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It was a beautiful Fall day. Gentle breeze with just enough sun to keep you warm. No need to worry about the warmth though since the pool was kept at 82 degrees year ‘round so Devin and her father could get their race on.
They stood at the far edge of the pool while Dargon sat casually on the edge of a teak lounge chair.
“Ready, set, go!” he yells as he blows a whistle.
They dive into the water and get to it.
Dahni, Devin and Dargon’s sister, jumps up in bed at the whistle blow. “Devin and her damn daddy.” she growls swinging her legs to the side of the bed revealing a body made for pleasure of which she had plenty.
At the pool, Devin and her father, Roman, are racing as if their life depended on it. Devin’s mother is at the end of the pool cheering them on while her brother, Duke, and best friend, Angelique cheer along the sidelines.
1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2…
Devin counts off in her head determined to win as her father strokes along side her with long, powerful strokes.
Two seconds before Roman is about to win he noticeable slacks off allowing Devin to win. She touches the end and pulls herself up on the edge of the pool.
“You got me. You got me!” Roman says with barely a pant.
“It’s okay daddy. I know you let your baby girl win.”
Roman pulls himself out of the water where his wife is waiting with a towel to dry him off.
Devin grins and kisses her mother. “Love you mommy dearest."
“Mommy dearest?????”
“Just jokes mom. Just jokes. You know you’re the best thing since Spanx.”
Roman and Constance beam with pride as they laugh. Devin rushes over and tackles Dargon on the lounge chair. “Did you see me whoop daddy again? That’s five times in a row!”
She takes the glass out of Dargon’s hand and drinks from it while she leans on him.
“Devin, please. It’s your wedding day baby. We have lots to do to get you ready.” says her mother.
Dahni comes out of the patio doors wearing heels with fur on the tops and a shorty robe. “Explain to me why you have to use a whistle this early in the morning? Sheesh!” She walks past Duke. Duke pokes her in the side. She slaps at Duke and he moves out of the way.
“Early to you would keep a man poor.” Says their father.
Dahni shoots him an insulant glare.
“What are you wearing?” She rolls her eyes at her father.
“Same thing I wear everyday. Whatever I want to wear.” She goes to sit on a lounge chair arranging her shorty robe just so.
Angelique walks over and grabs Devin’s hand. “Come on! Let’s get you cute!” She pulls Devin up and as they pass by Dahni, she stoops down quickly and kisses her on the cheek singing “It’s my wedding day, it’s my wedding day!”
Dahni smiles a little but says, “Ugh! Grow up! You gotta stop sounding like you’re three with that sing song mess!”
Their parents shoot Dahni warning glances.
“Why you so evil all the time?” asks Duke.
Dargon is watching the entire exchange. He lifts his glass and takes another drink while Devin is shuffled into the house by her mother and best friend. Dahni gets up and follows them giving her father an evil look on her way in.
Roman stares without an expression on his face while chewing the inside of his lip. Dargon notices. “You ready to give her away?”
Just then Ramsey walks through the patio doors and heads their way. Duke sits up straight.
“Unc...you have a few calls and emails you need to return before we head over to the church.” says Ramsey.
“I need you boys to ride with me in thirty minutes.” Says Roman to his sons.
“Where are we going this early Daddy?” asks Duke.
“Wherever the hell I want you to go.”
Roman walks into the house followed closely by Ramsey. Dargon’s eyes are tight. His dislike of Ramsey obvious. Duke doesn’t say anything.
“That coon’s day is coming.” mumbles Dargon.
“Let it go Dargon. Ramsey ain’t going nowhere. He’s our God brother.
“Exactly. He’s our God brother. NOT our brother.”
Jayshawn is in the mirror getting dressed. It’s his wedding day after all. He spins around happy as hell and pays close attention to his eyebrows. They usually grow as one but he knows Devin hates that so he’s had them threaded just right for his bride-to-be whom he loves more than life. He can’t believe this day is here and it shows in everything he does. He’s ecstatic. Giddy beyond reason. Smiling a big, huge smile while buttoning his shirt wanting everything to be perfect for his Devin.
See…a relationship like theirs wasn’t supposed to happen. Her father was a United States Senator and his? Well…he didn’t even know the sonofabitch but hey…it’s all good.
He was ready for a lifetime with Devin. He knew the challenges ahead of them and, to be honest, he was ready. His club had taken off due his uncanny knowledge of what was hot and Devin’s MBA had already helped him put together a business plan for a club in every major market. With her by his side…there wasn’t a thing he couldn’t do. Life was good and this was the happiest day of his life bar none.
“Say bruh…you want a drink?” His best friend, Neil, was holding a flask.
“Neil I know you are NOT getting wasted on my wedding day.”
“Um…OPEN.BAR. That’s all I gotta say.”
“Dude…seriously…do NOT embarrass me. Devin will kill us.”
“Naw…she’ll kill you. Not me. You.”
Neil walked out of the bathroom and Jayshawn followed.
“You know Devin’s people are froo-froo. Get drunk afterwards okay? On me.”
“On you?” Neil looked at Carnegie. “You heard that right? We get to get drunk ON HIM.”
Carnegie laughs. “Yes. I heard. I’ll be your witness this once Neil.”
They were laughing when the doorbell rang.
“Da hell?”
“You expecting someone?”
“Just Que and you know he just walks in.”
Jayshawn goes to the door. He visibly stiffens as he looks through the peephole and opens the door.
Standing there are Roman, Ramsey, Dargon and Duke.
Jayshawn steps back and allows them to enter. His face is passive wondering what the hell.
“Sir…”
“Nice to see you again Jayshawn.” says Roman.
Dargon and Duke nod. Ramsey does nothing.
“Well…I can’t say I was expecting to see you before the wedding.” says Jayshawn.
“Wedding? Is there a wedding today?”
Duke looks uncomfortable. Dargon speaks to Neil and Carnegie and takes a seat in an armchair.
Jayshawn says nothing.
“Ramsey. Did you know there was a wedding today?”
Ramsey says nothing.
“What’s this all about?” says Jayshawn.
“You don’t know this but I’m going to be President of the United States one day. Hell…if Barack can do it…so can I. Because of this I have to have all of my i’s dotted and t’s crossed and, in doing a routine background check on you I found a whole lot of nonsense I can’t get past and neither could the voting public.”
“All a background check would find on me would be juvenile charges. I’m not a criminal. Sure…I did some bad things as a kid but I was a kid.”
“Ah…but could you say the same about Quentin?”
Silence.
“My brother isn’t the one marrying Devin. I am.”
“When you marry someone…you marry their family. I’m sorry…but Quentin simply can’t be a part of my family.”
“Devin loves Quentin.”
“And I love Devin. Quentin simply can’t be a part of my family as this report proves.” he tosses a file onto the coffee table.
No one moves.
“Quentin is currently involved in a job that could put him away for life. All I need to do is make a call and the trail will be lit. I don’t have time to pussy foot with you because you’re smart enough to recognize where this is going. You can’t show up today because Quentin can NOT be a part of my family. You simply can NOT marry Devin. To make it easier on you here is a check for $450,000 which my business manager tells me should be enough to open your clubs in Chicago and Miami as well as pay Quentin’s bail bond when he gets picked up for something ridiculous.”
Ramsey puts the check on top of the report.
“Sir…I understand why you…”
“No. You don’t. You dare think you can sit at the table with my family? A family born from the original talented tenth? You dare think your thuggish ass family would EVER be able to call us family? Never. You have the audacity of hope right? WRONG.”
Silence.
“This isn’t up for discussion. Devin was foolish enough to spend her trust on this wedding and that’s a lesson learned. Show up and Quentin is in jail for life within the hour.”
Ramsey opens the door.
Roman walks out followed by a very nervous Duke. Dargon sits for a few seconds and walks out behind them leaving the door open.
Jayshawn continues standing.
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