by Anne, Melody
“Thanks, Daddy,” Phoenix replied. She hurried over and wrapped her arms around him, so happy he was finally there. Her happily ever after would begin today, and she couldn’t wait to start the rest of forever with the man she loved.
“I don’t mean to intrude on your moment, but it’s time to go, and I’m sure you don’t want to keep Jayden and the guests waiting,” Sadie cut in. “Plus, I’m sure Jayden is feeling a bit impatient.”
“Of course,” Phoenix responded, suddenly feeling flustered. Sadie and her mom had been a godsend through the wedding process. They’d helped plan out every intricate detail. And they’d been shoulders to cry on when she had felt like it was all too much.
She had a solid group of people around her, making her life complete.
Slowly each of her bridesmaids left the room. Sadie was the last to go, but not before she kissed Phoenix’s cheek and wished her the best.
“Are you ready for this?” Larry asked.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, wanting this moment more than anything in the world, for what feels like forever,” Phoenix responded. It felt surreal knowing in a few short moments she would truly be married to the man she loved.
“That’s all I need to know,” Larry responded. “Let’s go get you a husband.”
Larry held out his arm, and Phoenix gently placed her hand atop it and began her last walk with her father as a single woman.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Phoenix
“I now pronounce you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride.”
The words were magical, music to her ears. Phoenix felt as if she were on a cloud, high in the sky.
“Finally,” Jayden said loudly, causing those in the front to chuckle. He wrapped his hands around Phoenix’s waist and pulled her in close. He felt her hot breath on his face before he closed their lips together. Their first kiss as a married couple couldn’t have been more perfect.
Phoenix became aware of someone whistling in the background, causing her to flush a deep shade of red. She’d forgotten they were in a crowd as she always did whenever she was in Jayden’s arms.
“We’ll finish this later,” Jayden whispered into her ear, causing her flush to deepen.
Despite her embarrassment and nerves, she really was excited. This was the day she’d been waiting for. This would be the next step in their relationship, the chance to reach a level of intimacy they’d never had before.
The reception was a blur. She cried while dancing with her father, and held her mom in a long hug. She ran through birdseed, and she fed Jayden a piece of cake. It was all magical, but what she wanted was to be alone with her husband.
Husband.
That was such a strange word to utter. Jayden was no longer her boyfriend, no longer someone she was just having fun with. He was the man she would live with for an eternity. He was a choice well made.
“Oh, my darling wife,” Jayden called out. Phoenix turned around, impatient to get inside their new home. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What on earth would I be forgetting, husband of mine?” Phoenix asked, loving to call him that. “My only concern has been getting home and out of this dress.”
Jayden hurried to Phoenix’s side, and before she had any clue what he had in mind she felt him lift her bridal style. Lace and frill crowded around her feet, puffy enough to cover Jayden’s head, although he didn’t seem too concerned.
“I can’t very well allow you to go over the threshold by yourself. That would be bad luck.”
“Superstitious now?” Phoenix teased, although she felt a deep-seated thrill from his action.
“I’ll take any ounce of luck I can get. Even eternity with you won’t be enough,” Jayden responded.
“You always know exactly what to say to make me smile.”
“Keeping you happy is part of my job,” Jayden replied, ducking and turning a bit to fit them both through the small entrance of the house that would be theirs for the foreseeable future. “Welcome home, my darling.”
“It’s so beautiful,” Phoenix replied, opening her mouth in shock.
While Phoenix had been in the midst of wedding planning with the girls, Jayden, Brian, and a few other guys had been working hard to create their own small home. This was the first time that Phoenix had actually seen the house, and she couldn’t image it any other way.
“Let me down, I have to look around,” she squealed, kicking her feet in excitement.
Jayden complied with an easy grin, happy she liked the finished project. There hadn’t been supplies or time for something larger, but she didn’t seem to mind.
She hurried from room to room, amazed at how beautiful it was. She had her perfect home to share with the man she would spend the rest of her life with. There were three bedrooms, one master with a full bath attached. The living room was large with a crescent couch facing a fireplace and a TV overtop. What a novelty, being able to watch television again.
While small, Jayden had created the perfect home for the two of them. The living room was connected to the dining room and the kitchen, making the area seem a lot larger, more open, and inviting.
“Jayden, we even have a white picket fence,” Phoenix exclaimed, glancing out the window at their cute little yard.
“Of course, isn’t that the American dream?” Jayden asked with a grin.
Phoenix’s excitement was rubbing off on him. He was glad she liked the house. It felt right for her to be there, for the two of them as a married couple to finally share a home.
It still amazed him how lucky he was to have a woman like Phoenix, even after all of his screw-ups and trials, he’d ended up with someone who loved him with all of her heart.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Phoenix said, running to him, jumping into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, and holding his face in her small hands.
He caught her easily and took the opportunity to spin the two of them around, relishing in her happy giggles. If this was what the rest of his life consisted of, Jayden would die the world’s happiest man.
“I love you with all of my heart. I would give anything to see that smile on a daily basis,” Jayden whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.
“You’ve promised me a lifetime. You’ve given me a home. I have your love. There’s no reason not to smile each and every day,” Phoenix replied.
They didn’t meet in the most conventional manner. They’d experienced ups and downs, and they’d gone through some very hard and scary times, but managing their way through had made them stronger.
Jayden carried Phoenix to their bedroom and set her down on their king-sized bed. She was gorgeous in her white dress, her black hair contrasting so perfectly with the deep red of the bedding, which ironically matched her bright red, and all too kissable, lips.
Phoenix glanced up. Now that the excitement was fading, she was feeling something new, and much less innocent; she was feeling a burning need inside her, feeling that tonight was the night.
“I need you, Jayden,” Phoenix whispered, staring into his dark eyes.
“My pleasure,” Jayden growled, crashing his lips to hers.
Epilogue
“Come along, Ali, we don’t want to keep Auntie Sadie waiting,” Phoenix called. Ali ran around the corner, her little black pigtails bouncing as she hurried to grasp Phoenix’s hand.
“Will Sadie be bringing Bella?” Ali asked, staring at Phoenix with those dark eyes that seemed to always be the key to getting her out of trouble.
“Of course! She knows how much you want to hold your precious cousin,” Phoenix responded quickly, loving the feeling of the small little hand in hers. “Jayden, are you almost ready?” Phoenix called, wondering where her missing husband might be.
“I was waiting on you, love,” Jayden said from behind, making Phoenix jump.
“Always scaring me,” she teased, gently pushing him in the chest. Phoenix grabbed
his hand, feeling on top of the world. This was what it felt like to live a normal, happy life. This was what it was like to live in peace with your family.
“Have to keep you on your toes,” Jayden responded before leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on her lips. He then bent over and kissed Ali on the forehead. “Ready to go?”
“Let’s go see Bella,” Ali responded enthusiastically, hurrying toward the door and tugging on Phoenix’s hand with all her might in an effort to hurry them along.
Phoenix and Jayden shared an amused glance before scurrying after her, knowing that for a child a short wait would seem like a century.
Adopting Ali was one of the best decisions the two of them had made. She was such a sweetheart, always bringing light into their lives. They were young to be parents, but Ali had gone through tough times. She was only now coming out of her shell.
For quite some time after the war, Jayden and Phoenix were the only people Ali would even speak to, and they couldn’t have abandoned her.
Ali gasped and let out a high pitch squeal as she rushed down the porch and across the lawn. Sadie stood there, pushing Bella’s stroller. She waved as Ali sprinted across the lawn.
She’d been the first person who Ali had spoken to outside of Phoenix and Jayden, and Sadie took extra pride in that.
Ali leaned over the stroller, smiling at the sleeping baby. “Can I hold her when she wakes?”
“Of course, Sweet Pea, you’re always allowed to hold your baby cousin,” Sadie responded, tugging one of her little curly pigtails.
“When will she wake?” Ali asked, gently patting the tiny head, loving how smooth it was.
“I’d say in about an hour.”
“You have just enough time to eat ice cream and play with the other kiddos before you hold her,” Phoenix responded, she and Jayden finally reaching the other three.
“I guess,” Ali responded, still staring longingly at the baby.
“Come on, Elise is waiting with the kiddos,” Jayden urged.
Ali skipped ahead on the pristine sidewalk, looking back impatiently as the adults followed behind. “Come on, slowpokes.”
“You’re too fast for me to keep up,” Phoenix teased.
They hurried forward, almost losing Ali a couple times.
“Elise,” Ali shouted, as she sprinted as fast as her little legs could move down the street. Elise bent down and pulled her into a quick hug before Ali’s attention was captured by her daughter.
“Apparently we’re each down a child for the next hour,” Elise said with a giggle, hugging both Sadie and Phoenix as they reached her. Phoenix looked fondly at their daughters, who’d hurried inside and sat at one of the tables, apparently chattering on about one thing or another.
“I’m glad they’ve become such good friends. Ali needs someone like that in her life. I think every woman needs a best friend,” Phoenix said, lightly elbowing Sadie.
“If only your little bundle of joy would come and welcome the world, our babies could be fast friends, too,” Sadie replied, reaching out a hand and placing it on the bump that was Phoenix’s stomach.
“He’ll be here soon,” Jayden cut in fondly.
He was ecstatic to become a father. He couldn’t have thought of a better gift Josiah graced the two of them, other than the little bundle of joy they’d soon welcome.
“You mean she. I will pamper this princess,” Phoenix teased. “Oh, do you know how Cassidy is handling her own pregnancy? Last time I talked to her she was having some nasty morning sickness.
“I’m sure she’s doing perfectly fine with John hovering over like a concerned parent,” Jayden responded. “It’s quite amusing an immortal can get so sick,” he added with a laugh.
“You are terrible,” she told Jayden before turning back to Elise. “Where is Drake?”
“He just got back from hunting over the weekend with his father. He was so excited to go with his dad, but the trip exhausted both of them,” Elise replied. “It’s a bit odd going out without the entire horde.”
“I know what you mean,” Sadie exclaimed. “I wish Brian could have gotten off work, but I guess we can always do this again.”
The young girls looked through the window and tapped their fingers against the glass, trying to gain the adults attention. They frantically waved their hands, urging them to come inside. “Apparently the little ones want ice cream,” Elise remarked. “I guess we shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
“Baby wants a large blizzard,” Phoenix said, rubbing her belly and looking pointedly at Jayden as she made her way through the double-door entrance.
“As baby wishes,” Jayden said, moving toward the counter to get the order, and allowing Phoenix to sit at the table with the two girls.
He gazed fondly at his family. An eternity in heaven couldn’t compare to the blissful life and family he’d made on earth.
My journals were never a historical artifact for future nations to come upon to learn the history of the destruction of the United States. They were a means for me to stay sane as my world fell apart, and I would much rather that was what they were used for. I hope that someday my baby can flip though these pages and learn what her parents came from, and to learn the true history of her country.
I can’t help but smile, as I write this last page. It’s the beginning to a new chapter in my life, a chapter I never thought I would achieve. It isn’t the end, but an exciting beginning.
A beginning with my family, a beginning full of love and hope.
