Is true love just once in a lifetime?

'Eli, I love you. Say it Grace. You can say it here in your mind so why is it so difficult for you to say it aloud to the man you love? Four little words. You just said three of them to Geoff and you may not even mean them. Say them...say them.' Grace was fighting another battle in her mind when she felt Eli move closer to her.

"Getting a little chilly out here. Didn't know if you were cold or not. You okay? Did you just shiver?" Eli wanted to feel her skin next to his. Even if it was only their arms that touched, that was good enough for now.

"Eli, I...umm, can we talk now? Or are you still using the 'we don't have to talk' rule?" Grace didn't know what she would say.

"Sure, if you wanna talk, we'll talk. I can't guarantee what I say will make any sense but if you wanna risk it." Eli looked at her beautiful face in the moonlight and smiled.

Grace saw his smile and lost all track of everything. "You haven't met Geoff yet have you?" 'god, of all things to say to him, I say that.'

"Nope, I haven't. Well, I answered the phone when he called. And then I...umm, no, that would be it. Haven't met the man you're about to marry." Eli couldn't tell her he saw the two of them saying their goodbyes earlier. His voice would break and then she would know his heart was crushed. "Do you two have any jitters? Ya know, a big step. Marriage and all." 'Shut up Eli. Shut up before you say something you'll regret. Shut up, don't say it. ' "How did you know he was the one? You know, the one you would spend the rest of your life with." 'Dammit E, you were supposed to shut up.'

Grace sat in the yard stunned, staring at Eli. She regained her voice and said, "How did I know? I don't know. We dated, we fell in love, and he proposed. Can't really explain it I guess." 'Don't know how to explain it because he's not the perfect one for me. Somehow, I think you know that though Eli. Somehow I think you know.' She looked into his tortured eyes and said, "Why do you ask? Is that girlfriend of yours the one for you?" She didn't want to know the answer.

"Who? My girlfriend? Oh, oh, yeah. I mean no, I don't think so. I don't know. Love is weird like that you know. One minute you think you're in love and then the next you're not or vice versa. You think you hate someone and then one day you look at that person and your heart jumps, your stomach flips, and you just know you've silently fallen in love." Eli froze. He told her. No specifics and he could have been talking about anyone in particular but he told her he loved her. And survived. And will never love again because the love of his life is getting married in three days and he can't stop it...or wont.

'Say it Grace. He just did. Your dream is coming true. Say it!'' "E..." She never got a chance to finish.

"You two kids okay out here? What a beautiful night. Did you have a good trip back Eli? How are you Grace?" Judy. Her aunt never had good timing with anything.

"Hey Judy. Yeah, my trip was good. I'll go up to the garage now and leave you two to talk. See ya Grace...and thanks for sitting with me."

Grace looked into the eyes of the man she knew in her heart she loved and all she could say was "Anytime Eli, you're welcome. Goodnight." She watched him walk away as her heart slowly began to break. Her 'one'.

"Grace, what's wrong? Were you and Eli talking? Oh, you were, and I interrupted. I'm sorry. Did you want to go talk to him? Grace?" Judy knew something was happening and was afraid to believe what her gut was once again telling her. If anyone in the world knew about falling in love when you least expect it, don't want it, and know it's completely wrong, it would be Judy. Grace could only sigh. "You're still in love with Eli aren't you? Don't look at me like that. I saw it long ago between the two of you. Don't worry about your mother, she knew too. We simply never said anything. She was okay with it. Okay, so, not at first but I talked to her and she was okay with it in the end if anything were to happen. And yes, the two of you felt the same and you're both so stubborn you hid it. But now you and Eli have hidden it so long you may never find your way out. Grace, you have to follow your heart. No matter what anyone tells you is right, no matter what you think is right in your head, you must follow your heart. I learned that lesson the hard way. Had to leave the state to find out and look at me now. Grace, you've always known, my beautiful niece, now tell that man up there the truth, and then call Geoff before you lose your nerve. Go sweetie."

Judy followed her heart and she's married and expecting a child. Will's child. Grace never thought that would happen. No one did. And now she had to face her fears and tell Eli she was in love with him and had been since forever. She couldn't let him go again and lose her one true love forever. She stood and slowly made her way to the garage as Judy watched from the yard with a smile on her face. Grace opened and entered the door that led to the rest of her life.

Judy made her way back to the kitchen and gave Zoe a hug. "Sweetie, how did you know how they felt and that they still feel the same? And thank you for telling me to get this big butt over here and sending me out to do your dirty work. I just hope it works."

"Me too Aunt Judy, me too." Zoe was beaming. There could still be a wedding this weekend. And this one would be the right one.