The Eternity that Follows (41 page)

Joey and Gabriella went to Gabriella's appointment at her
OBGYN, Wednesday afternoon, as scheduled . They arrived early
to fill out paperwork. Gabriella found it pointless to write down
her maiden name, considering she was getting married in only a
few short days. Gabriella realized she couldn’t jump the gun by
using Joey’s last name, because she was still on her father’s health
insurance.

Joey went into the room with Gabriella, and she was asked
to be placed in a gown. Joey’s eyes avenged with anger over the
thought of the doctor seeing her naked. When a male nurse walked
in, Joey thought him to be the doctor. Joey wanted to say, 'forget it
we’ll decline healthcare and have the baby the extreme old fashion
way they did before doctors,' until he realized, it was only a nurse,
and was then calmed down. The nurse took blood from Gabriella
to confirm she was pregnant.

The doctor walked in with the results of the blood test,
confirming, Gabriella was indeed pregnant. Joey was now
tremendously relaxed, both noting Gabriella’s doctor was a
woman, and she was undeniably pregnant. The doctor hooked
Gabriella up to the ultrasound, and both Joey and Gabriella were
joyous to hear the baby’s heart beat. The doctor pointed to a blurb
on the screen, showing where the baby was but neither of them
could make out the baby.

The nurse came back in and drew more blood from
Gabriella, while Joey hounded why they need more blood. The
nurse explained to Joey, everything they needed to test for to make
sure everything was all right with his wife. Joey smiled as the
nurse called Gabriella his wife, and made no point in correcting
him.

All of Gabriella’s blood test had come back normal, and
Gabriella was given the clear ahead to fly for her honeymoon.
After the doctor, Joey and Gabriella went to confession,
like they had been planning to do. Joey went in first, and after he
came out, knelled his penance while Gabriella was in confession.
Gabriella had a hard time confessing to her abortion, but forced
herself to because she felt God was watching, and expected her to.
The priest offered her dead child up to God in heaven, and gave
Gabriella a penance as well. She was shocked, the priest didn’t
make her do a thousand Hail Mary’s for her sin. Gabriella figured
it was usual for a woman to confess to a priest after having an
abortion. Gabriella thought more about it, realizing, perhaps not
many women her age were interested in confessing and back to
church.
When in the car, Joey and Gabriella spoke about what they
confessed.
“I brought up the number of women I’ve slept without of wedlock
and the guilt I feel for it.” Joey started with. Gabriella had asked
him to go first since it was his idea to share.
“That’s all?” Gabriella asked.
“I confessed to not talking to my mother, for assaulting people
when I was younger, and for lying.”
“Lying?”
“Not to you. I’m always honest with you.” Joey said, taking
Gabriella’s hand and kissing it.
Gabriella remembered back to those things Sadie and Anna
had told her in regards to Joey. Gabriella remembered feeling,
Joey was different with her then he was with other people.
Gabriella believed his words.
“Ok. Well I confessed to my abortion.”
“You had the guts to do that?”
“I had to. I felt God was watching me.”
“Oh, What else?”
“I really couldn’t come up with anything. I didn’t want to confess
that I was pregnant now out of wedlock, considering I do have this
ring tattoo.” Gabriella said, holding up her hand up to remind Joey
how strong they felt about each other.
“So that’s all you confessed?”
“Well, I confessed to not being the best daughter, for having sex
before marriage and I confessed to hurting men in my past.” .
“I don’t see how you’re not a good daughter.”
“Well, I used to yell at my parents all the time. Telling them to
butt out when they asked about my life.”
“I see.”
When they arrived home, Gabriella worked on the school
work she would be missing while on her honeymoon. When she
was all done, she found Joey in the family room playing video
games. Joey seemed so into his game, she didn’t want to disturb
him. Gabriella knew that video games were a vital part of Joey’s
life before her, as he had mentioned it was what he usually did
after work before she walked into his life. Gabriella though,
couldn’t help but announce her presence behind him at the family
room couch, letting out laughter because Joey yelling at the game.
“Oh hey.” Joey said, putting down the remote control.
“Hello there handsome.”
“Gorgeous.” Joey said, standing up and holding his hand out for
Gabriella.
Joey led Gabriella up the steps in the family room, up the
steps to their bedroom, and without words made love to Gabriella.
Joey and Gabriella were holding each other, vowing
eternity to each other, when Joey broke their hold, and lightly
placed his ear on Gabriella’s stomach.
“What are you doing?” Gabriella asked, as she giggled.
“Trying to hear the heart beat.”
“You’re never going to be able to.”
“Shh.” Joey said, really trying to listen. “Hey I think I heard it.”
“I bet you that is my heart beat.”
“Uh-un, your hearts here.” Joey said, placeing his hand on
Gabriella’s heart, while his ear stayed on her stomach.
“You can hear the heartbeat through the stomach too, Joey.”
“Fine. You can’t just amuse me?”
“Ok. I’m sure you heard the baby’s heart beat and not mine.”
“Thank you.”
Joey then pulled Gabriella tightly into his arms, holding her
from behind. He placed one hand on her stomach, wanting to hold
the baby as well.
“Sweet dreams Gabriella.” Joey said. “Sweet dreams baby.” Joey
said, lightly patting Gabriella’s stomach.
“Sweet dreams daddy.” Gabriella giggled.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Nope. You’re too cute to make fun of. Sweet dreams Joey.”

When Joey and Gabriella woke up on Thursday, Joey was
mad Gabriella had class at nine in the morning. Joey wanted to
spend the day cuddling.
“We’ll have plenty of time to cuddle next week on our
honeymoon.” Gabriella informed him.
“You’re right.”
“I’ll make you breakfast before I go.” Gabriella said, as she took
her engagement ring from her jewelry box on the dresser, and
placed it on her ring finger. Joey was still lying in bed.
“I’m not hungry yet. I’ll get myself something later. I’m just
going to lay right here for a while.” Joey said, covering himself
with the blanket and closing his eyes.

Gabriella gave Joey a kiss on the forehead before she left
him to go downstairs to eat.
Gabriella was out of the house a little
while later.

When Gabriella got home from class, she found Joey still
lying in bed. Joey had fallen back to sleep, and was still napping.
Gabriella hopped into bed and woke him up. Joey grabbed her into
his arms and held tight.
“Joey, I can’t breathe.”
“I missed you so much.” Joey said, giving Gabriella kisses all over
her neck.
“I missed you too. It was so hard to concentrate, while knowing I
had such a handsome man at home waiting for me.”
“Oh.” Joey said, giving Gabriella his bedroom eyes.
“Oh no. We have to start packing for our honeymoon.”
“We have time.” Joey said, starting to undress Gabriella.

Gabriella whimpered to Joey’s undressing her, she had been
craving him ever since she left him this morning. He had been so
cute, asking to cuddle longer, and throwing the blanket over
himself. Gabriella had no protests to Joey, being in the mood
herself, and knowing they had the time. Joey was attentive to
Gabriella, asking her if she felt good. Gabriella replied, ‘oh yes.’
Every time Joey had asked. When they were done, Joey wouldn’t
let her out of bed.
“No five more minutes.” Joey said, to Gabriella's protest of
leaving bed.
“Joey, you must be starving. Let me make you lunch.”
“In five minutes.”
“Okay then. Five minutes.”

In the time following lunch, Gabriella began to pack for her
and Joey.
“So am I bringing summer clothes?” Gabriella said. She had been
wearing things from her winter wardrobe the past week. The
temperature had dropped claiming it was fall, and winter was soon
on the way.
“Yes. But bring a sweat shirt or two just in case.”
“All right. Is it tropical where were going?”
“Of course.” Joey said, started to caving in and tell her where they
were going.
“That’s all I want to know.” .
“Oh damn. Gab I have to go to the jewelers and get our wedding
bands.” Joey said, realizing the day and time.
“Well get to it.”
“I’ll be back in less then an hour.”
“All right.”

Joey gave Gabriella a long hard kiss goodbye, and told her
he would finish his packing when he got home. When Joey was
gone, Gabriella finished her own packing. She then went through
Joey’s clothes, picking out his outfits for him. Gabriella only
picked what he would be wearing for night time, assuming Joey
wouldn’t expect her to be doing any cooking on her honeymoon.
Gabriella left everything on the bed for Joey’s approval, figuring
he could pack his bathing suits, and day clothes all by himself

When Joey got home, Gabriella was in the kitchen making
her sauce for dinner. Gabriella decided to go all out, by adding
meatballs and sausage to her sauce. Gabriella had never made her
sauce with meat for Joey before. Gabriella was just taking the
meatballs out of the oven, and placing them in the sauce.
“Yum.” Joey said, when he saw what Gabriella was making.
“There’s sweet Italian sausage in there too.”
“Yummy.”
“Aww Joey, you’re too adorable.” Gabriella admitted.

Joey placed his hand around her stomach.
“The baby’s so lucky to have a mommy who’s such a good cook.”
Joey said, giving off a warm vibe to Gabriella.
“Thanks Joe. Go finishing packing. I laid some nighttime clothes
out for you.”
“Thanks sweetie. I’ll get right on that. First I want to run out and
get some Italian bread for dinner. I know how much you love it!”
“All right. Well dinner’s not for a couple of hours. The meatballs
need time in the sauce.”
“That’s all right.”

When Joey came back, Gabriella was standing in the
kitchen waiting for him. Joey placed the Italian bread on the
counter and looking peculiarly at her. “What are you doing?”
Joey asked.
“Waiting to put these in the baby room with you.” Gabriella said,
picking up the Mickey and Minne Lennox that were left on the
counter.
“Oh.” Joey said, delighted.

It took Joey and Gabriella all of two seconds to display the
Lennox in the nursery. Joey left Gabriella in the nursery alone,
knowing she liked to sit in there, and daydream about holding her
baby.

Joey himself, went to go finish packing. When Joey was
done, he found Gabriella in the kitchen stirring the macaroni.
Gabriella scooped out the meat from the sauce into one of her new
serving bowls, then poured gravy into her gravy dish. Joey stood,
watching her as he leaned on the entrance to the kitchen. When
Gabriella turned around to place the serving bowl and sauce on the
table, she spotted Joey.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching how lovely you are in the kitchen.”
“Oh impressed are we?”
“Very.”
Joey said, giving Gabriella a quick kiss on the check, and
then going to cut the Italian bread.

When Gabriella had dinner placed on the table, Joey sat
down and took a bite. “Delicious.”
“Oh, not yum?” .
“I’m going to be a daddy soon, figured I’d grow up a little.”
“Yes but yum is baby talk, and you have to say it to the baby while
feeding it.”
“It? Do you think it’s a girl or boy?”
“I have no clue.”
“You’re the mother, you must have a feeling.”
“Nope, not yet.”

Joey and Gabriella spent the rest of dinner talking about
possible baby names. At the end of dinner, they hadn’t decided on
any one name. They both decided they would spend some time
thinking about the names they agreed on, and then discuss it again
when the baby was closer to arriving.

They went straight for the bedroom after dinner. Gabriella
had a mild protest, she wanted them to wait till they were married
before they made love again. Joey was against the idea, and began
kissing on Gabriella’s neck. Gabriella gave into Joey, and he had
them both undressed quickly. Joey starting by hitting Gabriella's
spot right away so she wouldn’t complain he wasn’t respecting her
request on waiting. Gabriella lost all her will power as Joey was
being romantic, sweet and intimate, causing Gabriella to realize he
was using his soul to make love. Gabriella gave into her own
desires, letting her soul make love back to Joey’s.

When they were done, Gabriella looked around the room,
and felt taken care of by Joey, being he had designed such a
romantic room for his dream girl.
“Joey?” Gabriella asked, hoping Joey hadn’t fallen asleep yet.
“Yes my dear?”
“Who did you buy the land from?”
“Oh. I told you I knew someone.”
“Like who?”
“My grandfather. Okay. My grandfather owned all the land on
this side of the lake and he gave it to me for a steal before he
passed away.”
Joey said.

Gabriella was shocked.
“Wow.”
“Yes. The land was passed down by my family, one of my great
grandfathers bought the land when New York City was too
crowded and they were selling the land up her cheap. My
grandmother owns the land now and it’ll go to my father when she
passes.”
“So one day your father is going to own all the land around us?”
Gabriella asked, knowing she was reaching a touchy spot.
“Guess so.”
“Do you think he’ll come around again or just sell it?” Gabriella
asked, wanting Joey to confide his feelings in her.
“I haven’t thought about it much.”
“Oh.”
“I wouldn’t want to see him again anyway.” Joey said, taking
Gabriella into his arms to remind her, she was all he needed.

Gabriella fell silent, and gave Joey a kiss goodnight on his
forehead. Gabriella said a prayer for Joey that night, that one day,
Joey would be reconnected with his father. She knew he felt
incomplete in life since his father had left at such an early age.
She feel asleep in comfort of her and Joey's love, hopeful it would
grow on and continue forever.