Through Thick and Thin (Anthony Rizzo)

The Love Of My Life

Jazmyn

"We don't have to go on the boat today" Anthony assures me for the fifth time as I slowly put my boot on my foot. I was sweating so bad but I knew as soon as I took my hat off I'll get the chills again.

"No! I want to go! I know you spent a lot of time planning a boat date and you've pulled a lot of strings to make it happen. There's not many more warm days left and I want to go" I pout.

"Baby you got a cold" he tries as he sits on the bed next to me. He feels my forehead with the back of his hand as he starts to shake his head.

"I don't care. I'm not running a fever and I took my medicine. I really want to go" I argue.

"But I want this night to be special and it won't be if you feel like shit. I can push everything back for tomorrow so if you're feeling better we can do it then" he assured me.

"I don't want to wait until tomorrow" I pout.

"Geez you're stubborn when you're sick" he teases making a smile crack through.

"I just really want to be with you" I say as I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I'm with you, forever" he promises.

It takes me a bit but I finish getting ready. Anthony said to look cute so I had on my favorite pair of jeans and a white vest to go with the burgundy long sleeve shirt. I put on some make up to try and hide the bags under my eyes from all the sinus pressure in my head. I know it's not COVID because I still get tested constantly, but it's still no fun even though it's not.

The whole ride over to the lake Anthony was talking about baseball, rambling on about the World Series. He's watched every game and he has friends on both teams. I know he wishes more than anything that was him right now but he didn't seem too bummed to be going out on the lake today.

We arrive at the boat house and I see all the other boats that are usually here are gone. I guess everyone else was trying to get out and enjoy it too. Anthony does his check before taking us out. We don't go too far from the city this time as he drops anchor pretty close to the shore.

"We're done already" I yell into the pit.

"For now" he yells back.

I just shrug as I continue to look out over the city. I start to close my eyes before Anthony honks the horn.

"Anthony" I squeal.

"Sorry! My bad" he yells back.

I calm down again and he comes out of the pit.

"What took you so long? Falling into the horn" I joke.

"I got a little mixed up with a little something" he says.

I curiously turn around not knowing what to expect. But then I see him standing there with Barry in his hands and I gasp loudly. He had a big red bow on his collar and he looked so cute.

"Oh Anthony" I gasp as he brings the puppy over. He hands the dog to me and I happily get reunited with my second most favorite thing in the world.

"He got his clean bill of health yesterday and is signed up for classes as soon as he is 6 months old. And the apartment has no problem letting him help you until then" he explains.

"Now I see why this took a lot of time to plan" I tease.

"That's not all" he claims and I look at him weird. "Look on the bow."

I pick up the heavy bow from his collar and see a little piece of paper. Tied to the piece of paper was a little circle thing. So I pick it up and see what it says.

"Though it doesn't look like much
This is a ring
It's made real special
To you from me

While our life is good
It can be great
My life with you has been so much better
Since even before our first date

And dating is fun
But marriage is better
Barry is here to help us
Through stormy weather

So Jazmyn Katherine
The love of my life
Will you do the honor
Of being my wife?"

I turn to see Anthony on his knee at the front of the boat. He had another ring in his hand, but this one looking a lot more like a engagment ring than the soft one in my hand. He had the biggest smile on his face as he waited for me to say something, anything. But honestly I was at a loss of words.

"So..." he trials off.

"Yes" I say softly as the tears start to fall. My hands were shaking but luckily I still have a good hold of Barry in my hands.

I set him down and pull Anthony into a much overdue kiss. I can fill his lips pull into a smile as I hold his face in my hands. He slips the ring he had on my hand and through the tears I could tell it was beautiful. And I of course loved the band I can wear for work. But I wasn't working right now. I was planning to marry the man I love.

"You were planning all of this and you wanted me to stay home" I accuse.

"I wanted this to be something you'll always remember. I didn't want you to remember that you were feeling bad" he defends.

"I couldn't possibly feel anything besides love and happiness right now" I assure him as I look deep into his eyes. His eyes staring right back at me.

"If you're still feeling up to it, your family is on the beach and so is the photographer from the pictures we took earlier this month. Your family can play with Barry while we look at the pictures" he says.

"I would love that" I smile.

So we drive back to shore and dock. We find my family standing there on the beach watching everything unfold. So my brothers kids all play with the dog while their wives and fiancé's ask me a million questions. Questions I don't really have the answer to yet. But I like thinking about when and where to have a wedding.

"You still planning to have a mountain wedding" Frankie asks me.

"No. I'm not that same girl I was when I was last engaged. That was three years and a whole different fiancé ago. Anthony and I have a connection to this city and we want to be here" I insist.

"I love that" he smiles.

"Well we can't wait" Ginny says.

"Me neither" I admit.