“Is everything okay?” Billie asked, seeing the frustration on her face.
“Yeah. I’m just nervous, that’s all. I’ve never done this before,” Dylan nervously grinned.
“Are you
sure
you still want to? ’Cause we can leave right now if you like.”
“Don’t be silly.” Dylan got up. “Come on. Let’s put on my veil.”
Dylan had decided on a cathedral veil. It complemented her one-shoulder, ribbon-detailed, dropped waist, watercolored gown perfectly.
“Look at you.” Billie stared at her in awe. “In a few minutes, you’ll be Mrs. Javier Cruz.”
“I will be, won’t I?” Dylan’s voice trembled.
“You ready?” Billie extended her arm.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Dylan linked her arm with Billie’s.
Pachelbel’s “Canon In D” serenaded the crowd while Kyrese walked down the aisle holding baby Mason in his arms. Mason was the ring bearer. Kenzie and Kaylee soon followed, dropping white rose petals along the way. Then it was Billie and Tee-Tee’s turn. The palms of Dylan’s hands were saturated with sweat as she watched them head toward the altar.
“Okay, Dylan,” Mindy smiled. “It’s that time.”
Dylan simply nodded. Before she could take another moment to breathe, the church doors swung open. All of the guests were up on their feet. Dylan didn’t even realize she’d begun to walk until she got halfway down the aisle and noticed her mother giving her the thumbs-up. Dylan ignored Candy and continued to walk. Somehow she made it to Cruz in one piece.
“You look beautiful,” Cruz whispered, taking her hand.
“Thank you,” Dylan replied, handing Tee-Tee her bouquet. He was her matron of honor.
Dylan and Cruz turned toward the priest and shook his hand. Then the ceremony began.
“Javier Nathanial,” the priest said, “will you now take Dylan Dahl here present for thy lawful wife, according to the rite of our holy Mother the Church?”
“I will,” Javier replied, proudly holding Dylan’s hand.
“Dylan Dahl,” the priest looked at Dylan, “will you now take Javier Nathanial here present for thy lawful husband, according to the rite of our holy Mother the Church?”
“I will,” Dylan’s voice cracked.
“Javier, repeat after me,” the priest continued. “I, Javier, take thee Dylan Dahl for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward.”
“I, Javier, take thee Dylan Dahl,” Cruz smiled brightly at Dylan, “for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward.”
“For better for worse,” the priest gazed down at his Bible, “for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”
“For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part,” Cruz said with all sincerity.
“Dylan, now it’s your turn.” The priest glanced up at her. “Say, I, Dylan, take thee Javier Nathanial for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward.”
Dylan didn’t know if she could do it. She began to feel faint. The entire room was spinning in a million different directions. She couldn’t even focus her gaze on Cruz.
“Dylan?” the priest said, getting her attention.
“I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?” Dylan blinked her eyes profusely, trying to regain her vision.
“Say, I, Dylan, take thee Javier Nathanial for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward,” the priest repeated.
“I . . . uh . . .” Dylan rubbed her forehead. “Dahl. I mean Dylan. Take thee Javier Cruz—”
“Nathanial,” the priest whispered.
“My bad. Uh . . . whew, it’s hot in here.” She fanned herself with her hands.
“Do you need some water?” Cruz asked, concerned.
“No, I’m fine.” Dylan shook her head. “I, Dylan, take thee Javier Nathanial . . . I’m sorry what was it again?”
“For my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward,” the priest said once more, becoming impatient.
“I swear I’m gonna get it right this time,” Dylan said with a laugh. “For my lawful husband, to have . . .”
Then the strangest thing happened. Not a single word would come out of Dylan’s mouth. She glanced to her right at Cruz. He smiled lovingly back at her, waiting for her to finish. But the words were stuck on pause in her throat. This was all wrong. He wasn’t the man she was supposed to be dedicating her life to. The man she longed for, would die for, was Angel. Not able to continue her charade any longer, Dylan looked at Cruz apologetically and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he assured her.
“No.” Dylan held her head down and began to cry. “I can’t do this.”
“What?” Cruz eyed her, confused.
“I can’t go through with this.” Her voice rose.
All of the guests gasped.
“Are you
kidding
me?” Cruz screwed up his face, heated.
“I’m so sorry.” Dylan’s bottom lip trembled as she pulled her hand away from his.
“Billie . . .” She turned to her friend. “Where is he?” Dylan referred to Angel.
“At the airport,” Billie replied in shock. “He’s heading back to California.”
“Which airline is he taking?” Dylan asked in a panic.
“American Flight 57.”
Dylan gathered the bottom of her gown in her hand and prepared to run.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Cruz’s mother blocked her path.
“This has nothin’ to do with you,” Dylan declared.
“This has
everything
to do with me. Who in the hell do you think you are?” Mrs. Cruz pointed her finger in Dylan’s face.
“Uh . . . ah, bitch!” Candy rose from her seat. “You got the wrong one! Now I would advise you to step aside or else it’s gon’ be wrestle mania up in this piece!” Candy said, ready to throw down.
Instead of waiting on Mrs. Cruz to move, Dylan pushed her out of the way. The entire congregation was in an uproar.
“One of y’all get my baby!” Dylan yelled over her shoulder.
“If you find him, you better cling to him like a Chanel bag,” Tee-Tee shouted.
“I will!” Dylan replied with a huge smile on her face.
“Dylan!” Cruz called after her. “Dylan!”
As Dylan ran at top speed, she could hear the echo of his voice behind her. But she couldn’t stop running if she tried. The love of her life at any minute was about to board a plane back to California. She couldn’t let him leave without him knowing how she truly felt.
“Well, we ain’t about to let all these flowers go to waste,” Uncle Clyde stood up. “C’mon, Hot Plate.” He extended his hand to Candy.
“Aww, Daddy, you wanna get married now?” she gushed.
“Might as well. It’s already paid for,” he shrugged.
“You always puttin’ that mind of yours to good use. C’mon, Daddy.”
Outside the church, the sun shined down on Dylan’s face. After hopping into the back of the limousine, she told the driver to head to Lambert Airport. Twenty minutes later, she ran into the airport with her veil flying in the air behind her. People were gawking and staring at her, but she didn’t care. She had to get her man. Angel held his carry-on bag in his hand. He’d just finished going through security and was putting his shoes back on when he heard a familiar voice scream his name.
“Angel!” Dylan yelled, trying to get to him, but security stopped her.
Angel stood up straight and looked at her. He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Dylan was standing there looking like an angel sent from heaven in her wedding gown.
“Let me go! I need to speak to him!” Dylan tried to break through, to no avail.
“Do you have a ticket?” the security officer asked, restraining her.
“No!” Dylan elbowed the security officer in the stomach.
“Well, then, you can’t go through!” he coughed.
“Let her go, man,” Angel insisted, walking her way.
The security officer released Dylan, then straightened his shirt as he ice-grilled her and said, “I got my eye on you.”
“What are you doing here?” Angel asked, stunned by her presence.
“I couldn’t go through with it.”
“I see.” He eyed her up and down.
“Angel,” Dylan said cautiously, “I love you too. You’re the only one for me.” Dylan broke down and cried. “And if you still want me . . .” she inhaled, “I’m yours.”
“Come here.”
Dylan stepped closer, unable to look him in the eyes.
Angel placed his index finger underneath her chin and lifted her head up. “You’re all I’ve ever wanted.”
Dylan glowed with pride. Angel took her into his arms and hugged her so tightly she could barely breathe. With her arms wrapped around his neck, Dylan planted a deep, sensual kiss on his lips. A thunderous applause resounded around them. From that moment on, they were one. The material girl had met her match, and there wasn’t anything about him that she was willing to let go.