Page 107 of Forever Fascinating

Grinning, she took his hand and led him out the door, pulling it firmly shut behind her, and guided him off the deck towards the car.

“Gosh, your perfume smells incredible,” he breathed, sighing happily.

“Can you sit down carefully… without…” Matthew bumped his head into the car and grunted, making a face that told her it hurt. “Without knocking yourself out?” she finished lamely. “There. Now, hold tight while I get in the back seat carefully, so I don’t get anything on my dress.”

“Yep. Not taking off the mask until you tell me to.”

Moments later, Jana was in the seat, trying to keep from laughing as she realized how foolish that a lot of this was… and how it was probably an old wives’ tale, but neither of them were willing to risk it. It was sweet and meant so much to her that they both felt this way.

Fluffing the sheet over her shoulders, she was buckled and ready.

“Okay. I’m in and covered.”

Matthew pulled off the sleeping mask and extended it back, over his shoulder, towards her.

“Your turn,” he said simply, without looking.

“What? My hair,” she protested immediately.

“It’s not tight,” he began, “but I really need you to put it on. Please, Jana. The church is supposed to be decorated with flowers in front and I want this to be a surprise for you since you don’t have a bouquet.”

“Please?” he repeated – and she took the mask, carefully putting it on before sighing.

“I’m wearing mascara, so you might be marrying a raccoon if this rubs my eyelashes all over my face,” she warned grumpily.

“Have I mentioned that I love raccoons? Cute fuzzy little creatures with dainty hands.”

“You’re such a dork,” she chuckled, laughing immediately.

“I’myourdork, always.”

“Yeah, you are, Vapor… Now, are we getting married or what?” she teased, feeling her heart flutter in her chest as she heard the car start.

Jana sat there, trying not to get car sick, as he drove silently down the winding roads. She wished she could yank off the mask, but there was something so sweet in knowing that he’d planned all of this out for her benefit, that she didn’t want to ruin a second of it.

If he wanted her to be surprised when she saw the flowers at the church, so be it.

It was like knowing that there were going to be presents under the tree for Christmas, already aware that this was going to be a special event, yet suspending the moment, just to build that everlasting joy, hoping to make it something for the ages.

She would never take that from Matthew.

As the car came to a stop, she heard him turn it off and started to reach for her mask.

“Hang on Jana,” he said, sounding grumpy. “I don’t see the flowers. Wait here and I’ll be right back, darling.”

She heard the car door open and felt bad for him, almost wanting to risk a peek, yet remained where she was.Love, honor, and obey, she mused, smiling softly to herself.

Her husband was taking theobeyto a new level.

Hearing the door open next to her, she hesitated.

“They’ve got the flowers inside, darling. It’s a simple mistake, but looks nicer to me. Just take my arm and I’ll guide you up… and when we get inside, you can take off the mask. Okay?”

“This is so sweet, Matthew,” she smiled blindly ahead, grabbing his arm nervously as she slowly stepped out of the car.

As they walked towards the church, she felt her heart hammering in her chest with excitement and unbridled joy, making her feel like she could run a marathon at that point.

Hearing the church door open, she felt a rush of cool air, and turned to him slightly. “I’m so happy right now, Matthew, and can’t believe we are going to start our lives together, finally.”

---