by DOMINO
He dropped his umbrella and began walking quickly toward me.
Before I knew it, I was running toward him across the long bridge and he was running toward me, and when we finally collided, my heart burst with happiness. He wrapped his arms around me and swung me around before he placed me down gently and held me tight.
“Maxx” He whispered in my ear. “Maxx”
I couldn’t see his face, but I felt his body shaking. He was crying and I couldn’t stop my tears from flowing. He held my face in his hands and we wiped away each other’s tears before he kissed me as if we had never been apart. My world was spinning with happiness when I saw the twinkle in his green eyes.
“I looked for you, believe me Rio” I cried through the tears he kissed away.
“I’ve looked for you Maxx” He kissed my forehead. “I made the decision to grow old alone if I couldn’t be with you. I prayed for you every night, prayed I would find you. I knew if I just stayed faithful—I knew I would find you again” He whispered and kissed me again. “My heart wasn’t complete without you” He looked at me with disbelief. “Every day—every day—I think about you. I still love you, so much—”
I clung on to him tightly; I would never let him get away from me again. I buried my face in his chest and shook from joy and my good fortune.
“I love you Maxx. I have since the first day I laid eyes on you” He looked down at me with awe. “I loved you before I met you and I still loved you when we were apart—it never went away—”
I realized it really was him that I saw that day by the courthouse in Atlanta. His long locks were now short and he resembled the professional that he always wanted to be. He still had on the watch I got him for Christmas so many years ago. The face of it was scratched up from age. I could tell he wore it every day, and I knew then, every time he looked at it, he thought about me. His love never faltered.
I pulled out the locket he gave me so he could see I still had it. “I love you Rio, so much. It never went away, never”
He smiled and kissed the locket before he kissed me once more. We stood on the bridge, in the snow, kissing and hugging, and trying to make up for the ten years we spent apart.
We made another promise to each other that day, a promise to never leave each other’s side again and we knew that only death could keep us apart. We spent the rest of that day on a bench under his umbrella, talking and catching up. We never felt the cold, snow, or freezing wind. An invisible sun was beaming brightly down on both of us. He held me tightly and revealed a surprise I never expected and it ended up being the best day of my life.
EPILOGUE
Rio proposed to me on the bridge that day, and it may have been snowing, but I was standing under my own personal rainbow. He explained that he purchased the wedding ring the same day he passed the bar. He didn’t plan to marry anyone else, and if he never found me, than it would be buried with him when he died. I loved him more than life itself.
We flew back to Atlanta together and then made a trip to Tallahassee so he could meet the woman that helped change my life. He fit right in. Jo was stunned at how gorgeous Rio was and she understood why no other man was ever good enough to be with me in my eyes. She confirmed he was everything I told her he would be. Don and Rio got along excellent and he fell in love with Donyella.
After we left Tallahassee and headed back to Atlanta, I never slept in my apartment again. He moved me into his condominium and we were surprised we never ran into each other. He had a three-bedroom condominium two blocks from me and we were mesmerized at how life could have been so cruel as to never let us run into each other.
I was so proud of him and everything he accomplished since we had been torn apart, and every night, he told me he loved me. I felt blessed more than anyone could imagine.
Justin became a staple in our life, and just as Jo did with me, I did with Justin. Rio and I became his legal guardians and he moved in with us six months after Rio and I were settled in together. Rio saw a lot of him in Justin and so did I. Justin managed to get his GED and was now a full time student in Atlanta Metropolitan College, he worked part time at a small restaurant, a block from home, and he was the younger brother that Rio and I always wanted.
I was surprised when he sat us down one night and told us that he no longer wanted to be an architect, but he wanted to follow Rio’s example and be a lawyer, he wanted to pay it forward just as we were. We couldn’t have been more proud. We also couldn’t have been more surprised when he suggested we get married at the chapel we met at, instead of the courthouse up the street. Rio and I both agreed there was no other place that we should get married.
We spoke with Father Thomas and he agreed to perform the ceremony. We had become good friends with Father Thomas and became members of the church. Rio, Justin, and I would make our regular trip there every month and continue with our mission to help homeless runaways. We all knew we were making a difference. We had at least two or three new recruits for Mr. Horne every month we visited.
The day we flew back to Millington for our wedding was a remarkable sight. Father Thomas, Jo, and Justin, had the chapel decorated beautifully and Don gave me away. Rio and I wed before family, friends, and many of the young teenagers we helped in the system.
Rio surprised me with a two-week honeymoon in Bora Bora, and it was there that we figured out we were blessed with our first child, Rio Joseph Barden Junior.
We moved into a four-bedroom house, not far from Atlanta, so there would be room enough for all of us. Justin was close to finishing college and diligent in everything he set his mind on. He would be graduating from college in the top ten in his class and I knew his graduation day would be one to remember. Many of his friends, including David and Brandon, promised to be there to cheer him on. They were now in school themselves with Justin’s persistence and direction.
I often wondered what would have become of me if I hadn’t walked into that chapel on 99th street and met Rio. He and I both left 99, seeking a nowhere, and actually ended up finding our special somewhere. I often look back at my past and smile, remembering Father Thomas told me, God puts everyone on a mission they know nothing about, but hold strong in faith, be patient, and God will bless you with dreams you never thought possible.
I was beyond blessed. I had a family that I adored more than the air I breathed. Rio, Rio Junior, and Justin were my world, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also realized, none of it would have been possible without faith, and most important, hope.
~~~~~
Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles. Samuel Smiles
Now watch the video trailer for 99 to Nowhere on Youtube. Just type in 99 to Nowhere by Domino and enjoy.
Biography
*If reading and writing were liquid poison, I would drink it slowly and savor every drop" *Domino*
"Writing gives anyone the ability to make the impossible reality and I love the concept of being able to do so by writing. This is what made me sit down and begin the lovely process of putting my creativity into words" Domino.
Domino resides in Miami Beach Florida with her three loves, Dre, her rock of encouragement, Pixie her beloved Yorkie and Ola, her African Grey. She may be contacted at [email protected], on Twitter at AuthorDomino and Amazon at amazon.com/author/domino. Your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated. If you need to talk or even vent, visit me at http://dominowriter.webs.com/
Her novels are Letting Go, Holding On, Velvet 66-The Druid Prophecy, Gliders-Corvus Chronicles, 99 to Nowhere, Ryan's Willow, Sky Hostess, After Party, Slam Book, and Polka Dots-A Year in the Life of Sydney.
Velvet 66-The Druid Prophecy
Editor’s Choice Award
Urban Fantasy
Video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/-JoS4dDjgKo
Jayden Farren is a shape shifting druid assassin, committed to ridding the world of evil and murder. Humans have no idea he exist and his job i
s to keep it that way, that is, until he falls in love with a human named Carissa. Torn between his love for a human and his obligation to the murderous Druidic Order of Assassins, he is thrown down a bloody path of lies, betrayal, and deceit he had no idea existed.
Polka Dots-A Year in the Life of Sydney
2011 Textnovel Editor’s Choice award and 2011 Finalist
Literary Fiction
Sydney Kalani is 23 and 250 pounds overweight. She's in love with one of the hottest men she's ever met, Joel Ashford, office heartthrob and worldwide womanizer. When he can't see past her weight she decides to lose it, all for the sake of love. She discovers that life not only throws curve balls, but it also throws cake. She also learns love is an inner beauty, appearance is highly over rated, and humbleness is priceless.
Sky Hostess
Woman’s Fiction
Twenty-year old flight attendant, Mia Madison lives her life in the clouds. Flight attendant and member of escort service, Sky Hostess. Beautiful and savvy, she has it all, until she learns money can't buy happiness. Mia Madison, the blond bombshell of Sky Hostess. Flying the skies and working as an escort, she learns that no matter how much money she attains, true love is priceless
Letting Go
2010 Textnovel Editor’s Choice Award
Literary Fiction
Pregnant at 17 with no family or support, Shawna has a big decision to make, for her and the well-being of her unborn child. Deciding to keep a child she has no way of supporting or providing for, Shawna's life has been turned upside down
Holding On (Sequel to Letting Go)
Literary Fiction
Conrad Jenkins is wealthy, handsome, and employed at one of the most prestigious law firms in Washington D.C. He has it all, monetarily, but there is something he wants more, his son.
Conrad’s life spiraled out of control when his ex-fiancé, Shawna left him and took his son, and now there is nothing more important in the world than getting him back. Struggling with his alcohol addiction and conniving mother, he strives to get his life in order and overcome his addiction, failures, and mental anguish. His mission is to have a relationship with his son and he will stop at nothing to make it happen.
GLIDERS
2011 Honorable Mention Award
Urban Fantasy
My name is Sasha. I'm 17, a member of Wind Chasers and our private society is unknown to the world. We live among you undetected and have for many years. It is our creed to remain this way, never be discovered of what we really are. Half-human, half raven. Betrayal or even risking the discovery of us is dealt with harshly, but love can even make death worth it. Love can be beautiful and deadly all at once, this is one thing I had to learn the hard way. This is my story.
RYAN’S WILLOW
Young Adult
The small town of Kenton Louisiana is the bearer of many secrets and Violet has no idea she will become immersed in one her heart will fight to keep that way. On a mission to help an anguished and dead young man, Ryan, she finds love not only with the living, but also with the dead.