Shattered

Chapter 50

One year later...

Flashback.
I smiled as I watched Mya and her now four puppies run around the yard playing. Two of her puppies were given away. One to Ericka and one to Beatrice and the others were taken to the police station to train like Mya once did leaving only the black and white one and two that resembled her.
"I wonder if she ever misses her other babies," I said glancing at Keith who was standing on the porch next to me with a glass of lemonade in his hand.
"Well, she goes to see them every week when I go to work," he answered smiling as one of the puppies did a sneak attack on Mya causing her to let out a surprised bark. "So she does spend time with them. She's also their instructor as well as Rose."
"Rose is the one who trains the dogs now?" I asked.
He nodded before saying, "She loves animals. Especially dogs. She wouldn't stop bugging the Chief of Police about it until he gave her the job."
"And by Chief of Police, you mean you," I said nudging him.
He smiled and nodded before turning to face me.
"What?"
"Only a few more months. Do you think everything is in order?" he asked. "Beatrice did a wonderful job on the cake. You said you wanted it gold, right?"
"Yeah," I answered.
"Well, the cake itself is white with burgundy and white roses on it, little pearls, and our initials in the center in gold. Oh, and the plate is gold. The tables are mostly white with burgundy bowties and gold silverware. How'd she do your wedding dress?" he asked.
"Nice try," I smirked. "I'm not telling you how she did my dress. You are not allowed to see the dress until the wedding."
"But that's several months away! I don't want to wait that long! Please just tell me how it looks! I bet it's beautiful."
"It is, but don't you know it's bad luck to see the bride in her wedding gown before the wedding?"
He frowned and rolled his eyes causing me to laugh.
"Superstitions," he grumbled.
"Now, there is one thing I will share with you," I said.
"And what's that?"
I smiled before taking a deep breath and saying, "I wonder if I can remember this by heart or not. Keith, I've been through more hell than you can ever imagine. When you found me, I was a broken flower stunted by darkness. I didn't know what to do. I didn't think anyone would come along to pull me out, but then you found me. You pulled me out of the darkness and I thank you for that. You made me realize that life truly is worth all the hardships and wrenches being thrown in the gears. I cannot thank God enough for giving me such a loving person like you and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I promise that no matter the hardships we face, we will face them together. I love you so much, Keith Young and I am more than happy to be Mrs. October Young."
End flashback.
The sound of excited screaming brought me back to reality and turned around to see who had caught the bouquet. I laughed when I saw who had it, my father. Due to my dad's good behavior while in jail, Keith managed to work out some things so that he could attend my wedding. Even though he still looked very ill, he did look rather dashing in his tuxedo.
He looked at the bouquet and laughed before tossing it over his head for someone else to catch before walking up to me.
"Why'd you do that, dad?" I asked laughing. "You don't want to get married?"
"No, I'm too old to remarry," he answered. "On the other hand, you look beautiful. Almost as beautiful as your mother did on her wedding day."
"Thank you, I wish she was here," I whispered looking down feeling my eyes water. "I wish both of them were here."
"No, no. No tears on your wedding day," he said wiping away my tears. "They are here and I'm sure they are extremely happy for you. I know I am."
I smiled and gave him a hug before saying, "Thank you for coming to my wedding."
"It's the least I could do after everything," he breathed when I let him go. "Besides, how often do you get to watch your little girl turn into a grown woman?"
"Once," I answered laughing.
"Exactly, now where are my beautiful granddaughters?" he asked looking around.
"I believe Ericka has them," I answered looking around for Ericka who was known for kidnapping Autumn and Denise.
Both were born weighing 6lbs 7oz and both were born with my jet black hair and Keith's grey eyes. They were perfect little bundles of joy and I couldn't have asked for better daughters.
"There she is," I said when I spotted her over by the wedding cake.
My dad smiled and made his way over to Ericka leaving Keith and I standing together.
"He really has changed, hasn't he?" he asked as he took Autumn and raised her high above his head causing her to giggle and smile at him.
"Yeah, he has and I'm glad. Despite everything that has happened between my dad and I, I'd much rather have him in my life than to not have him at all. You only get one dad," I said before turning to face him. "By the way, thank you for getting him here."
"I didn't get him here, he wanted to come. All I did was pull a few strings so that he could attend," he answered.
"Well, whatever you did, thank you."
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, music started to play and he immediately grabbed my hand and placed it on his shoulder while he took the other one and did the same thing.
"Who picked the music?" I asked as I realized what the song was, "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.
"Ericka," he answered as we swayed to the music. "Why you don't like the song?"
"No it's not that," I murmured. "I love the song. It's perfect. Everything is perfect."
For a while we danced in silence as everyone watched until I felt his breath against my ear as he said, "Was it worth it?"
"Yes," I breathed leaning against him. "All the hardship I faced was worth it and do you know why?"
He stopped dancing and looked at me with a grin on his face before saying, "I think I do, but enlighten me."
"It was all worth it because I finally got what I was so desperately looking for. Happiness. If it wasn't for you, I would still be in the dark or worse," I answered.
He kissed me before saying, "Stop. You don't ever have to worry about going back to that place of darkness as long as you have me. I'll make sure to do everything I can to make you happy and the make your life from this day forward the best life you've ever had."
"I love you," I whispered as we slowly started dancing again.
"I love you too, Mrs. Young."
I laughed and said, "I'm going to have to get used to that."
"Well, you have until the end of our days to get used to it. Do you think that's enough time?" he asked.
"It's plenty," I answered.
"October! Keith! It's time to cut the cake!" Beatrice shouted.
I looked at him and smiled before walking up to the beautiful wedding cake just as she had cut a huge slice for us.
"It's red velvet," she said. "I hope you like it."
My eyes water as I looked at Keith and said, "My favorite."
He grinned and sliced a piece of the cake with his fork. I opened my mouth for him to let me taste it, but instead, he dabbed the frosting on my nose before laughing and eating it.
"Hey!" I exclaimed as he forked another piece.
I was half expecting him to do the same thing, but instead he shared it with me. The cake was very moist and tasted amazing.
"Beatrice wasn't lying when she said she make good cakes, huh?" he asked nudging me.
"No, she wasn't," I answered as everyone came up to get their slices of cake.
"Can we get a round of applause for Mr. and Mrs. Young!?!" Beatrice shouted.
Everyone looked at us and started clapping as Keith wrapped his arm around my waist. As he pulled me against him, everything that I went through flashed into my mind and I smiled. Everything I went through truly was worth it and though my life wasn't the best, I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

The End