"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"From This Day Forward"

I wanted to preface this chapter by saying that this is the final chapter of this book. The lives of this story's characters are open-ended very much like our own lives. We don't know what tomorrow may bring especially with what's going on in the world in 2020. If you've made it this far & have followed along since "One Night Stand". I want to first applaud you for sticking it out with the ups & downs. Thank you for putting up with my grammatical errors, typos & "boring" chapters. Secondly, thank you for your support & comments. It has been a blast writing & getting to hear your feedback. It has been awesome to hear that you enjoy my stories as well as hearing your excitement to read the next chapter. This is not the end. I have another book in the works & who knows maybe we'll resurrect the characters from the "One Night Stand" series as there's more to be written after this chapter closes.
Now, without further ado, the final chapter...

Grandma started up the Uhaul as Jack closed up the back. The truck's engine roared loudly. Grandma stuck her head out of the window. Jack climbed into the passenger side.

Grandma: Alright! The truck is all loaded & gassed up. You ready to hit the road, Summer?

Summer sighed & turned to face Dennis. They held onto each other's hands.

Summer: Dennis, will you give me a minute?

Dennis nodded as he felt Summer's hands slip out of his. Summer let go of Dennis & ran up to the uhaul.
Summer spoke a few words to Grandma & then Dennis heard the truck sputter as Grandma took the key out of the truck's ignition.

Summer: I don't know how long this will take.
Grandma: Don't worry about us, honey. Take all the time you need.
Jack: We'll be right here.
Summer: Thanks, you guys.

Summer ran back to Dennis & pulled him towards his car. He was confused but Summer's spirited movements excited him. Where did Summer want to take him? They drove down the road & got on the freeway for several miles. The windows were down & the wind was blowing in Summer's hair. She had Dennis's hand in her grip as he drove with the other. After another couple of miles down the road, they exited off the freeway. The exit lead to a grassy hillside & field. There were beautiful trees & lush, green fields that stretched for miles. Across the green fields were black & white stones with little American flags next to each stone staked into the ground. Dennis looked around & knew where they were. It was the burial ground for hundreds of men & women who fought for our proud country. Other than Nat & Krystal, this was another thing Summer would miss, being close her father's final resting place.

They pulled up to park along the side of the hill & walked to where Stephen Harper's burial site was. Summer reached for Dennis's hand. He held her hand in a way to let her know without even an exchange of words that he was right by her side. Dennis held Summer's hand up to his lips & kissed it. Summer smiled looking up at him. They walked through groups & rows of headstones. They came to a small wooden bridge over a pond of water & crossed it. The bridge led to another area which had taller headstones & bigger American flags. Dennis had a feeling they were getting closer to Sergeant Harper's gravesite. Dennis felt Summer let go of his hand. She walked ahead of him & Dennis stayed back a few feet to give her space & privacy. He slipped his hands into his pocket. There was a beautiful tree that shaded Sergeant Harper's gravesite. It's branches swooped down & seemed to tickle the gravestones every once in a while when the breeze was strong enough to reach it. Summer knelt down in front of her father's gravestone, brushed off some of the dirt & leaves that covered it. She read his gravestone inscription quietly to herself. It read: "Here lies Stephen Nathaniel Harper. Brave Soldier. Dear Son. Loving Father. Faithful Friend. You were loved & you will be missed." Her lip began to quiver even before she started speaking.

Summer: Hi dad...

Tears had already welled up in her eyes. She could feel her warm tears rolling down her face. Dennis continued to watch from a distance.

Summer: I miss you so much. There's not a day that passes where I don't think of you. I find myself thinking about how things would've been if you were still here. I can't help but sometimes feel angry with you to the point where I've blamed you in my heart for everything that's happened between Jay & I. But I know I can't stay mad at you. I know that you meant well & that everything happen for a reason. Today was supposed to be our wedding day & I know you loved him. And Dad, I tried. God, I tried to love him. We weren't right for each other. Actually we're completely wrong for each other. Jay hurt me over & over again. The best thing for the both of us was to break up. I also wanted to tell you that I'm moving out of Virginia. I know you loved Virginia & you made a life for yourself in this place, but there's nothing here for me. I know it all sounds like bad news, but I do have good news. I met someone. And... (whispers) I think I might love him. He makes me happy, dad. I haven't been happy in a long time. There's so much I want to tell you about him, but maybe for another day. Anyways, he's here with me. Would you like to meet him?

Summer smiled, wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks & turned around to look at Dennis. He was standing a few yards away to give her a moment with her father. She motioned for him to come. She took his hand as he got close. He knelt beside her to get closer to the grave.

Summer: Dad, this is Dennis.

She turned to Dennis.

Summer: Sorry if this is uncomfortable or...
Dennis: No, not at all.

Dennis turned to face Sergeant Harper's gravestone.

Dennis: Hi Sergeant Harper, sir. My name is Dennis. I wish I could've gotten the chance to meet you. Summer has always talked so highly of you. Fate has a funny way of introducing certain people into your life while taking certain people out of your life. I've lost a couple loved ones to fate myself. But because of fate, I got to meet someone real special.

Dennis turned to face Summer.

Dennis: Your daughter. I wanted to ask your permission to get to know her. I hope that'd be okay. She's one special young lady. Sir, I promise to hold her hand when she's lonely, lend her my coat when she's cold, pull out the chair for her at every meal, hold her hair back when she's had too much to drink, join her for a dance on the dance floor, tell her corny jokes just to see her smile, hold her when she needs it & kiss her when I need it...And I promise to love her. Because sir, I will love her with every fiber of my being... from this day forward.