Wouldn’t Change a Thing Read Online Free PDF Page A

Brooklyn who takes her place next to Aunt Karen and Senior.

Chapter 5

    A man assists me as I climb the steps and stand next to Lamonte. He pulls me close again and my pride swells at the way he gazes at me. I hold his hand as his eyes scan the crowd.
    â€œWhen I was thirty-one, I met the woman of my dreams. I never thought I’d find a woman to complete me. The last five years with Toni have been magical.”
    Take that, Brooklyn Lucille Dunlap!
    Russ and Clay are closer to the porch now. The times they interacted with Lamonte were always positive, and they literally gave their stamp of approval. Russ created a T-shirt with Lamonte’s picture that contained a circle and the words Russ and Clay-approved. I wore the shirt to bed when I spent the night at Lamonte’s house in Conyers.
    â€œAntoinette Willamson is phenomenal. If the virtuous woman in the book of Proverbs had a photo, it would be a picture of Toni, her face beat with MAC, wearing a flirty dress by Angie and Carlos Santana wedges, and cleaning our place top to bottom. Now, the cooking…”
    I punch his shoulder as our guests laugh.
    Russ yells, “That’s our girl!”
    Lamonte pulls me closer and his heart thumps. I rub his back in hopes he relaxes. I breathe in his Versace Man and wonder how I snagged such a good guy. Loving, forgiving, and responsible. He responds to my soft pats by facing me. A slight tremor in his right hand challenges his grip on the microphone. He caresses my face and turns to our guests again.
    â€œTo sustain the magic of our union, Toni and I have decided to postpone our wedding at this time.”
    Brooklyn mouths Thank you, Jesus to Senior and Karen. They look as shocked as I feel. My Spanx close in on me and I feel them tighten. A collective gasp fills the air and my plastered smile fades as I grab the microphone.
    â€œWhat he means is—”
    He snatches the microphone back and gives me a sharp, fall-in-line expression. “We wanted you to hear this from us instead of others. We plan to work through our difficulties and ask for your thoughts and prayers.”
    He drops the mic and heads toward his vehicle in back of the restaurant. Our guests whisper and I spot Clay cupping his oxygen mask. I chase Lamonte to the back of the building and catch him as he dips into his SUV. Several guests join us to witness the sideshow. I pull on his door, but not fast enough. He locks it.
    I tilt my face close to his. “Lamonte, why go through with this if you weren’t sure?” I will tears not to fall, but they are noncompliant.
    â€œWhy lie to me for years if you love me?”
    â€œLamonte—”
    â€œMom can handle things here. I’m leaving.”
    I spot a huge bottle of Absolut next to his wallet on the front seat. He revs his engine and barrels out of the parking lot. Russ appears like a ghost to comfort me, but I’m too furious to accept his reassurance. I spot my vehicle and dash. Russ gives chase.
    â€œToni, stop!”
    I call over my shoulder, “Why?”
    â€œYou’re in no condition to drive. Calm down. You can talk to Lamonte later.”
    I yank my door open and pop the trunk. My forgetfulness has cost me some lovely bags, so I always keep my purse in the trunk when I travel. My routine is a godsend today.
    â€œToni—”
    â€œNo one makes a fool of me!”
    Russ touches my shoulders. Our eyes meet and he understands. “Do what you have to do.”
    I pull out of the parking lot toward I-20 West. Lamonte’s home is thirty minutes away, so I have time to gather my thoughts. He is going to face me like a man and tell me something! Through my tears, I eye our giveaway CD case on the floor. Our engagement photo serves as the cover. We created this memento in January as a party giveaway, compliments of Giovanna. I pick it up and flip the case to the list of love songs that represent our romance. Atlantic Starr’s “Send for