Chapter Twenty Three

"I can't believe we missed that chance." Munzi huffed as she dried her hair. "I have been waiting for him all these years. I never even slept with another man. Not even the ones I dated. Every time they would get too close, I would break things off. Now he comes back and makes a promise not to sleep with me. I swear to God sometimes I hate him. And just as he's about to give me my release we are splashed with cold water. Does the universe not want us to have sex? Well it should go fuck itself because whether it likes it or not we are having sex tonight." She resolved and threw the towel on the bed. Adrian had received a call about an hour before. Something about business and hadn't been back since. Now it was already four in the evening. She had taken the time to shower and get ready as he had ordered. She loved it when he got bossy.

"I wonder what is taking him so long." She continued wondering out loud. "But he said to get dressed and meet him at the river. If he has a surprise it had better be good. I hate surprises."

After putting on her matching lacy black bra and panties, she took the towel off her body. She opened her suitcase and on top was a dress she didn't know she had. But she didn't remember buying such a dress. "This is a beautiful piece. Looks like something Vita would design." She said holding it against her body and looking at her reflection in the mirror.

"It's white and lacy at the top with a white satin and lacy bottom. It's also a maxi dress. If you ask me it looks like a wedding dress. But Adrian couldn't have planned a wedding. He hasn't even proposed yet. Maybe he's scared I'll say no. As if I could ever refuse that man anything. But there's no way he's marrying me tonight. Anyways let me get dressed, the clock is ticking and I'm a sucker for perfect arrival." With that, she wore the dress and straightened it on the mirror. She smiled at her appearance. With a simple make up of a dark purple lipstick, mascara, purple eyeshadow and winged cat eye, she tied her hair into a high bun and put on the strapped flat sandals that had been placed near the dress.

"I look sexy." She commented and smiled at herself. "Wow, time does fly. I only have ten minutes to get there. Hopefully I won't get lost. Good luck Munz. You look bangable." She finished and ran out the door.

The river was easy to find. With a good hearing and perfect olfactory senses, she found it without much of a hustle. Looking around her sorroundings, she saw white sheets swaying in the wind. She smiled and followed them. When she got there, she looked around and saw no one.

"I wonder if I came to the wrong place. That would be embarrassing. But I don't see any other place to make me believe that I'm in the wrong place." She said looking around.

"You are in the right place my love." She turned and came face to face with Adrian. He was looking very handsome in a black suit with a white T-shirt.

"Thank God. I don't like being lost." She said holding her chest to show her relief.

"You are not lost but I have been for a very long time." He said taking both her hands in his.

"What do you mean?" She asked tilting her head as she often did when confused and curious. Adrian snapped his fingers and music started playing.

Tommorow I'll open

My eyes and I will

Whisper to my wife

I belong to you

"That is what I mean Munz. I am always lost unless I'm by your side. I waited for you for ten years. That is why I had to leave. Now I don't ever want to be like again. Tomorrow I want to wake up and whisper to my wife that I belong to her." He said and let go of her right hand. He put his hand in his left pocket and took out a shiny diamond ring. He put it on her finger and kissed it.

"Adrian." Munzi whispered.

"I'm not ever letting you go again. You are my other half and I am yours. Marry me Smiley Moon." He said looking at her eyes. He saw his answer in her eyes. They were reflecting the sun setting behind them.

"And I'm yours Adrian Mitchell." She replied smiling ever so sweetly at him.

"Actually it's Adrian Buckley now." He corrected sheepishly.

"You changed your name?" She asked bewildered. "How did I not know this?"

"Like I said we haven't been talking much about the last ten years."

"Okay but you thought to correct me today, during our engagement?" She asked.

"Sorry and it's not just our engagement." He said and smiled moving to her side so that he was no longer blocking her view. Behind him was a minister holding a Bible.

"We are getting married Moon. I hope you don't mind because we are eloping and none of our families are attending." He added quickly getting worried that the bride could still run.

"No Adrian." Munzi said and Adrian went pale.

"You won't get married to me? But I have been planning this the whole day and tonight I was going to make love to you until we both passed out. That's why I made sure that the water in the shower was cold." He said nervously running hands through his jet black hair.

"Calm down. You didn't let me finish." Munzi said rubbing his upper arms. "I meant no I don't mind. I really want to get married to you today and have you love me like a man loves a woman until we both pass out."

"Such a relief." Adrian said and the minister who had been forgotten cleared his throat.

"Shall we begin?" He more ordered than asked. The couple stood facing the river and the minister in front of them.

"We are here today to witness the union in marriage of Smiley Munzi Kimere and Adrian Buckley. Do you have anything you would like to promise each other?" He asked them. Adrian turned to Munzi not caring about ladies first.

"Moon, you are my life, my love and partner. I am my best self with you. You make me better even when the whole world trembles at my name. After a long day of work whether we are together or miles apart, I always know that you are me as I am you. I promise to always love you even when I don't show it. I will always love and I pray you never forget." He finished and swiped his thumbs on her cheeks to wipe away the tears.

           ***

"I can't do this. I cheated on you twice and I don't know why. I'm so sorry." Munzi fainted.

           ***

"Munzi earth to." Adrian said holding her upper arms. She came back like someone who was roused from a nightmare.

"I'm sorry. My vows right." She said with a smile. What had just happened? She had had a hallucination.

"I should really see a neurologist. Last time someone hallucinated they ended up with early onset Alzheimers." She thought then smiled and gave her vows.

"Adrian Buckley, you are also my life, heart, love and partner. You make me dream so big sometimes I feel like I'm not for real. Words cannot express the love I have for you accurately so I won't even try. I love you so much the world could go up in flames and I wouldn't care as long as you are here. I also pray that you never forget. I love so much it hurts." She finished in tears again.

"Those had better be happy tears." Adrian said smiling while wiping them.

"They are." Munzi confirmed. Without waiting for the minister to say it, they locked lips in a mind numbing kiss.

"I don't think anyone is listening so I pronounce you into husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. I have a white rhino to bury. If you'll excuse me." The minister said and left. As he was leaving, he accidentally pushed them and they broke the kiss. They didn't care that he had pushed them though. Like she had said, the world could burn and they wouldn't care.

"I can't believe that we are married. I am Mrs Buckley now." Munzi said. "Yes you are." Adrian confirmed kissing her.

"Can I make a confession?" Munzi said in the kiss.

"Sure. As soon as I end this kiss." Adrian said and kissed her again.

"What was your confession?" He asked minutes later when they came up for air.

"Your last name is funny." Munzi admitted. "Why did you change Mitchell?"

"That's a story for another day wife. Right now, I have to feed us because I have a promise to keep."