A Morning

"Ahh Cherry you're awake," Becket began as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "I do apologize once again for my mother's behavior."

"You apologized enough last night, she isn't a bother," Cherokee said as she took a cup from the cabinet and poured herself coffee. "Are you off to work this morning?" She asked as she looked down at his shorts and dark blue robe.

"No, with Mother sleeping here, I'm not sure when she'll go home and I don't want her asking too many questions." Beck pulled out the wooden stool as he reached for the newspaper sitting down. "What do you have planned?"

"We are going on a little girls' shopping trip!" Sonya spoke loudly as she barged into the kitchen. "Becket do fix mommy a cup of coffee," She recited as she walked over to the kitchen table to have a seat.

"You're not going on a shopping trip, Mother," Becket uttered as he closed his robe and moved toward the cabinet to fix his mother a cup. 

"Oh no?" Sonya muttered as she raised her thin eyebrow in his direction. "Do you not have to work this morning?"

"No, Mother, with Cherry just moving in and our wedding so soon, I figured I'd stay home and help her out a bit," Beck handed his mother the cup of coffee before moving behind Cherokee and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You wish us to marry in a month, so we have a lot to do."

"Yes, and I'm going to take your bride-to-be dress shopping, I have a wedding planner meeting us at Sarafran's on Twelfth Street at ten this morning," Sonya announced as she sipped her coffee. 

"Good then I shall meet her too, it's my wedding too, we have already discussed it." Becket proclaimed as he placed his cup and Cherokee's in the sink. He slowly made his way back to his fiancee and helped her from the chair.

"Becket Levi don't be ridiculous, you can't see her in the wedding dress before the wedding, it's bad luck!" His mother screeched as she rose from the table still dressed in the same clothes she had on the day before.

"She's Native American she doesn't believe in that," He retorted as he grabbed Cherokee's hand and led her into their bedroom. "Right, you don't believe in that superstition?" He whispered in her ear as he closed the door behind them.

"No, I don't," She smiled and at first she thought he was getting to know her and her ways but then she remembered he was only saying that to be able to come. He didn't want his mother to ask too many questions and Cherokee to reveal that they were under contract and this wasn't a real marriage. "Should I get dressed?"

"Yes, by all means, and wear one of the nice dresses I got you the other day. Lord knows what Mother will do if she doesn't approve of your ensemble," He scoffed as he began shuffling through his wardrobe in the closet.

"Are you two done in there? There better not be any sex going on, we don't have the time. Not saying I don't want grandchildren but we need to get you two wed." Sonya laughed as she knocked on the door. "I called your Aunt Tonya she's meeting us there, Cherry do you have family that you want to be there?" 

"Yes, I called my best friend Lucky, she will meet us there," Cherokee answered loudly as she slipped on a silver bangle over her hand.

"Oh no, sweetheart the gown fitting is just for family," Sonya breathed as she got closer to the door.

"My family is dead it's just me and Lucky, She is my family," Cherokee looked back at Beck as he slipped on his black dress shoes and caught her eye. 

"Mother, it's final Cherry can invite whomever she wants, shall we go?" He unlocked the door and walked out brushing past his mother as Cherokee walked out behind him. "Reggie is waiting outside." As we entered the car no one spoke until we arrived at the bridal shop. Cherokee wasn't sure if it was what she said about not having family or if it was Beck who was constantly ordering his mother.

"Mon chere, Welcome come in, come in," Spoke a skinny man with a long slender nose as he opened the door to Sarafran's boutique. "So, is the entire party here?" He asked in a French Canadian accent, as he ushered us forward.

"No, Marcel, my sister is coming and her friend is as well,"  Sonya kissed the assistant on both his cheeks as he opened a long silk cream-colored sheet to the main dress room reserved for expensive clients. "Marcel this is the bride Cherokee Rains, and here is my son, Becket." She held out her long arms toward her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. 

"No introduction is needed of course for me," Came the voice from behind them of a woman who looked exactly like Sonya.

"Sister!" Sonya exclaimed as she threw up her hands and scurried to her twin. They both embraced before grabbing a glass of champagne.

"Let's begin, but first let me meet the bride," Tonya relayed as she sipped from the glass of champagne, she slowly made her way over to Cherokee extending out her arms. "Hello, Darling I'm Aunt Tonya, Sonya's twin sister. You may call me Aunt Tonya, oh my god you have such beautiful skin, what a wonderful color, where do you go?" 

"No, sister it's natural, she's Native," Sonya answered as she moved toward her twin and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"How wonderful, a Native in the family, brown babies could you imagine," Tonya murmured as she turned her head to the sound of the bell by the door being opened.

"Yes, we are a wonder, brown skin and all," Lucky said as she walked through the curtain and made her way toward Cherokee. "Well, Now I'm here, clearly I needed to be, I am so ready to see you in a wedding gown!"