+chapter.eleven+

After that night, when we each knew this is what we really wanted, the months seemed to fly. Before I knew it, I was standing in the church in jeans and a T-shirt. This was it. The last rehearsal. Nine o’ clock tomorrow, December 13, 2004, I would have a wife, my girlfriend of eight wonderful years. I looked at Jenn. She was in the very back of the church. They were practicing the intro. Morgan started them off, followed by Chloe, Megan, Susan, Jessica, then finally, my babe, Jenn. We shared a smile before Fr. Johnson began to go over things with us. “Okay, now the vows are going to be the original ones, right?”

Jennifer and I both nodded. “Yes, Father,” Jenn said.

“Alright. The entrance was done very well,” Father J praised.

Jennifer smiled her sweet smile. “Thank you.”

I took her hand in mine as Father instructed what would be done tomorrow. It only took fifteen minutes to finish up. Good thing too. Morgan was getting a bit tired and cranky.

“Cher,” Jenn spoke to her cousin, Morgan’s mom, “You can take Morgs home. We’re almost done anyway.”

“Thanks, Jenn. I’ll be sure to be at the house at eight sharp with Morgan,” Cheryl replied.

“Okay, thanks,” Jenn said. “Bye Morgs. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye Cheryl. Bye Morgan,” I said to the two.

“Bye Jenni,” Morgan kissed her cousin. “Bye Ikey!” she gave me a wet one on the cheek.

Jenn and I both smiled.

“Bye Ike. See you tomorrow,” Cheryl waved before walking out the church door.

“She’s so cute,” I said referring to Morgan.

Jenn smiled. “I know.”

“Well, I believe that’s all you need to go over,” Father Johnson said.

“Okay, thank you Father,” I said.

“You’re very welcome.”

“Yes, thank you Father,” Jenn said.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he smiled.

“Bye,” the few of us chorused.

“Goodbye,” Father said. Jenn, Jess, Angela, Nicholas, Chloe, Megan, Mackie, Tay, Zac, Justin, Gary, Mom, Dad, and I all picked up our coats and headed out of the church. Jennifer and I had been living in "MOE headquarters” for seven months now. We loved every day of it.

I put my arm around Jenn’s shoulders and she put her arm around my waist. “Well, Ikey, this is it. Tomorrow we’ll be Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hanson.”

I smiled. “Or should you say Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Hanson?”

She grinned. “That too.” We reached my silver s2000 Honda and got in after thanking and saying goodbye to everyone.

Jenn and I buckled up and we pulled out of the parking lot. Jennifer sat back in her seat, her eyelids closed. She seemed to be falling asleep. It kind of reminded me of the time when she broke her arm.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jennifer, seated next to me, seemed to be falling asleep. Her arm was casted and I felt bad for her. I’d known the girl for a day, and I liked her already. She was sweet and nice. Jennifer was definitely someone I could get to know and like…even more than what I already did.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I pulled into our driveway and turned the car off. “Jenn, c’mon. We’re home.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me. Smiling, she sat up and unbuckled herself. We each got out of the car and walked to the front door. I flipped through my keys and found the right one. I opened the door and let Jenn ahead of me.

She smiled. “Ike, this is awesome.”

“What?” I asked. There were so many things.

Jenn laughed slightly. “Everything. You and me living here together, you and me getting married tomorrow.”

I smiled. “I know…Hey, Jenn, can I like, tell you something?”

“Shoot,” Jenn replied.

I looked at her sheepishly. “Well, I knew you were the one…like years ago.”

“What?” Jenn asked, confused.

I smiled. “I knew you were the one. Like, that I would be marrying. Like, as soon as I met you.”

“Really?” she asked, putting her bag down on the counter.

“Yea.”

“Like, how?”

“Well, after we first met, I really liked you. You seemed really sweet, So, I went inside and begged my mom if we could go over to say hi that night,” I spilled.

“Wow.”

“Yea. Then when you asked us to go blading, I was so relieved that I didn’t have to ask!”

Jenn smiled. “How sweet.”

I blushed as we headed up to our room. I put my arm on Jenn’s shoulder. “Well, Baby, this is it,” I spoke. “Our last night as singles.”

“Yea. Kinda weird…”

“Isn’t it weird? Isn’t it strange?” I started singing.

Jenn smiled at me. “I haven’t heard that in so long!”

I laughed. “Tay said he’s gonna request it as much as he possibly can tomorrow. Just to annoy the people.”

Jenn laughed. “Yea, that sounds like Tay.”

I grinned at Jenn then kissed her. “I’m gonna take a quick shower and then go to bed.”

“Yea, me too,” Jenn agreed. “I’ll take the spare room bathroom.”

“Alright. I’ll take the hall bathroom,” I spoke.

Twenty minutes later, we were both out and getting into bed.

“Night, Ike. I love you.”

“Night, Jenn. I love you too.”

With that, we cuddled and fell into peaceful slumbers.