Neptune's Ring

by Ali Spooner

  “She has some nerve,” NeNe said. “I am glad she is gone.”

  “Me too,” Levi said.

  They returned to the club and they mingled among the guests until some of them began to retire for the evening. When Julia and Roberto approached Levi, she smiled brightly for them. “Thank you for making this day so special for me.”

  “Thank you for allowing us to be here for you,” Roberto said. “You made such a beautiful bride,” he said.

  “Yes, she did. I can’t wait to see the pictures,” Vanessa said.

  “I can’t either,” Julia said. “It is getting late and I am afraid I have grown tired,” Julia said. “Good luck to two very special women,” she said.

  “We will be seeing you soon,” Levi promised as they turned to leave the club.

  “I am ready to spend some private time with my wife,” Levi said.

  “Why don’t we say our goodbyes then,” Vanessa said.

  “Waiting on you,” Levi teased.

  Killian and NeNe saw them preparing to leave and carried the gifts out to the cart. Levi and Vanessa would open them later tonight or tomorrow as time allowed, but for now they wanted only each other.

  They thanked their guests and walked out to the golf cart. Killian and NeNe had placed a Just Married banner across the back of the cart and tied a few beer cans to the bumper. The couple was escorted out to the cart by their friends who all got a good laugh from the noise the cans made on the way up the hill.

  Vanessa and Levi carried the gifts into the parlor. They would open them tomorrow surrounded by their close friends. Levi grinned at Vanessa and took her by the hand as they walked to the bedroom. Vanessa closed the door behind them as Levi walked to the dresser and pulled out and envelope.

  “I did not have the time to have your gift made, so you will have to do with this for now,” she said as she handed Vanessa the envelope.

  Vanessa opened it and poured a small gold key into her hand. “What is this baby?” she asked.

  “It will be the key to the front door of our new home, one day,” Levi promised. “Carlos is having the plans drafted for us and hopefully by the spring we shall have a home of our own.”

  “Oh Levi, that will be so great,” Vanessa said. “I have something for you as well.” Vanessa opened her jacket and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Levi.

  Levi opened the envelope to find two plane tickets and a picture of a snow covered cabin. “I cannot guarantee the snow, but we will have a week in the Rockies as soon as I have worked out my resignation,” Vanessa promised.

  “Thank you, baby,” Levi said.

  “Now, I want to make love with my wife,” Vanessa said.

  Levi lit some candles and turned out the lights. They undressed one another and shared several passionate kisses before they moved to the bed. Vanessa pressed Levi onto her back as she climbed onto the bed to continue their passionate kisses.

  Their bodies entwined for hours as they made love deep into the night, their first as a married couple. With their passions sated, Levi placed her head on Vanessa’s shoulder. Levi lifted Vanessa’s left hand and her fingers traced over the ring on her finger. Their matching bands had a pair of swimming dolphins on the outside which made her smile with pleasure. Dolphins had always been a part of their best days together and now they would have dolphins with them every day.

  Levi laced her fingers between Vanessa’s. “Tomorrow I wake up next to my wife,” Levi said with a grin.

  “And very soon you will wake up to me each morning for the rest of our lives,” Vanessa said and sealed her promise with a kiss.

  Levi sighed and laid her head on Vanessa’s chest and listened to the sound of her beating heart.

  “I love you,” she whispered, but Vanessa had already drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face.