Weeks later Joey was having a hard time in the studio. J.C. clicked the music off button. “Come on, Joey, concentrate,” J.C. urged.
“Yeah, ok. Lets try it again.”
J.C. could tell from Joey’s voice he was depressed. Johnny Wright heard it too. He was told about the whole story.
“Look, Joey, why don’t you take a couple days off.” Joey looked up at his manager through the glass of the recording studio. “You are not any good to us if you’re down like that. The guys can do without you for a couple of days.”
Joey walked through the door to where J.C. was sitting in the chair. “Thanks, Johnny you are the best.” Joey grabbed his coat and was about to close the door when Johnny stopped him.
“Make sure to be back in 3 days. Remember to call.”
“You got it.”
Joey’s plane landed in Indiana hours later. The sun was just getting to set. He didn’t have much time to do it. He needed to find the right one and he only had very little time.
I looked at the pond where the swans were slowly swimming. Their white heads disappeared under the water but popped back up in a minute. They looked like statues in the pond that gleamed like bronze in the setting sun. Freshly hatched flies covered its surface and a pair of dragon flies floated like spirits against the dark brickwork beyond.
My thought wandered off to Joey. How his face lit up when he smiled. God, I messed him so bad. Would he ever come back to get me? I leaned back against the brown wood of the willow, and sighted loudly. Half hoping he would give up his career and come to me.
God, she looks beautiful, he thought.
He almost dropped the red rose he was holding when he heard her sigh so deeply. The reflected sunlight hit her face with unexpected grace and beauty. Tabitha’s long blonde hair blew lightly in the breeze. She kept looking at the white swans unnoticing Joey who stood quietly watching her every move.
He shifted nosily to get her attention. It worked. Tabitha turned to look at him. She smiled when she saw him but didn’t move from her spot. Joey brushed the tangle of small green branches away form his face as he moved to where she was leaning against the tree. He stood in front of her one arm by her head. Joey politely gave her, her red rose. A blue ribbon was tied to the freshly cut, green stem.
Tabitha looked up to catch Joey’s eyes. Joey caught Tabitha’s eyes in his own. Her jade eyes jumped out at him. The green silky dress hugged her every curve. The dress made her eyes look more green. They capitivated him and he couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away.
“You look like a princess,” Joey whispered.
I smiled at his compliment. “I guess that makes you my prince charming.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
We touched lips. A sweet sensation overcame my senses and all I could feel was Joey’s lips. My arms wraped around his waist as he deepend the kiss more. Stopping he looked at the rose I held in my hand.
“Hey, what is that?” he asked.
“What is what?”
“That thing tied on the ribbon.”
I looked down as he started untieing the ribbon. He held it in his palm as he grabbed my hands and got on his knees.
“Tabitha…” Joey began as I felt tears well up, “ I love you so much. Will you marry me?”
His eyes sparkled up at me and for once I was speechless. “I…I…I don’t know what to say,” I stuttered.
“Say yes.”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” I managed through my tears. He got up from his knees and placed the ring on my finger.
“Princess, dong cry,” Joey told me kissing my eyelids.
“I’m so happy.”
Joey smiled larger and kissed my lips lightly. He pulled me in front of him. I leaned my head back on his shoulder as he wrapped his strong protective arms around me.
I looked down at my ring. One large white stone was in the middle of two smaller diamonds. They shone beautifully on the gold band that held them. It had to cost him thousands of dollars.
I looked back up at the sunset. Pink clouds darted the sky. Golds and purples streaked the sky like paintings. The yellow sun was partially covered by the dark mountains.
“Sunset is gorgeous tonight,” I told Joey.
He leaned down till his lips were only inches away from my ear. “Not as gorgeous as you,” he whispered.
I felt my face start to grow hot. I thought about our future together. Was it going to last? I looked across the pond again. “Will you always love me?” I asked.
He turned me around to face him. “Of course I will always love you, princess. You will always be the one for me,” he wrapped me in a hug. Joey continued on. “We’re going to grow old together have lots of children-“
I looked up at him. “Children? We’re not even married yet and you are talking about children already?”
He smiled down on me. “I like planning ahead.”
“Oh I see,” I told him as I placed m head on his shoulder again.
“We’re going to be together forever, princess, just wait and see. We are going to spend decades together maybe even centuries. I’ll never leave you, princess. You’re the one and only.” Joey looked down at Tabitha when she didn’t respond. He smiled when he saw she had fallen aleep on his shoulder. Joey bent over and picked her up. She held onto his neck as Joey walked to the mansion, unafraid. He couldn’t wait to make her happy, but he had all of his life to do that.
Behind them the pair of swans took off from the pond. Joey turned to watch them fly into the sunset until they were only little dark specks against the paleness of the sky.
copyright © 2001 AngelH