Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
He paused, and she wrapped her arms around him.
As he heard people crying in the crowd, he pulled himself together and continued.
“She could see darkness and light… She told me that I look too much like the monster that took her brother away, but then, she hugged me and confessed she also saw the angel that brought her family closure. Family is so important, Porsche. It is the foundation of our lives, and determines so much about who we become in this world. But there comes a time in our existence when we can blame no one but ourselves for the trajectory of that life we live. Good or bad. I’m not a perfect man. I have a temper.” He swallowed. “I sometimes am too dogmatic in my point of view. I am skeptical by nature, and I enjoy sometimes just keeping to myself—maybe a bit too much. But what I do know is that God does create perfect unions.
“Not perfect people, but the combination of our love is perfection to the fullest. You are sunny, summer days. Chilly fall nights. You are fresh flowers leaping from the soil in the spring. You are the winter cabins and lovers wrapped in an oversized, warm blanket by the fire. You are the lighthouse when I’m lost in the dark. A beacon of light to the weary and tired. You are the elated scream of a little child … the calm whisper of hope in the middle of a treacherous storm. You are my everything.”
He turned back to the pastor who also seemed rather emotional as she swept tears away with a tissue, and she continued with the service.
Soon, they exchanged rings.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nikolai, you may kiss your bride.”
Embracing her, he tipped her chin and kissed her. Her caress resonated through his veins. He could hear the cheering and clapping, but he stayed in that moment. Firmly planted, with her. He imagined the world around them, a soft sheet of white. Quiet. He imagined a black raven flying close by. Delivering good news. Whispering granted wishes, and conceding prayers…
EPILOGUE
…A few years later
Porsche came back up from the basement with a different box, then slammed it onto the kitchen counter. This one was bigger than the last.
“How in the hell were you able to have so much stuff in your own place?” he yelled over the blender. His two-year-old daughter, Jewel, was lying on a purple blanket in the living room, glued to an animated program. He turned the blender off, putting the strawberry smoothie he was making for their child on pause.
“I have no idea,” she huffed. “Your guess is as good as mine.” She turned around to glance at their daughter sprawled out with her dolls and toys, laughing and rolling about. “Uh, what do you have her watching?”
“It’s a cartoon.”
Porsche snatched the remote control off the counter and turned it to something else. “That was an old rerun of Family Guy! Totally inappropriate. Why would you let her watch that, Nik?!”
“Oh, that’s what that was?” He shrugged, dumbfounded. “I had no idea. Relax. She can’t even understand innuendos. You act as if she’s now scarred for life. Hey, I fixed her a vanilla cake, potato chips, and an iced cold cola for breakfast, too. Hope that’s okay.”
She sucked her teeth and cursed at him under her breath as he laughed his butt off.
“Pancakes are almost finished. I’ll call ya when breakfast is ready.” He turned to the stove and flipped one over.
“I’m hungry, and looking forward to it. It smells good, as always.”
“I’m glad you’re getting rid of this old stuff though.” He turned on some music from his phone. ‘Werewolves Of London,’ by Warren Zevon played on low. The basement had been completely gutted and remodeled. It was now his blacksmithing workshop and storage, as well as a nice lounge area for when they had large crowds over for family gatherings.
“I don’t wanna get rid of all my stuff though.” She pouted. “Some of this is from high school, Nikolai! Can’t you see how important my old cheerleading outfit is? I even have the pompoms.”
“Hmmm… that’s interesting. Remind me later that I want you to dress up as a cheerleader tonight, and I’ll be the horny football player tryna get a little feel under the bleachers. It’ll start that way, and end another… I’m sure you can guess the rest.” She rolled her eyes and smirked. “Anyway, if I had to get rid of my football Jersey collection, you need to clear out your junk, too. It’s long overdue. I want my workshop clear of your trash.”
“Oh, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine? With an attitude like that, you can forget about that fantasy football event you mentioned, sir.”
“Come here, Sexy.”
She waddled over to him, her belly extended, and he landed a kiss upon her sweet lips. She was seven months pregnant with their son. He, too, would be named Nikolai.