Finally

Fully

A glimpse at what is to come in the second book of this series, "Fully" - release date unknown.
Enjoy, Jennai [author]

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"Hey honey, I've got a special surprise planned for tonight!" Mark called into the bathroom where Jamie was getting ready. "I can't wait! Although you've surprised me enough already!" Everyday that week had been an adventure: flying to Europe, seeing the sights of London, taking the ferry to France and now they were in Paris.

"Hey, you're my wife now! And I'm allowed to surprise you all I want." With that Mark came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, swaying back and forth. "Trust me, you're going to flip when I tell you where we're going." Mark winked and released his now suspicious wife.

"Mark Griffin what are you up to?" Jamie eyed him mysteriously before applying a second coat of lipstick. "I'm ready to go if you are." Mark made an over-exaggerated action of offering his arm, which Jamie in return accepted. They walked out of their hotel room arm and arm and stepped out into the warm, bustling streets of Paris.

The sun hadn't yet set so the sky was still the calm light blue it had been earlier that day. The sky was painted with clusters of cotton candy shaped clouds that were fading into the evening and changing the hues of the sky. Jamie stood for a while looking up at the sky and rested her head against Mark's shoulder.

Mark reached out and hailed a taxi, whispered something in French to the driver and soon the couple were on their way, speeding through the streets of Paris toward their destination. It was everything Jamie had dreamed it would be: rustic, vintage, just enough country flare to combat the overwhelming city vibe. Each street was packed tight with buildings that mirrored those seen in paintings of Paris.

Jamie leaned against the window of the taxi and let out a sigh. I never want to leave, she thought. Her mind wandered off and she began coming up with excuses to stay. Before she could form a plausible one, she was snapped back to reality as she felt Mark tugging on her hand, guiding her out of the taxi and into the street.

Looking in front of her, she was faced with the magnificent structure for Paris was so famous: the Eiffel Tower. The all-at-once view was enough to take her breath away: the sun was beginning to make it's way from above their heads to below the horizon and it had paused mid-journey behind the tower, perfectly silhouetting it against the evening sky.

"This way please." Jamie turned around and saw a waiter, and before she could reply, Mark took her by the hand and they followed him to their table, which sat directly across the street from the Eiffel Tower. "Gorgeous isn't it." Mark chuckled as Jamie continued to stare at the statue.

"Yeah it is." Jamie realized how ridiculous she must have looked and covered her face. "You don't need to be ashamed sweetheart, I did the same thing when I saw it for the first time." Mark told Jamie of his first visit to France.

"I was in college and my youth group had received this large grant of money from someone in the community. A group of us decided to travel to Europe to do some missionary work and Paris happened to be on the way to where we were going. When I stood where you did moments ago and saw the same thing for myself, I knew I had fallen in love."

"With what?" Jamie inquired. "Tomorrow, and the sun, and the fact that no matter the ugliness of life, there is beauty in everything." Mark turned his gaze to Jamie who's mouth was gaping open. "I can be serious when I want to," he laughed, "and I can also lighthearted." Mark and Jamie both laughed at this.

A second waiter returned to take their order and the happy couple are their dinner while marveling at the beautiful wonder in front of them. Once dinner was over, Mark led Jamie across the street and closer to the Eiffel Tower.

By now, the sun had almost finished it's journey to below the horizon. It left behind trails of various shades of oranges, yellows and pinks. "Our night's not over yet, darling." Mark said smoothly as they continued to walk hand in hand until the were under the base if the structure.

"Mark, this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Thank you!" Jamie took Mark by surprise and jumped into his arms, giving him a quick but passionate kiss. "Now come on, isn't there a way to get to the top of this thing?" Jamie took off in the direction of the elevators and soon they found themselves on top of the tower.

Jamie smiled and closed her eyes to take it all in. "Mark, I feel like I'm on top of the world." Mark grabbed her hand and kissed it delicately. "Jamie, whenever I'm with you, I feel like I'm on top of the world." Tourists around them responded with both awww's and mocks towards the corny attempt at being romantic. Jamie leaned her head back and laughed.

"Mark, I'm so blessed by God to be able to call a man as adorable and corny as you my husband." At this, Mark wrapped his arms around her waist and dipped her down, capturing her in a warm kiss. For what felt like eternity, they stood there, locked in each other's arms, dancing on top of the world.

The walk back to the hotel was bittersweet. Jamie and Mark were sitting on a bench admiring the tower one last time before Jamie's phone rang. Jamie picked it up and said, "Hey Hazel, what's up?" On the other line, Mark could hear Hazel Black's terrified, crying voice.

"Hazel, take a deep breath and calm down, everything is going to be okay." Jamie did her best to reassure her best friend who was having none of it. "Okay? OKAY?! Okay isn't helping at all!!" Hazel screamed loud enough so that some other people passing by could hear.

"Okay Hazel, we'll be there as soon as we can." Jamie hung up and tears formed in her eyes: angry tears, sad tears and scared tears. "Mark we have to do something!" Jamie leaned into Mark as the sobs came and overtook her. She was only able to say one thing, which she shouted as loud as she could into the dark night: "Why God?! No!"