For someonewho wasn’t interested in marriage a little over a year ago, most would say our wedding and reception were over-the-top, . . . and they wouldn’t be wrong. I’d fallen in love with my person, and I only planned to get married once, so I went all out.
As I looked around at my family, friends, and coworkers enjoying the food, music, and drinks, I couldn’t stop smiling. It took a lot to get to this day, and the relief I felt now that we’dmade it was almost overwhelming. We were celebrating more than just becoming one.
Stokely graduated fromPrairie View A&M Universitya few months ago and officially moved back to Black Elm. He enrolled in graduate school at BEU to obtain a masters degree in sports management. Since Knox hadn’t sold his condo, he let Stokely move in and only required him to pay utilities.
It had been four long years without my baby boy in the same city, and having him home again was something I didn’t know I needed. He enjoyed being back home with his family and his good friends from high school. He also took being Knixon’s big brother seriously, and she had him wrapped around her fingers.
“You look happy,” my mother said.
“I’m not just happy, Ma. I’m fulfilled. I found what was missing in my life. That conversation we had all those months ago really changed my perception.”
“I know. I could tell the moment the light bulb went off, and I’m glad you weren’t too hardheaded to listen.”
“There’s my baby girl. Can I still call you that now that you’re married?” my father asked before kissing my forehead.
“Daddy, if you stop, it will break my heart. I’ll always be your baby girl.”
“I know, and I told Knox exactly that when he asked for your hand in marriage.”
“You did?”
“I sure did, along with a few other things to let him know what will happen if he hurts you.”
“Daddy, did you threaten my husband?”
“No. He wasn’t your husband then.”
The three of us laughed as Knox approached.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“Nothing much. I was just telling Skye about the conversation we had when you asked for our blessing,” my father told him.
“Oh yeah. Your pops threatened to kill me. He showed me the gun he’d use to do it too.”
I gasped. “Daddy, please tell me he’s kidding.”
“Hey, baby. I think that’s our song,” my father said, taking my mother’s hand and whisking her away.
“Did he rea?—”
“Yeah, baby, he did. I’m not worried, because we’re in this shit for life. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
We kissed passionately and would’ve gotten away if I hadn’t felt someone hugging my waist. Our lips parted, and I looked down to find Knixon wiggling her way between us, but she faced me.
“Mama Skye, since you married my daddy, can I just call you Mama?”
Knixon probably didn’t understand the magnitude of her request, but it brought me to tears and left me speechless for a moment.
“You want to call me Mama?” I asked, fighting back tears.
“Can I, please?”
“Of course, baby. I would love it if you called me Mama.”
She hugged my waist again and ran off like she hadn’t just filled my heart with so much joy, gratitude, and love.