The Eternity that Follows

by Diane Marie

  “For the eternity that follows.”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Joey and Gabriella shared a deep, intimate kiss, both realizing their next kiss, would be their true kiss to seal their vow of eternity together.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Joey arrived at the chapel a half hour before Gabriella was scheduled to walk down the isle. When Joey walked, in his breath was taken away, appreciating why Gabriella wanted a small wedding in the chapel, rather then the church.

  The chapel was beautiful. The windows were filled with stainless glass, displaying images of Jesus, Joseph and the Virgin Mary. Joey realized one window had the image of the Mary Magdalene as well. What really stood out to Joey, was how detailed the stainless glass was. The coloring wasn’t dark like in the church he had grown up in. Rather the coloring displayed actual colors one would see in a bright, airy painting. In the church Joey grew up in, the stainless windows were pained with dark reds, dark blues, dark purple and even black, but in this church, white was the more dominant color.

  The pews in the chapel were painted white, and the rest of the trim in the chapel were white as well. The altar had a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary on one side, and Joseph on the other. Joey thought both statues to be rather authentic. The cross of Jesus hanging above the altar was made of wood, and Jesus himself was displayed in gold. Joey took a closer look up at the gold, and was sure it was real.

  The steps up to the altar were made of stone. The altar itself was made of a block of mahogany. The rug at the altar was red, and the seats for the priests and deacon were made of a red plush material. Joey had never seen a more beautiful church or chapel in his lifetime. To Joey, Saint Patrick Cathedral in New York City wouldn't compare.

  Joey’s brother walked into the church and had the same response as Joey, it was beautiful. Anthony sat next to Joey in one of the front pews.

  “What are you sitting down for? You’re going to wrinkle your tux.” Anthony said, and then took a seat next to his brother. “I’m bored.”

  “Bored?”

  “No, not bored. I’m anxious.” Joey corrected himself. “You nervous at all?”

  “Nope.”

  “This is one beautiful chapel.”

  “I noticed.” Joey said. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “Well your guests are starting to arrive, you’re suppose to greet them and show off your smile.” Anthony said, noticing Joey was beaming.

  Joey greeted with the guests, and even thanked them all for coming. Joey even spoke to Todd and Kyle, finding it best to forgive them for the strippers they brought to his bachelors party, so he could enjoy his wedding day. When all the guests were instructed to take their seats, Anthony found Joey, bringing him to the end of the isle.

  When Joey was set in place to take his vow, his hands started to shake. He and Gabriella had been living as though they were married for months now, he couldn’t understand why he felt this way. As Mary started to walk down the isle, Joey looked but wasn’t paying attention, he was off thinking how this was it. Everything felt surreal to him. Joey never thought in his wildest dreams, he would be a man to ever marry. He never thought he would find his dream girl, and he certainly had given up hope that he would ever meet her, but he did and here he was.

  Mary gave Joey a polite smile as she ended her walk down the isle, taking her spot. Mary’s smile brought Joey out of his thoughts, and he watched Josh and Becky walk down the isle. Joey was growing anxious to see his bride. Joey tossed and turned all night without her next to his side. Josh took his spot next to Anthony as Becky took her spot next to Mary.

  As Gavin and Danielle were coming down the isle, Joey started to feel his heart pound. In just a few more minutes it would be Gabriella walking down the isle. Gavin and Danielle took their places in front of the altar as they both turned to watch the ring bearer and flower girl walk down. Joey had forgotten all about the ring bearer and flower girl. Joey remanded patient as he had a visual to keep him occupied, the flower girl was throwing down rose petals, and she seemed to be enjoying himself. Joey noticed how his nephew was walking slightly behind the flower girl, keeping his eyes on the rings on the pillow.

  Joey’s nephew held the pillow up for his dad to take off Gabriella’s ring, and did the same for Mary to take Joey’s ring. As the ring bearer and flower girl took their seats, Joey knew this was it. Joey heard the traditional, ‘here comes the bride’ start to play, as all their wedding guests stood up. Joey’s heart started pounding, even stronger now.

  When Joey saw Gabriella in her wedding dress, he did actually forget what the dress he had drawn up for her looked like. Joey was taken back by Gabriella’s curves, while she held tightly to her father’s arms. Joey worried himself, perhaps Gabriella was scared in the way she kept close to her father.

  As Gabriella passed her wedding guests, she heard a lot of compliments being shared with among them. Gabriella eased off her father, the moment she caught Joey’s eye through her veil. Gabriella was half way down the isle, and couldn’t help but give Joey a big smile.

  Joey caught Gabriella’s smile through her veil as his eye’s lit up. Joey was sure Gabriella’s eyes too had lit up through her veil, but he was unable to make that out.

  When Gabriella was just a few feet in front of Joey, her father stopped walking and held Gabriella back. When the priest ask who took this girl from her father, Joey couldn’t help himself, jumping to say ‘I do.’

  Joey and Gabriella kept to the standard vows of a Roman Catholic wedding. When it was Gabriella’s turn to recite the vows, she called Joey, Joseph for the first time ever. Joey got a sincere feeling in his heart as he was reminded of his father, and how he was abandoned. Joey felt warm and fuzzy inside. being he and Gabriella were becoming legal family, and under the eyes of God.

  When the vows were over, and the priest announced, ‘you may now kiss the bride’ Joey and Gabriella’s eyes met through her veil. Joey lifted her veil,

  “you’re beautiful.” He said.

  Gabriella smiled a polite thank you, and then Joey placed both of his hands gently on Gabriella’s face, leaning down to kiss her. Joey let his lips meet Gabriella’s as they let their tongue naturally touch for a moment, and then they sealed their kiss, vowing eternity with a press on the lips. Gabriella smiled and threw her arms around Joey.

  Joey was taking back by the hug, and had to lean his right foot back to keep from falling over.

  “You look so handsome.” Gabriella said, while the crowd was watching, waiting for them to walk down the isle holding hands. “You’re beautiful.” Joey told Gabriella again, grabbing her hand to walk her out of the church.

  The rest of the wedding party followed as they all piled into the limo the girls had arrived in. Joey held Gabriella’s hand, and pushed her back before she stepped in.

  “Forever?” he asked.

  “Forever.” Gabriella promised

  “Forever.” Joey replied.

  “Hey! The eternity that follows?”

  “The eternity that follows.”

  Epilogue

  Joey brought Gabriella to Saint Thomas for their honeymoon. He rented a small house on the beach, making sure they would have complete privacy on the beach so he could fulfill Gabriella’s dream of making love on white sand, with crystal clear water. Joey joked that it may not be a deserted Island, but it was the closest they would ever come to one.

  Joey carried Gabriella into the bedroom, as you would a small baby, the way he wanted to the night after they got their ring tattoo’s together. Joey placed Gabriella on the bed, and they both undressed. Joey was the one to refuse having sex for the night. He wanted to wait till morning.

  When the sun rose, Joey took Gabriella out to the beach and insisted she come with him right away, he wouldn’t even allow her to put clothes on. Joey grabbed Gabriella into his arms as she jumped up, wrapping her feet around Joey’s waist. Joey turned them around, and laid Gabriella right down into t
he sand, so the water would wash upon them up to their waists.

  Joey made sweet, passionate, romantic love to Gabriella as he mirrored the tide of the waves that were hitting the lower portion of their bodies. Joey emptied himself inside of Gabriella, thinking of their child growing inside of her. Joey hoped the child was paying attention to how much their daddy loved their mommy.

  Joey gave Gabriella her infinity ring that night under a romantic, moonlight dinner outside. Gabriella was so shocked, it was something she least expected. Gabriella looked at her right hand that held her new ring, then looking at her left ring finger with her engagement ring, her tattoo, and her new wedding band, she couldn’t help but feel like a princess; all dazzled up.

  When Joey and Gabriella arrived home from their honeymoon, Joey had to go back to work to oversee the building of the three houses, while Gabriella worked hard and studied for school. Gabriella completed her first two semesters as the baby was born in late May. They had a baby boy and decided on the name Preston.

  Gabriella took the first year of Preston’s life off from school so she could care for Preston while at home. Joey was home most days, letting the general contractors oversee the completion of the houses. When those houses were completed, Joey took on a few more houses of the blueprint him and Gabriella were living in.

  On Preston’s first birthday, Gabriella realized her menstrual cycle was late, and sure enough she was pregnant. Nine months later, Gabriella gave birth to a little girl. They named her Annabelle, ‘beautiful and gracious’ just like you, Joey said to Gabriella, when he first held her in his arms.

  Gabriella stayed home with Preston and Annabelle for the first six months of Annabelle’s life. Gabriella then decided to go back to school in September, taking online classes and night classes for the next two semesters until she finally completed her Bachelors’ degree in Business Management.

  While Gabriella was juggling her family life with her school work, Joey helped cared for their children, happy his business allowed him the time and attention, he so selfishly wanted for his family.

  When Gabriella had received her business degree, she and Joey started to conceive another child together. Gabriella was pregnant three months later. Within those three months, Gabriella had turned Joey’s company into a corporation.

  Joey and Gabriella bought land and developed the four remaining blueprints Joey wanted to see come to life.

  Gabriella had her third child while the development was being built, another baby girl whom they named Savannah.

  When Joey’s blueprints were built, and put on the market, all of his houses were sold right away, and Joey’s corporation had buyers for each of his homes. Joey’s corporation grew country wide, and Joey and Gabriella took the children with them to set up business in different states of the world.

  Joey then hired a president to run his corporation. Joey and Gabriella had things set in life where they were able to oversee Joey’s corporation from its headquarters, right in Candlewood. They were also allowed the time together to raise their family as neither of them had to work full time.

  When Savannah was two, Joey wanted to conceive again. Less than a year later, Joey and Gabriella had their fourth child, a boy named after Joey. Joey purposely didn’t name his son Joseph being he wasn't being named after his grandfather, but rather legally naming him Joey, after Joey himself.

  Two years later, Gabriella and Joey gave birth to their third soon, Timothy. A year after that, Gabriella gave birth to their last child, another boy named, Thomas.

  Joey and Gabriella were wonderful parents. Their children were blessed with both of their good looks. The boys were cute and handsome as Joey was, and the girls were pretty and beautiful as Gabriella was. Joey and Gabriella woke up everyday, feeling as though their life was a dream. Joey and Gabriella made love to each other every night, and Joey was patient during the waiting period after having a child. They held each other every night for the rest of their lives, tossing and turning together, neither ever wanting to let go.

  As the news of Joey’s grandmother’s passing came, Joey feared the land surrounding him would be sold off by his father. Joey and Gabriella had grown attached to living in a secluded area. When the lawyers were unable to locate Joey’s father, the land was handed down to Joey instead. Joey kept the land, building a home for those of his children who chose to stay in Candlewood when they were to be married.

  Joey and Gabriella were grandparents in their early fifties. By the time they reached their seventies, they had more than twenty grandchildren.

  Gabriella died at the age of seventy-nine from a stroke. Joey died two days later at the age of eighty-two from a heart attack. Their children had said that the pain of their mother’s passing had caused Joey too much hurt, and was the cause of his passing. The children didn’t grieve their father’s passing, like they did their mothers, for they were all brought up to believe strongly in heaven and soul mate’s.

  Joey and Gabriella left down a legacy to be passed throughout their children and their children, and so on, so they could keep track of their blood line, and if they were ever to be reborn again. Joey and Gabriella their lives through, sure, their souls would rest on together, for the eternity that follows.