I Want Candy Read online

  Standing there speechless, Candy finally managed to utter, “Eric?” She received no response. She walked closer to the bed and slid the tiny box closer to her as she picked up a card that was underneath it. She opened the card, handwritten from Eric. Two doves were pictured on the front. Her trembling hands opened the card.

  ‘Just keep standing right there,’ it read. Suddenly Eric entered the room. His matching white towel was tied around his waist as he approached Candy, hugging her from behind and kissing the nape of her neck.

  “What is this?” Candy asked quietly. “What’s goin’ on?”

  Eric gently picked up the box from the bed and sat down in front of Candy. He looked up at her, his eyes slightly glossy.

  “I don’t need,” his voice cracked. “a lifetime to know when I’ve found ‘the one.’ I don’t need to waste precious time. To me, this is like winning the lottery. You’re my winning lottery ticket. This is hard for me, because it’s like do-or-die, but I love you.” He stared deep into her dark-brown eyes, taking her by the hands.

  “I want you. I need you.” Eric licked his lips sensuously as he opened the small, white satin box, exposing a platinum, one-carat, emerald-cut diamond. It shone brightly in the light of the bedroom suite. Candy placed her hands to her mouth and sighed. Her eyes grew wide as Eric pulled her towards him.

  “Candy, will you marry me?”

  “Eric, this is just so sudden. I mean, I love you, I just…”

  “You’re still scared,” Eric said quietly as he closed the ring box. “I don’t want to rush you. I just…”

  “Yes!” Candy blurted as she jumped up and down, causing her towel to drop to the floor, exposing her curvaceous body.

  Eric laughed as he grabbed her, throwing her onto the soft, layered bed. He opened the box once more, removed the ring and slid it onto her ring finger, then slowly moved stray strands of hair from her eyes. She fought back tears as she felt her heart opening up to him. He delicately kissed her full, soft lips, then her neck, sucking softly as he made his way down the middle of her chest. She ran her fingers through his curls and sighed. They made love once more, both of them tired and woozy from one another’s essence.

  “Eric, look what time it is,” Candy said sleepily, waking from her short post-lovemaking nap. “Your mom has to be gone by now.” She slowly rose and dug into her luggage, searching for a clean bra and panties.

  Eric stretched and stood up, yawning. “Trust me, she’s still there.” He smiled as he pulled his black tank top over his head and unfolded a pair of jeans. They quickly dressed and headed back over to Eric’s mother’s house. As they pulled up, the house seemed completely different. Without the crowd of people, it looked smaller to Candy. Eric opened her door and let her out. He took out a key from his pocket, unlocked the front door, and let himself in. The house smelled of sage sausage and blueberry pancakes. Only the sound of the television and a distant lawn mower could be heard.

  “Mama!” Eric called out, smiling a mile wide as he went from room to room. Candy stood in the living room timidly. Suddenly she heard the back door slam, and Diane emerged wearing garden gloves and holding a handful of weeds.

  “Boy! I waited for you for so long I had to try and keep busy to keep my mind off of everything!” She immediately looked at Candy’s ring finger and smiled.

  “She said ‘yes,’ Mama.” Eric beamed proudly.

  “I can see that!” Diane laughed. “Congratulations, you two. I’m very happy. I’m glad Eric finally found someone to settle down with.” She walked up to Candy and gave her a big hug. Candy could smell the fragrance of disturbed earth mixed with light vanilla musk on her skin. It was comforting and caused Candy to melt in her embrace.

  “Welcome to the family, Baby.” She kissed Candy on the cheek. “I’ll be right back. Have a seat you two.” Diane disappeared into the bathroom.

  “So, how long did your mother know what you were up to?” Candy asked as she elbowed Eric in the side.

  “I told her before we left to come up here.” He smiled wickedly.

  “Eric, who’s Sanye?” Candy asked suddenly, crossing her arms. After a brief silence, Eric studied Candy’s face.

  “What did she do?” he asked pensively.

  “Let’s just say she’s not over you, and tried to mark her territory – like a bitch in heat.” The jealousy in Candy’s voice was thick despite her veiled attempts to push it aside.

  “Sanye is someone I dated a long time ago. She’s an ex-girlfriend I was with for a number of years. We grew apart, and I broke it off. We remained friends, but every now and again, she calls me to try to find out if I want to give it another try. There’s really nothin’ more to it than that. I know she’s had a hard time lettin’ go. I’m sorry for whatever she said to you.” Eric took Candy’s hand.

  “Why was she here yesterday?” Candy asked, still obviously annoyed. The happiness from her new engagement caused her to suddenly feel insecure. She needed to know that her position was safe.

  “My sister invited her. She didn’t know I was bringin’ anyone, and they’re friends,” Eric explained. Candy nodded in understanding.

  Diane walked back into the room, drying her hands on a paper towel. “Candy, now I need you to pick out a weddin’ date, and if you want my help with any of the plannin’, please let me know!” she said with a gracious smile. “I look forward to gettin’ to know you better. You seem like a very nice young lady, and my Eric’s just crazy about you. He talked my ear off about you before you two arrived. He told me about your job, your family, your personality – everything. He usually keeps his love life stuff to himself, so I knew that you must be really special.” She gave Candy another warm hug.

  The three of them engaged in small-talk before Eric gave his mother one final hug and the couple headed back to his car.

  “OK, Baby, what do you want to do?” he asked as he plugged in his cell phone to charge it.

  “I need to share the news with my family and friends,” Candy laughed.” Eric nodded as he drove back to the hotel and Candy dialed her parents’ phone.

  “Mama? Hi. Did I wake you?”

  “No, Baby,” Aubrey answered as she yawned and sat up in bed.

  “Oh, good. Mama, I’m gettin’ married!”

  “Oh, my goodness! Congratulations, Baby!” Candy’s mother said. “I’m so happy for you, Sweetie!”

  * * *

  Candy took a deep breath and closed her diary. She poured herself a glass of wine and returned to her bedroom before eating another slice of memory pie.

  * * *

  Dallas waved her glass of red wine around as her slurred voice continued to belt out nonsensical messages. “And anotha thang, Candy, just ’cause ya gettin’ (hiccup) married, doesn’t mean you’re s’posed to forget about us!”

  “I won’t!” Candy laughed as she hugged Dallas and helped her back to her chair. The bachelorette party was a success. Jasmine’s condominium was decorated in purple and gold for the event. A long buffet table of finger foods, assorted salads, and desserts were quickly consumed before naughty games of pin the penis on the pin-up, bobbing for boobies, and scavenger hunt for condoms were played. To finish off the evening, a male stripper was on his way to wield a cop gun or two. Candy, semi-tipsy, leaned up against a wall and laughed as her family members and friends talked sordidly about their boyfriends and husbands.

  “And girl,” Aunt Mildred continued, “if it wasn’t for his pension, I’d been gone!” The crowd erupted in laughter. “Ebert ain’t no good. If I had time to do it all over again, I’d get me a Chinese man.” She scratched her head, displacing her wig, and then poured herself another glass of rum and Coke.

  “What? Why Chinese?” asked Kia, Candy’s favorite cousin.

  “’Cause they can bring in the dough, I love their food, and I ain’t gotta talk to him! He wouldn’t understand me, and I wouldn’t understand him. It’d be a match made in United Nations heaven!” The crowd erupted in laughter again.
/>   Suddenly, Jasmine tugged on Candy’s elbow and whispered in her ear. Candy followed her to her femininely decorated bedroom. It was in traditional Victorian style with pastel pinks, white furniture, and ornate gold trim. Candy always grimaced when she saw the over-the-top room.

  Jasmine closed the door behind her. “You’re nervous about this weddin’ next week, aren’t you?” Jasmine asked matter-of-factly.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “You’re puttin’ on weight again. Don’t you think you two are rushin’ into this? You planned a weddin’ in four months. That’s almost unheard of. I mean, I guess I have nothin’ against Eric – he’s nice looking, and he does have a good job, but somethin’ about him just rubs me the wrong way. It’s not too late to put the brakes on this mess.” Jasmine leaned her back against the door.

  “Jasmine, this is the last time I’m gonna allow you to try and mess this night up for me. First you volunteer to throw me this damn party with Dallas’s help, and then you try to sabotage it by makin’ petty comments about Eric all night. Everyone has noticed it. You’re just jealous! Finally, the one who’s supposedly the cute one of our crew didn’t get a marriage proposal. The chunky, nerdy one did, and you can’t stand it!” Candy yelled as she pushed Jasmine’s shoulder to move her away from the door.

  “Wait a minute, Candy! That’s a damn lie! I’m happy for you. I just want you to be happy! I’ve known you for so long that I know when somethin’s eatin’ at you. I think you know deep down Eric may not be the right one, or just not ready. I’m not even sayin’ you pushed this. I know he did, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it. I’m not tryin’ to ruin your party. I’m just worried about you!” Jasmine argued as Candy pushed her abruptly out of the way again.

  “We’re done talkin’ about this. You’re one of my best friends, my maid of honor, and like a sister to me, but you need to consider this man my husband as of right now. I don’t butt in your sketchy love life unless you ask for my opinion. You always have somethin’ to say, like you’re some expert on affairs of the heart!” Candy yelled.

  “Well, maybe you should have! That’s what friends are for. If I can’t tell you the truth about this, then what type of friendship do we have?”

  “You think you can just say whatever pops into that head of yours. Learn to keep your mouth shut. It would do you a world of good – and please, try to show some self-control and damn respect!” Candy walked out of the room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Jasmine behind. Candy walked back into the living room to discover a police officer standing there, taking an envelope of money from Dallas.

  “Oh, here she is! We were just about to grab you and Jasmine!” Dallas laughed.

  “Arrest her ass!” yelled Kia as the house music started. Candy squealed with mortification and excitement as the tall, dark-complected, muscular stripper began to gyrate his narrow, dimpled hips and strip down to nothing but a bright red thong that detailed his elongated assets. Jasmine slowly came forward, smiling uneasily as she twirled her silver necklace chain between her nimble fingers. Everyone yelled and laughed as Candy was thrust into a plush, zebra-print chair and danced over. Handfuls of crumbled dollar bills started flying as Candy’s face soon became red with embarrassment. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, increased intoxication, and cold stares between Candy and Jasmine.

  * * *

  “You nervous, Man?” Eric’s brother Brian asked as he redid his black-and-white striped tie in the mirror. Eric smiled fretfully then looked out of the church window. He watched as the limousine’s chauffeur parked off to the side, allowing caterers dressed in ivory coats and stiff chef hats to rush in and out of the chapel’s side door, down into the lower level hall. There they added the last of the tin trays, filled to the brim with piping hot wings for guests after the ceremony. The aroma drifted throughout as the scent of cigar smoke wafted past from an older gentleman with an embellished cane. A thick trickle of sweat ran down Eric’s temple. He touched it with his fingertips, surprised at its presence.

  “Yeah, you’re nervous,” laughed Brian. “It’s cold in here, and you’re sweatin’ like you stole somethin’ and the po-po just arrived.”

  Eric smiled again, this time looking down at the ground.

  “Look man,” Brian began, “I was nervous too. If you love this girl, and she loves you, everything will work out.”

  “I know. I know she’s the one,” Eric said with a shaky voice. “I’m just used to doin’ what I wanna do, when I wanna do it. I honestly never thought I’d ever get married, for real – been in love my share of times,” Eric said, looking back out the window. “Thought about gettin’ married a couple times before, but I never had the gumption to go through with it. I want to be with her so bad, this just seems like the right thing to do.”

  “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Brian asked with a concerned expression. He looked his little brother up and down. From the top of Eric’s curly dark hair to his perfectly manicured facial hair to his white tuxedo with shiny black vest and spectator shoes, Eric was a look of polished perfection.

  “You look good, Man,” Brian added again, looking his brother up and down approvingly. “But you’ve got to look good on the inside, too. Do you feel good?” Brian asked as he put his hand on Eric’s left shoulder.

  “I do,” Eric responded.

  “Save that response for the ceremony,” Brian teased.

  Eric laughed and paced nervously. Soon, the rest of his brothers entered the room with boisterous laughter and appreciative high-fives.

  “Eric’s tyin’ the knot!” one of them yelled out as the others joined in and hugged him. His sisters, dressed in various shades of purple, walked around the church sizing up the decorations and talking amongst themselves. Diane sat proudly in the front pew, fanning herself as her husband spoke quietly to the minister. The organist entered the chapel while two ushers escorted guests to their seats.

  Dallas placed diamond tear-drop earrings on Candy’s ears. “Girl, you’re gonna mess up your makeup,” she warned in a quiet voice. “You look too beautiful, and it took me too long to get it on you for you to do that,” she teased. Candy’s eyes continued to water. She threw her head back to keep them from rolling down her face. Candy’s mother, Aubrey, entered the dressing room holding Candy’s bouquet.

  “Here it is, Baby!” Aubrey squealed. “We’ve got the marriage certificate, too. You’re all set. Your daddy’s out front waitin’ to walk you down the aisle.” Candy and Aubrey looked almost like twins. Aubrey’s hair, thick and luscious like her daughter’s, was pinned up elegantly, complementing her beautiful, long, violet gown.

  “Thank you, Mama,” Candy said as she hugged her tightly.

  “You look like a queen,” Aubrey said as she caressed her daughter’s cheek. “Your father and I are very happy for you. I better leave before I start cryin’,” she said as she batted her eyelashes to ward off the tears that threatened to fall. Aubrey left her daughter in the care of the women in the room before the scene proved too emotional for her.

  “OK, Candy – ten minutes ’til showtime. I just peeked out. The church is fillin’ up fast. Eric looks very handsome!” Dallas winked. She and Jasmine wore form-fitting dark purple dresses with white sashes. Large, exotic, periwinkle flowers adorned their hair, and their fingernails were painted a complementary lilac. Candy took a sip of her bottled water as Jasmine pulled her waist and brought her close. Candy could hardly breathe in her wedding dress. It was beautifully tied up around her back, corset-style up the stomach, restricting her. She had gained about eight pounds since her last fitting, so inhaling deeply was out of the question.

  “Candy, I know you and I have had our disagreements,” Jasmine whispered in her ear. “But I’m happy for you, and I want you and Eric to have a wonderful marriage. I love you very much.” Jasmine quickly wiped a tear from her eye and kissed Candy’s cheek. Candy reached out and hugged her as other bridesmaids walked around quietly chat
ting.

  “I know. I love you too, Jasmine,” she smiled. Candy’s father walked into the room. His silver mane was slicked back, giving his already distinguished look additional honor.

  “There’s my Princess,” William said, his voice shaky, and the scent of cherry cigars still laden on his breath. “I can’t believe my little girl is this big-time career woman and now someone’s wife. It’s hard for me to not keep seein’ you as a child sometimes. I’m so happy for you, Baby,” he added as he kissed her forehead.

  “I love you, Dad,” Candy replied sweetly.

  “OK, now let’s go out here and wait. It’s almost time.” He took his daughter’s arm and headed to the vestibule. Dressed in an amethyst tulle ballerina dress, the flower girl twirled around happily, almost falling to the ground and spilling her basket of white rose petals before her mother escorted her upward and warned her to be still. The music continued to play, muted by closed doors. Candy heard the ushers pulling the heavy, white aisle runner. She and her father stepped aside, hidden as the doors slowly opened, allowing the bridesmaids to disappear one by one, down the aisle with the groomsmen awaiting midway. Lastly, the flower girl came down, causing laughter and chatter as she smiled shyly, throwing the petals quickly down before running in fright the rest of the way, gripping her mother’s legs. The music changed. Eric’s brother, Gerald, stood up and began to sing “You Are My Lady” by Freddie Jackson as their sister Larissa accompanied on the piano.