Impossibly Forever: Two Books in One (Impossibly Duology) (37 page)

  
Turning back to Moya, I shook my head. “No. I just want to be with you right
now.”

  
She squinted her eyes, asking, “You sure? I don’t want them to come down on you
for not hanging out.” Her expression was caught between joy and guilt.

  
“It’s okay,” I heaved her closer. “Some of the guys left already too. Let’s get
out of here.”

  
I slipped my arm around her waist and guided her towards the exit.

  
“Where to?” she asked, diminishing her worry.

  
Reaching the doors, I stopped walking as my mind drifted down memory lane,
recalling the moments that brought us closer than we’d imagined.

  
I stared into her eyes and stroked her cheek, thinking how the only place I
wanted to go right this instant was the place where she unlocked her heart to
me.

  
“Let’s go watch the fireflies.”

EPILOGUE

Moya

  
I waited outside
the
oakwood
doors, anxious,
clutching my dad’s arm for support. Soft, romantic music resounded from inside;
voices murmured in the air. Until this very moment, I hadn’t realized just how
much I’d been yearning for love, and more than anything, to love someone in
return.

  
Marriage was a huge step, a brave one at that. And I was eager to build
something this beautiful with Branden, to uphold the validation and permanence
of our love for each other. I’d never been more certain about anything in my
entire life the way I was sure that he was truly the one for me.

  
Taking a deep breath, I nudged my dad to let him know I was ready to going
inside. The wedding planner opened the door, and Dad smiled broadly, taking the
first step.

  
Everyone stood on cue as the music changed. Dad and I walked down the long,
ivory carpet covered in yellow and peach rose petals that matched my bouquet.

  
I heard gasps and “She’s beautiful” as I made my way towards Branden’s smiling
face; the one I never stopped looking at from the moment I entered. If I turned
away now, I feared I’d pass out from nervousness, now that butterflies were
multiplying inside my tummy.

  
He moved his lips, mouthing “Wow” as he regarded my ivory dotted, strapless tea
length organza wedding dress. I opted for a less than traditional gown since we
wanted a summer wedding by the ocean, and this was my grandma’s back in the
day. It meant a lot to me that Momma let me wear it.

  
As I reached the man of my dreams—looking sharp in a gray two-button tuxedo,
his hair sleek and edgy, brushed back at the top—Dad handed me over to him
following the officiating minister’s words. But before he let go completely, he
kissed me on the cheek and gave me one final glance over. He seemed to have
collected himself then, filling the spot next to Momma. Everyone sat down once
the ceremony began.

  
I didn’t hear much of what the minister said, caught in a daze of how dreamlike
it seemed. Were we really these two young lovers, getting married on this day?
If Vanessa hadn’t nudged me to take my bouquet so Branden could put the ring on
my finger, I probably would have pinched myself to be sure.

  
He finished his vows and kissed me on the lips before he was supposed to,
convincing me even more that this magical moment was real.

  
When it was my turn to say my vows, I spoke boldly, “I, Moya Jeanine Douglas,
take you Branden Christopher McCarthy, to be my husband, to have and to hold,
from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall
live.”

  
His mouth curved into a smile as I put the ring on his finger, and I felt
tempted to kiss him too.

  
We waited for what seemed like forever until finally, the minister said, “I now
pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy. You may now kiss your bride.” Branden
didn’t wait another second. He towed me into his arms and kissed me as
passionately as he could, lifting me into the air afterwards.

  
Everyone clapped, took pictures, and cheered for us. I even spotted tears on
both our mothers’ faces. Dad beamed at me with sheer pride, and Mr. McCarthy’s
lips twitched as if he was going to break down and cry. They each looked so
proud.

  
“Congratulations!” Vanessa squealed, with Warren patting Branden’s shoulder in
joy. They joined in with everyone else in tossing rose petals at us as we
treaded down the aisle, hand in hand, excited to start the next phase of our
lives together.

  
One thing was for certain, we were ready to take on anything. We had each
other.         

***

  
The following week when we returned from our second getaway to his family
cabin, Branden and I moved into our cozy one bedroom apartment in Harrington.
He’d be going to work part-time with his dad in a few days for the remainder of
the summer, and I still had my job at the clothing store near school.

  
I placed the last box on the floor and peered around the living room, taking it
all in. Branden engulfed me in his arms and we stood quietly for a while.

  
Many would say we were impulsive, that we should have waited until we finished
college at least, or until we landed decent jobs to afford a nicer house, maybe
even start a family. But then I’d tell them that we didn’t want to wait. The
timing felt right for us. “When you know, you know,” Grandma used to tell me.

  
And now that Branden has achieved his goal, given the opportunity to join the
Washington Capitals hockey team for their next season, I’d say we were going to
be just fine. Big things would come, and we might experience failure along the
way, but we’d always have each other, and that’s when they’d see that our love
was true after all.

  
This was it. Forever was starting right now.

Acknowledgement

Thank
you for joining me on this journey. I’ve poured my heart out into the story and
my only reward
is knowing
that you enjoyed it.

Thanks
to Leith Coldridge,
Lani
Ayers, Laurie Treacy,
Victoria H. Smith, Rae Hachton, Jaime
Shockman
, and
to all the bloggers who support my work. I can’t express enough how much I
appreciate your valuable input.

Last
but not least, a very special
thank
you to my family:
my parents,
Surine
and Michael Morgan, and my
siblings: Stacy,
Renae
, Marisa, and Michael jnr.

About the Writer

Shane’s
love for writing started the moment she picked up a Nancy Drew book. At a young
age, she began writing short stories, dabbling in a variety of genres: from
comedy and drama, to horror and contemporary romance. She currently resides in
Rhode Island, and spends her
days
blogging, reading,
and listening to music.

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