“Marry in haste,
repent in leisure,” my Aunt Martha said as she fluffed my veil. “I
swear, you look a treat, Sammie!”
“Thanks, Auntie
M,” I said, hugging her.
I adjusted the
wreath of flowers on my head, gazing at myself in the mirror. My hair
was a mess, but the veil was gorgeous. Martha was making it for me
from silk flowers and lace. It was lovely. My dress was still being
made, so I stood there modeling it in jeans and a T-shirt.
“Just gotta ask
again, Sammie. Are you sure about this boy?”
“Very sure,
Auntie. RJ's fantastic. You'll love him. Mama loves him.”
“Well, just
cause my baby sister likes somebody, don't mean I will.”
“He's the best.
Honest!”
“Didn't you say
that about what's his name? The carpenter?”
I couldn't look at
myself anymore. “Yeah. But I was wrong as can be about Bobby. This
is different, Auntie.”
“And you said
that about that policeman.”
I sighed. She had
a point. I'd said that about Tom too. Let's face it, my experience
with men isn't all that great. My record relationship so far is this
one with RJ. We've been dating four months and are getting married in
six weeks. At least that's the plan, provided something doesn't come
along to screw it up.
“My point is,”
she continued. “Sammie Jean, you ain't got the best track record of
any girl. You fall in love too easy. You get your heart all trampled
on and then regret like crazy you ever hooked up with that lunatic
man in the first place. You sure this ain't another time like the
last...twelve?”
“Not twelve,
Auntie. Just two.”
“Seems like a
lot more than two. Didn't you almost marry that florist fella?”
I'd forgotten
about Dean the florist. Good grief, I'd forgotten half a dozen men
I'd dated too. She had a point, damn close to twelve. I hadn't been
engaged to them all, but RJ was the third. Or was it the fourth? But
the only one who'd got so far as setting a date and buying the
material for a dress. Mama was sewing that, Auntie M. was making the
veil. My Aunt Tessa was making the bouquets and Aunt Mamie the cake.
My mama's got a bunch of sisters and they're all good at different
things.
“This time, for
sure! I'm really positive about RJ.”
Her eyes looked
sad and I knew she was thinking of some other guy I'd said that
about. She thought I was gonna back out again—like I'd always done
before.
“Can't help
thinkin' a man who'll propose and get married real fast—he ain't
reliable, Sammie Jean. I feel like I'm wasting precious time making
something for a wedding that ain't ever gonna be.”
“You're not
wasting your time, Auntie. This time, for sure! I love RJ so much!
He's real special. And I know I've said that a million times before,
but this time for sure! Wait until you meet him. He's coming by at
seven for dinner.”
“I guess we're
all expected?”
I nodded, taking
the wreath of flowers off my head.
“Well, I reckon
I can give a few minutes.”
We spent the rest
of the afternoon working on wedding plans and cooking dinner. RJ was
right on time. My aunts were all in the living room waiting for him
to arrive. He knocked on the door and you'd think someone lit a fire
under those women. They lined up in birth order to meet him: Martha,
Tessa, Mamie and my mother, Reanne. I felt like making a drum roll
when I opened up that door.
RJ walked in, gave
me a kiss and turned to see that room full of females. He's real good
looking, dark brown hair and big green eyes. He wears a real diamond
stud in his left ear. That surprised my mama some, but she didn't
complain. I introduced him to my aunts.
“Wait a second,”
Martha said loudly. “You're that doctor, aren't ya?”
“Yes, ma'am.
Sure am! I work at the Emergency Room.”
“You sewed up my
boy when he cut his foot,” Aunt Tessa said with a grin.
“And you took
the splinter outta my neighbor's eye,” Aunt Mamie said.
“This is who
you're gonna marry?” Aunt Martha asked.
“Yup, Auntie.
This is RJ.”
“Well, baby
darlin'. You forget everything your auntie said and just go on and be
happy.”
RJ wasn't quite
sure what to think, but he took it all in stride. He charmed those
aunts of mine and had them about eating outta his hand before dinner
was done.
After he went
home, Aunt Martha took me aside and gave me a hug. “Baby girl, you
did good.”
“Thanks,
Auntie.”
“I take back all
the bad I said. You're gonna do just fine.”
“Thanks,
Auntie.”
“One thing
though, you gonna let him wear that earring?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Well then, he
better get you a ring at least twice that big, or it's gonna be
competition,” she declared as she walked out the door.
I sat down on the
couch and couldn't stop laughing. Finally, I'd found a man that
everyone loved just as much as me.
©
2018 Dellani Oakes
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