Just Breathe Again - Mia Villano Page 0,82

get my old outfits out later in the evening. Janis must make an appearance sometime tonight.”

“Please, not till much later. I like you dressed like this.”

Marsha pulled a bottle of Sambuca and three shot glasses out of her oversized bag. “By the way, ladies look what I brought. We must have a toast Jeannie before she becomes the wife of such a hot man downstairs.” She poured them each a shot, and lifted hers to toast Jeannie.

Jeannie declined. “My stomach is too upset for shots, Marsha. Have mine for me.” Carmen held out her shot glass for another and Marsha drank Jeannie’s without argument.

“I see you two already tripping down the aisle.” All three of them laughed as Jeannie took one last look at herself in the full length mirror.

“You two go and I’ll be down in a minute. I have to make an entrance you know,” said Jeannie.

The two of them headed downstairs, giggling as they left. It was going to be one fantastic night.

When Michael led her down the aisle, everyone gasped. As Jeannie walked to her new life, she noticed the guests. She started crying when she saw Hooty smiling her big grin, blowing her a kiss. Dr. Navarro was there with his wife, Steven, his parents, her friends from church, and Lydia’s friends were there to be with her on this special day. In the front row sat the biggest surprise. Jeannie’s mom was there with a much younger man. As Jeannie walked past her she reached out and squeezed her hand, wiping away a tear. For the first time in a very long time, Jeannie could feel a tiny tinge of love from her mother.

Kane couldn’t believe what was walking towards him. At that moment, he knew they were meant to be together. She was going to be his wife and he couldn’t believe how much he loved her. She was such a strong woman and a great example for his daughter, Carmen. This was the woman he waited for. Everything the two of them had been through was to bring them together.

There wasn’t a dry eye during the ceremony as Jeannie and Kane read their vows they wrote to each other.

“Kane, you are who I waited for. When Lydia was sick she used to tell me, ‘Mom, don’t be sad’. There’s a reason it’s happening, and she was right. The reason was you. I promise to love you and take care of you when we are both old and gray. You, Carmen, Michael and I are a family and I cherish the moments we have together. Kane, you are everything good in my life. You are my life. I loved you before I even met you. You made me breathe again when all I wanted to do was die. Thank you for coming into my life.”

“Jeannie, I was dead inside before I met you. You came into my life and walked on my porch and I knew something amazing was about to happen. I was awakened to what love is. I felt something between us that was so strong, I knew my life wasn’t going to be the same. You made me realize that I can pick myself up and live even though I thought my life was over. You gave me a second chance at life and you are why I get up in the morning. I love you so much it hurts my heart. Through all the good and the bad I have trudged through, you were meant to be my wife. Fate brought you to me just in time. I love you.”

When they were pronounced officially married the guest jumped up and cheered.

The evening was something you read about in novels. The moon was full, the stars were out and the entire porch was lit by twinkling lights and candles. Marsha hired a band and everyone danced the night away. Finally, after so long, Kane and Jeannie slipped away for a moment alone.

They snuck downstairs to Jeannie’s room. “Well, Mrs. Spinelli, how do you like being my wife?” He grabbed her in his arms and kissed her.

“The best part is I can fall asleep with you every night and wake up with you next to me every morning.” She gazed into his beautiful blue eyes dreamily.

“Tonight you know we aren’t going to be sleeping. I bought some interesting toys we can play with” he winked at her.

“Uhm, I can’t wait,” she winked back.

“Think our sex life will be different since we’re married?”

“Probably better, though I don’t know how making love to you could get better.”

Kane grabbed her hand and led her back up the steps. “We better get back to the guests.”

Jeannie resisted and stopped at the bottom of the steps. “Wait, I want to tell you something.”

“This is when you tell me a deep dark secret you couldn’t have told me before we were married.”

“No, it’s not. You know everything about me. Sit down for a second. They aren’t going anywhere,” Kane sat on the step and Jeannie sat on his lap. She couldn’t help but notice what was in his pants getting bigger as she sat on him.

“Sorry, I get hard every time I get close to you, it’s uncontrollable. What’s the secret you want to tell me?” he kissed her.

“Remember, the night we had at your house, when I came back to you? Something happened when we made love.”

“How could I forget? I’m doing an encore tonight. I have handcuffs this time,” he kissed her again, long and hard as she squirmed on his lap.

“Listen, this is serious. Something did happen. Something wonderful happened.”

“What, tell me?”

“I’m pregnant,” she said, looking into his eyes.

Tears rimmed his eyes and rushed down his cheeks.

“Are you sure?” he asked

“I’m sure. I saw a doctor last week, and it’s official. I’m due in September. I didn’t tell anyone because of the difficulty I had with Lydia and Michael. I kept it a secret until I knew it was going to be okay. Yes, that is why I have this little bulge right now. Jeannie patted her stomach. You have no idea how hard it was keeping this secret from everyone, especially you. And yes, I will be over forty and having a baby. That’s my wedding present to you.”

He cried and buried his face in Jeannie’s neck. “You are having… my baby…our baby?”

“I don’t know what’s wrong. Are you happy or sad?” she asked. He lifted his head to look at her.

“Today, I married the love of my life and she told me she’s giving me a baby. I’m the luckiest and happiest man in the world. Jeannie Spinelli, what have you done to me?”

“I love you,” she kissed his face as she tasted his salty tears.

“You have given me something I have wanted, my own baby.”

“You’ve given me my life back, Kane. Now I’m alive and part of you is alive in me. I’m so happy. Our love created a wonderful life inside me and this life is you.”

“And you, Jeannie. You are my world and you’ve given me something no one else could. I’m so complete with you, Carmen, Michael, and now our baby.” Kane held on to her as he cried more.

“Baby, look at me,” she lifted his face to her.

“We are complete. Our love is sealed. I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have what you’ve given me. I love Vince, I always will. You will always love Katherine. They will live in our hearts forever. Lydia is with me every day. I feel her with me. But, we have to go on. We have to live. Now, let’s get back to the party and tell everyone. Thank god Father Dave left. I don’t want him to know what we have been up to before today,” she smiled.

He kissed her long as soft and she melted into his body.

“I remember Marsha one night made me promise her if I ever had another baby, and I had a girl, I had to name her Janis.”

“That’s not happening,” Kane laughed, as he stood up and held his wife’s hand. He wiped the tears from his eyes and together they walked back.

“You know how powerful and persuasive she is,” Jeannie laughed.

“Oh, I’m more powerful and persuasive. Look what I convinced you to do?” he winked.

“Yes, you convinced me to just breathe again.”

THE END