Part 18
Sarah was finished getting her shower and was working on her makeup when she heard the door open and close softly in the other room. She called out, "D, is that you?"
"Yeah, Angel. Are you ready?"
"I still need to get my hair done and get dressed."
"Can you come here for a minute?"
Sarah set the makeup down and went into their bedroom where she found Howie standing by the sliding door to the balcony off their room. He was holding a white rose and wearing an ivory-colored tux with his hair pulled back into a ponytail. He looked incredible and Sarah had to catch her breath.
"D, isn’t a tux a little much for dinner with your parents?" asked Sarah teasingly.
"Yeah, it is but that’s NOT what I had in mind for tonight," said Howie as he moved to her. He handed her the rose and said, "Sarah, you’re everything to me…my angel. When we were apart, it nearly killed me to think that I’d never be able to wake up again with you in my arms and I never want to feel that way again."
Tears started streaming down her cheeks as she realized what Howie was about to do. She whispered, "You don’t have to, Howie."
Getting down on one knee, Howie took Sarah’s hand in his as he pulled the diamond out of his pocket with the other. He slipped the ring on her finger as he said, "I want to say this right, and it has to be tonight, I don't want to live this life, I don't want to say goodbye, with you I wanna spend the rest of my life…Sarah, will you marry me…tonight?"
Sarah looked at Howie in disbelief. "Tonight?" she questioned.
Howie stood up but continued to hold her hand in his. "Sarah, I’ve got it all planned. The chapel is already decorated. I have your wedding dress, your mother’s. Ali is gonna be your maid-of-honor. Kevin’s gonna sing. And BOTH of our families are here for it."
Sarah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. "You’ve done everything?"
"I even have the wedding bands in my pocket. Sarah, please? Answer me? I can’t go on without you in my life and I have to have you now! As Mrs. Howard Dwaine Dorough…my wife. And yes, it does sound perfect."
Sarah laughed. "You WERE listening!"
Howie grinned impishly. "Yes. And I almost lost it then. Sarah, I’ve had this weekend planned for so long….ever since I found out that we were doing the TRL special here in Key West. I’ve wanted to propose to you for almost a year now and something has always happened. Well, all that’s behind us now and I want us to start with our new lives together, as husband and wife. We’ve got something that NO one will ever come between again."
Sarah put her hands on the sides of Howie’s face and kissed him lightly. She whispered, "I’d be honored to be your wife, Howie. Yes…I’ll marry you…TONIGHT."
Howie took her in his arms, kissing her deeply. When he pulled back, he had tears in his eyes as well. "Kevin has your wedding gown in his room. When I go down, I’ll tell him to bring it to you. I’m gonna leave so that you can finish getting ready."
"Howie…."
"No, we’ve already broken one tradition…I’ve been with you all day, on your wedding day. I’m not gonna see you in the dress until you come down the aisle."
"How much time do I have?"
"The wedding is at sunset so you’ve got about forty-five minutes. Kevin’s here and he’s gonna get you to the chapel where your dad is gonna walk you down the aisle. One more question. Do you remember what you wanted to say with your vows?"
Suddenly becoming nervous as she realized that she was getting married, Sarah said, "Uh…yeah…I guess so. Why?"
"I have to tell the priest so he’ll know to stop before he does the vows," said Howie as he kissed her. "Kevin will have your flowers too."
Sarah stood in complete shock as Howie started to leave. "Howie…"
He looked back at her, "Get ready, Angel…you’re getting married."