Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine Father's Day Issue | Page 74

Patricia A. Bridewell excerpt from Two Steps Past the Altar As Sasha stood in the mirror, admiring how well the dress complimented her figure, she paused. Dad. She rushed out the room, holding up the bottom of her dress so she wouldn’t trip as she made her way into the living room. Sasha whirled around. “You like my dress?” “It looks nice,” he said, walking right past her. Sasha tilted her head. “What’s wrong, Dad?” He frowned and mumbled under his breath before opening the refrigerator. From the expression on his face, something must have happened. “Hi, hon,” her mother said. “When’d you get in town?” Sasha turned and saw her mother hugging Damien. “This morning,” Damien said, peering at Sasha beneath a raised brow as he sat in a corner chair in the living room. Sasha squinted at him and moved her attention back to her father in the kitchen. Her dad’s behavior made sense now. Damien had told him. Why else would her dad be acting so strange? She glared at Damien, who slightly shrugged his shoulders looking unbothered. “What’s the occasion for the dress?” Her dad’s tone stung like acid. “Tamar’s wedding is Sunday,” Sasha explained. “This is my bridesmaid dress.” “Humph. A Sunday wedding? So, I’m guessing you won’t be at church,” her dad said. Her shoulders felt heavy from the disappointment in his voice. “No, I won’t be there. Ebony’s leading the Women in Prosperity ministry until my job slows down. Right now, between me trying to get this promotion, my