The Best Thing I Never Had

Leslie had always loved marigolds. Their radiance and brightness. A huge part of the reason she picked this venue for the wedding was of the beautiful gazebo placed in the marigold garden. She remembered reading that marigolds represented life and vibrance but there was a dark side of the symbol as well. In other books it was said that marigolds meant death, despair and were called the flowers of grief. As she looked out over the preparations being made in the garden she almost became engulfed in this duality. The very place she picked to start the rest of her new life was supposed to be full of life and vibrance. Instead it is going to be the death of her relationship.

Leslie has always been “Little Miss Brightside.” Who else would think to celebrate the day that they should be crushed? Would anyone else really turn a life-altering event into a full-blown party? Could anyone be grateful and almost happy in finding out their potential spouse is a cheater? Before leaving the Earth, Leslie’s parents made sure that she developed her own relationship with God. They took her to church regularly, she participated in activities, she learned scriptures, she’d even read through a lot of the Bible on her own. In her adult life, she hadn’t attended church as much as she should have but she kept a prayer and study life and thanks YouTube usually found a service to attend on Sundays for that weekly word. She admittedly wasn’t “the world’s greatest Christian.” She had her flaws, made her mistakes, reflectively thinking about it, Kenny was one of them.

When she and Monise met the guys on that rooftop bar with the live music and the air being this fresh crisp summer breeze. Everyone was swaying, laughing, smiling, having a good time. Who wouldn’t have gotten caught up in the vibe of the atmosphere? It was almost magical. The stage was set - a crowded event, great music, 2 girls chatting it up at the last 4 top table in the place and 2 guys searching for a place to sit. Monise noticed them first.

“There are some cuties in the place tonight!! I don’t know Les, I’m feeling like this is the night we might meet the future Misters to our misses,” she said as she surveyed the patio. She stopped her gaze just as Leslie was about to answer her. “See, look at them,” she pointed towards the guys, “Cute and looking for seats and look what we got here … seats!!

The girls chuckled and continued enjoying the music and low-key watching the guys while making small talk. Ben noticed the seats first and came flying over to grab a chair only to find the girls already seated. “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought this table was empty. I was on the hunt for a seat!”

By the time he got to the end of his apology, Kenny had caught up and stopped midway of sitting his beer on the table. Monise was the more outgoing of the two, so while Leslie smiled politely, Monise piped up! “Good evening gentlemen. You’re free to join us if you don’t mind sitting with strangers.”

The guys sat down, introduced themselves and the rest as they say was history. Leslie noticed that Kenny kept eyeing Monise and seemed more interested in her but it was clear his homeboy was on her. They could have been at the table alone. With his attention turned to her, she decided to make the best of the evening knowing she probably wouldn’t see him again after this evening. Needless to say she was surprised a few days later when he called and they went out on a solo date because he wanted to get to know her better. She was flattered so she went.

In hindsight she’d always thought Kenny came on hard and fast. Leslie was almost instantaneously swept off her feet. As much as she was flattered, she was equally alarmed. Was this really too much too soon? It’s been the equivalent of 6 minutes (not literally) but realistically they’d only known each other a few months when he started talking about marriage.They say when you know you know but this whirlwind was a little bit unsettling, yet she chalked up it to bride jitters and a small fear of the unknown and continued to move forward. Besides, her family loved him. Even her cousins who didn’t like anybody she ever bought home seemed to be ok with him, at least they were after they gave him the brother/big cousin grillin’ and expected warnings of what happens if the little sister/baby cousin was in any way to be hurt by him. This snapped her out of her moments of thought and reflection. She’d forgotten to call her aunt and cousins!!! She sent them a text message to come to her suite as soon as they arrived because she wanted to see them before the ceremony.

About 30 minutes later she heard a knock at the door and heard her aunt’s voice saying “Why didn’t you fix your tie before now? She can’t be tying ties today! She’s the bride!” Leslie’s Aunt Jackie turned just in time to smile then abruptly stop as she saw the bride not in the gown that it took them hours to find.

“Um, Ma’am you are not dressed like someone who’s getting married today,” Aunt Jackie said as she walked in and sat down with her 3 cousins in tow.

Leslie shut the door behind her and handed a wine glass to her aunt and motioned for beers for cousins. “Well Aunt Jack … that’s why I needed you here before the ceremony started.” Leslie recanted the whole story of the mysterious envelope, her plans to seemingly go through with the wedding and the bomb she was going to drop as she got to the bottom of the aisle in a cute but clearly non-wedding dress. She wanted everything to be a shock but she was determined to party and celebrate dodging this bullet.

Her aunt shook her head in disbelief. She could see the anger welling up in her cousins and they started loosening their ties. “Listen guys. I know you love me. And I know you want to protect. But I’m not that little girl running home from the school bully anymore. I’m ok and I got this.”

Jared looked at his cousin and the anger in his eyes subsided. “Les, I love you and this is some bull …” He caught Aunt Jackie’s disapproving glance of what was about to be his word of choice. “This is some trash,” he continued, “We’re going to go with what you say because this is your day and this is what you want. But you better believe, if old boy starts looking like he feeling froggy, we leaping!! No questions asked. If he flinches or bats an eye, it’s on.” His brothers Jeff and Jason nodded in agreement.

“Ok Baby if you are sure this is what you want. Then we will oblige. Do you still want the boys to give you away?”

Leslie thought for a moment, “We’ll keep part of the plan. I want Jeff to walk you down Aunt Jackie. If Aunt Brenda is still coming, Jay you can walk her down. Jared, you can still walk me. I’ll need your strength. Also, when I start to talk, stand off to the side but don’t go too far away. Monise already knows my distress signal. She’ll let you know when I need you to stand by or behind me. I love you all. I wish this day was all of the feels we were expecting but I appreciate you for having my back and being here for me.”

Leslie blotted tears as she hugged her family. The guys left and Aunt Jackie stayed to help the non-bride get dressed.

“30 minutes until non-show time!” Her coordinator said as she popped her head into the room. Samantha, the wedding coordinator, was shocked like everyone else but did what was necessary to see to it that this non-wedding was going to go off without any other hitch. “Alright ladies. I’m going to round up the bridesmaids and on my next trip up, it’s time to go!” The ladies nodded as she dashed out the door.

“Well Aunt Jack, this is it. Today your baby girl takes a whole new step into womanhood!”