Reflecting On Wishes (The Wishes Series) (28 page)

The swinging doors flew open and Ms. Lola came through carrying a huge basket.

“Here you go, baby,” she huffed out, clearly out of breath when she handed the heavy basket to Dakota. “There are even a couple of good bottles a wine in there. Can’t have you’ns getting thirsty, no siree. Now then, you kids have fun. Much as I love seeing my babies, I gots work to do and you’ns need to go on your pic-a-nic. Give me some lovins’ now.”

Once enough hugs and kisses had been given, she shooed them out the door with a big smile on her beautiful face.

“Well, she was in a good mood, wasn’t she?”

“Ms. Lola is always in a good mood, baby. Especially when she’s feeding the people she loves.” Dakota opened her door, helping her in and made sure she was comfortable before heading over to the
driver’s side with the large basket of goodies.

They shared memories of Ms. Lola and other people around town as Dakota drove them out to his
family’s property where the small lake sat behind the rehab center. He drove around to the opposite side where it was more secluded and would afford them some privacy. The oak trees and weeping willows were thick, giving plenty of shade for a cool spot to lay out the thick blanket he brought with them. It didn’t take long to get the area set up and Angel settled on a soft pillow to help her avoid any discomfort. By the sensual kisses she gave him, he knew she appreciated the thoughtfulness.

There were ducks wandering about and squirrels hunting for nuts as they sat in companionable silence for a while looking over the water. The reflection of the trees was a mirror image in the still waters.

“What do you want with your life now, Angel?” He leaned back on his elbows, waiting patiently for her answer. “Have you figured things out yet?”

The way she cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously reminded him of a puppy unsure of the situation. He smiled at her and reached for her hand, bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.

“I used to think I knew all the answers. Now, I’m living day by day, hoping for the best. Before the accident, I wished for fortune and fame, to make my family proud and take care of them. Afterwards, I just wanted to walk again. I wanted my old life back and was so mad at myself for not appreciating what I had, more than what I did.” She shrugged her shoulders, frowning a bit as she squeezed his hand in hers.

“It wasn’t a trick question, just so you know. I wanted to know how you were feeling about things.”

“Okay…so what do you want with your life?” She replied.

“It’s pretty simple. I love my job, my family is great, I
have a nice home and a few good friends. But, there is something missing.” He looked into her eyes and cleared his throat, suddenly feeling nervous.

Nodding her head as if encouraging him to go on, she replied in a soft voice. “What is missing?”

Dakota sat up and took both of her hands in his. The wind was blowing, making the leaves start to show the first signs of fall as they blew off the limbs and rolled across the blanket. As his eyes traveled up her slender body, he envisioned her swollen with his child, the first of many he hoped. He imagined what their life would be like together as a family and the desire for that was like a swift flash of warmth that heated him from head to toe.

He reached up and tucked a lock of her silky hair behind her ear, caressing her cheek lovingly, “My wife,
and a family of my own. Waking up every single morning excited because I get to look at her face first thing every day and know she’s mine.”

Angel swallowed and rubbed her thumb across the top of his hand. He wasn’t sure if it was her trembling or him…maybe they both were.

“Whoever marries you will be the luckiest girl in the world,” she whispered.

“I’ll be the luckiest man if she’ll accept my offer of marriage.”

“Have you asked this lucky girl yet?” she questioned.

“No, not yet. I’ve been afraid actually. It would kill me if she said no.” His palms were sweating but he couldn’t let go of her hands. The moment was too intense. He was afraid of breaking the spell they were under and that his nerve might fail him.

“I can’t imagine any woman in her right mind telling you no. You’re a decent catch.”

“Decent huh? I should probably put that in my speech when I propose.”

She laughed then, “No, go in it to win it, fully confident that she’s already yours and you’re hers.”

“Are you always this good at giving advice?”

“Yes. I do have problems listening to my own advice sometimes though. I have plenty of faults, even though I have good intentions.”

He loved her even more in that moment. She was completely vulnerable, honest and humble. She was utterly beautiful.

“I have faults too. A ton of them. I can be hardheaded and tough when I should be more understanding, and…worst of all…I drink coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.” He grinned at her when she laughed, tilting her head back with the wind whipping her hair to and fro.

“She’s going to need to love you like crazy to be able to deal with that for eternity.”

“I know right? It’s going to take an outstanding woman…you wouldn’t happen to know any candidates would you?”

Angel smacked his arm playfully and gave him a stern look. “Don’t push your luck, big guy.”

He held his hands up in front of him in surrender, “Okay, okay…”

Once the laughing subsided and they held each other close, Dakota pulled back and reached into the picnic basket, bringing out a black velvet box. Angel gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth.

“I want you to know that you are the most important person in my life. I would move mountains for you, Angel. I think I fell in love with you the day I first saw you because after that, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. I want to marry you and spend the rest of our life discovering each other’s faults and loving each other’s good intentions. I want to wake up every single day with you by my side. I need you to be my family, Angel.”

Reaching for her hand, Dakota pressed his lips to her palm of her hand and then the base of her ring finger.

“Will you marry me, Angel?”

The first tear slid down her cheek, soon to be followed by more. She was biting her bottom lip and she was quivering so bad you’d think it was freezing cold outside. For a brief moment he doubted himself and thought maybe he popped the question too soon. But in true Angel fashion, she was all in, quickly and with enthusiasm. Launching herself at him, Angel screamed “Yes” and wrapped her arms around him in the tightest, most perfect hug ever.

Angel had tears welled up in her eyes as Dakota slid the ring on her finger. It was perfect, a solid platinum band with a solitaire, princess cut, diamond. Beautiful in its simplicity. She held her hand out, watching the jewel sparkle in the sunlight as she relaxed with her back against his chest. Dakota rubbed his hand down her arm until his fingers entwined with hers, his hand completely dwarfing hers in a way that made her feel safe and protected. Angel tilted her head back when his palm stroked lovingly over her jaw, the pad of his thumb touched the fullness of her bottom lip. She reached up to place her hand on his cheek, feeling the slight roughness of the dark scruff. His stomach growling loudly broke the silence and it made her realize how hungry she was too.

“I think we
should dig in the basket and see what she made for us.” Angel scooted over and began taking out the items one by one while Dakota opened the wine and poured them each a glass.

As usual, Ms.
Lola had outdone herself. Cold fried chicken and potato salad was complimented with a small dish of chunked, smoky cheese and olives with a half loaf of a soft yeast bread that was still warm. And as promised, a moist hunk of carrot cake with a thick layer of fluffy cream cheese icing lay in wait for dessert. Upon seeing the food being spread out on the blanket, the ducks that had been puttering around the water’s edge ventured closer, letting out a squawk of greeting as they paced.

“Interesting…I remember when we first spent time together there was talk of you wearing those sexy little cutoffs for a day at the lake feeding ducks something atrocious like french fries.” Dakota raised an eyebrow at her and smirked.

“There is nothing wrong with french fries. It’s all about moderation, Doc.” She tore off little bits of bread and began tossing them towards the ducks, laughing when they tried to outrun each other to get the treat. Angel tore off a bigger hunk and gave it to Dakota. “Make yourself useful and help me feed them.”

The afternoon passed in easy companionship, sharing good food, feeding their new-found feathered friends and discussing their future together. It was decided that neither wanted a huge affair for their
upcoming nuptials, both favoring a small ceremony with their families and a few friends. They enjoyed the idea of an outdoor wedding in the early spring when everything was blooming and green. Angel wanted to marry there, by the lake. The flowering dogwoods and redbud trees would be in full bloom in the beginning of May and it would be cooler then, without being to chilly.

To Angel, it felt like a fairytale that was too good to be true, but after everything they had been through, she was ready to embrace happiness. They deserved their happily ever after.

Early May

“Angel! Oh my
God you look…” Nahni’s hands covered her cheeks as tears sprung in her eyes. “Stunning…you truly look like an angel.”

Angel blinked her eyes quickly, trying to fight back the emotion that clogged her throat. “Don’t you dare make me cry, Nahni.”

Her sister-in-law sniffled and smiled, dabbing her eyes with the corner of a tissue. 

Once Ms. Lola finished zipping the back and tying the bow, Angel did a spin in front of the mirrors that were set up in her suite. Her hair pulled up high on her head with a vintage looking pearl clasp that had been a gift from her mother-in-law Mikayla, paired with her mother’s pearl necklace and earrings
, gave her dress the perfect accessory in her Audrey Hepburn look. Her makeup was soft and flattering, but her eyelids were lined with coal and blended to a smoky hue. Nahni had tried to talk her into a red lipstick but Angel went with a glossy, nude kissable look. She planned on lots of kissing to happen today and while her man looked good in red, she didn’t want it all over his face.

The dress she’d chosen was a vintage
Givenchy
dress that stopped just past the knee and had a cinched in waist with a flared skirt and cap sleeves.  It was simple but lovely with no other adornments. Angel sat on the edge of her bed to put on her four inch heeled white patent
Mary Jane's
to complete her look. A few quick spritzes of
Pink
perfume and she was ready. Nervous, but ready.

“I have a little somethin’ for you, baby girl.” Ms. Lola came to sit on the bed beside her, opening up her purse and taking out a small box. “My
mister gave me this ring on our weddin’ day some fifty years ago. I know I’m not your momma, God rest her soul, but it’d mean a heap to me if you’d wear it as your ‘somethin’ borrowed’ during the ceremony.”

“Oh, Ms. Lola…” Angel cried. “I feel so honored, so blessed that you have been a mom to me my whole life. I’d love to wear it. Absolutely love to wear the ring your
mister gave you on your special day.”

Ms. Lola opened the box to reveal a delicate gold band with a single pearl that was
a perfect match to her other jewelry. Fitting, that she was wearing the gift from her father of her mother’s pearls, the ones she’d worn on her wedding day, along with the pearl ring of Ms. Lola’s, the only mother she’d ever known. She slipped it on her right hand ring finger then embraced Ms. Lola in a loving hug, fighting back the tears that dampened her eyes.

Her brother and father joined them in the room. Seeing them all dressed up in tuxes looking so handsome nearly made her break down. Good Lord, she didn’t realize her emotions would be on such a roller-coaster today.

“Aye dios mio,” her father’s voice choked up and he put his hand over his mouth, obviously trying not to cry.

“Again, you are a vision,
mija. You look as lovely as your mother did the day I married her. She would be so proud…” he hugged her to him, softly kissing her forehead. It took everything in her not to cry. Thankfully, there was a knock at the door.

Dakota’s brother and sister joined them. Dominic was the younger, spitting image of his brother. He stood tall and proud as he came up to her carrying a small box with a delicate blue lace bow wrapped around it. Delilah was smiling when she embraced Angel, voicing how beautiful she looked in her wedding dress. Lilah looked like a breath of fresh air in her butter yellow gown that reached to her ankles, making her dark skin look even more radiant. 

“Angel, we’ve brought you a gift from our brother. Dakota said he told you that he would provide you with your ‘something blue’.” Dom handed her the thin box, kissing her cheek.

She held it reverently, cherishing it already although she had no idea what it was. The box was light as a feather and upon a little shake; she didn’t even feel movement inside. Her curiosity
peeked; she gently untied the bow and handed it to Nahni with instructions to save it for her. When she lifted the lid and pulled the tissue paper back to reveal the gift, she gasped as the tears once again blurred her eyes. A downy soft handkerchief with delicate blue hand-stitched edging had their names embroidered on it with the date beneath it. Tiny blue forget-me-nots flowed on either side of the stitching. His thoughtfulness overwhelmed her. He knew she wasn’t one for fancy things or extravagant jewelry, but this…this was something that one day, she could pass down to their daughter on her wedding day. Angel took a deep breath and folded the handkerchief and tucked it in her cleavage for the time being.