Nuptials for Sale (21 page)

“My bestboyfriend,” I smiled, “and the love that I felt for you before hasn’t changed, but now I am in love with you.  I love everything about you, even the fact that you sometimes leave your underwear on the bathroom floor.” 

A huge smile spread across his face.  It wasn’t the first time I’d said ‘I love you’ to him, but that didn’t matter.  Every time I said it, he smiled brightly.

“I love you too!” he said without hesitation.

I took another deep breath, “I can’t imagine my life without you, and I don’t want to.” 

I sat up, with my hands behind my back, and pulled the gold band off my thumb.

“I can’t make up for the ten years that I wasted not seeing how perfect you were for me, but I’d like to try by offering you the rest of my life.  Joshua Martin Matthews,” I held my hand out with the gold band in my palm, “will you make me the luckiest, and happiest, girl in the world by marrying me?”

Josh grinned, “I think I’m going to cry!”  He fanned his hands frantically in front of his face like a pageant queen.  Then, with a smile added, “Of course, I’ll marry you!” He pulled me against him in a huge embrace.

I shifted and grabbed his left hand.  I slipped the gold band onto his ring finger and looked at him with a smile. 

“It’s your dad’s ring.  He gave it to me last year and I held on to it.” I explained as he inspected the ring.

“It’s perfect.”

I grabbed his hand and held it up to inspect the ring, “We have his permission, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I called him yesterday,” I shrugged, “to ask him for his permission.”

“You called him to ask his permission to use the ring?” Josh asked me slowly, as if he wasn’t sure if he understood.

“Yes, and to ask for your hand in marriage,” I said shyly.

He laughed loudly, “Did you really call to ask for my hand?”

“Yes, and he gave me his blessing.” 

Josh smiled and gently cupped my face.  He pulled me to him and kissed me passionately.  Too soon, though, he broke the kiss and held my face inches from his.

“Are you sure this time?” he asked.  Even though he was smiling, I could see a hint of worry in his eyes.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” 

He smiled and leaned in to kiss me again, but I stopped him before he could press his lips to mine.

I held his face in my hands, “Just promise me that our wedding will be the way we want it, and not some big budget monstrosity that takes on a life of its own!”

“I promise that this time our wedding will be exactly what we want, and nothing else.” He smiled and pulled me to him for a kiss.

Epilogue

Melody Jane Holden and Joshua Martin Matthews were married on May 14, 2011.  The ceremony was held in the bride’s parents’ backyard.  The Rev. Michael Darden officiated the ceremony.  The bride is the daughter of George and Catherine Holden.  The groom is the son of Martin Matthews and the late Helen Matthews.  The ceremony was held in front of twenty of their closest friends and family.  The bride wore a simple, yet elegant gown, and the groom wore a linen suit.  A garden reception was held immediately following the ceremony.  The couple honeymooned in Hawaii prior to the wedding date, and will continue to reside in the apartment they’ve shared for two years.  For the record, the bride and groom would like it to be known, that no one sponsored the event, it was not filmed, and the bride and groom planned and paid for every penny of it!

About the Author

Virginia Jewel lives a simple life with her dog and cat.  When not working at her real job, or writing, she spends way too much time watching reruns and shopping at her local “SuperMart”. 

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