"Esteban" my body is being pushed. As hard as I try it breaks through the comfort of my sleep.

"Yes" I groan

"Get up man you are getting married today" I hear my father. "He doesn't seem too excited" Mr. Baptiste adds. That wakes me. The last thing I want is for him to get the wrong idea and think I am playing with his daughter.

"Well I heard that he was treated to the Crew tradition last night-" I interrupted my father "Hey wait nope" I put my hand out and shook my "Mr. Baptiste it wasn't what you think I promised." I make a cross over my heart like I'm ten years old. I want him to know I am not lying but I don't want him to know that Remi fulfilled the tradition either.

"Stop looking so sick, I heard Carmen and Remi talking about it when she walked in the house this morning" Mr. Baptiste nudges my dad and both bend over laughing.

"I exhale" my dad shakes my shoulder "Dominica is a good wife, to make a way for you to enjoy the Cultures tradition.". I feel a firmer grip on my other shoulder " Make sure that Cherry is the only stripper you deal with from now on" Mr. Baptiste warns me. "I'm more than happy with my wife" I raise my hands in surrender.

Mr. Baptiste and my Dad leave my room laughing "C'mon Ban, we have coffee, and the barber is here." I pick up my cell and see it's only 9:00 a.m. I got five hours of sleep. I guess that will do. I grab a coffee from the kitchen, and my barber and all of my groomsmen fill my apartment. I can tell my men are excited.

'Where is Rico Jr. I ask Rico." looking for my little ring bearer. "Somewhere chasing after your princess" he laughs "He is with his mom, and she is with Remi" I nod.

I grew my hair out over the last few months to try out a different look, my barber hooks me right up, and my hair is cut close in the back and sides but the top is longer, he has styled it going back and it shows off all my natural waves.

"Good work my man" I dap him up. One by one he tightens up my crew as we get ready.

I hear my cell phone but can't find it. Carlos hands it to me. I look and see Remi's number. I answered, "Good morning my Love". I can't believe how much I miss her right now. "Hi Babe" she is upset about something. I can hear it in her voice. "What's wrong?" I ask and wait patiently. She is quiet but I hear Lani "C'mon Dominica stop crying," and Merci" It's going to be okay, we promise." Now I'm on alert.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I'm confused. "Of course I want to have the wedding." "No, I mean to be married and everything," something has happened, I left my wife happy last night. "You know I want to do this, "I hear the uncertainty in her voice.

" Baby you do remember we are already married, it's a done deal, but let me ask you, are you sure you want to do this?" I pose the question to her.

"Yes" I hear her sigh

"Are you nervous?" I ask " Maybe a little bit, I mean whose Idea was it to invite 500 people." she asks me, I hear her giggle and know she is okay.

"I love you Mrs. Navarro" Now I'm starting to feel emotional "I love you back Commander Navarro," she says " I love it when you call me that, make sure to say later when I have you-" I hear a throat clear and look up. Realizing I am still in the presence of all my men and our fathers. I hear my wife laughing

"Bye nasty," she says and hangs up in my face.

***

I can't believe I'm finally standing here waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle. I smile watching my baby girl walk down the aisle dropping rose petals and smiling brightly at everyone. My daughter has personality and confidence even at four years old, she commands attention. Makes it to the end of the Aisle and walks over to Estefania and the other bridesmaids.

Cannon D plays and our guest stands. I see Mr. Baptiste and Remi slowly walk down the aisle. I hear the photographers taking photos and the awes and murmurs as Remi walks past the guest.

Remi is breathtaking, she designed her dress, her version of a traditional ball gown. All lace and tulle off the shoulder showing off her smooth skin, the bodice is fitted to her waist, and made of lace and, the bottom is tulle, classic elegance. Her veil is covering her face but I can only imagine how beautiful she looks.

We haven't said a word and my eyes are misty. I can see now that she has slimmed down more than the five pounds she keeps telling me. I understand why, she is a vision, my mocha princess.

Mr. Baptiste Kisses her cheek and gives me her hand, we stand before the priest and begin our ceremony. The church is quiet as the Priest says to speak now or forever hold your peace. I heard the Uzi's from both of our Crews stand to attention daring anyone to speak.

" I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride" I have been waiting months to hear those words, I lift her veil and look into her eyes. The tears I've been holding back fall, Remi wipes them away looking deep into my soul. I see hers fall.

She got us here is all I can think as I lean in to kiss her, I am grateful, and I keep our kiss pg, she warned me a thousand times. And then it was her who didn't want to end the kiss. As we parted she told me she loved me and I knew it and could feel it, my tears let her know I loved her back, reaching to wipe my face again" You gotta stop crying people gonna think I forced you up here" she made our entire wedding party and half the church laugh.

" May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Esteban Gabriel Navarro. The church erupted with applause. My bride and I walked down the aisle. It was the best feeling.

After almost two hours of pictures, we made it to our reception. After dinner we danced with our parents and Mr. Baptiste and Remi had everyone in the place tearing up as they danced to Stevie Wonder Isn't She Lovely. 

 The way that Mr. Baptiste looked at her and held his daughter. I knew how much he loved her and treasured her. He leaned down and said something to her and Remi stopped, wrapped her arms around him hugged him, and cried. While he swayed his baby girl, he let his emotions run freely.

After the dances my wife excused herself, I figured she needed a moment to get herself together before our dance, which would start the party. Can't start a party crying. I walked over and talked to my groomsman.

Then a hush fell over the crowd, I turned to survey the room and stopped breathing. My wife walked towards me in a black spaghetti strap, plunging V-neck, silky dress that hugged all her curves, the spaghetti straps made me question how her size d's were not spilling out,  while Daniel Cesar sang our song Get You, she grabbed my hand and led me to the middle of the dance floor, the same way I did when we shared our first dance.

I was speechless as I took in the vixen in front of me. The updo from earlier was let down and those big soft curls that I love fell to her shoulders. We danced, getting lost in the moment, getting lost in us. All I heard was the music as I noticed she still had that sparkle in her eyes.

We danced the night away. It was truly a celebration of love and family. Remi and I sat together for a moment and watched Rico Jr. dance with Estebana, she was finally acknowledging his presence. "They are the future," I told Remi. "I know I hope whoever she does this life with looks at her the way Rico Jr. does, the way you look at me," she said leaning over to kiss me. And handed me a folded piece of paper.

"Aww you giving me love notes" I teased her as I opened it to read what it said.

"I didn't want you to miss it this time" was written at the top. It took me a minute to grasp what I was looking at when it hit me. I looked at my woman, the mother of my children. "How far-" I asked, staring at the picture "Seven weeks" Remi held in my hand." Are you okay with this, we didn't discuss it" She looked nervous, so I confessed. "Truthfully I have wanted to get you pregnant since we met" Her eyes grew wide "Esteban" she pinched my arm

"What? All the sex we have, when is the last time I wore a condom or pulled out." I told the truth. She was quiet, "I never took any birth control. I wonder why it happened now." her question made us stop to reflect.

"Destiny" I finally said. Just then Estebana joined us and pulled both our hands to dance with her, the three of us hit the floor. I did it, I manifested all the things that I wanted. Legitimate businessman, husband, father, and family.

After The Summer of Bullets, I felt my destiny slip away. It removed Remi-Blu from my life but ultimately it brought us back together. The Summer that changed us also sealed our destinies and led me to be a better man. A man no longer willing to risk it all, because looking at the sparkle in my wife's eyes I knew I already had it all.