Moving On

Chapter Nine

Niani and Anaya got ready at the venue, it was a hotel, a beautiful, large hotel. Anaya had her makeup and hair done by professionals, her makeup was somewhat simple, not that she needed a lot anyway and her hair was curled and pinned up into a loose, elegant bun. She was ready, and after a while, the guests started to arrive. A few minutes before she was to walk down the aisle, Niani went to Anaya and hugged her.

"My beautiful baby girl, you look so gorgeous today and I just wanted to say what an amazing daughter you are. I know I have done a great job with you because you seem to always put others before you. You are so selfless and full of heart, and even though I am your mother, you always took care of me. I love you and I am so grateful that you are happy because you deserve nothing less, and I know Justin will keep you happy." Anaya and her mother were both teary. Anaya hugged her mother and kissed her cheek.

"Mom I don't want my makeup to get ruined." Niani started laughing, right then the wedding march played and Niani walked her daughter down the aisle.

Anaya was nervous about her big day, but when she saw Justin, and how wonderful he looked in his perfect fitted black tuxedo and his beautiful bright smile, all of her nervousness faded. Justin on the other hand was not such a nervous person, but when he saw Anaya, and how beautiful she looked, his heart skipped a beat and his eyes filled with tears. He could not believe how angelic she looked, and today they would finally become one.

After Niani gave her away, Anaya and Justin stood across each other in front of the minister and the two read their own vows.

Justin read his first. He held Anaya's hands and stared into her eyes,

"Anaya, when I first met you, I knew that it was you, the one I'd want to spend my entire life with, you're the one who brings peace to my mind and love in my heart. I never knew much about love, or how one can love someone so deeply and immensely but every time I look at you, I can say that my love for you only grows. I love you so much and I can't explain the love I have for you in such simple words but I can promise to always keep you smiling and laughing because it was your smile and laughter that I fell in love with. I can promise that I will always show you how much I love you just by being there for you. I can't promise that we won't have hard times, because we will, but I can promise that I will make sure we come out stronger from anything we have to deal with. I can't thank you enough for coming into my life and changing it, and if you give me a chance, I will show you how much you mean to me, each and every day." Anaya smiled while tearing up and nodded. Justin put the wedding ring on her finger and then it was her turn to read her vows,

"Justin, when I first met you, I was going through a loss. I had just lost someone I loved very much and that pain was inside me every minute of everyday. But somehow just being with you made life easier. I know it took me a while to let my guard down but I can't begin to say how thankful I am that I let you in. You saved me, you may not know it, but you did. The pain in my heart was mended because of your love and I promise to always cherish you and love you the way you love me because that is what you deserve, to be loved and cherished. I promise to always be by your side, no matter what and to always be selfless with you. I promise to uphold our marriage, our vows because you mean so much to me. And I also promise to never stop loving you, not for one second because even after being with you for so long, whenever I see you, I get butterflies in my stomach, my heart beats so fast that I can hear it and my heart only grows larger with the love I have for you. And if you give me a chance, I will show you exactly how much I love you, every single day." Justin smiled while she slipped the ring on his finger. And they were both looking at each other when the minister announced them husband and wife. Then they kissed for the first time as a married couple.

Justin and Anaya went to their honeymoon right after the wedding reception. It was the most wonderful two and a half weeks of their life, with the first week in the Maldives and the rest in Santorini. The time was spent with each other, loving one another. When they came back from their trip, Justin wanted to give Anaya a surprise. He drove her to a place not too far from her mother or his, but far enough away for them to live their lives as a married couple. He stopped in front of a beautiful big house, the front of the house had ample space with grass, the steps leading to the house were polished. The house itself was a rich white color with columns that revealed a front porch which was already set with furnitures. It was a gorgeous house, but Anaya was not looking at it, Justin blindfolded her.

"Okay we're here." He led Anaya out of the car and faced her in front of the house, then he unfolded her blindfolds. Anaya gasped when she saw the house.

"Justin, this is such a beautiful house." She could not stop looking at the house, her eyes were in awe.

"I know, this is our house." She turned to look at him, squealed and hugged him tight.

"How did you even make this happen?"

"I finished up the contracting and bought the furniture before we got married. The finishing touches were done while we were in our honeymoon." She kissed him. "I wanted to surprise you." The two went inside the house and Anaya could not contain her excitement. Every furniture, every detail just accentuated the house, made it more beautiful. She went upstairs, to the master bedroom, their bedroom, that led to a balcony. She stood in the balcony and looked outside, she was so happy. Justin came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He whispered in her ear.

"This is our home Mrs. Wyatt." She turned around and kissed him.

"Yes it is." Justin revealed that everyone was in on this surprise, his mother and Anaya's mother. Niani knew just what kind of home décor Anaya liked, what kind of furniture made her feel comfortable. Everything in the house was made to Anaya's liking, even the house itself. It was a big house, but it was homey, comfortable, not a huge mansion that felt cold inside. It was just perfect. 

Soon enough their honeymoon was over and the two had to go to work. The first thing Anaya did before she started work, was change the name of her practice to McCee-Wyatt Counseling. It felt more fitting.

The months passed by with Justin and Anaya excelling in their work, they were professionally and personally happy. Their marriage, although with some occasional fights, was blossoming. The two loved each other so much. Soon enough it was once again Adam's birthday, he would've been29. Anaya woke up at midnight, but Justin woke up at the sound of her getting up.

"Baby, what are you doing?"

"Justin I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I was just going to the cemetery to wish Adam." Justin sat up.

"I'll come with you." Anaya shook her head.

"No, go back to sleep. I'll back before you know it."

"It's so late though."

"Justin, I've been doing this for the past five and a half years. You don't need to come with me, I'll be fine." And so Anaya went as she always has, to wish Adam on his birthday, at twelve. Then she came home and went to sleep until her alarm rang at 8:00 am. Anaya woke up to find Justin making pancakes for breakfast. She smiled when he saw her.

"Hey, I wanted to apologize for intruding this morning."

"You weren't intruding, you were just worried for me and I understand that. But I don't plan on breaking the promise I made to Adam." Justin nodded because he understood her. She went behind him and hugged him from the back.

"I get it, and you never have to break that promise." 

 A month passed, and Anaya turned 27. Justin took her out to dinner and they came home and made love. The two were laying on their bed, on their side, Justin was behind her, holding her.

"Anaya?"

"Hmm?"

"How would you feel about starting a family of our own?" Anaya turned to Justin.

"I've been thinking about it for the past few weeks, and we I think we should." Justin kissed the top of her head.

"Let's start now." Anaya laughed while Justin rolled on top of her and started kissing her neck.