The Gift

Chapter 19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lainie slept until noon the next day. When she woke up, she looked out the window. A steady, cold rain was falling. She sighed. Was it ever going to be nice weather again? She was beginning to have her doubts. She dragged out of bed and put on her sweats. She had a house to clean. The guys were sweet, but they weren't the neatest things in the world. She began stripping beds and scrubbing bathrooms. She worked all day long, trying to keep her mind off of Brian. He hadn't called her yet. He said he'd call her when he got home. He should have been there long before now. She was beginning to get worried. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was after 7 already. She had forgotten to eat. Damn, she was in bad shape. She missed Brian so much. She missed them all. But Brian in particular had stolen her heart.

She went downstairs and opened a coke, drinking it straight from the can. She went into the living room and sat down in the bay window, staring out the window. Was that??? No... it couldn't be... snow?? It NEVER snowed in south Alabama. Never! In the 23 years she had been alive, it had snowed twice. She walked outside and stood on the sidewalk, staring up at the huge, fluffy, white flakes that were falling from the sky. She smiled. Well, miracles never cease, do they? She thought. She went back inside and finished her drink. Very soon, the grass was covered with white. Then the trees. Then the power lines. Damn. She knew the power would be going off very, very soon... Snap... There it went. She was sitting in the dark. She built a fire in the fireplace and pulled her blankets down there. She'd be sleeping in front of the fire that night. It was either that or freeze her butt off. As she stared at the flames, she thought of Brian and the night they had spent talking. A sharp knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. She got up and opened the door. She was shocked to see... BRIAN!

"Oh my GOD! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly.

"I got all the way to Orlando, and Kevin told me I'd be the biggest fool in the world if I didn't turn right around and come back here," Brian said, smiling. "I love you Lainie."

"You... love... me?" she repeated, her eyes growing wide.

"I love you more than anything," he said. He grabbed her and kissed her deeply. He was freezing, and had snowflakes on his jacket and in his hair. His cheeks were red from the cold. Lainie pulled him inside and pulled his jacket off.

"Warm up by the fire," she said, pulling him into the living room. "No power again, but you know how that goes. I guess I'll have to buy groceries again..."

"Lainie... did you not hear what I said?" he questioned. "I love you."

"I heard you," Lainie said slowly. "I just don't know what to say."

"Say... you love me, too," he said softly, tilting her chin up and staring into her eyes.

"I... love you too," she said, feeling her throat tighten with emotion. "I thought I'd never see you again, and it just about killed me. Brian, Icouldn't imagine not seeing you again."

"Just like I can't imagine not seeing you every day for the rest of my life," Brian whispered. "Lainie, I want to marry you. If you'll have me. I know we've only known each other for a few days, but I don't think it could be any clearer. You're the one I've been looking for all my life."

Lainie's eyes grew huge as she considered his words. "You... want me... to marry you?" she asked, taking a deep breath.

"Yes. I do." Brian said, lookind directly into her eyes. "Marry me, Lainie."

"Ok," she said slowly.

"Ok you'll marry me?" Brian asked, smiling cautiously. Lainie nodded, tears filling her eyes. She knew... Brian was the one... The one she had been waiting for. Brian hugged her tightly and kissed her.

"But, don't you think we should get to know each other before we get married?" she laughed and cried at the same time.

"We have the rest of our lives to get to know each other," Brian said.

"Well, when do you want this marriage to take place?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"Now," Brian replied, kissing her quickly. "Right now."

Lainie smiled and nodded. "Ok. Let's go."

"Where are we going?" Brian asked, pulling on his jacket.

"To Judge Thompson's house," she said. "He's the only one who can sign a marriage license at this time of night. He could do the ceremony too, but I'd rather find a preacher."

"Sounds beautiful," Brian said softly. "I love you, Lainie. Lainie Littrell... that has a cute ring to it... RINGS! Oh man! We don't have rings!"

"I think I've got that covered too," Lainie said, laughing. We'll make one more stop before we go to Reverend Newsome's house."

They hopped in Brian's rental car and made their way to the Judge's house. They ran up onto the porch, and quickly left with a signed marriage license. Lainie directed Brian to her parent's house. They woke up Lainie's mom and dad, and Brian asked Kenneth for Lainie's hand. Of course, her parents were a bit leary, but they could see Brian was a good person, and Kenneth gave his permission. Lainie asked her mother for the gift her grandmother had left her. Betty Ann smiled and went up to the jewelry box.

"Here you go, baby," Betty Ann said, as she handed Lainie the two plain gold bands that had belonged to Lainie's grandparents. There were inscriptions on the inside of each ring, almost worn completely away by the years of wear. Her grandfather's ring said "What God Hath Joined Together" and her grandmother's ring completed the verse "Let No Man Put Asunder". Brian teared up as he read them.

"This is perfect," he whispered, hugging her. They ran out to the car and made their way along the icy streets to Reverend Newsome's house. He was perfectly happy to oblige them with a quick but beautiful ceremony.

"Brian Thomas Littrell, do you take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife; To have and to hold from this day forward, For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Brian said, smiling at Lainie.

"Lainie Michelle Matthews, do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband; To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Lainie said, wiping a tear away. This was the day she had waited for all her life... the day she became a wife...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .