Marquise

“You up bro?” Besides, my brothers spent the night down the hall.

“I’m up.” I answer stretching my arms above my head. I roll my head over and inhale her pillow. She always smells so good. Either the Baby Phat perfume I bought her, or the Beautiful Day body spray from Bath and Body Works. Fuck, I miss her, and it has been less than twenty-four hours.

“What time do we have to be at the church?” Prince asks me, as we head towards the kitchen.

“Ten.” I answer, going towards the coffee pot. It’s not that I need it to stay awake or even to get ready for this. No. I need the coffee to get my mind off of the fact that my cock is hungry for his morning meal. I hear Baron chuckle as I sit.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. I just remember when it was me and Frannie a few months ago. I was the same way. Remember. The wedding was at ten because I didn’t want to wait. '' Nodding my head, I chuckle.

I remember Frannie and him a little spat at the rehearsal dinner as she told him her schedule for the following morning. Basically, the wedding was supposed to happen at three in the afternoon. My brother was not for it. He wanted this over and with his ring on her finger. So, he called the minister and told him there had been a mix up and to be at the church at nine and the wedding was to happen at 10. Needless to say, he got his way. I thought he was crazy. Who cares what time it happens as long as it does? Well, now I know. Shit. I should have insisted it happen at eight. I get up from the stool as the doorbell rings.

“Mr. Roades?”

“Yes?” All four of us answer. We look at each other and begin to laugh. It reminds us of when we were boys and it always happened this way. The man on the other side of the door looks confused and begins to fidget.

“May I ask who you are?” I ask him, getting impatient, though it is not entirely with him.

“Sir, I am here to deliver the Tuxes. As well as the gift you requested to be customized.”

“Ah. Yes. Please.” I open the door wider and let him in. He steps through the threshold and hands me the white satin bag holding the gift for my Goddess. The only thing I have left to give her. The part of me I wouldn’t allow myself to share until the very moment I was faced with losing her. I hope she loves it as much as I love her. Excusing myself from the room, I walk back to my bedroom to write the note that goes with this gift.

My Goddess. My love. My destiny. The holder of my heart, my life, and my daughter. The day I finally told you what haunts my mind and burns my heart, I expected you to walk away after knowing the darkness that lives inside of me. Instead, you stood and stripped yourself bare in more ways than one, before telling me that you were mine to do with as I please. You said you trusted me with your life and that you knew I would never hurt you. That was the day… the moment… the second I knew you were sent to me to heal me… free me… and rebuild me.

It took almost losing you to find what you see in me, and release what was left of the pain and the prison I put myself in. In this bag is my gift to you, doing what I should have done from the beginning. Give you ‘All of Me’. All I ask is that you don't open until after the wedding when we have a moment alone.

I love you, Chrissy.

-Marquise

Putting the letter inside the bag and making sure it will be the first thing seen when it is opened, I place it gently on the counter. Eventually I start pacing the room. My body is tense and lacking water since the hydration I crave has not been with me all night. I don't know how long I am in this state. But when Duke walks in already in his Tux, I release the air I have been holding, I realize it is time for me to get ready.

“Is there anything you need me to do, Marq?” I’m about to tell him no when I remember.

“Yes.” I replay, then pick up the bag holding my free and open heart inside of it. “Can you deliver this to Chrissy and only Chrissy. Make sure she knows to read the letter first. Please guard this with your life, Duke.” I look at my brother, so he knows how serious I am.