J
Six Months Later
"Are you sure?" Lisa asks me.
I nod and smile. "Absolutely."
She takes my hand in hers. A throat clears behind us. I turn and find my father watching us with a cocked eyebrow. "I believe that's my job," he says, and takes my hand from Lisa. He juts his chin out to tell Lisa to go on without us. Lisa flashes me a brilliant smile then walks out to stand beside Mino. "Before you do this," my dad starts, his salt and pepper hair short on the sides and longer on top. His chestnut eyes are sparkling in the sun. "I want you to know how proud I am of you."
"I know. You've told me about ten times since you got here."
"Well, I can't say it enough. You've been through a lot, and your mom and I noticed how much you've changed since we last saw you."
"I changed?"
"Only for the better." He kisses me on top of my head. "We'd best be going. I don't think that woman of yours is going to wait much longer."
"She is a little impatient, isn't she?" I look out to the clearing and see her rocking on her heels while her hands stay clasped in front of her. Her black slacks pressed without a single wrinkle. The white button-down shirt she's wearing, with the sleeves rolled up, makes her look sexier than I've ever seen her.
Jisoo sneaks up by my side and gives me a quick hug before she walks out to stand across from Lisa and Mino. She chose a belted chiffon maxi dress. It's pink with printed white, black, and grey flowers and leaves scattered about it. The halter top is covered with the flowers, but below the belted waist, the flowers trail down the sides to gather along the bottom of the dress at her feet. It's a perfect complement to her long, dark hair and slender frame. She's become much more to me than my employer. She's like a sister—my best friend, next to Lisa and Mino.
I didn't want a typical, fancy wedding dress, but being an only child and a girl nonetheless, I had to compromise with my mom. By compromise, I mean she got her way in that it's white and lacey. I picked out the style and length of the dress.
The dress has thin, lacey straps, which go down to a sweetheart top. The lace of the dress lies atop satin. There is a delicate silver belt with crystals on it. Then the dress falls to my knees in the front then progressively gets longer in the back to land just above my heels. It's delicate and feminine without being too much. It's perfect.
With my arm looped through my dad's, we walk together toward the woman who will soon be my wife. The woman I slept apart from last night, since my mom insisted it was bad luck to see her before the wedding. I stayed with Jisoo. My parents have been at a hotel in the next town over, since they arrived two days ago. I thought my mom's eyes were going to pop out of her head when Lisa walked toward me when we arrived at the falls. She tried to shoo her away, but Lisa wasn't having any of it. She wasn't happy until she wrapped me in her arms and kissed me.
The closer I get to Lisa, the faster my heart beats in my chest. We only have eyes for each other. When we reach her, my father hugs me and kisses my forehead before placing my hand in Lisa's. She smiles and we both turn toward Jim. He's not only one of our local police officers, he's also licensed to perform weddings.
Lisa and I recite our vows, committing our lives to one another. I asked if she wanted us to write our own vows and she said no. She said no words she could ever think of would come close to describing the love she has for me. I told her that was a good start, and she laughed. I'm fine using traditional vows. It also makes my mom happy.
With our vows said and our rings exchanged, we kiss in front of our closest friends and my parents. No other family of mine is here, and there is no one in Lisa's distant family she wanted to invite.
Lisa's fingers dig into my waist, a sign she wants to do much more to me than the kiss she's bestowing upon me. When we break apart, a gentle breeze brings some of the mist from the falls around us and tosses my hair about, tickling my nose. It's not enough to get us really wet, just delicate droplets of water glistening on our skin. Lisa takes it as an opportunity to lean in and kiss me again with a little tongue. Pulling back, she gives me a wink.
We turn to my parents, and the handful of friends we invited, as Jim pronounces us as wife.
We all pile in our cars, our wedding complete. Neither Lisa, nor I wanted a big reception, but Jisoo insisted on at least throwing us something back at her house.
I did hand Lisa the letter her mom left for her. I also told her she didn't have to tell me what it said. That it was between her and her mom. It's also all she has left of her. That and what she gave us in the boxes and folders.
On the drive to Jisoo's, I think about all Lisa and I have been through in the past six months. Her childhood home was torn down and the ground was broken for a shelter for domestic abuse victims. She wanted to do something for those who don't think they have anywhere to turn when they are being abused. As a teenager, she felt lost when her mom wouldn't believe her. Maybe things would have been different if this place she's having built would have existed back then.
She's using the money her mom left her to build and run the home. There will be rooms for a single person or a parent and children. She's already begun the process of hiring a recruiting firm to find the right people she needs to work there.
The past months haven't been easy for her. We found out Everett did in fact tamper with Risa's car, causing her accident. The police obtained security footage from the post office where Risa stopped before the accident. It shows Everett sliding under her car in the parking lot then leaving without anyone noticing. After having the car inspected, the police found the brake line had been unscrewed from the back of the caliper, causing the brake fluid to leak from the line slowly. It was another thing to add to the long list of charges against Everett. We try not to talk about him unless we have to, due to the legal proceedings, media coverage about Lisa, or the home she's having built. Everett has no place in our minds. We push him out the best we can. Lisa still has nightmares, but they have become few and far between, the longer we're together.
Lisa holds my hand as we drive to Jisoo's. Mino wanted to get us a limo, but I love Lisa's truck, so I politely declined. We're still living with Mino. We've talked about having a home built in the mountains, but Mino insisted we are in no rush to leave, married or not. He likes having us there.
Lisa's hand turns to play with my engagement and wedding rings. She doesn't say anything, but I see the wide smile on her face. She's happy. Really happy and I love seeing her like this.
At the reception, we enjoy food, which is far too fancy for my taste, but damn it's good. Mino talks to Jisoo, each smiling coyly at one another. I can't help but wonder if something is going on with them. Yes, she's a little older than him but only by eight years.
After dinner, Lisa and I find a private corner of the house to sneak off to. She kisses me and trails her lips along my neck, causing chills to spread down my arms.
"My beautiful Nini," she murmurs against my lips. "God, how I love you."
"I'm forever yours."
"I don't think I've ever thanked you."
I look in her eyes. "Why would you thank me?"
"You saved my life, Nini. I was trying to put an end to my misery, and there you were, offering me a new beginning. I wanted to die, but you told me to go with you. That you would take me from my hell, and that's just what you did."
"I didn't want you to leave this world. I heard the desperation in your voice. I would have done anything for you at that moment and still will."
"I would burn down the world for you. Then and now. You're my past, present, and future. Where I end, you begin."
"And I will be here loving you for the rest of our lives and beyond."
THE END