Текст книги "Until I Met You"

Автор книги: S. L. Scott

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

JUDE WALKED INTO the hospital shortly after leaving Caleb’s office. It was only a detour, she convinced herself. Just a peek to make sure what Caleb said was true. She hoped Hazel was strong enough to leave today. One quick walk-by and then she would leave as well, her mind at ease. This was her plan—to make sure he hadn’t relapsed since she checked on him the night before. It was a good plan. Solid. Hazel would never be the wiser.

She was fast approaching the door up ahead on the right, so she slowed her steps. Just as she walked by, she looked into the room, but then stopped. The room was empty. Her first reaction was relief. He’d gone home. Her second reaction was that dreaded what-if scenario that started playing on a loop in her head.

What if he relapsed?

What if he was rushed into emergency?

What if he was unconscious and they had moved him to another room?

What if…

What if…

What if…

She walked inside the room and touched the unmade bed, hoping it would give her guidance, a clue to where he was or if he was returning. The door shut behind her and she whirled around. She came face to face with Hazel himself, who was particularly smirky at the moment. “Looking for someone?” he asked.

Jude’s mouth opened, then closed, and opened again. “No. No one in particular.” She followed her heart and started for him, momentarily forgetting they weren’t together. Then detoured toward the door, but he leaned against it, blocking her from exiting.

“I think you were looking for me. I mean, why else would you be inside my hospital room?”

Yep, no getting out of it, so she confessed half-truths. She had no option but to face the man she let go months earlier because she loved him too much. She tried for casual. “I heard you were in the hospital and I was worried. So I was checking on you.”

While he stared at the one woman he loved, the only woman he would love long after this life, guilt overwhelmed him. “Jude?” he started, but stopped. He took a deep breath. “I tried to do what you wanted, but I can’t. I don’t love her.”

“I know.”

His hazel eyes pierced her heart, letting the rest of her truths bleed. “How do you know?”

“Because I saw you last night. I see you every day. Sometimes twice, if I was lucky.”

He restrained the huge grin that wanted to surface and gave her a smaller one instead, hoping to make her feel safe. “The whole time?”

“The whole time.”

As much as he loved to hear this revelation, now he felt bad. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? I just told you I’ve been stalking your every move and you’re apologizing to me?”

“The stalking, I’m not complaining, but I’m sorry for dating her, for thinking I could.”

“You don’t have to be. You were free to do so. You were trying to rebuild your life after I destroyed it.” She turned, putting her back to him and looked out the window with a heavy sigh. She didn’t love that he’d dated someone else, but she couldn’t blame him either. She’d practically set them up by pushing him away. And whether that was for his benefit or hers at the time, she refused to hold it against him. Anyway, she knew where his allegiance lay. Beyond what she felt deep inside, a bond that was never broken, she saw it with her own two eyes.

“But I know you don’t love her.” She turned around to face him again. “I know because I saw you together.” She reached out and touched the front of his suit, then took the jacket in her hand and fisted, pulling him closer. “I saw. I saw everything, then and now.”

His voice was but a whisper. “What do you see, Jude? Tell me.”

“I see your love for me.”

Abruptly moving forward, he grabbed her and kissed her. The stubble on his face grazed her skin, tickling and scratching. His warm, soft, but determined lips captured hers along with her heart and she kissed him just as eagerly.

A gasp broke the two apart and they twisted around toward the door. Katherine stood there with a hand over her mouth and shock in her eyes. “Taylor!” Fury took over her refined features and she spat, “Is this revenge?” When he didn’t reply, her hands went to her hips. “Fine. You win. We’re even. Now get away from her this instant.”

He didn’t move. He wouldn’t. Not again. Not from Jude. Not ever. “No.”

“What do you mean, ‘no’?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m in love with her. I was from the moment I saw her. I was forced to leave the battlefield before. I’m not leaving her again without a full-on war.”

Katherine held her large purse in her hands and squeezed. “Taylor, what are you doing? Are you on drugs? Is the medicine messing with your head?”

“No,” he replied, smiling. “I’ve never been more aware in my life. And that’s because I’m with her.”

“But she’s crazy!”

In unison, Hazel gritted the words, “Don’t call her crazy!” while Jude said, “Don’t call me crazy!” They looked at each other and in that moment, when their true colors united once again, they both started to laugh. Maybe it was the kiss that had just tickled their lips, or the honesty that poured so freely from their hearts. Or maybe they were both just too tired to argue anymore. Taylor took Jude’s hand and held it. He turned back to Katherine, and said, “I’ll take her kind of crazy any day, over yours.”

Taylor walked with purpose, his hand tightly around Jude’s, and out the door. Katherine had stepped aside, too appalled to say another word. “But I brought you clothes.”

“Keep them.”

In the wide, sterile hospital hallway, Jude quick-stepped next to him and looked up. She had a million questions, but none of them seemed important right then. The man she loved was on a mission and she was the beneficiary of it. This is what she would take any day over the loveless days that had preceded it.

The sun hit their faces as they exited the building and Taylor didn’t ask which way or if she wanted to come at all. He knew where he was going all along. And once they took two corners and three blocks, she did too. He stopped once, to ask, “Why did you come back?”

“Because they were changing who you were. And you were perfect before.”

He seemed okay with this answer and they continued on. Ten more minutes without either of them offering anything more had led them to this point, and her feet slowed until they stopped. “I can’t go to your apartment, Hazel.”

“You’re not. You’re going home.”

“Semantics.”

“Our hearts don’t know the variances of words. Our hearts only know what they feel.” He kissed her again, simply because he could. If it reassured her, all the better.

When their lips parted, she said, “I don’t want to cause you harm or pain, or worry. Give it time, and I’ll come back.”

“I feel those things now,” he insisted. “Time won’t fix this. Time spends every second torturing me while we’re apart. Do you not feel that already? It overrides everything in my life.”

His hands were cupping her cheeks, so she covered them. The intense focus he had on her was felt like an explosion inside, reviving her latent heart. She relented, for him, for herself, and they started walking again.

Entering that apartment was like hugging an old friend—warm and comforting. The smell made her smile and the place made her happy. Hazel locked the door behind him and leaned against it. “I’m never letting you go.” Then a smile appeared and he added, “That’s not creepy in the least, is it?”

It wasn’t. Not in the least. Not to Jude. She stood with nothing but herself to offer him and the way he looked at her, that was enough.

Looking around, she saw the photo of her brother on the bookcase and went to it. It had been a while since she’d seen him, and through her soon-to-be freedom found in her new eyes, she saw his happiness. The sadness she once felt looking at it was gone.

Hazel and Ryan were a lot alike. Both gentle souls with passionate sides for the things and people they loved. She set the frame on the shelf and sat down at Hazel’s drafting table.

It felt like Christmas, and all the small memories wrapped in the apartment were like gifts to her soul. Sketches she thought he might not want her to see were scattered across the white surface. House plans mixed with familiar lips, eyes, a nose, hair, and a dress that when pieced together could have been a mirror. “These are beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” He moved around her, giving her space though not much. Peering over her shoulder, he felt no shame in his pastime. “So tell me, Jude Barrett, why did you give up?”

“I didn’t give up. I let you be by setting you free. Isn’t that what the selfless do?”

“I didn’t want to be set free. I’ll happily be grounded to you forever.”

“I know. That’s why I had to do it.” She spun around and faced him as he sat on the couch. “You were going to fight until your last breath, but we were losing. You heard them—my sickness for yours. Yours for mine. Nothing could have changed their minds. Hazel,” she pleaded, “you have to start thinking of yourself. I loved that you were fighting for me, that I wasn’t alone, but it would be no victory if it came at the expense of your health.”

“I was fine until you ’set me free.’ Because don’t you see? It was never about you being sick or me fighting my disease. It was always about being together for as long as we both shall live.”

He sat back, crossed his leg over his knee, and said, “You once told me you married me despite my illness. Now you’re telling me you left me because of it. But I don’t see it. I don’t see it in your eyes. I don’t hear it in your words. I don’t feel it when we kiss. You love me. You love me no matter what my health because that’s what love is. Love bends and folds, straightens and secures itself to the one it cares about.” Sitting up, his enthusiasm was contagious and Jude smiled at his architectural references. “We’re tied together, fastened, and bonded. They can take away that piece of governmental paper, but we remain married in the eyes of God and in my heart.”

He was so easy to believe with his grand statements and flattering declarations. He was easy to believe because she agreed. “Our marriage can be annulled, but our love remains. Always.”

“Our commitment is still there.”

“You didn’t have sex with her, did you?” Jude might have been smiling to control her jealousy, but she was still hoping for only one answer.

Taylor admired Jude’s eyes that were persuasively blue today, against the backdrop of the light blue dress she wore. “No. But you know that already. You know what we have doesn’t go away because you convinced yourself you had to set it free.”

“I knew. I just thought maybe I should ask anyway. Isn’t that what normal girls would do? Ask if you did?”

“There’s nothing normal about you, Jude, which is exactly why I like you.”

She got up and settled onto his lap, tired of fighting the inevitable, and just not wanting to anymore. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he rubbed her hip and back. “And I thought it was because I gave you my virginity.”

With a big cocky grin, he popped an imaginary collar. “I will proudly carry that V card of yours right here in my wallet.”

“Hazel?”

“Yeah?”

“We live in an impossible world,” she said, astonished she was back where she wanted to be. She was home. “Impossible like your eyes.”

“We’ll get through it together.” He leaned his head on her shoulder and she tilted hers to him. “Stay.”

THE SUN WAS setting and Jude could see the last of the rays disappearing between the buildings outside the window. The tea she had made earlier was now cold and she debated warming it up. But she didn’t want to move from Hazel’s arms, so she scooted closer to him and his arms tightened around her.

Hazel was right. That paper didn’t represent who they were to each other. Their souls were eternally bonded, and so here she would stay, his arms her safe haven.

“You’re not going back,” he breathed against her shoulder blade.

“There’s nothing there that matters to me.” She thought of Roman, but he wanted her to be free. Once she was, she’d find him to say goodbye. In the meantime, she rolled over to face Hazel. She looked at him. Really looked at him and leaned her head against his. “I will love you long after this life and into the next.”

“I’m counting on you.”

It was good to be counted on. She closed her eyes and in the comfort of their home, she fell asleep.

The next morning, Jude sipped coffee on one barstool. Hazel was on the other. The newspaper remained untouched between them. “Isla called newspapers antiquated,” she remarked.

“That’s why I like them,” he replied. “I like that the ink comes off on your hands and the smell of the paper. It’s real, not like reading online.”

“That’s why I like books. They give me something to hold on to when my emotions are unraveling from the story.” She touched his thigh, and said, “We should talk about what’s going on with me.”

His gaze left the mug and went to her face. Leaning in, he kissed the side of her mouth, then sat up. “Okay. What’s going on?”

“My mother fears for her life.”

“Ironically.”

“Yes. Ironically, but I’ve seen her twice. I might forgive her one day. I’m not asking you to do the same, but I might.”

“Can you? Will you ever really be able to forgive her?”

“She was manipulated when she was at her lowest. Ryan’s death devastated her.”

“Your life should have meant more to her after that then.”

“You’re right. I’m not defending her. I’m only stating that she’s a troubled woman who now fears for her life, but she fears for my life more and has offered to be there for me.”

Taylor absorbed what she was saying. “You can’t change the past so you want to change the future.”

“Yes. I don’t want to live with an angry heart. She’s seeing a therapist a couple times a week. All I can hope is that she gets the help she needs and is there for me when I need her.”

“You’re an amazing woman, you know that, Jude Barrett?”

She smiled from hearing the name. She smiled from being near the man she loved most. “There’s more. Caleb Monroe is filing a petition on my behalf today to win my rights back as well as including evidence to show wrongdoing by Bleekman’s and Dr. Conroy.”

Hazel dipped his head into his hand in astonishment and rubbed his brow. “Really?”

“There’s more. My uncle left me his inheritance or what I call guilt money. We’re suing for the entire amount back or what’s left of it.”

Taylor stared at her in complete awe.

“We have testimony from five different employees at Bleekman’s who have recorded statements on my behalf that not only did they have their job security threatened but that they themselves would face repercussions if they spoke up. Well, they’re willing to fight the good fight together.”

“How did… when did… Caleb?”

“He took me on as a pro-bono client so my family wouldn’t be able to trace any payments. And I’ve become friends with a nurse who works at Bleekman’s. She set me up with a psychiatrist here in the city, who also worked with me for free. After two months of counseling, I have his professional opinion that I am not insane as claimed by my family and Dr. Conroy.”

Taylor took a second to digest all that she just laid on him. “You’ve been doing all this by yourself?”

“Well, I had my friend Lacy, the nurse from Bleekman’s helping, but I had to. I had to fight back.”

Then irritation set in. “Why didn’t you come to me? I would have helped you. I would have done anything for you. Why didn’t you trust me?”

She touched his cheek, then kissed his chin. “I trust you with my life. I know you would have done anything for me, but I didn’t know if you were being watched, I didn’t want to give you false hope. Annnnd, I needed to do this on my own. I didn’t want to come to you the same as I was before. I wanted to be whole, to be free, for you, but more importantly, for me.”

Rubbing her knee, he found a renewed spirit in her words and a sparkle to her eyes. “I get that. I wish you would have come to me, but I understand the need to do it on your own. Do you have a date set?”

“I’ll find out soon. Caleb said he’d call me.”

“I can pay him for the time he’s put in on your case if you want me to.”

“He’s about to have a windfall when we win, so don’t worry.”

“You sound confident.”

“We are. There is no reason—legal or medical—for them to retain guardianship.”

With a wide smile, he suggested, “We should celebrate.”

“Let’s wait for the final verdict first before the confetti comes out.”

His hand slid down her waist and back up. “I was thinking maybe in the bedroom. A private celebration with just the two of us and a mattress.”

Jude had missed his touch so much. She had missed him so much. There were nights back in the pink prison her body had yearned for him, her soul had ached for him.

Neither knew how long they would have to wait to see her conservatorship through and she didn’t want to deny her heart or her body any longer. Feeling empowered by his presence, she stood up and walked to the couch. Bending over the arm, she reached for a cushion on the other side, then glanced back at him. “The mattress? And here I thought you were more adventurous, Mr. Barrett.” She wiggled her ass, beckoning him to her.

Recalling their prior “adventures”, Hazel knew they were always good together, passionate, but this new side of Jude was playful. He could definitely get on board with this game. He stood up, the barstool scraping against the wooden floor.

Jude watched the man who was kindhearted, handsome, and sporting some seriously sexy swagger come for her. This morning, with his mussed-up hair and dreamy eyes, he was absolutely drool-worthy. She added that to his never-ending list of attributes. His toned chest and chiseled arms synced nicely, the muscles working together to make her forget herself. She closed her mouth and lifted up, turning around and planting herself on the arm of the couch. She bit her bottom lip as anticipation formed under his smoldering gaze.

Bending his head toward her, his thighs bumped up against her knees, his fingertips running the length of her neck and under the strap of her bra. “What do you want, Jude?”

His eyes were intense, his lips seductive—so close and yet too far from her own. One of her straps was down and he was lowering the other. She reached around and unfastened her bra and he took it down her arms and tossed it on the couch. “I asked what you want,” he repeated, his voice direct, committed to his purpose.

“I want you.”

“How? How do you want me, pretty girl?”

Playful seemed to escape her tone as he built her desire from within. “Here. Now.”

His fingers graced her face again and he tilted it all the way up. “I love you.”

Her eyes went wide. His words were laced with seduction. Hazel had always been a dedicated lover, but right now, he stood before her a predator. “I love you, Taylor,” she emphasized the T of his name, then licked her lips.

“What did I tell you about calling me that?” He abruptly lifted her to her feet, his hands under her arms and he leaned in dangerously close. “You’ve been a bad girl. A very bad girl.”

She had no idea where this side of him was coming from, but he made her body purr with arousal. “Take those off,” he directed. Without a pause, she lowered her underwear, then stood straight up in challenge, eyeing him. He eyed her right back, unabashedly. “Turn around and bend over.”

There was safety in his tone, even if it was demanding. Jude had been a shrinking violet for too long. He gave her confidence and made her stronger. She was flaunting this newfound confidence. With her hands on the couch, she arched her back downward and stuck out her ass. With one sly glimpse back, she taunted his willpower.

The sight of her weakened him in ways he liked, in ways he craved. But he gained his strength and leaned over her. He licked the back of her neck and kissed her spine before pressing his hard body against her backside. “You’re so naughty, but I’m going to treat you so nice.” Dropping to his knees, he turned around and maneuvered between her legs, coaxing them apart with insistent hands.

Jude closed her eyes, the magnitude of his positioning was too much and she dropped her head down onto the cushion. His hands gripped her hips, while his lips caressed her, driving her mad with ecstasy while he situated her over him. With his tongue, he made her universe thunder and her thighs vibrate. Jude moaned from pure bliss as his hands rubbed down the outside of her legs. Gently, he kissed each of her inner thighs hesitant to leave a mark on her. Just before he was about to move, she asked, “If you could do anything to me, what would you do?”

He was about to speak, but she added, “Shh. Don’t tell me. Do it.”

His lips stroked her thigh and he sucked, closing his eyes, and marking her. Reaching down, her fingers scraped through his hair, encouraging him.

Moving out from under her, he stood up and put pressure on her back, running his hands from her shoulders to her ass until his cock was right there, where he wanted to be most. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t. I hoped. Don’t let the world taint what we have together. I love you.”

“Remember how much I love you too.” He thrust inside her without warning, needing her wet heat to swallow him. Their mouths dropped open, solicitous moans escaping.

“God, I missed this,” he said, squeezing her as he stilled. His breath rolled over her skin, making her shiver.

She wanted to speak, but words were failing her so she squirmed instead, and he started moving again. Faster and faster until her breath caught and she cried out. “Oh God!”

Her body embraced him and he came thereafter, holding her hips for leverage. More kisses were followed though Jude felt helpless and sated, and loved. She opened her eyes when he stood up, taking her hand to help her up too. In one fast swoop, she was in his arms being carried to the bedroom.

Taylor set her down on the bed to recover, then joined her under the covers. Moments passed before their breathing evened. Jude stayed in his arms, never wanting to leave them again. They became a tangle of relaxed limbs, sleep starting to arise, but then she asked, “Why do we cry out ‘God’ when we come? We’re not even that religious.”

He burst out laughing. “I seriously missed you.”

“I missed you too. But really, do you think it’s because there’s nothing more powerful in that moment? It feels that way to me.”

Amused, he kissed her temple, and said, “Maybe it’s because we’re closer to Heaven when we’re joined together.”

“Oh, that’s a really good answer.”

“Glad you like it.” He closed his eyes, still smiling.

A ringing made both of their eyes open. She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. “I’ll be right back.”

“Is that your phone?”

“Yes.”

He lay back with his hands under his head. “I still can’t believe you have a phone. Do I get the number?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, giggling as she ran out of the room. She grabbed it and answered it. “Hello?”

“It’s Caleb. We got our expedited hearing. Monday at eleven.”

“This is amazing news.”

“It is,” he said. “Now what are you going to do until then? Where are you going to stay? It’s not safe for you to be there. They’ll know in the next hour.”

She looked over her shoulder and saw Hazel in all his naked glory leaning against the door to the bedroom. “I’m with Taylor.”

There was a pause, and then Caleb questioned, “With with or talking with?”

“With with. For good. I’ll stay with him.”

“Are you safe there? They may come for you, like last time.”

“This time they have no right to take me, correct? The order of protection is in place?”

“That’s correct, but that doesn’t ultimately protect you.” He sounded worried, and said, “Don’t go out on your own. Stay with Taylor. Just lay low until Monday. All right?”

“Okay. I will.”

“And say hello to him. It’s good to hear you so happy.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling though he couldn’t see. But she did feel happy. Happy in love. “And I will.”

When she hung up, Taylor said, “I don’t want you to think I’m prying, but I want to know.”

She went to him. “You’re not prying. You’re my husband. I have no secrets from you. Caleb said we got our expedited hearing. Next Monday at eleven.”

He hugged her. “That’s great news.”

With her cheek to his chest, she said, “He told me to lay low, to protect myself if they come after me. There’s a restraining order in place, but he fears, like I do, that it won’t stop them.” Tilting her head up to look at him, she asked, “What do you think?”

He tightened his hold on her and spoke in a low tone, caught somewhere between anger and possessive, “We protect you.”

The moment she went to shower, Taylor went to work to secure her safety. He alerted the doorman that no one, not even the police were allowed up to his apartment without a warrant. He called a locksmith to get a new bolt added to the door, and he didn’t let her leave the apartment until she freaked out on him on Saturday because of her cabin fever. And then, with extreme caution, they went to the park, had lunch out, bought her a dress for court, and then returned home that evening. She was exhausted, but happy. And that made Taylor just as happy.

The next day and a half passed not so fast, but not too slow. It went by, taunting them with all the possible outcomes that could come of this hearing. They tried to distract themselves with blueprints and movies, books and light conversation. But Monday loomed and caused stress whether they thought about it directly or not.

When it was finally time for court, they walked in together, hand in hand, to face the hard glares of her family. Caleb walked to the right of them, making sure the respondents didn’t talk to his client.

Right away, Jude noticed her mother was missing. Her aunt and stepfather sat down and spoke quietly with their lawyer while Hazel and Jude sat down at their table with Caleb.

The introductions and background information were told by both parties and then they spent the next three hours dissecting all that was Jude, Taylor and Jude, Jude and her family dynamics, Jude and Bleekman’s, and the evidence presented.

The other side made convincing, though fabricated arguments. When Jude took the stand, she happily rebuked them. She held her head up and her shoulders back. She wasn’t meek anymore. She was prepared to face this alone, head-on. But Hazel being there made all the difference and she held strong in the belief that she would win by reason of sanity.

Caleb had told them to let the evidence speak for itself. And Jude only answered what was required of her. When she spoke, everyone in the court stared at her, trying to decide if she was crazy like the opposing counsel had claimed. She saw Dr. Robert and Lacy there and found comfort in their presence. After a grueling day, the judge took the information and retired to his chambers. It was over. Now they waited…

The next morning, Caleb, Hazel, and Jude, along with Dr. Robert and Lacy waited in the courtroom. Jude didn’t have a way to contact her mother and she had been worrying about her absence all night. As if she knew her daughter needed her, the doors opened at the back and in walked Renee Boehler, her mother. She looked good—healthy, happier, and more importantly, happy to see Jude. Her mother took her side and sat behind Jude’s table, in the closest chair to her daughter. Reaching forward, she rubbed Jude’s back and said, “This is a good day. I can feel it.”

Judge Lathrop walked in and with all eyes on him, sat down on his throne. His expression was unreadable, severity set deep in the lines on his face. Would he see the truth behind the lies? He didn’t appear to be a man who would give a young girl her life back with a simple ruling, but she held on to hope as tight as she held on to Hazel’s hand.

Nine months ago, Jude had no idea her life would be about to change its course. She had no idea that attending a party her parents had been invited to, but didn’t attend—a party she attended without them knowing—would lead to this. She often thought of how she met Hazel, how he came to her and stood by her side, protective from the beginning. “Feels like our whole lives.” And it did, even from the first moment she looked at the broken man with dashing eyes.

Theirs had not been an easy journey. No doubt at times he had hated her ability to stay, to try to weather the storm of her past. She had hated herself for that very same reason. But today she knew, she knew, she was not crazy. She had been wronged and today she would face her future, whatever may come. But not alone. Never alone again.

Hazel needed her as much as she needed him. She also knew this. A party invitation had led them to each other—to their destiny.

Her life for his.

His life for hers.

Together no matter if they had a piece of paper saying so or not.

Hazel squeezed her hand and kissed her temple.

Judge Lathrop found Bleekman’s, Dr. Conroy, and Brewster Boehler liable for criminal charges that would be filed against them that day. All monies she was forced to sign away while at Bleekman’s would be returned as well as additional monies for the abuse she endured. As the case continued, he ruled that Judith Boehler was the only one in charge of her life and that full rights to her own guardianship would be returned to her immediately. His final ruling was on an item that Caleb Monroe added after the case was scheduled. The judge had agreed to the addition over whisky and a cigar late Friday evening.

Taylor and Jude were already breathing easier on regaining her freedom, her independence, but both sat with their fingers entwined with each other’s awaiting the final piece—the legality of their marriage.

As the judge spoke, the courtroom went quiet. “The annulment was forced due to lies told in the courtroom during the initial case. Those who instigated the lies and carried them forth will be held legally accountable. Based on the facts and what I’ve witnessed today, I’m overturning the annulment. The marriage is valid and a new certificate will be issued.”

Taylor looked to Jude, a broad smile on his face. She smiled just as big. Life was becoming as it should be—perfect. Their love would always go beyond this existence, but it was nice to get the legal stamp of approval.