Prado paused behind his brother, hugging his mother.

“I like the leopard-print jacket, Ma. Dad, must have cost you out the ass…”

They shared a chuckle.

Samuel said, “I’m glad you’re my best man.”

Prado hugged him. “I’m glad to be here, bruh.”

Samuel pats his back. “Thank you…”

“No problem, bruh.”

Prado, hiding his hurt, looked his brother over.

I’m not happy about this at all. Francine, good bye. I will always love you.

When Francine appeared, clad in the most gorgeous dress known to man, everyone rose to their feet with applause.

Prado refused to look at her. He stared ahead, holding his breath. He refused to take another breath of air.

He wanted to die.

Samuel’s breath caught in his throat. That wasn’t the same dress he’d just seen her wear.

Samuel’s mother, Mrs. Lester, held her pearls. His father smiled. “She’s wearing my dress,” said Mrs. Lester. “And she looks amazing in it.”

“No, honey,” said Mr. Lester, eyeing Samuel with a secret smile that made his heart flutter. “She looks better than you ever did in that dress.”

Looking into Samuel’s joyous eyes, she stamped Mr. Lester’s foot and he frowned in pain.

“Watch it. Or I won’t spank you while you suck my high heels…” she whispered conspiratorially.

Samuel said, wanting to puke, “Ma…not here,” with a smile, looking at his father coyly.

Prado closed his eyes.

Francine smiled, her hair in a series of curls. She retouched her make-up. Nothing was overdone. She wiped half the shit off her face.

Lord knew her heart hammered with both anticipation and excitement for what she was about to do. She made a last minute decision to wear Mrs. Lester’s dress.

After all it was in the back of the guest closet. She remembered Mrs. Lester had it cleaned and, once it was done, she called Francine and asked her to pick it up from the cleaners.

Francine had done so, but when she got to Mrs. Lester’s house she wasn’t home. So she put it in the guest room closet.

Now she looked radiant. Nowhere on her face was any sign that she’d just whipped her Mama’s ass.

Nowhere did it say Chandra was pregnant with Samuel’s baby.

Prado turned to face Francine.

He smiled so big he couldn’t stand it.

She’s wearing Mama’s dress.

She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Wow. Prado looked at Samuel and slapped palms with him.

I can’t believe God let this angel escape heaven. Looking at her turns me to mist. I just want to envelope Paris, and touch the metal of the Eiffel Tower.

God, I want to be Moscow while she becomes my Kremlin!

“She is gorgeous,” Prado said.

Samuel couldn’t wait for the honey moon. Mr. Lester noticed no one walked her down the aisle.

Before he could, Prado walked past him and up to Francine.

Samuel smiled.

“Since your Dad isn’t here, mind if I walked you down the aisle?” Prado asked, kissing her hand.

She said, “Sure. I can’t wait to become Mrs. Lester.”

Prado respected her decision.

He had to let her go.