Nearly a week later, Shawn and Jade were on their way back from the
doctor's office. Baby Mackenzie had had her check up a few days ago and
the doctor deemed her okay to travel. He had also cleared Jade for travel.
The two of them were driving back to the hotel, eager to pick up
Mackenzie, who was with Linda and Vince, and get going home to San Antonio.
"I hope that we can decorate the room quickly, before Mackenzie gets
too big. I want the room to be perfect for her. Of course, now we'll have
to add some more girly things because.well, she is a girl." Jade rambled
on and on, oblivious to the look on Shawn's face. He was deep in thought,
thinking about his future.
He had done a lot of thinking in the past week. He really, truly
loved Jade and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. He was so
dedicated to her and the idea of marriage that he went out and bought an
engagement ring. It was a beautiful gold with a .50-carat diamond in the
centre. It shined brightly and Shawn looked at it as a symbol of their
love. He was just looking for the right time to propose to her.
"And I want her to have the best education and actually go to class-
unlike me. I never went to class and always got into trouble, but I don't
want her to be like that."
"Jade?" Shawn interrupted. She looked at him in surprise, as if she
had forgotten about him.
"What?"
Slowly, he pulled the car over to the side of the road. He put one
hand on the back of her seat and situated himself so he was facing her. "I
have something to ask you."
She was all ears. Her attention was undivided as her sixth sense
warned her about what he was going to say.
"No," he suddenly said. "Not like this. I want to do this right."
He got out of the car, cars whizzing by. He came around to her side of the
car and opened the door, kneeling down on one knee in front of her. She
looked at him curiously, but love in her eyes. He took her hand gently.
"Jade, I've know this is an old saying, but I've never felt this way
about a woman before. You make my day light, and you make life worth
living. I've given up all the drugs and alcohol because of you. You've
made me a better person and I want to be with you for the rest of my life.
Will you marry me?"
Floods of tears escaped the gates of Jade's eyes as she nodded her
head, a smile crossing her face. She stood up to face Shawn and they
hugged, cars passing by, pointing at the couple. But they didn't care.
They were in love and were getting married.
Back at the hotel, Jade excitedly told her parents what was going on.
From the look on Vince's face, Jade could tell that Shawn had already
cleared it with him.
"Congratulations, honey," Linda said, kissing both of them on the
cheek. Jade felt so elated, she thought she would never come down. So why
did the nagging feeling in her stomach keep coming back?
Two weeks later, Shawn stood in front of what seemed like a million
people. He and Jade had decided that they didn't want a big fancy wedding;
just something simple in front of their friends and family.
They were outdoors, a big wedding set up in the McMahons' back yard.
The day turned out to be beautiful and Shawn was glad. Jade had turned out
to be pretty unpredictable in the past few weeks, under all the stress.
She would cry at the slightest drop of a hat. But Shawn understood her
situation and tried to bear with it as best as he could.
Here Comes the Bride began to play from the rented organ and Shawn
focused his attention on his soon-to-be wife, walking down the makeshift
aisle. Jade was wearing a white satin gown, which her friends teased her
about.
"Yeah, she should really be wearing white!" they joked. But as Shawn
looked at Jade, he never felt a stronger love for her. She looked so
gorgeous and radiant; he knew that they were going to be very happy
together and nothing could stop that.
She joined him at the altar and smiled, her beautiful face lighting up.
Shawn smiled back, then looking ahead to face his future.
The minister had barely said two words when a voice behind them
cried, "This wedding can't happen like this!" Every pair of eyes there
turned around to face Jenny Thompson, a long time friend of both Shawn and
Jade.
She wasn't beautiful; but she was pretty. She had long blond hair
and hazel eyes. She could be a nice person, but in general was nasty. She
was extremely negative and a pessimistic in every way.
Confusion filled Jade's eyes. "Jenny?" she asked. "What are you
talking about?"
"I'm pregnant, Jade." Jenny's eyes were determined and cold. They
were a steely green, which sent shivers up and down Jade's spine.
"And this affects us how?" Shawn asked, feeling the butterflies in
his stomach rise. He didn't know why, but he had a feeling that something
bad was on its way.
"With your child."
The simple statement brought frenzy among the wedding guests. Linda
and Vince sat in horror, staring at Shawn. Shawn repeatedly shook his
head.
"No. It's not true!" He rushed towards Jenny. "Tell them it's not
true!"
"But it is true, Shawn." She turned away from him to face the crowd.
"You see, I've been a friend of Jade and Shawn for years. Shawn's always
been attracted to me and a few weeks ago, he finally acted on his
instincts. And now I'm pregnant with his kid."
"If you guys are such good friends, then why weren't you invited to
the wedding?" Linda asked, with a calm head as always.
This stumped Jenny, but only for a moment before she recovered. "I'm
sure Shawn was afraid that if he saw me again, he would want me again, so
he decided against it."
Jade felt as if her heart had fallen into her stomach. She continued
to stare at the man that she loved-or thought she had loved-and thought
about how betrayed she felt. Shawn, the man who had stood by her side
through thick and thin, had a secret from her. One that he couldn't even
confess up to. It wasn't a sin; yet it hurt Jade all the same.
Shawn looked at her, his eyes pleading for understanding. But she
turned away. She couldn't face him. Not now.
