“I’m fine, dad. I’m just tired.”
“I’m proud of you, son. You were so brave back there. You were ready to sacrifice yourself for Reese, and your sister. I love you so much. She’s not even born yet, and you’re already her hero.”
“I wouldn’t go that far, dad, but thank you for saying it. I love you too!”
I hugged Riley goodbye. Her tears were still falling. I promised her I would not leave her mother’s side. The grandparents also followed the kids. Freddy wouldn’t leave until I gave him the same promise.
Tick tock…tick tock. Tick tock…tick tock. This sound was making me crazy. Hours later, and after lots of praying, crying, and hoping, Reese still hasn’t woken up yet. I’ve been talking to her and our daughter. I leaned over her and kissed her soft cheek. Her delicate wrists were bandaged. My heart hurt as I took in her bruised skin.
“Time to wake up, baby” I said to Reese, as I held her hands in mine. She looked peaceful as she slept. You wouldn’t know she just survived what she went through if not for the physical signs. I tried once again to avoid looking at her bandages that covered up what Henry did to her. A monitoring belt was wrapped around her belly. The sweetest sounds of our daughter’s heartbeat filled the room. Tears filled my eyes as I once again talked to my daughter.
“Hey Princess, it’s daddy. I’m here with you. Your mommy was so brave today. She fought against the bad wolf in our story. She protected you with all the love she has for me and you baby girl. Every fairytale needs a prince. Well you already know who he is, but now we have a hero too. Your big brother, Jackson. He loves you so much and can’t wait to meet you. So princess, you listen to your daddy now. You stay put until you’re ready to be born and meet us. Promise me, princess? Stay with mommy, and soon I’ll be holding you.”
“She promises.” I heard her say. I lifted my head and looked to Reese, who was slowly opening her eyes.
“Reese, squeeze my hand.” I urged her. She tightened her hold with mine, and it was the best feeling in the world next to hearing her voice. “Oh, thank god! You’re alright. I love you baby…so much.”
“I love you too, Walker. I’m so sorry I scared you.”
“You didn’t.” I lied.
“Whatever you say.” She quietly laughed, knowing me all too well.
“Henry,” she whispered.
I shuttered just at the sound of his name. I leaned in to kiss my angel and wipe away her tears. “You never have to worry about him again. He will never be able to hurt us, not ever. I will never let anyone hurt you or us, again.”
“What happened? Please tell me.” She implored me to do so.
“Okay, the short version. Jackson got to you first and protected you against Henry. You were unconscious. It appears Henry was going to shoot Jackson before taking his own life, but someone stopped him first.”
“Who was it?”
“Your grandfather. Thomas and his rifle stopped Henry from hurting you, and my son. One bullet straight to the back of his head. I wouldn’t have believed it, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”
“How’s Jackson?”
“He’s numb. Reese, there’s something you don’t know.”
“The baby? Is she okay?” Reese was now struggling to sit-up.
“Shhh, calm down. Our daughter is fine. Riley’s okay too. I’m sorry to have frightened you, but you weren’t the only one that Henry had hurt. He murdered Gail. They found her body in their Arizona home.”
“Oh my god! That poor woman. Walker, you need to go to Jackson, and make sure he’s alright.”
“He’s with Riley, and the rest of the family. My son is not alone, believe me.”
“I still would feel better if you were with him.”
“Reese, give me a minute to just look at you. I need to feel your heartbeat against my own. I need to hear you speak, and get lost in your touch. I’m done with people trying to take you away from me. I love you so much. There is no way I’m leaving you.”
“You stole my line.”
“I think it was mine first, but who cares? I love you, Reese…Always.”
“I love you, Walker…Forever”
Two months later
WE CHOSE TO be married around Thanksgiving. It was a time to be thankful for all of life’s blessings. After surviving my attack, and then supporting Jackson through his grandparents’ funerals, it was time for our family to come together to come to terms with what happened and finding the closure we needed to move forward.
Jackson never looked back after that day. He didn’t hold any ill will toward my grandfather, Thomas. He understood his need to protect his family. After the funerals, he refocused on his recovery. Samuel even took a flight out to spend some time with Riley, and oversee Jackson’s therapy. Always obsessing over his son’s health, Walker insisted he go through tests to make sure all was okay after what he endured. Samuel didn’t disagree and ran the necessary tests to put Walker’s mind at ease. Jackson was in perfect health. His sight now returned to perfect 20/20 vision, and his post-op complication with his leg was now healed as well. His therapy was intense, but all paid off in the end.
I was able to spend some time with Samuel before he left for London. He would be attending another medical conference on the study of strokes and AVM’s. It was championed by Dr. Gillian Taylor, whom I suspected Samuel was getting closer too. He denied it, but of course, that was Samuel. He was discreet when it came to his personal life. I was no longer a part of that, but still wished him well. He was happy. We all were. I was ready to become Mrs. Walker Reed.
With waiting the extra months, the wedding dress I was to wear back in September no longer fit. My baby girl had grown and so did my expanding belly. Walker didn’t care what I wore, as long as he was able to remove it with his teeth on our wedding night. This time around, we had no wedding planners, no press releases. It was just us, marrying under our gazebo, and surrounded by our family and friends.
On the eve before I said I do, Freddy and Nana presented me with a huge ribbon tied box. My eyes lit up, because I loved surprises. I tried not to tear the beautiful paper, but was excited to see what the box contained. Riley was jumping up and down, of course she knew. I lifted the paper, and my eyes immediately filled with tears.
“This belonged to your mother, Susan. She wore this dress on the day she married my Daniel. I think your mother would love to see her beautiful daughter wear the same dress she married her prince in.” Nana had said.
“Oh Nana! It’s gorgeous, and so well preserved.”
“Well it had help from your Freddy Macaroons over here.” I looked to Freddy, and we both laughed with Nana’s nickname for my best friend.
“I had to rip out some hideous shoulder pads, but I added all new sequins with an overlay of new lace from your original dress. And don’t worry, Peaches, it will fit.”
“I don’t know what to say?”
Nana leaned in to hug me. “Just say yes to the dress, and let’s get you married.”
“Yes! A thousand times yes!” We all did a group hug. With twenty two hours to go, I would be wearing this amazing dress, walking toward the man of my dreams.
The day of the wedding, once again, a single red rose was delivered to me with a note from Walker. I held the thorn free flower to my chest and inhaled the beautiful smell.
“Oh mom! You look beautiful.” Riley said as she made me turn around and model for her. My mother’s dress fit my tall frame perfectly. Freddy had turned it into my own, and I truly loved it. I was scared and reluctant at first to wear it because I feared it would bring me bad luck. My parent’s story didn’t end magically, and their time together was cut short. Nana quickly stomped all over my silly worrying like she was turning grapes to wine. She reminded me that although their time wasn’t long enough, what they did have was timeless. They were in love with each other since their younger years in school. Inseparable to the very end, and not a day went by that they didn’t show their love for the other. Wal
ker and I had our share of bad luck, missed encounters, and too many years apart. This was our time. No one would ever stand in our way again.
“Ready?” Granddaddy asked, as he tucked my arm in his.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I smiled and fought back the tears. With the help from Riley and Jackson, we had chosen the perfect song to get married to. The melody played as I walked down the rose line walkway leading to Walker. We would dance to the words later as husband and wife. “Two is better than one” by the band, Boys like Girls. After listening to the lyrics, Walker and I agreed this was the perfect song for us.
Riley took her place, and Jackson stood by Walker. Freddy was already crying, along with Nana. Walker’s eyes never left mine. He stepped down the three steps, and reached for my hand, but not before granddaddy placed a kiss and handed me over to my prince. “I love you,” I mouthed to him. He replied, “Impossible, I love you more.”
We reached the top and faced the minister who began speaking over us to our family and friends. We kept our ceremony simple, with both of us reciting our vows. I handed over my bouquet to Riley and took out my folded paper with my words to Walker.
Taking a breath and looking over to Freddy, who gave me the “you’ve got this” look, I turned to the beautiful man standing in front of me.
“Once upon a time, a shy girl from Georgia made her way to the big city, to live in the real-life world, where a simple prediction from her Nana came true. It was where love found a home in the hearts of two believers, who believed in…Forever.”
“Two strangers who came from different worlds defied the odds. They became two hearts, one love. This is the only way I can truly describe “us” to the rest of the world who are listening. You are the other half of my heart and soul. There is no greater measure of time than time spent with you. To share every tender moment between us reminds me how beautiful our love story is. There will never be anyone ever that will love you as much as I do. I am so proud to have found the love of my life in you. Happy Wedding Day, Walker. For today is the beginning of the rest of our life. I love you today, tomorrow, and forever.”
NOT A DRY eye in the house, including myself, who struggled to stand in front of Reese as she recited her vows to me. She never looked more beautiful. It was now my turn to pledge my forever love to her.
“I love you angel, let’s start with that. You came into my life like a speeding train. I never saw you coming. Once I did, I knew I would never be the same. You sat in that library hiding behind your glasses and trying to go unnoticed, but how could that be? When you were the most beautiful sight these eyes have ever seen. Love at first sight took on a whole new meaning when it came to you. Sometimes you just know, and to hell with the people who don’t believe. Our story is like no other ever told. I promised you forever a long time ago, and today I make that same promise. On this day, you truly become mine. I love you, Reese. I always have. Even when our love was tested and I had to face life without you, you never left the one piece of me that mattered the most.” I took her hand and placed it over my heart. “Right here, is where you stayed, as I waited for you to come back to me.”
“Do you feel that? That’s my heart and it’s beating for you. It became whole again on the day you walked back in to my life and sealed your fate with mine. I love you with crazy, head over heels to the edge of obsessive love. I want to scream it as loud as my voice will allow me to. I know no other way to love you. Our love is based on second chances, forever promises, and falling stars. Meadows filled with wild flowers, and the night sky to make love under. Our love is lyrics to a song I will forever play on repeat. That’s our story, and it’s timeless. I’ve carried it with me while we were apart, and it’s as real now as it was back then.”
“By the way, if you didn’t know it then, that whole knocking into you at the coffee station, yeah, all planned by me.”
She smiled, and said…“Yeah, of course I knew. Are you done yet? Because I really want to kiss you.” I couldn’t help but smile, as our family and friends laughed.
“Almost, I still have some ground to cover.”
“Show off.” she said.
“With all my lines I used on you that day, you still managed to laugh at me. By doing that, you pulled me in like a magnet. Once you agreed to going out on a date with me, I watched you leave with your books in hand. I let out my breath. You literally stopped me in my tracks and completely captivated me. Thank you for loving me Reese. Thank you for giving me a second chance at forever. I promise to love, honor, protect, and never forget to kiss you good night.”
“Have I said how beautiful you look today? How’s our daughter?” I asked her as I placed my hand over her swelled belly where our princess kicked for me. Thank you, Reese, for making all of my dreams come true. Thank you for giving me the greatest gift a man could ever receive, and thank you God. Not a day will go by that I don’t thank him for allowing me to keep my vow to make good on my forever promise to you.”
I took my thumb and wiped away her falling tears, as she did the same for me. We joined our hands and looked back to the minister. He said…
“Walker Phillip Reed, do you take Reese Mitchell to be your lawful wife?”
“I do.”
“And do you, Reese Mitchell, take Walker Phillip Reed, to be your lawful husband?”
“I do.” She replied.
“With the vows you have pledged here today to one another, and the power by the State of California, I hereby pronounce you, husband and wife. Let no one ever come between the love you have for each other, and the love you have pledged in front of God, and his witnesses. You may kiss your bride.”
Never again, will I ever let anyone come between us. I placed my hands to her beautiful face and kissed her softly on her lips. Our tears fell as our kissed intensified.
“I love you, Reese. You. Are. Mine.”
“I love you too, Walker. I was always yours, and forever will be.”
With Freddy leading, applause and whistles could be heard for miles as we again were officially announced as husband and wife.
I took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Our song played, as I twirled her around the dance floor. She never looked more beautiful. The band played for hours, and toasts were made in our honor. From Jackson to Riley, to Nana to Thomas. We were loved by many, and it was the perfect ending to our blessed day… that is, until Freddy had one more announcement to make. Reese giggled because she knew her best friend like no other.
“TODAY, YOU’VE ALL stood witness to a love story that has spanned nearly twenty years in the making. A love that beat the odds and came back stronger than ever. I knew it from the moment our boy here met my girl, they would forever be destined to live as one. You are my best friend, Peaches. Some people are meant to come in your life, and easily walk right back out. You stayed, and became a permanent fixture in my heart. The years when I didn’t know where you were, I still prayed for you every day and waited for my best friend. Don’t ever leave me again, because you are the wind beneath my wings.”
“Really, Freddy? Bette Midler?” I heard her call out.
She smiled while laughing and holding back her tears. I blew my best friend a kiss, as she playfully caught it. I winked over at Fabrizio who was grinning like the sexy beast he is. It was hard to stay focused with all of the love in this room, but another smile from Reese, and I continued.
“Yes, my Georgia Peach, we will always have Beaches in our life. But do you want to know what’s really perfect just about now?”
“Yes! Tell me.” She giggled and clapped her hands in excitement.
“Okay, if you insist. I was thinking of getting some help from another amazing guy named Freddy.”
I turned to the DJ who was waiting on my signal. I walked over to where Reese was sitting and reached for her hand to take mine. I pulled her to me and lifted my beautiful best friend in my arms. She begged me to put her down, but I wasn’t losing this moment with her. I placed a kiss on her
cheek, and grabbed the microphone. “Happy Wedding Day Best Friend. I love you with all my heart.”
As the music began to play, I sang, “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen. It was my favorite song and it said it all for me and Reese. I brought it home with the last verse, as she wrapped her arms around my neck, and we sang it together. She was my sunshine, my forever best friend, and I will love her always.
AFTER FREDDY’S LOVING tribute to Reese, my girl was spent. We shared one last dance before we said our goodbyes to all who loved us. It was truly a magical day. Another chapter has now been written in our story. We would have many more to write and share with each other. All the days of our life…
FOLLOWING OUR WEDDING, it was a nonstop celebration. Reese had asked to post-pone our honeymoon until after the baby was born. She wanted to be back into shape. I almost laughed, but not wanting to hurt her feelings, I agreed. My girl was absolutely without fail the most beautiful woman in the world, but she felt huge with her nine month pregnant belly. I never stopped touching her. I would never tire of feeling for kicks and talking to my little girl. We couldn’t wait for our daughter to arrive.
We were weeks away to her due date, as we made all the final preparations for her birth. I surprised Reese with the nursery of her dreams. I had made changes to the adjoining room, now a playroom for our daughter. Maybe my best design ever. Our daughter’s view would be overlooking our meadow. Just below her balcony, I had a tree planted for her, a Peach tree. As our daughter would grow, so would her tree. Reese loved it. All was perfect in my world with the smile she gave me.
Lila and Thomas stayed on with us, as we waited for our daughter to be born. They were getting accustomed to living out on the West Coast, but their home was in Georgia, and we knew how much they missed it. Jackson was doing amazingly well, and Riley too. With much insistence, we encouraged them to continue with their deferment from school, and wait until the summer to begin their long awaited adventure. I knew Jackson would never be happy attending UCLA, so we went back to his original plan and NYU was back on the table, as if it never was off. After much negotiation, we agreed to their housing plans. Jackson didn’t want to live in my penthouse, and wanted to have as close as the normal college experience he could manage.
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