke, two were for Deana. Luke had one for Deana and Deana and Leon had a gift for Luke.

Deana was going to make cheese–steak sandwiches with Gracie when they got to the Samuels’ home. Leon and Deana’s reservations were for 6:30. They wanted it to be dusk when dinner was over so they could enjoy watching the sun go down when they went to the lake.

Before she started dinner for the boys, she wanted to exchange gifts and have a talk with Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Matthew gave Deana a handmade soap dish. He gave Luke a little race car Deana helped him pick out. Mark gave Deana a handmade pen and pencil holder. He gave Luke a little fire truck. Luke gave Deana a miniature stuffed soccer ball for her key chain, which Leon had helped him buy. Deana and Leon gave Luke the new lightweight soccer cleats he’d been wanting.

After the gift exchange, Deana told the boys she had a birthday wish she wanted to share with them.

“Two months ago, I had my attorney petition the Circuit Court of the State of Georgia so that I could legally adopt the three of you,” Deana explained. “My request was granted. When your father and I marry in nine days we will officially, all five of us, be a family. My name will become Deana Samuels.”

“My birthday wish, or should I say request, is for the five of us to go to the courthouse and get sworn in so the judge will sign and finalize my petition. We have a court date this Monday afternoon to do this. I want the three of you to be in the wedding ceremony with your father and me. Your father and I will exchange vows like in all weddings, but after the vow exchange, the three of you will come to the side of the altar and participate in what is called a Unity sand ceremony. We will each get a vase full of colored Unity sand. We each get one color. Leon will go first; he will have black colored Unity sand. He will pour his sand into a heart shaped Unity vase which will serve as the first layer or bottom layer. I will go next with a white Unity sand layer. You boys can pick your own colors. Are you all right with this?” Deana asked.

“That sounds pretty cool,” Matthew said. Mark agreed. “Maybe now Matthew and Mark can call you mommy, too.” Luke said.

“Matthew and Mark can call me what they are most comfortable with,” Deana laughed.

Just after six o’clock, Deana freshened up, then jumped into Leon’s truck with him. They had requested the same table they sat at last November. They ordered the same dinners and wine.

“Leon, this has been the most amazing year of my life,” Deana reflected. “Twelve months ago I was in a Tampa hospital thanking God I was still alive. Tonight I sit here with my loving fianc�, nine days before my wedding.”

“I never dreamed I’d ever remarry,” Leon stated.

“The week after our long Thanksgiving weekend I started to get an inkling we might be on our way to a permanent relationship,” Deana admitted. “I knew it was going kind of fast, but I kept getting a feeling we belonged together.”

“I have a confession to make,” Leon stated. “From the very beginning I tried to convince myself I shouldn’t fall in love with you; and not just you, any woman. But, the harder I tried to not fall in love with you the deeper I fell. Valentine’s Night at the lake you overwhelmed me. I reached the point of no return.”

“Everything you did was so amazing,” Leon continued. “I loved your cooking, your parenting, the photo book, and your financial advice. When we dated we both seemed proud to be out with one another. Spending the Holidays together was a blast. Kenny’s birthday was so cool. But the thing you did that so impressed me was the night I went to get water at the kitchen sink and I could hear you putting the boys to bed. The way they respond to you is amazing. Your temperament and tolerance is so impressive. Rebeccah would lose patience with the boys. Before anyone knew it, she would be yelling at the boys and I had a hard time dealing with that.”

“Another great thing was your timing,” Leon continued. “That first week of November, when we met, I had pretty much hit rock bottom. You entered the picture and provided the change that was needed. The Sunday you took me fishing at the resort didn’t hurt either. I really am very much in love with you.”

“How about we go to the lake now so I can show you how much I’m in love with you?” Deana asked. “The sun should be starting to go down right about now.”

Deana was right. It was a sensational summer sunset. Leon drove to where the black top ended; to the clearing overlooking the lake. Leon and Deana kissed as their favorite song played on the radio. As the sun went down and the stars filled the sky, Deana and Leon took their clothes off and things got hot as they played in the cool Georgia water. It was a wonderful birthday for Deana.

It was finally Saturday, August 31st, 2013. The big day was upon Dothan. This celebration was going to be more than two people getting married. It was a big event and party the town desperately needed. Deana spared no expense. Even the floral arrangement on the altar was extravagant. The cake was spectacular. She wanted everything to be perfect. Deana put her heart and soul into this wedding and making it a day to truly remember.

Deana had chosen Delores to be her Maid of Honor. Leon had chosen his brother Lester to be his Best Man. It surprised Deana when earlier in the week Leon told her he wanted to write his own vows. She thought it sounded romantic, so she agreed. She was happy to see Leon starting to open up more.

In the morning Deana had her hair and nails done. She bought a brand new special perfume. She did her own make–up at home. Next, she met with Delores inside the church. Delores helped Deana into her Italian Princess wedding dress and cowgirl boots. Leon had a matching pair of cowboy boots. Deana looked radiant; she was an absolute vision.

Following the Processional, Pastor Beckmann opened the ceremony with a heartfelt welcome and introduction. He then nodded to Leon to recite his vows.

“I, Leon Samuels, take this woman, Deana, to have and to hold, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I promise to be faithful and forsake all others. If asked if I understand the sanctity of these vows, I do. If you ask me if I love this woman with all my heart, I do. If you ask me if I take Deana to be my lawfully wedded wife, I absolutely do.”

Deana started to cry. She was so overwhelmed she didn’t know how she was going to make it through her vows. “I, Deana,” she said in between sobs, “love this man with all my heart. I love when he holds me in his arms and makes me feel safe. I love when he watches me dance to the radio when I clean the kitchen. I love every minute we spend together. I will love, honor and cherish this man until death do us part. Will I, Deana, take Leon to be my lawfully wedded husband? Yes I Do!!!!”

Following their vows, Leon and Deana exchanged wedding rings.

Pastor Beckmann then declared: “By the authority vested in me by the State of Georgia, witnessed by your friends and family, I have the pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. You may now seal your vows with a kiss.”

On cue, Leon and Deana shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

Next the boys came up to the altar for the Unity Sand ceremony. There was a big heart shaped vase that was positioned in the middle of the five Samuels. Leon, Deana, Matthew, Mark and Luke had smaller vases filled with sand. Leon went first. He poured black sand from his small vase into the big vase creating its first layer. This would be the foundation. Deana went second adding a layer of white sand. Matthew went next adding blue colored sand. Mark went fourth using orange sand. Luke finished by adding a green layer from his little vase.

Pastor Beckmann explained to those in attendance the significance of the sand and how the layers represent the unique members of this family coming together as one. The center Unity vase would be sealed with wax to keep the sand safe and secure. In a few days it would permanently rest on the mantle at the Samuels’ home.

After the Unity Sand ceremony, the Recessional music began playing and Leon and Deana lead the wedding party back down the aisle and out of the sanctuary.