chapter Thirty-Eight
LaSalle & Tasha
LaSalle
The women in my life are amazing. My family’s home has been transformed into something I don’t even recognize. White and gold roses are everywhere. I mean the roses look as if they have literally been dipped in gold.
I was impressed when my mother helped Bobby throw his wedding together at the last minute, but this is astounding. The fabric and lighting. The mini orchestra in the balcony.
None of it is overly done. I think that’s what’s astounding. It looks as if a royal wedding is about to take place. It has been done with a grace and class that speaks so much of the woman I’m about to marry.
My chest swells as my little girls come down the aisle first. They whined all night about wanting one of Mo-mo’s hairstyles. Of course, they got their wish. They are both sporting those flat twists, with buns on top.
I haven’t seen them this happy in so long. I was shocked when Jessica asked if I was buying a new house for our new family. However, it opened the conversation and my girls are both excited for new rooms and a new backyard.
Tasha reassured me that Sammy would be able to make the adjustment as well, with her help. We decided to look for a new house and move into it gradually to see if he indeed handles it well. The idea of a new house sits right with me.
Once again, I shake my head at how things are all falling into place. My children are adjusting. I feel whole for once in my life and…Oh, God, I can’t breathe.
She is so gorgeous. I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but she is the most beautiful bride in the world. Tasha’s hair is all pulled back away from her face, sitting high on her head. It’s most fitting that she has a crown on her head.
Her shoulders are bare, the bodice of her dress clinging to her full breast and tapering her waist. Her hips are outlined to perfection by soft lace, as yards and yards of fabric trails behind her.
As she gets closer, I see that the dress is designed to look as if her arms and shoulders are bare. The sheer fabric just gives way to the lacey design of the dress providing fabric where there looks to be none, like between her breasts.
Tasha chose to have Czar walk her down the aisle, much to her father’s embarrassment and displeasure. I honestly think she made the right choice. The glow on her face as she looks up at her brother, when he stops to hand her to me says so much.
“She means the world to me, LaSalle,” Czar says, while looking me in the eyes.
“She means that and more to me,” I reply.
Czar nods and places her small hand in mine. I only have eyes for her. Nothing else around me matters at this moment.
There are over three hundred people here, but I only see her. I can hear my heart singing her name. Everything is so much clearer now. This is a different love.
“Everything about you is beautiful. My love for you knows no limits,” I whisper for her ears only.
~B~
Tasha
This man is going to make me ruin my makeup. I haven’t been standing before him for two seconds and he is about to make me cry big old fat tears. I’m blown away by the love I see in his eyes.
LaSalle places his hands on my waist and presses his forehead to mine. “We’re ready,” he tells the officiant.
I giggle and smile up at him as we move through our ceremony connected as one. At one point, I reach to rub his back. It has to ache. I’m not nearly as tall as he is, but he refuses to break our connection. Even as we recite the vows we wrote last night.
It is only when we place the rings on each other’s fingers that he breaks the connection. When I hold my hand out to LaSalle, Sammy rounds his father and takes my hand from him. We both look down at him curiously.
“Now,” Sammy says simply, as he removes the ring he placed there, what seems so long ago.
LaSalle watches his son, shaking his head and laughs. Pulling Sammy into his side, he reaches to move the engagement ring he gave me a week ago to my other hand, before placing the wedding band in place.
When we are announced man and wife, LaSalle pulls me into him. “Mrs. Locatelli, finally,” he whispers, then kisses my breath away.
When we come up for air, I stare up at my husband lovingly. “The world’s in trouble now,” I smirk.
“Yes, it is,” LaSalle winks. “LaSalle and Tasha are here to stay.”
~B~
LaSalle
Our first dance. I told Tasha I wanted to pick this one. She has set so many important moments in our relationship to the perfect soundtrack. I wanted to pick this song.
I pinch her chin between my fingers, as I look into her big brown orbs. The song starts to play and I see her eyes water. This song is exactly how I feel. It says everything I want to say. I peck her lips and we begin to sway to, Say You Won’t Let Go, by James Arthur.
“Tell me you won’t let go,” I whisper to her as I place my forehead to hers.
“Not even after I let go of my last breath,” she whispers back.
“I was dying, Baby. I was dying inside and you came for me.”
“I’ve always been here. We were always going to end up here. I get it now,” she replies.
I nod and swallow. “Is that what your letter this morning said too?”
Tasha nods. “She was something special. To see all of this. Her words were a mix of joy and sadness.”
“But today is yours. It belongs to us. We have to let go of the past. Sam and Monique are two very different people. She wrote to guide them, not us. I think LaSalle and Tasha are capable of making their own way,” I say as my heart swells with love.
“I know they are. Trust me, LaSalle. I may surprise you,” she says with a little conspiratorial smile.
I give her a crooked grin. “You surprise me every day. It’s my turn to surprise you.”
“I can’t wait,” she purrs.