The Eternity that Follows (36 page)

In the rest of that last week of August, Joey spent it hard at
work on the house he was building for Gabriella, while Gabriella
filled her week with the finishing touches on the wedding plans, all
while keeping to their same routine. They ate breakfast together in
the morning, while both wishing they were still holding the other
in bed. Gabriella pushed Joey off most mornings as she reluctantly
sent him to the gym and work. Joey was growing restless from his
long work hours away from Gabriella. Aware so, Gabriella packed
Joey his lunch as usual, with an extra incentive to keep him at
work. She started packing mini-love notes that were seductive,
knowing he needed the reinforcement. Gabriella’s notes worked,
and Joey kept himself working hard after his lunch hour to make it
home to her. Joey was thankful for Gabriella, he was pushing hard
for the deadline of the house to be completed before they were
married, and she was helpful in helping him keep his goal, also her
love notes kept their love making thriving.

When Joey got home from work throughout the week, all
he wanted to do was hold Gabriella. He held her while she was
finishing up cooking their dinner, he held her hand while they ate
dinner, he held her from behind while she did the dishes, he took
quick showers to get out fast so he could hold her in bed, he held
her while they made love, and also held her tightly through the
night.

Gabriella kept to her workout routine in the mornings, and
tanning in the sun during the noon hour. Her afternoons were
spent preparing meals for Joey, leaving the finishing touches in
cooking for when Joey got home. Gabriella liked having Joey
behind her while she was making dinner, she adored the attention,
and missed him terribly throughout the day.

On Monday, Gabriella went to the florists. She ordered
flowers to go inside the church, the flowers she wanted as her
centerpieces, and the flowers to be displayed in the hall at Mandala
Palace. Gabriella also ordered rose petals for her flower girl to
throw down the isle. What little dream Gabriella did have for a
wedding growing up, had always consisted of the flower girl
throwing rose petals down the isle.

On Tuesday, Gabriella finally got word back from her
favorite Dee Jay from Mackenzie’s that he would be able to make
the day of her wedding. Gabriella was so excited, she didn’t feel
the least bit bad when she had to call and cancel her back up Dee
Jay.

Gabriella also went to the tailor that day, to see her dress
made up for the first time. Gabriella beamed, trying on the dress
for it’s final fitting. She couldn’t believe a simple piece of paper,
had turned into her wedding dress, drawing her closer then ever to
Joey. She now had a more first hand experience of what it must
feel like for him to bring his blueprints to life, having something
imagined in your head, and then one day it’s there tangible was
inconceivable to Gabriella before seeing her dress.

On Wednesday, Joey took an extra hour at lunch to meet
with the priest and Gabriella to approve their marriage. When the
priest saw their ring tattoo, he was surprised the two had chosen to
be married in a church. At first glance of the couple, the priest
didn't conceive them to be a traditional couple, but the priest soon
found inside of Joey and Gabriella, a rare love that had crossed
him seldom in his lifetime. When Joey and Gabriella’s told the
account of God in their life, the priest harked their words, soon
becoming to see, Joey was much into the bible, and Gabriella, a
hopeless romantic. Joey and Gabriella spoke their love story, using
the words fate, love and destiny. The priest left their greeting off,
saying it would be his pleasure to marry them in front of the eyes
of God.

When Joey left the rectory, he felt a new presence of God
in his life. Joey shared with Gabriella his feelings on saying grace
from now on when they ate. Gabriella took it a step further,
sharing with Joey the wholesome feeling she used to get after
church as a child. They agreed to go to confession the upcoming
Saturday, and begin going to church on Sundays from then on.
Gabriella thought it would be a great tradition to start for their
future family.

On Thursday, Gabriella finally started marking off her
wedding guest list with those who responded yes. Gabriella started
setting the seating arrangements, but soon found, she needed a few
more responses before she could complete the project. She hoped
they would come soon as she wanted the bulk of her wedding
planned before school started.

On Thursday night, Joey and Gabriella met with their
wedding party at the church, being the chapel was in use. They
rehearsed with the priest the steps everyone would be taking down
the isle. The priest summarized the vows, dispalying the words
simply so they understood where to stand. Gabriella was
astonished when the priest said, Joseph quickly running through
the vows, not yet having them recite the words back. Gabriella
hadn’t given much thought to calling Joey, Joseph. Gabriella only
called Joey, Joe as it had come out natural the first time, and she
had gotten used to using it in particular situations.

After the rehearsal at the church, Joey and Gabriella
brought their wedding party out to eat as a thank you, it was as
much of a rehearsal dinner as they felt they needed. Gabriella gave
her wedding party matching earnings, Joey had helped her pick out
and shelled the money out for, to wear to the wedding. Joey and
Gabriella felt like a grown up couple, when Joey picked up the
check.

On Friday, Gabriella kept her appointment with her hair
dresser, to sample the way her hair would be styled for her
wedding. Gabriella was so pleased with the up do her stylists did,
she couldn’t cool her heels on the idea of seeing her hair done up,
with her veil on. Gabriella decided she would do her own makeup,
being she had her makeup professionally done for Danielle’s
wedding, and wasn’t too impressed. She thought she did her own
makeup just fine.

Also on Friday, Joey received his first check from the
jeweler. Gabriella was cheerful to give it to him when he came
home from work. Joey saw on the invoice, ten rings had been sold.
Gabriella fussed over Joey, pleading with him to make another
design. Joey didn’t tell Gabriella he already had an idea in mind,
he was still waiting for the time to be able to draw it up so he could
suprise Gabriella with it on their wedding night.

Joey and Gabriella spent their Friday night in as a couple,
and Joey planned a romantic picnic for Gabriella in the bedroom.
He kept her waiting downstairs while he set up candles around the
picnic blanket placed on the carpet of the bedroom. Joey had
Gabriella’s favorite sandwich made again, and Gabriella fussed
how she had been craving the sandwich all week. Joey heard the
word ‘crave,’ and assumed quickly she was pregnant from their
night at Lake Romantica. Gabriella assured Joey, she wasn’t
pregnant, and wasn’t expecting her period until next week. Joey
was hopeful.

On Saturday, Joey deposited the check from the jeweler
into his personal savings account. He then took Gabriella furniture
shopping for the master bedroom. When Gabriella found her
dream set, Joey’s eyes lit up along with hers. It was a romantic
light marble set. The marble was shining with yellow, pink, and
orange spackles. Joey thought it would go perfect in the room that
was painted an off-white, pink color. Joey then had Gabriella
select their living room furniture. Gabriella picked white leather
chairs and couches, with cherry wood tables to match the dinning
room. Joey assured the two rooms were indeed next to each other,
when Gabriella pleaded she had to know. Gabriella was
spellbound as Joey informed her, both the living room and dinning
room had hardwood flooring. With that news, Gabriella picked out
carpets for under her coffee tables, matching the area rug she had
already picked out for under the dinning room table. Joey took it
upon himself to stop to look at baby room furniture. Joey felt he
had needed to give away there were a quite a few number of
bedrooms in the home, to try to convince Gabriella, it was a
necessity to furnish a room for a baby. Gabriella then tried
guessing how many other bedrooms the house had. She guessed
three and Joey said no. She guessed two and Joey said no. She
guessed four and Joey said no. She guessed five and Joey also said
no. Joey kept a good face when Gabriella guessed right, and knew
he did a good job of not giving himself away. Gabriella finally
agreed on the baby room furniture when Joey told it was between
the number three and six. Gabriella guessed four, and saw no
reason why one room couldn’t hold baby furniture in it, after all,
Joey had his mind set on starting to make a baby the night of their
honeymoon, and Gabriella couldn’t refuse him. Gabriella too was
growing enchanted for his dreams of children.

Gabriella and Joey were on there way to her aunt Vanessa’s
house for labor day weekend, down in Point Pleasant on the Jersey
shore. They left early in the morning on Sunday, renting a hotel
room near Gabriella’s aunts house for that night. Joey was excited
to be getting away, only having spent a few Saturdays’ before
Gabriella this summer at the beach. Gabriella was enthused by
Joey's excitement for the mini-vacation, but was more eager for her
whole family to met Joey for the first time.

Joey and Gabriella decided to take her car down to the
Jersey shore, switching drivers once they entered Jersey over the
George Washington bridge. Gabriella didn’t want to take any
chances of Joey being thrown into a Jersey jail for a suspended
New York license, especially on a holiday weekend, where it
would take forever for Joey to see a judge for bail. Gabriella was
behind the wheel driving, and Joey had just lowered the music.
“I’m so excited to get on the beach with my sexy, almost wife.”
Joey said, leaneing over and giving Gabriella a kiss on the check.

That reminded Gabriella.
“Where are we going for our honeymoon?” Gabriella asked Joey,
once again.
“Now you know that’s a secret.”
“Joey.” Gabriella said, letting her lips pout.
“Oh no Gabriella. You know that face isn’t going to work. Please
stop making that face.” Joey said, feeling he was starting to cave.
“Fine. All I’ll tell you is that there’s white sandy beaches.” Joey
finally confessed, giving Gabriella’s pout a kiss.
“Oh Yay! Is there crystal clear water too?”
“Nope.”
“Nope you won’t tell me? Or nope there’s no crystal clear water?”
“Both.” Joey said, raising the radio.

When Joey and Gabriella arrived to the Jersey shore, they
checked into their hotel room. When they got into their hotel
room, they put on their bathing suits and headed for the beach.

Joey and Gabriella were taking in the sun, lying on the king
sized sheet Gabriella brought down for the beach. Gabriella
wanted to go swimming in the ocean, and Joey confessed he hated
swimming in the ocean.
“Oh come on.” Gabriella begged.
“Anything for you.” Joey said, grabbing Gabriella into his arms
and bringing her into the ocean.

When Joey was in a few feet, he threw Gabriella into the
water. Gabriella landed far enough out, past the point where the
waves were breaking, she stayed there treading water, mad at Joey.

Joey called out to her,
“come back.”
“Nope. You get your butt in her and apologize to me.” Gabriella
called back.

Joey figured he better get his butt out there, sensing
Gabriella was steamed with him. Joey went into the water where
Gabriella was, started to tread, and realized he could still stand.
“This isn’t so bad.” Joey said, going to take Gabriella into his
arms.

Gabriella wrapped her legs around Joey’s waist for a few
minutes. She then pushed off of him, and dunked him under the
water. When Joey came up, he looked terrified “What did you do
that to me for?” Joey asked, giving off his cute puppy dog face.
“Payback for throwing me in. That was mean Joey.” Gabriella
said, wiping away his puppy dog face with her hand.
“You wanted to go into the ocean.” Joey said, guessing Gabriella
was still mad at him.
“And what if I never came up and hit my head and drowned?”
“I would have come in after you.”
“And if the tide had brought me out and I was gone forever?”
“I’d spend my whole life faithful to you.” .
“Would you really?” Gabriella asked, starting to warm up to Joey
again.
“Yes. I’ve told you that before right?” Joey asked, holding out his
arms.

Gabriella went into Joey’s arms.
“Yes. You mean it though?” Gabriella asked, giving Joey a stare
with her eyes, suggesting she was scared to trust him.
“I mean it.” Joey said, looking back into Gabriella’s eyes and
assuring she could trust him.

Gabriella kissed Joey as he held her in the water.
“Forever?” Gabriella asked, when they were through kissing.
“Forever.”
“The eternity that follows.” Gabriella said, demandingly.
“The eternity that follows and whatever there is after that.” Joey
promised.

Joey and Gabriella left the water, and while doing so, Joey
was trampled by a wave. Joey stumbled to his feet while Gabriella
stood over him laughing. They then dried off in the sun, and then
stayed to watch the sunset.
“What do you think there is out there?” Gabriella asked, looking
away form the sunset and onto the horizon of the ocean.
“Water.”
“Yeah but I mean what else?”
“Your not talking about the ocean, are you?”
“Nope.” Gabriella said, simply.

Joey thought perhaps she may be referencing to space.
They had just spoken about coming back after dinner to gaze at the
stars together.
“Are you talking about space?”
“No.”
“I’m stumped Gab.”
“I’m talking about out there in life, what’s out there? I don’t know
anything about life now, other than you. I’m just curious if there’s
something else more meaningful then love out there.”
“Love of a child.” Joey said, playing with the strings on
Gabriella’s bikini bottom.
“No, Joey that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Are you still caught up on what if you drowned today? Gabriella,
I would never let anything happen to you, especially when I’m
right there to protect you.”
“I guess, I just feel I have another purpose in life.”
“You mean you don’t feel the meaning of life any more is for man
and woman to be with each other anymore?”
“No. I still fell that way. I just feel my life needs to have a
purpose, like I have to make an impact in society someway. It’s
just that the ocean makes me feel so little in life. It makes me
realize how big the earth is, and how my existence doesn’t matter
to the world. I just feel there’s a part of life I’m missing.”
“When were back her next summer with our newborn child tell me
if you still feel that way.”
“You don’t feel small next to the ocean?”
“I guess I do. I do feel powerless over it.”
“Does it make you feel like your life’s not important though?”
“No. It makes me feel like it’s a deathtrap and it can kill me. Look
I don’t feel that the ocean was made for people to swim in. I guess
that does make me feel like I’m kind of unimportant, that the ocean
wasn’t made for man.”
“Well fishes have soul mates too.” Gabriella said, causing Joey to
laugh.