Someday we'll know
why the sky is blue...

"Eli. Say it. Tell me whatever is going on in your mind." Grace didn't know what to say to convince Eli to open up without fear. "You should know I have never hated you. No matter what you tell me and no matter how you think I'll react, don't ever be afraid to talk to me. Not after everything we've been through and meant to one another. Not after all this time." Grace knew he was scared and she knew why. She was supposed to get married. If Eli loved her, it would change everything. It would change her life, his life, Geoff's life and the lives of everyone involved.

Nothing would ever be the same. She knew she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she never told him she was in love with him too. "Please don't shut me out again E. Open your heart." She moved toward him so they were merely inches apart. "Open your heart Eli, please."

"I can't. There are things in this world that will never be explained and my heart is one of those things. I just can't Grace. Lives will change and I'm not sure I can handle that kind of weight on my shoulders when I'm alone. Maybe that's me being selfish again but I can't ruin your life Grace. I can't turn your world upside down and walk away like you'll ask me to do. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I've done that too many times and I can't again. I hate seeing the tears in your eyes knowing I was the one that put them there. So many times I'd made you cry." Eli realized if he said those three words he was terrified to say, Grace might not actually feel the same. He'd thought she was in love with him once but today as she stood in front of him, he wasn't certain anymore. Fear took over and he couldn't read her eyes any longer. She was in love and he could see that but she'd planned to marry someone else.

"You wont ruin anything Eli." The wind was blowing harder and Grace looked up at the threatening sky and sighed. "Why did God create storms? We can have rain without the dangers of the lightning, wind and even hail. Why wouldn't he simply give us nice long rains to wet the soil and keep everything alive?"

Eli looked at Grace and thought about her question. He realized what she really meant and answered, "We need to go through the bad to fully appreciate the good in life. Without the storms, we wouldn't know the true beauty of a gentle spring rain that brings everything to life. Love is like that too isn't it?"

He took a deep breath and knew this was the moment he'd waited for. The moment he would tell her what was in his heart. She gave him this moment and he wasn't turning back. This moment in time that terrified him and yet in the same breath gave him courage and hope.

"Grace. I have wanted to say this for so long. You have meant so much to me even when I couldn't find the courage to tell you. Those times I walked away from you were hard, really hard. Grace, I...I love you. I always have. I should have told you years ago but I was afraid and I let that fear win out every time. I may have even felt it the day our parents got married. I wanted to tell you the night you came to me in the garage. I wanted to tell you that night in the kitchen when you were soaked from the rain. I wanted to tell you so many times and yet I never did. I stayed away the last two years because I knew I couldn't be near you without needing to tell you everything."

He paused a moment to catch his breath. "I should have rushed home six weeks ago when I got the damn invitation in the mail but I didn't. I was an idiot and I waited until the day before you're getting married to tell you what's in my heart. It's too late and I've wasted all these years. I wasted years that we could have had together falling deeper in love and sharing laughter and tears. So many years have gone by but I never forgot you and my love for you never faded. It grew. I love you Grace Manning." Eli felt the tears cascade down his cheeks. In a hoarse whisper he choked, "Don't marry him. Please Grace, say you wont marry him. Give me a chance." He closed his eyes and waited for an answer.

She felt her heart overflow with emotion. She'd never been happier. Grace had no idea where they would go from this point but that didn't matter. He loved her. He finally told her he loves her and she can't let him go. She won't let him run from her again. "E, I love you too. Those three words have been so difficult for us to say haven't they? Three tiny little words that some say with absolutely no hesitation and often don't mean them, and yet it took the two of us years to find the courage to say them. I love you and I never want you to leave me again."

She stopped, took a deep breath and thought a moment. She had so much to figure out...so many decisions to make. "I don't know what I'm going to tell Geoff. I'm not marrying him. I think in a way I've always known I couldn't marry him. I can't marry him knowing you're in my heart. I don't know what will happen with my life. My entire family will be at the house this evening and I'll have to explain everything to them. Will you be there? Will you be there with me Eli? I don't know if I can face everyone alone." Grace began to tremble as she realized what she would have to do in a few hours. She was expected to attend the wedding rehearsal and the dinner where her entire family would be sitting alongside Geoff and his family. Geoff would expect her there. 'Geoff. What do I tell Geoff? How can I possibly explain it to him?'

Eli smiled. "Of course I'll be there. But I think our family will understand. From what I've seen today, they know how we feel. They've always known, the same way we have. They actually had a plan for us to be alone today. The plan was of course altered a bit when you heard your sister and I talking and left. The first part of the plan was going rather smoothly. Jake and Dad got Geoff away from you and are keeping him busy. When you showed up in front of the house, Mom called Lily and she told me I had to get over here. I wanted to anyway once I realized where you were." Eli put his arms around Grace and held her close. He wasn't letting go. He wouldn't leave her alone.

"Thank you Eli." Grace gazed up into his eyes as the rain began to fall. She placed her hand on his cheek and slowly licked her lips. A small smile appeared on Eli's face for a moment as he put both his hands on her cheeks. "You're welcome Grace. I love you." Their lips met as lightning flashed and the first sound of thunder broke through the sky.

At the mall...

"Okay, we'll make a run for it. Got the gifts? Good. Let's go." The three men made their way through the parking lot to the car before they got drenched. The rain started and brought lightning and thunder with it. Rick hoped it was not an omen of things to come. "My keys. Where are my keys? Wait, I've got them, never mind."

"Rick, do you have a towel or anything in here? I had no idea it was supposed to rain like this." Jake looked out the window. "This is going to be one hell of a storm. Are we ready for it fellas?" Jake knew in his mind he was asking Rick about the storm brewing elsewhere that they needed to prepare for.

"I think I've got some towels in the back. Geoff, could you take a look for me? Thanks." Geoff searched and found two towels and waited while his fiancee's two dads dried themselves from the rain.

"I hope the storm won't be too bad. I don't want it to ruin the rehearsal tonight. I have had this sinking feeling that if there is a problem with the rehearsal, it can't look good for the wedding." Which is why I want the wedding tonight instead of tomorrow. Geoff stared out the window after drying himself off, lost in his thoughts, as Jake and Rick glanced knowingly at one another understanding that Geoff's words were more correct than he could imagine. Rick sighed and started the car. They left the mall preparing themselves for the long road ahead.