by Diane Marie
Joey felt a little better after Gabriella had responded more passionately to his love making. But he knew he would have to do something special for her tomorrow to help make up for her not being able to see the home yet. Joey went to sleep with the perfect idea in mind.
When Joey and Gabriella woke up on Saturday, he had he and Gabriella quick get ready to leave the house for the day. Joey stopped at the bank, to start a new savings account with the check from Tie’s father, deciding to put the account in Gabriella’s name, being they were to be married soon, and all of his accounts would have her name added to them soon enough.
After, Joey took Gabriella furniture shopping for their dinning room. Joey knew how marveled Gabriella was to have her china on her parents living room floor. He brought Gabriella to three stores before her eyes finally light up over a set. Joey was thankful the set seated ten, and the cabinet were big enough for their dinning room. The cabinet was made out of cherry red wood and had three long glass shelves, with four handles to four glass doors that opened up to the shelves. On the bottom of the shelves, were three draws and two wooded cabinets on each side of the draws. Gabriella was lost looking into all the cabinets and draws, dreaming of placing everything inside. Joey remarked, it was almost exact to what he had pictured, when they were registering for china, the only difference was he had pictured a light oak wood.
Joey and Gabriella met with Shawn and Danielle again for dinner that night. Gabriella couldn’t help but talk about hew new china set, Alice had given she and Joey as a wedding gift. She also couldn’t help but talk about her new china cabinet either. Danielle was happy to listen, because she had experienced the same joy when she was planning her wedding.
When Gabriella got into bed that night, she was the one to make an advancement on Joey. Gabriella felt extra close and extreme trust between them. Joey opened up a bank account today in her name, pleasing her. Gabriella spiced up the bedroom that night, role playing she was Joey’s hostess, and asking what he wanted for dinner, while pretending he was sitting at their new dinning room table. Joey said he wanted nothing for dinner, while he imagined taking Gabriella on their new dinning room table. Joey let his imagination get a hold of him as he felt himself leave his body, and felt their souls making love in their dinning room on Lake Romantica. Gabriella felt her soul leave too, and had a vision in her imagination in regards to what the dinning room looked liked.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
When they woke up Sunday morning, Gabriella begged Joey to take her to the dinning room to see what it really looked like. Gabriella was impatient to see if it was exact to how she envisioned it during their love making last night. Joey told her, she would have to wait to see if she was clairvoyant, being the house would be ready to be lived in before she knew it. Gabriella sighed, saying, ‘I guess I’ll just have to wait,’ as she pushed Joey out of bed so she could make it.
Gabriella harbored no hard feelings towards Joey, understanding his quest for the home to be a secret so Gabriella packed Joey and her a picnic for the day. She brought Joey to her favorite park, setting down a blanket, and taking in the aroma of the fresh air. When Gabriella took out the sandwhich she made for Joey; hefty sandwich filled with three types of meat and two cheeses’ on a roll, Joey commented on how much weight he had gained since they had been together. Gabriella hadn’t noticed, declaring him insane.
After the picnic, they went for a walk to enjoy the scenery of the park. Gabriella pointed out all her favorite flowers planted on the path surrounding the park. Joey then asked Gabriella, if she had been to the florists yet, and Gabriella assured him it was on her list this week of things to do. Joey caught Gabriella’s hand to make sure she was taking care of the wedding plans. It was then that Gabriella reminded him, she was able to get his groomsmen and his ring bearer a tux appointment to be fitted on the day of his request.
Joey and Gabriella made it home from the park with enough time for Joey to run out to do something special for Gabriella. Joey didn’t lie to Gabriella when he told her he wanted to check on the tarp at the house, from the rain the last few days. He did actually take a ride to the house, to make sure he didn’t have a flood in the attic or the master bedroom. On the way back home, Joey stopped in floral shop to pick up flowers for Gabriella. Joey didn’t realize how much flowers hit a spot inside her heart, noticing she had glowed while looking at them today. When Joey got home, Gabriella was so surprised and pleased, she fussed over Joey, ruffling his hair and giving him several kisses on his face. She then made a comment over not being able to wait to buy fresh flowers for the home weekly to put in her vases. Joey thought her comment to be beautiful, and to show how much, he made beautiful love to Gabriella in the hot tub, next to where she placed the flowers he had given her. Gabriella didn’t think they looked right in the bedroom, and so placed them on top of the tile surrounding the hot tub. Gabriella felt beautiful, with the tender, love and care Joey used to make love to her. But when Joey became passionate, and hit Gabriella’s pleasure spot hard, she left scratch marks down his back. Gabriella didn't feel so beautiful when Joey let out a scream of terror when his back hit the water, and the marks she left burned. The pain subsided, and Gabriella cuddled up to Joey in the water, saying how sorry she was. Joey said he didn’t mind, and would be sure to take his shirt off at work the next morning for all the guys to see. Gabriella playfully hit Joey as he assured her, he was only teasing.
In the rest of that last week of August, Joey spent it hard at work on the house he was building for Gabriella, while Gabriella filled her week with the finishing touches on the wedding plans, all while keeping to their same routine. They ate breakfast together in the morning, while both wishing they were still holding the other in bed. Gabriella pushed Joey off most mornings as she reluctantly sent him to the gym and work. Joey was growing restless from his long work hours away from Gabriella. Aware so, Gabriella packed Joey his lunch as usual, with an extra incentive to keep him at work. She started packing mini-love notes that were seductive, knowing he needed the reinforcement. Gabriella’s notes worked, and Joey kept himself working hard after his lunch hour to make it home to her. Joey was thankful for Gabriella, he was pushing hard for the deadline of the house to be completed before they were married, and she was helpful in helping him keep his goal, also her love notes kept their love making thriving.
When Joey got home from work throughout the week, all he wanted to do was hold Gabriella. He held her while she was finishing up cooking their dinner, he held her hand while they ate dinner, he held her from behind while she did the dishes, he took quick showers to get out fast so he could hold her in bed, he held her while they made love, and also held her tightly through the night.
Gabriella kept to her workout routine in the mornings, and tanning in the sun during the noon hour. Her afternoons were spent preparing meals for Joey, leaving the finishing touches in cooking for when Joey got home. Gabriella liked having Joey behind her while she was making dinner, she adored the attention, and missed him terribly throughout the day.
On Monday, Gabriella went to the florists. She ordered flowers to go inside the church, the flowers she wanted as her centerpieces, and the flowers to be displayed in the hall at Mandala Palace. Gabriella also ordered rose petals for her flower girl to throw down the isle. What little dream Gabriella did have for a wedding growing up, had always consisted of the flower girl throwing rose petals down the isle.
On Tuesday, Gabriella finally got word back from her favorite Dee Jay from Mackenzie’s that he would be able to make the day of her wedding. Gabriella was so excited, she didn’t feel the least bit bad when she had to call and cancel her back up Dee Jay.
Gabriella also went to the tailor that day, to see her dress made up for the first time. Gabriella beamed, trying on the dress for it’s final fitting. She couldn’t believe a simple piece of paper, had turned into her wedding dress, drawing her closer then ever to Joey. She now had a more first hand experience of what it must feel like for h
im to bring his blueprints to life, having something imagined in your head, and then one day it’s there tangible was inconceivable to Gabriella before seeing her dress.
On Wednesday, Joey took an extra hour at lunch to meet with the priest and Gabriella to approve their marriage. When the priest saw their ring tattoo, he was surprised the two had chosen to be married in a church. At first glance of the couple, the priest didn't conceive them to be a traditional couple, but the priest soon found inside of Joey and Gabriella, a rare love that had crossed him seldom in his lifetime. When Joey and Gabriella’s told the account of God in their life, the priest harked their words, soon becoming to see, Joey was much into the bible, and Gabriella, a hopeless romantic. Joey and Gabriella spoke their love story, using the words fate, love and destiny. The priest left their greeting off, saying it would be his pleasure to marry them in front of the eyes of God.
When Joey left the rectory, he felt a new presence of God in his life. Joey shared with Gabriella his feelings on saying grace from now on when they ate. Gabriella took it a step further, sharing with Joey the wholesome feeling she used to get after church as a child. They agreed to go to confession the upcoming Saturday, and begin going to church on Sundays from then on. Gabriella thought it would be a great tradition to start for their future family.
On Thursday, Gabriella finally started marking off her wedding guest list with those who responded yes. Gabriella started setting the seating arrangements, but soon found, she needed a few more responses before she could complete the project. She hoped they would come soon as she wanted the bulk of her wedding planned before school started.
On Thursday night, Joey and Gabriella met with their wedding party at the church, being the chapel was in use. They rehearsed with the priest the steps everyone would be taking down the isle. The priest summarized the vows, dispalying the words simply so they understood where to stand. Gabriella was astonished when the priest said, Joseph quickly running through the vows, not yet having them recite the words back. Gabriella hadn’t given much thought to calling Joey, Joseph. Gabriella only called Joey, Joe as it had come out natural the first time, and she had gotten used to using it in particular situations.
After the rehearsal at the church, Joey and Gabriella brought their wedding party out to eat as a thank you, it was as much of a rehearsal dinner as they felt they needed. Gabriella gave her wedding party matching earnings, Joey had helped her pick out and shelled the money out for, to wear to the wedding. Joey and Gabriella felt like a grown up couple, when Joey picked up the check.
On Friday, Gabriella kept her appointment with her hair dresser, to sample the way her hair would be styled for her wedding. Gabriella was so pleased with the up do her stylists did, she couldn’t cool her heels on the idea of seeing her hair done up, with her veil on. Gabriella decided she would do her own makeup, being she had her makeup professionally done for Danielle’s wedding, and wasn’t too impressed. She thought she did her own makeup just fine.
Also on Friday, Joey received his first check from the jeweler. Gabriella was cheerful to give it to him when he came home from work. Joey saw on the invoice, ten rings had been sold. Gabriella fussed over Joey, pleading with him to make another design. Joey didn’t tell Gabriella he already had an idea in mind, he was still waiting for the time to be able to draw it up so he could suprise Gabriella with it on their wedding night.
Joey and Gabriella spent their Friday night in as a couple, and Joey planned a romantic picnic for Gabriella in the bedroom. He kept her waiting downstairs while he set up candles around the picnic blanket placed on the carpet of the bedroom. Joey had Gabriella’s favorite sandwich made again, and Gabriella fussed how she had been craving the sandwich all week. Joey heard the word ‘crave,’ and assumed quickly she was pregnant from their night at Lake Romantica. Gabriella assured Joey, she wasn’t pregnant, and wasn’t expecting her period until next week. Joey was hopeful.
On Saturday, Joey deposited the check from the jeweler into his personal savings account. He then took Gabriella furniture shopping for the master bedroom. When Gabriella found her dream set, Joey’s eyes lit up along with hers. It was a romantic light marble set. The marble was shining with yellow, pink, and orange spackles. Joey thought it would go perfect in the room that was painted an off-white, pink color. Joey then had Gabriella select their living room furniture. Gabriella picked white leather chairs and couches, with cherry wood tables to match the dinning room. Joey assured the two rooms were indeed next to each other, when Gabriella pleaded she had to know. Gabriella was spellbound as Joey informed her, both the living room and dinning room had hardwood flooring. With that news, Gabriella picked out carpets for under her coffee tables, matching the area rug she had already picked out for under the dinning room table. Joey took it upon himself to stop to look at baby room furniture. Joey felt he had needed to give away there were a quite a few number of bedrooms in the home, to try to convince Gabriella, it was a necessity to furnish a room for a baby. Gabriella then tried guessing how many other bedrooms the house had. She guessed three and Joey said no. She guessed two and Joey said no. She guessed four and Joey said no. She guessed five and Joey also said no. Joey kept a good face when Gabriella guessed right, and knew he did a good job of not giving himself away. Gabriella finally agreed on the baby room furniture when Joey told it was between the number three and six. Gabriella guessed four, and saw no reason why one room couldn’t hold baby furniture in it, after all, Joey had his mind set on starting to make a baby the night of their honeymoon, and Gabriella couldn’t refuse him. Gabriella too was growing enchanted for his dreams of children.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Gabriella and Joey were on there way to her aunt Vanessa’s house for labor day weekend, down in Point Pleasant on the Jersey shore. They left early in the morning on Sunday, renting a hotel room near Gabriella’s aunts house for that night. Joey was excited to be getting away, only having spent a few Saturdays’ before Gabriella this summer at the beach. Gabriella was enthused by Joey's excitement for the mini-vacation, but was more eager for her whole family to met Joey for the first time.
Joey and Gabriella decided to take her car down to the Jersey shore, switching drivers once they entered Jersey over the George Washington bridge. Gabriella didn’t want to take any chances of Joey being thrown into a Jersey jail for a suspended New York license, especially on a holiday weekend, where it would take forever for Joey to see a judge for bail. Gabriella was behind the wheel driving, and Joey had just lowered the music. “I’m so excited to get on the beach with my sexy, almost wife.” Joey said, leaneing over and giving Gabriella a kiss on the check.
That reminded Gabriella.
“Where are we going for our honeymoon?” Gabriella asked Joey, once again.
“Now you know that’s a secret.”
“Joey.” Gabriella said, letting her lips pout.
“Oh no Gabriella. You know that face isn’t going to work. Please stop making that face.” Joey said, feeling he was starting to cave. “Fine. All I’ll tell you is that there’s white sandy beaches.” Joey finally confessed, giving Gabriella’s pout a kiss.
“Oh Yay! Is there crystal clear water too?”
“Nope.”
“Nope you won’t tell me? Or nope there’s no crystal clear water?” “Both.” Joey said, raising the radio.
When Joey and Gabriella arrived to the Jersey shore, they checked into their hotel room. When they got into their hotel room, they put on their bathing suits and headed for the beach.
Joey and Gabriella were taking in the sun, lying on the king sized sheet Gabriella brought down for the beach. Gabriella wanted to go swimming in the ocean, and Joey confessed he hated swimming in the ocean.
“Oh come on.” Gabriella begged.
“Anything for you.” Joey said, grabbing Gabriella into his arms and bringing her into the ocean.
When Joey was in a few feet, he threw Gabriella into the water. Gabriella landed far enough out, past the point
where the waves were breaking, she stayed there treading water, mad at Joey.
Joey called out to her,
“come back.”
“Nope. You get your butt in her and apologize to me.” Gabriella called back.
Joey figured he better get his butt out there, sensing Gabriella was steamed with him. Joey went into the water where Gabriella was, started to tread, and realized he could still stand. “This isn’t so bad.” Joey said, going to take Gabriella into his arms.
Gabriella wrapped her legs around Joey’s waist for a few minutes. She then pushed off of him, and dunked him under the water. When Joey came up, he looked terrified “What did you do that to me for?” Joey asked, giving off his cute puppy dog face. “Payback for throwing me in. That was mean Joey.” Gabriella said, wiping away his puppy dog face with her hand.
“You wanted to go into the ocean.” Joey said, guessing Gabriella was still mad at him.
“And what if I never came up and hit my head and drowned?” “I would have come in after you.”
“And if the tide had brought me out and I was gone forever?” “I’d spend my whole life faithful to you.” .
“Would you really?” Gabriella asked, starting to warm up to Joey again.
“Yes. I’ve told you that before right?” Joey asked, holding out his arms.
Gabriella went into Joey’s arms.