Deadly In Stilettos (47 page)

             
On New Year’s Day, Demi woke up smiling. Today was her wedding day. In just a few hours, she would be standing before God and a few other people reciting her wedding vows, pledging her love for Makei. A light knock on her bedroom door brought her back to reality. Tabitha opened the door, smiling. “Good Morning, Sunshine. Today is our wedding day! Are you ready?”

             
That was an understatement. Demi was more than ready. “Get up, get dressed,” Tabitha went on. “We have a long day ahead of us. Michele will be here soon to do our hair and makeup. The dresses are ready and waiting for us. It is already after eight o’clock, so chop-chop!” Demi laughed at Tabitha’s bluntness and jumped from the bed. She was so excited. The only other thing that would have made that day more special was the attendance of her mother, father, and Aunt Charlotte. Too bad that would not happen.

             
Tabitha left Demi to get dressed and returned to her own room. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had waited so long for this day, and now that it was finally here, she was even more ecstatic. A wedding with her best friend, to the man of her dreams, was only hours away. What more could she ask for? She got down on her knees and prayed, thanking God for everything in her life. She also thanked God for protecting Demi from harm and keeping her alive to see her wedding day. Just as she was getting up from the floor, Demi popped in, beaming.

             
“Here I am. Now let’s get this party started right!” Tabitha laughed as Demi handed her a glass of mimosa. They toasted to their special day. When their hair and makeup was flawless, Tabitha and Demi walked into the room down the hall, emptied just for them to dress in. Their wedding dresses, designed by Vera Wang, smiled at them. Tabitha went a more traditional route than Demi when it came to choosing the perfect dress. She wanted to ball gown.

The strapless, tie-ba
ck ball gown of white satin made Tabitha look like a princess. As she twirled in front of the mirrors, Demi told her how beautiful she looked. The rhinestone beading and lace gave the dress sophistication and class, which described Tabitha perfectly. The train on the dress was a medium length, so Tabitha was able to maneuver it without any help. When she first laid eyes on the dress, she’d know she found the perfect dress. Demi agreed. She looked amazing. Brian would be too happy when he saw her later.

             
Time was winding down, so Demi walked over to her own wedding gown. It was made of pure silk. She and Tabi agreed on strapless gowns, so Demi wore her hair up. The gown did not have any beading or lace. It was fitted, flowing over Demi’s curves like paint. It was both elegant and simple, just as she wanted. She wore a single flower in her hair that complimented the dress perfectly. Tabitha hugged her, telling her how lovely she looked.

                                  
           ~~~

             
The men waited patiently for the loves of their lives. Makei glanced at the clock on the wall. “Fifteen more minutes, and we will be married and starting our honeymoons.” Brian could hardly wait to make love to his new bride. Their plane was scheduled to leave at ten in the evening for Fiji, so that they could celebrate briefly with Makei and Demi before leaving. Makei planned the perfect honeymoon for him and Demi. They would be spending a week or so on their yacht in the ocean. They already had paradise right where they were, so they did not need to leave the island. He just wanted her all to himself, privately, without interruption.

             
The pastor walked in to get them. “Fellas, it’s time.” They both followed the pastor out to the patio area by the pool. The walkway was decorated in purples, greens, and pinks. Flowers of all kinds were strewn on the path for the ladies to walk over. They would take their vows in the gazebo that looked out over the ocean. A few white chairs lines both sides of the path, were a few locals sat waiting for the festivities to begin. Since Makei had several friends on the island, he wanted them to be present during his special day. They adored Demi when he introduced her to them. One of Makei’s good friends, Brian McKnight, sang “Crazy Love,” which, Makei mused, was exactly what his and Demi’s, as well as Brian’s and Tabitha’s relationship was. He was accompanied by a saxophone, flute and harp. The arrangement was breathtaking.

             
Brian and Makei waited nervously in the gazebo. With a nod from the pastor, they turned to see Demi and Tabitha come out of the house. Makei could not contain the emotions he felt, seeing the woman he loved walking toward him to become his wife. Brian wiped tears from his eyes as Tabitha smiled at him. As Brian McKnight sang “At Last,” the women walked side by side to the gazebo. The spectators dabbed at their tears as they watched the brides. When the women got to a specified point along the path, the men stepped from the gazebo to meet them. Makei could not resist kissing Demi, though he did it softly so he wouldn’t mess up her makeup. He whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful.” The four of them laughed when Brian said the same thing to Tabitha in unison.

             
The ceremony was wonderful. Both couples exchanged written vows, along with the ones from God. When Demi spoke hers, Makei couldn’t hide his tears. They were simply the most remarkable words he had ever heard spoken.

             
Makei, you are mine

             
You are my one, true gift from God

             
Without you, my life is incomplete, I am

             
So blessed to have you

             
God was thinking of me when he made

             
You

             
I promise to do everything in my power

             
And then some, to keep you happy

             
I want you, I love you, and I need you

             
You are the air that I breathe

             
You are the light in my darkest day

             
You are simply my Soulmate, my             

             
Treasure, my secret passage to happiness

             
I promise to keep you happy for all the days

             
Of our lives, and then beyond

             
I will cherish you forevermore.

Everyone was crying. Makei kissed Demi before the pastor
signaled him to do so. He was in heaven, with his angel standing right beside him. Tabitha had written special words for Brian too, but she was so touched by the words Demi spoke, she hugged her signaling the Pastor to go on. Brian followed suit, and all four friends embraced.

             
The pastor finally told the grooms to kiss their brides, and the ceremony was concluded. They were married. They joined hands, and walked back up the, one couple after the other. A photographer took several pictures before they joined their guests at the reception by the pool. The weather was perfect, not a cloud in sight
.
‘A new year, a new life, and a new journey to the unknown,
’
Demi thought, basking in the moment; her life had come full circle. She would never forget the feeling she possessed at that moment.

             
The sun was setting as the last guests departed, leaving the two happy couples alone. Brian and Tabitha were putting their bags in the car when Demi walked out to say good-bye. She and Tabi hugged, beaming. They were married women now. “Call me when you get back,” Demi said. “We have to get together before you go back to New York.” They embraced again, and then Tabitha and Brian were on their way to their honeymoon. Makei was happy to finally have his wife all to himself. “Did you have a good day, Mrs. Davis?” Demi looked at her handsome husband. Was he kidding?

             
“This has been the best day of my life so far. Now come over here so I can kiss those soft lips of yours.” Makei obliged. They kissed passionately. Demi wanted her husband. “Make love to me,” she told him. Makei wanted to so badly, but the yacht was waiting for them. “We have all night and beyond for that, Sweetheart. Right now, we have to go.” Without giving Demi a chance to respond, Makei grabbed her hand and ran outside, down the stone path to the end of the dock. The yacht was there, lit up like a Christmas tree. “What are you up to, Makei? Where are we going?”

             
Makei did not say a word. He helped Demi on board and then told the captain they were good to go. That night was so special and loving, they both cried as they shared each other as husband and wife. Before they drifted off into a peaceful sleep, they prayed together, holding hands. It was the perfect night to an even more perfect day.

Chapter 36

One Year Later

SIDNEY AND GREG were celebrating the New Year in Amsterdam. No on
e had ever come after them once they fled New York, and they hadn’t given much more thought to Deminis Bradshaw. Sidney assumed she was dead, or moved on with her life. Greg knew she was out there somewhere, but did not bother telling Sidney. He hoped he and Sidney could be together from now on. Maybe they could just stay in Amsterdam and start over. Demi was out of his life now, and there was nothing he could do about it. He wanted to find her and make things right between them, but he knew he couldn’t. She deserved to be happy with all that she had been through. He was some of the pain that marred her life, and Greg did not want to cause her any more heartache.

             
“Hey you,” Sidney said. “Care to join me in a long bath in that big ole round tub in there?”

             
Sidney stripped off her clothes as she walked into the bathroom, and Greg could not resist. The woman had a body to die and kill for. Greg could not say no to her. He followed Sidney into the bathroom like a lost puppy. As they washed each other, allowing the various jets to pulsate underneath the water, the small portable radio on the side of the tub played Marvin Gaye’s “Distance Lover”.

             
“I love that song,” Greg told Sidney, as she sang along with Marvin. Her voice was angelic. Greg was learning more and more qualities she possessed that he appreciated.

             
They were so wrapped up in each other that they did not see the door open and a woman walk into the room. Greg was the first to look up and see the shoes. The amazing emerald blue satin stilettos were breathtaking. Sidney jumped when she saw Demi standing in front of them.

             
“Surprise,” Demi said. “Did you miss me?”

             
The look of horror on both Greg’s and Sidney’s faces made Demi smile. “It took me a while to locate the two of you, but now here we are. At first, I just wanted to talk. To find out why everything happened the way it did, but now, I know for sure this will be the last time we ever see each other.”

             
The radio began playing “This Is It” by Michael Jackson. Demi’s smile broadened. She swayed from side to side. She could not have picked a better song. As she walked toward the tub, she made sure Greg saw her wedding ring sparkle on her hand. The look on his face told her he was shocked that she was married. Sidney tried to speak, but Demi lifted her hand, signaling her to keep quiet. There was nothing more to be said. The end was now. Demi’s list was finally complete. Before Greg or Sidney knew what was happening, Demi pushed the portable radio into the tub and quickly jumped back. Greg’s and Sidney’s body jerked and spasmed, splashing about in the water until they were lifeless. The smell of charred flesh filled the room. Demi frowned at the pungent smell.