Chapter Thirty-Four
Michael
After roughly an hour of having photos taken, the wedding party was directed to an area in the center of the room. As we walked through the reception area, I was shocked by what I saw. The gathering of people was unlike anything I’d ever seen, or imagined, for that matter.
To describe the event as overwhelming would be an understatement.
Seated at a special table reserved for the wedding party, I glanced around the massive room. The elegantly dressed crowd, all eager to share our special moment with us, looked back at me.
For that moment, I wasn’t a gunrunner, a criminal, or a member of the Mafia.
I was a part of something unexplainable.
“You alright, brother?” Cap asked.
I took a sip of wine and nodded. “I’m good.”
“You look overwhelmed.”
I was. “No. I’m good.”
He patted me on the shoulder. “Quite a shindig.”
I nodded, but didn’t offer a response. After taking a moment to absorb the crowd, I looked at Terra. “Is this typical for a wedding? This many people?”
She shrugged and then leaned toward me. “I don’t know. There’s a lot, huh?”
I chuckled. “There is.”
Anthony stepped to the end of our table, raised his wineglass, and tapped a fork against it a few times. With everyone’s attention on him, he cleared his throat.
“I’ll keep this brief.” He looked at Terra, smiled, and then looked at me. A quick nod of his head, and he shifted his eyes to the crowd. “A father wants a man to marry his daughter who shares his beliefs, his wisdom, and his ability to provide unconditional love. So many fathers settle for less, and live a life to regret it.”
He glanced at me, and then raised his eyes to the crowd. “I was fortunate. The man who married my daughter is not a man who resembles me, he’s better than me. Yeah, you heard correctly. He’s better than me. Tonight, he committed to God, and to the Church, to cherish her for a lifetime. I know he’ll fulfill that promise, because he’s man of integrity, honor, and moral value.
“My guess is that most men, on a night like tonight, would be joyful. But, in that joy, there’d be a little sadness. Sadness for losing their only daughter. For me, it’s different. There is no sadness, because I didn’t lose a daughter, I gained a son.”
My heart swelled to twice its size. Hearing those words being spoken to the crowd meant the world to me.
He gazed down at the floor, and after a short pause, seemed overcome with emotion. He looked up and raised his glass. “I couldn’t be any prouder. Salute!”
Glasses raised and we took a drink in agreement.
He waved toward the table. “Now, the maid of honor and the best man have something to say.”
Michelle glanced at Terra, smiled, and then looked out at the crowd as she stood. “When Terra told me about Michael, I laughed. I laughed because I knew her father wouldn’t like him. I knew the relationship wouldn’t last, and I knew he couldn’t be as perfect as she’d described him. Well, I was wrong, I was wrong, and I was wrong.
“Terra and I have been friends since we were in kindergarten. We used to talk about boys, and as we grew older, the discussions changed to men. We decided, and it wasn’t that long ago, that all men were assholes, and we’d never meet one who was worth our time.
“Well, I was wrong again. All a person has to do is wait until the right one comes along. And, the right one came along for Terra. I couldn’t be happier for her, for him, or for her family. Salute!”
Again, glasses were raised.
Cap stood. “Fallin’ in love ain’t something we plan, it just happens. When it does, it changes us, and we don’t always see it. When Tripp fell in love with Terra, he didn’t see it, but I did.
“I asked him what was goin’ on. He said nothin’. I asked him what was on his mind. He said nothin’. But something was on his mind, and something had changed. Didn’t take me long to figure it out.
“After I did, I told him I wanted to meet her. You see, ol’ Tripp and me go way back. We’re as close as two men could ever be, and I look at him as a brother, a father, and a son, all wrapped into one. I needed to meet the girl that stole his heart, and find something wrong with her, so I could point it out to him. That way, I could make him see how bad he was fuckin’ up by being with her.”
He looked at Anthony. “Can I say that? ‘Fuckin’ up’?”
Anthony raised his index finger, but Sal answered before Anthony had a chance to speak. “You’re doing fine, Cap.”
Cap grinned. “So anyway, we set up a meeting. I was prepared to pick Terra apart, and point out all her faults to Tripp. Well, after we met, I came up with nothin’. Now that didn’t mean she was perfect, it just meant I hadn’t found anything yet. But I didn’t give up. I kept an eye on her, and paid attention to everything she did, and everything she said.”
He glanced at Terra, shook his head, and then looked at the crowd. “Well, I’m still waitin’ on her to fuck up. I’m thinking that one of these days she will, but she hasn’t yet. When that day comes, I’ll be watching. But, I won’t say anything to Tripp, I’ll just store it in my vault. She keeps my man Tripp on his toes, and she keeps him in line. And, anyone that can keep that man in line deserves recognition for doin’ so.
“I couldn’t be happier with them deciding to get married, because it gives Tripp a reason to keep on livin’ life. And, with a man like a Tripp in our lives, life’s worth livin’. That’s all I got. I’m droppin’ this mic.” He raised his glass. “Salute.”
At that moment, that exact moment, the permanency of everything sank in.
And, my heart swelled with pride.