Category Three Hurricane:

I blinked at him. “Jim…”

“I just want to do the right thing,” he said. “Please?”

“Jim, this is a big step,” I said. “Have you even thought this through?”

“Yes,” your grandfather said. “Please marry me, please.” He sounded so sincere.

“A wedding takes planning and money,” I pointed out.

“Yes,” he said.

“Do you even have a job yet?”

“I’m still looking.”

I frowned at him. “That’s not good enough.”

“But I am working hard here! So please!”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“Yes. Now will you say yes?”

I drew my mouth shut. I shut my eyes.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll marry you.” Your grandfather’s eyes lit up.

“Are you serious?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I will marry you.” Jim grinned like a little monkey. Anything to humor him.

So, the wedding plans began. Your grandfather worked at KFC to pay for everything. He insisted of giving me the wedding of my dreams. You know how girls dream about that special time in their lives? However, money is the key to make that dream come true. I tried to get your grandfather to see that.

“We can’t afford a lavish wedding,” I told him.

“I just want you to be happy,” he said.

“But, I don’t want us to go into debt either,” I pointed out. “We already have school and the kids to worry with. Please don’t lose your mind here.”

“Come on,” he said. “Can’t you live a little?”

“Not when we can’t afford it!” I said. Jim pouted at me.

“Fine,” he said. “But I still want to give you the best wedding of your dreams.” I gave him a little smile.

“We’ll make the most of it,” I assured that man.

We made the most of our wedding in June. We decided to have a small one to make it easier on me. My roommate and the girls in my sorority helped me out while your grandfather had his friends to help him. Naturally, he told his parents about us. I, on the other hand, kept silent to my parents. I was not about to lower myself to talk to daddy again. He and momma didn’t even know I was pregnant. Telling them just would just make things worse. I decided to keep all to myself as long as I could. Your great-grandfather was a bigot, plain and simple.

I digress.

Our wedding was June twenty-third in 1985. I can never forget that Sunday. My roommates came and woke me up. (I was already awake because of the baby. I didn’t know we were having twins just yet.)

“Star!” they called. “Get up! It’s time to go!” I roll over in bed.

“Hold on,” I said. “I’ll be out in a second.” I drew in a breath.

“Okay,” I said to myself. “One… two… three!” I pushed myself to sitting up. It took me a little bit longer to push myself to standing. I walked over to the door and opened it. My roommates stared at me, frowning.

“Come on!” she said. “The wedding’s at three! Hurry up and get dressed!”

“Okay, okay,” I said. “Just help me get dressed.”

“Yes,” they said. It took an hour to get dressed. I stood before a mirror. My wedding dress was made of old white lace and fit snuggly around my six-month belly. I looked like a pumpkin in white and make-up. That day, I would no longer be a single woman. I would also be a mother in three months. After the honeymoon, Jim and I would be moving into an apartment near the campus. The gravity of the situation still took long to let it sink in. I nearly fainted right there. A knock came on the bathroom door.

“Star!” my roommate said. “It’s time to go.”

“Yes,” I said. I turned and walked out of the bathroom. My roommate’s boyfriend waited in his truck in the front parking lot. He and one of the bridesmaids helped me into the truck. We drove to the local park where the wedding would be held. The twenty-minute ride made me sick to my stomach. Throwing up out the window looked good at that moment. When we made it to the park, we found Jim waiting at the entry. He smiled as they helped me out of the truck.

“Welcome, Princess!” your grandfather greeted me.

1985