Delila

I woke up in the morning with a smile on my face now. My home was beautiful, and my man was everything I never knew I wanted. Work was going well, and I took Robert’s advice and focused on my future. There would always be haters particularly in this industry and I accepted that. I knew who I was and what I had with Michael.

I let the moments of self-doubt go with every job I worked. I saw gorgeous places and pinched myself every time I woke up somewhere beautiful, especially when I was beside Michael. He was proving to me that he loved me as much as he could, and I tried to do the same.

The wedding was something of a sore spot for me. I loved helping Priscilla with the planning but never realized how much time it would take. I didn’t have anyone to fall back on in my own family and powered through the phone calls and late nights meeting over new ideas. I saw the tense set of Michael’s jaw sometimes, but he said nothing, just holding me close when I was home and in bed. He showed me just how much he loved me every chance that he got.

I moved in quickly but found myself spending all my time at Michael’s place once my sister moved out. The apartment was for storage of things that       I didn’t pack to bring over and when he proposed moving in together over dinner one night, I accepted. Priscilla was living close to me with Jake and we spent a lot of time in Manhattan. It was a big adjustment to live with a man in such a spacious place and I had to adjust to taking over his space, but he gave me room to do so as he did with everything else. I slowly made one of the four bedrooms a small office to work in on my computer as well as a place to meditate. Once I was introduced to that in Bali, I was hooked and used it often to relax in my fast-paced world. I even took up yoga, taking a class in Manhattan with my sister when I was here.

We toasted with champagne in my kitchen one night when everything was set in place for the wedding. We’d made dinner and talked about everything but the ceremony, relaxing and laughing together. Jake was relaxed and held tightly to Priscilla as she sipped from her glass, happy to have her to himself again. Michael was no different the way that he had me pulled close to him. I smiled as I thought about later when we were alone. I needed to lose myself in him. I was taking a week off for the wedding in two weeks and planned to enjoy every moment of it. I’d shoot the ceremony and support my sister, but I was going to be a tourist beyond that.

I cried as I walked Priscilla down the aisle, clutching hands. We hugged, and I stepped to the left to watch her say her vows to Jake, smiling at Michael beside him. He looked amazing in a crisp black tuxedo as he stared at me, telling me everything I was feeling for him in one gaze. When they were kissing and the intimate crowd was cheering, I pressed my fingers to my eyes. Dad would love to be here to see her future starting with Jake and the way Michael made me smile. I looked up to the blue sky and wondered if he was there before I looked behind us at the expansive ocean to my left.

I followed them down the aisle holding Michael’s hand, letting Robert shoot everything at this point. I did what I could, but we all trusted him as well. He took the group shots and family before we went to the indoor reception to celebrate the union.

There was food and drinks. The music was fun and festive, and the small group of guests danced and laughed late into the night. Michael took me to our room in the bed-and-breakfast across the street and peeled the pink dress from my body before making love to me. We toured the area over the next week and had a great time with our extended family before I went home to prepare for a trip to Bali for a shoot.

Michael joined me as usual and we booked a private cottage on our favorite beach. I worked hard during the day while he communicated with the office remotely. At night, we’d go to dinner and walk the variety of beautiful beaches together. We went dancing and for drinks before going back to our private room to enjoy each other the way we preferred to.

It was the last night there, and he arranged to have dinner set up on the large patio space, overlooking the water. There was wine and fresh seafood with veggies, and I smiled at him as we ate. The breeze was perfect, and the sound of the waves carried over to us.

“I don’t want to go back. I love it here.” I told him, sipping wine from my glass again.

“We should get a vacation place here.” He suggested as I looked around. “I think we both prefer this vacation spot to anything else.”

“Great idea. Too bad we’re leaving tomorrow.” I pouted, and he looked away for a moment. I stabbed a shrimp with my fork and chewed it slowly, taking him in. “Are you okay?”

“I am.” He took a bite of vegetables and gazed at me. There was something different in his eyes and I leaned forward. “I love you, Del.”

“I love you.” I smiled at him as I spoke. He stood up and walked to me, the breeze blowing his hair back slightly as I arched a brow at him. It was growing out, and I found it incredibly sexy. He stopped in front of me and dropped to one knee as my mouth fell open.

“I love you, Delila. You have made me feel complete in a way that nobody ever could before. I see the world in a light I didn’t know existed. I want you to be here forever in my heart and my soul and watch you grow as a person. Will you do the honor of being my wife?” His words stunned me, and I looked into his bright eyes. His skin was bathed in a warm glow from the sunset behind him, filling the sky with vibrant color. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, opening the lid to show me a stunning ring. It was a delicate band of diamonds with a large one in the shape of a square. It shimmered in the light and I wiped my cheeks.

“Yes. Yes. Yes.” I didn’t know when he planned all of this, but we were both busy. I dropped to the sand in front of him and slipped a hand around his neck to kiss him. “I love you, Michael. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

He held me in his arms, kissing me hungrily as I cried against his lips. I held on for dear life, straddling him as he held on until he chuckled. “Can I put a ring on it, baby?” I pulled away, sitting on the soft sand as he plucked the ring from the box. It reflected the colors behind us as I held my hand up, crying again. “This was my grandmother’s ring. I had it cleaned up a bit, but we wanted it to stay in the family. We wanted it on your finger.”

“It’s breathtaking.” I kissed him again. He returned it, tilting his head to deepen it. “This place was perfect.”

“I knew how much you loved it from the moment we first came here. I got the idea last time and started to plan this. It’s a god thing you’re busy.” I pretended to pout before giggling again, pressing my forehead to his. “Let’s finish eating and finish the rest of my romantic night.”

“Sounds perfect.” I smiled, feeling like everything was falling into place for me. I had the perfect man for me, and my future was going just as planned. I returned to my seat, and we toasted to our future, smiling into each other’s eyes.

I was complete with Michael Mason in my life.

THE END