The Eternity that Follows (42 page)

Over breakfast Friday morning, Gabriella informed Joey,
she was going to go work out over at her parents house. She
hadn’t worked out since she found out she was pregnant, she was
waiting the doctor’s approval. Gabriella didn’t want to lose any of
the muscle mass she spent all summer working hard on building.
Joey also stopped working out since he found out Gabriella was
pregnant, to be fair to her. Neither of them could tell the other had
stopped working out though. Joey mentioned to Gabriella, he
didn’t want to lose her for the day.
“That’s why I want to workout, to prevent it.” Gabriella said.
“But you’re not allowed to run only jog.” Joey pointed out. “How
about you come to my gym with me as a guest.”
“Fine.” Gabriella said, she didn’t want to argue. Knowing, Joey
was protective over his baby, she was growing inside of her.

At the gym, Joey and Gabriella started jogging on the
treadmill together. Joey yelled at Gabriella to lower the sped she
had first set it on.
“What? It’s much lower then my normal pace. I can’t run any
slower.”
“Jog, you’re supposed to be jogging.” Joey said, setting his own
pace. “Please just match my pace.”
“Fine.” Gabriella said, lowering her sped to Joey’s, and then
slowed down to a light jog. Gabriella then stopped jogging,
walking fast instead, wanting to prove to Joey, she could run at a
higher sped.
“All right fine but only a little higher.” Joey said, when he noticed
she was walking.

When they were through with their jog, Gabriella went to
lie on the mats to do her abs.
“Why are you doing ab exercises?” Joey asked, seeing no point in
Gabriella doing ab exercises if she was pregnant.
“I plan on doing ab exercises until I’m too fat not to. I’m not
losing my whole six pack throughout my entire pregnancy, I plan
on kicking my body right back into gear.”
“Oh all right.” Joey said, feeling he couldn’t argue.
“Besides, doing ab exercises is a good prevention tool from
keeping my ab muscles from separating form the pregnancy.”
Gabriella said.

Joey laid on the mat next to Gabriella, following her ab
routine. When they were fished, Joey’s abs were killing him.
“I’ve never done those before.” Joey said, in regards to one of
Gabriella’s ab exercises which worked a new muscle group in his
stomach.
“You can’t tell.” Gabriella said, as she pictured Joey’s stomach. “I
can surely see the definition of the muscle group.”
“I guess doing those will define them more.”
“Guess so.” Gabriella said, kissing Joey’s nose for he was just too
cute.

When Gabriella went over to the dumbbells and grabbed a
ten-pound weight, Joey immediately switched it for a six-pound
weight.
“You’re not supposed to lift heavy things.” Joey reminded her
what the doctor said.
“From the bottom up I’m not supposed to. He didn’t mean I
couldn’t use weights to workout my arms.”
“Just please me.”
“Okay, fine”

Joey then left Gabriella to do her arm routine, opting to use
the machines in the gym to work out his arms instead. When
Gabriella was done, she walked over to an arm machine, and sat
herself down.
“What are you doing?” Joey came over and asked Gabriella.
“Trying out this machine.”
“You have too much weight on it.”
“Oh Joey, are you done at the gym yet?”
“Someone’s cranky.”
“I’m not cranky. I have an, overbearing whatever you are to me.”
Gabriella wanted to say husband, or babies’ father, but realized he
wasn’t either of those things yet.
“I’m your lover.” Joey said, summing up all the names Gabriella
had thought to call him.
“Aww.” Gabriella said, then she kissed his nose.

Gabriella then walked passed him, shaking her ass so he
would immediately follow. Joey wanted to drop down to his
knees from the shake Gabriella had given him, instead he hurried
behind her and gave her kisses all over her neck. “Ewe Joey, I’m
sweaty.”
“Yum.”
“Come on I have to get ready for my noon class.”

Gabriella took a quick shower, and got ready for school as
soon as they arrived home. When Gabriella was all dressed and
ready, she found Joey in the kitchen. Joey had made her a
sandwich for lunch with a plate of carrot sticks.
“You simply must please me again and eat. It’s for the baby.”
Joey said, after Gabriella had given him a look.
“I didn’t say anything. Thanks babe.” Gabriella said, choosing her
words to show, she was getting used to Joey’s care and concern for
her and the baby.

When Gabriella got home from school, Joey wanted to fed
her fruit for a snack. Gabriella laughed when she walked in, and
Joey had milk and fruit set out for her.
“You didn’t have any milk this morning, and I know the baby
needs a calcium to grow.” Joey said, afraid Gabriella didn’t
approve of the snack.
“Thank you for caring so much.”

When Gabriella was done with her snack, which Joey had
stayed in the kitchen to make sure she finished, she wanted to
finish up what she had leftover of her school work before the
wedding and honeymoon.
“Hey Joe? Did you get my computer and set it up like I asked you
too?” .
“I sure did. I grabbed all of our movies and CDs and stuff too.
Where going to have to get a wall unit when we get back.”
“We need to get a few things.”
“I hooked the computer up to the cable so we have internet. We
can buy all registry stuff that wasn’t bought when you’re done.”
Joey said, really wanting to make sure they purchased the rest of
the Lennox characters they didn’t receive as gifts.
“That works.”

When Gabriella was done with her homework, she went
online to update her Facebook status, ‘Living with the most
handsome man on earth in our gorgeous new home!’

Gabriella then checked her messages to see if Jemma had
written her back yet. Gabriella hadn’t given much thought to
Jemma being she had been too busy with the house, school, the
baby, and of course Joey to care for. Jemma surprisingly didn’t
write her back. Gabriella was almost sure she would have written
up some scandal as to why she shouldn’t be marrying Joey.

Gabriella walked over to Joey who was in the family room
with her playing video games. She wanted to discuss how Jemma
hadn't written her back.
“So?” Joey asked, when Gabriella informed him, Jemma hadn't
responded.
“So, I feel bad.”
“Bad? About what?”
“That we’re not friends anymore and I didn’t even invite her to the
wedding.”
“Gab, please don’t, she doesn’t have a care in the world for you.
Just let it go.”
“I guess you’re right. It’s just that my friends are coming from out
of town for the wedding tomorrow, I‘m a little embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed that you choose a man that cares for you over a
whore that is out to get you? Look at the facts. The situation with
Vinny is enough evidence that she would do whatever it takes to
get her way. And you know her way is us not getting married.”
Joey said, pulling Gabriella down into his arms. “I love you baby,
I put you first, you didn’t do anything wrong letting love stand in
the way of a horrible friendship.” Joey said, and Gabriella knew
Joey was right. She hadn’t chosen between them, she simply
didn’t want to be friends with someone that would purposely want
to ruin her hand at happiness.
“I love you too.” Gabriella said, kissing Joey on the cheek.

Joey was all set to leave for his brother’s house with his
over night bag with him. Gabriella walked Joey to the front door.
“I don’t want to leave you for tonight.” Joey said
“We have our whole lives ahead of us.”
“I know. I still can’t stand the thought of being without you, even
if it is for just one night.” Joey admitted, Gabriella looked into
Joey’s eyes.
“Forever?” She asked.
“Forever.”
“And the eternity that follows?”
“For the eternity that follows.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”

Joey and Gabriella shared a deep, intimate kiss, both
realizing their next kiss, would be their true kiss to seal their vow
of eternity together.

Joey arrived at the chapel a half hour before Gabriella was
scheduled to walk down the isle. When Joey walked, in his breath
was taken away, appreciating why Gabriella wanted a small
wedding in the chapel, rather then the church.

The chapel was beautiful. The windows were filled with
stainless glass, displaying images of Jesus, Joseph and the Virgin
Mary. Joey realized one window had the image of the Mary
Magdalene as well. What really stood out to Joey, was how
detailed the stainless glass was. The coloring wasn’t dark like in
the church he had grown up in. Rather the coloring displayed
actual colors one would see in a bright, airy painting. In the
church Joey grew up in, the stainless windows were pained with
dark reds, dark blues, dark purple and even black, but in this
church, white was the more dominant color.

The pews in the chapel were painted white, and the rest of
the trim in the chapel were white as well. The altar had a beautiful
statue of the Virgin Mary on one side, and Joseph on the other.
Joey thought both statues to be rather authentic. The cross of Jesus
hanging above the altar was made of wood, and Jesus himself was
displayed in gold. Joey took a closer look up at the gold, and was
sure it was real.

The steps up to the altar were made of stone. The altar
itself was made of a block of mahogany. The rug at the altar was
red, and the seats for the priests and deacon were made of a red
plush material. Joey had never seen a more beautiful church or
chapel in his lifetime. To Joey, Saint Patrick Cathedral in New
York City wouldn't compare.

Joey’s brother walked into the church and had the same
response as Joey, it was beautiful. Anthony sat next to Joey in one
of the front pews.
“What are you sitting down for? You’re going to wrinkle your
tux.” Anthony said, and then took a seat next to his brother.
“I’m bored.”
“Bored?”
“No, not bored. I’m anxious.” Joey corrected himself.
“You nervous at all?”
“Nope.”

“This is one beautiful chapel.”
“I noticed.” Joey said. He wasn’t in the mood for small talk.
“Well your guests are starting to arrive, you’re suppose to greet
them and show off your smile.” Anthony said, noticing Joey was
beaming.

Joey greeted with the guests, and even thanked them all for
coming. Joey even spoke to Todd and Kyle, finding it best to
forgive them for the strippers they brought to his bachelors party,
so he could enjoy his wedding day. When all the guests were
instructed to take their seats, Anthony found Joey, bringing him to
the end of the isle.

When Joey was set in place to take his vow, his hands
started to shake. He and Gabriella had been living as though they
were married for months now, he couldn’t understand why he felt
this way. As Mary started to walk down the isle, Joey looked but
wasn’t paying attention, he was off thinking how this was it.
Everything felt surreal to him. Joey never thought in his wildest
dreams, he would be a man to ever marry. He never thought he
would find his dream girl, and he certainly had given up hope that
he would ever meet her, but he did and here he was.

Mary gave Joey a polite smile as she ended her walk down
the isle, taking her spot. Mary’s smile brought Joey out of his
thoughts, and he watched Josh and Becky walk down the isle.
Joey was growing anxious to see his bride. Joey tossed and turned
all night without her next to his side. Josh took his spot next to
Anthony as Becky took her spot next to Mary.

As Gavin and Danielle were coming down the isle, Joey
started to feel his heart pound. In just a few more minutes it would
be Gabriella walking down the isle.
Gavin and Danielle took their
places in front of the altar as they both turned to watch the ring
bearer and flower girl walk down. Joey had forgotten all about the
ring bearer and flower girl. Joey remanded patient as he had a
visual to keep him occupied, the flower girl was throwing down
rose petals, and she seemed to be enjoying himself. Joey noticed
how his nephew was walking slightly behind the flower girl,
keeping his eyes on the rings on the pillow.

Joey’s nephew held the pillow up for his dad to take off
Gabriella’s ring, and did the same for Mary to take Joey’s ring. As
the ring bearer and flower girl took their seats, Joey knew this was
it. Joey heard the traditional, ‘here comes the bride’ start to play,
as all their wedding guests stood up. Joey’s heart started pounding,
even stronger now.

When Joey saw Gabriella in her wedding dress, he did
actually forget what the dress he had drawn up for her looked like.
Joey was taken back by Gabriella’s curves, while she held tightly
to her father’s arms. Joey worried himself, perhaps Gabriella was
scared in the way she kept close to her father.

As Gabriella passed her wedding guests, she heard a lot of
compliments being shared with among them. Gabriella eased off
her father, the moment she caught Joey’s eye through her veil.
Gabriella was half way down the isle, and couldn’t help but give
Joey a big smile.

Joey caught Gabriella’s smile through her veil as his eye’s
lit up. Joey was sure Gabriella’s eyes too had lit up through her
veil, but he was unable to make that out.

When Gabriella was just a few feet in front of Joey, her
father stopped walking and held Gabriella back. When the priest
ask who took this girl from her father, Joey couldn’t help himself,
jumping to say ‘I do.’

Joey and Gabriella kept to the standard vows of a Roman
Catholic wedding. When it was Gabriella’s turn to recite the vows,
she called Joey, Joseph for the first time ever. Joey got a sincere
feeling in his heart as he was reminded of his father, and how he
was abandoned. Joey felt warm and fuzzy inside. being he and
Gabriella were becoming legal family, and under the eyes of God.

When the vows were over, and the priest announced, ‘you
may now kiss the bride’ Joey and Gabriella’s eyes met through her
veil. Joey lifted her veil,
“you’re beautiful.” He said.