Unforgettable (40 page)

“Would you like to see the rest of it?” he asked.

“I don’t know if I can move. You all did this for
me
?” she asked, tears sparkling on her eyelashes.

Patrick hooked her arm through his and took the first step. Breezy picked up the hem of her dress and followed with some difficulty until she regained control of her trembling limbs.

“We did all of this for you, angel…because we love you,” he replied, gesturing to all the people who stood watching them and delighting in her joy.

As she took her first steps towards their new home, they all began cheering and applauding.

Susan handed her the key when she arrived at the front door, along with a quick hug and kiss. The front porch was exactly as Breezy had drawn it. A porch swing hung on one end while a white wicker loveseat and chair set, complete with cushions and a table, sat at the other end. There were even a few plants hanging from the porch, just as she had envisioned.

Once she unlocked the door, Patrick picked her up and carried her over the threshold. He and Susan took her through the entire house, pointing out every detail. Patrick’s wedding gift had been to have all the furniture she’d drawn custom made, according to her picture. Everything was a perfect replica. They’d even finished the basement and given her a better, larger workshop than the one she’d had before, with better lighting. Last, they escorted her outside to the backyard.

Besides the massive white reception tent, there were only two things in her backyard that hadn’t been included in her original sketch, but she loved them instantly and knew they belonged there. The first was an adorable gingerbread style dog house for Heidi, who was already sitting inside wagging her tail. The second was a water fountain birdbath, a small replica of the angel fountain in the garden at Fontain’s restaurant where she and Patrick had gone on their first date.

Breezy stood in the center of her new backyard with the man she loved by her side and all of her dearest friends around her.

“I don’t know what to say. This is so overwhelming. You are all so wonderful…I don’t deserve this,” she stammered.

“You’re the only person I know who
does
deserve it,” a voice declared.

“You’re the one who watched over my kids while I was in hospital,” a young woman said.

“You’re the one who saved my wife and children from certain death,” Tom told her.

“Ye’re tha one who gave me back tha Patrick I thought I’d lost forever,” Liam proclaimed.

“You’re the one who raises money for the kids at the hospital every year,” someone else called out.

One-by-one, nearly every person present gave a reason why Breezy
did
deserve all the happiness in the world. By the time they were done, there wasn’t a dry eye to be found.

“Breezy, when will you ever see yourself clearly? You are the center of everything and the love of my life. For every dire moment in every life here, you’ve been there…lending a hand, helping out, keeping it together, saving the day or saving a life. Can’t you see that you’re everything?” Patrick exclaimed.

“The only thing I see is that I’m truly blessed to have each and every one of you in my life and I love you all so much,” she sobbed, tears streaming from her eyes.

Laughter and applause surrounded them as they all made their way to the big white tent. As the opening bars of “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion began, Patrick took Breezy into his arms and glided her around the dance floor.

Entranced by the beautiful lyrics and the stars in each other’s eyes, it felt as if they were dancing on air, two angels lost in the clouds. So happy and in love, they barely noticed the other guests joining them near the end.

For the next few hours, everyone danced and sang and celebrated. Champagne flowed and the elegant, light blue, three tiered wedding cake was cut. There was no smashing it into each other’s mouths. Breezy always thought that was a little over the top and terribly messy. Each table had its own smaller version of the cake to be shared among the guests.

When streaks of twilight color filled the sky, it was time for them to leave. Laughing, crying and throwing rice along the way, all their friends and honored guests escorted the happy couple back to the limo to start their honeymoon.

Susan and Tom stood on the sidewalk watching them disappear in the distance.

“They really are a couple of angels and a match made in Heaven, aren’t they?” Tom asked with his arm around his loving wife.

“Yes, they are,” Susan replied, leaning her head against his chest. “I guess, if you believe long enough, you’re dreams really do come true.