Chapter 9

THEN:

Will guided Angela through the labyrinth of the city park, where ancient oaks and whispering pines cast intricate shadows on the winding path. Their fingers were interlocked, a silent testament to the unspoken connection that hummed between them and had for a long time while dating. The sun played peekaboo through the leaves, dappling Angela's blonde hair with flickers of gold.

"It's a perfect day, isn't it?" Angela breathed in the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers.

"Couldn't agree more," Will replied, his voice steady yet laced with an undercurrent of anticipation that only nature's chorus could hear.

The further they ventured, the less they encountered other souls until only the distant laughter of children and the occasional chirp of a bird accompanied their solitude. Angela's eyes danced with curiosity as Will led her off the main path, steering her toward a secluded glen that seemed untouched by time.

"Where are we going?" she asked, a playful challenge in her tone.

"Somewhere special," Will responded, a tightness in his throat betraying the momentous weight of his intentions.

They arrived at a clearing, embraced on all sides by a fortress of greenery. Here, the sunlight was bold and assertive, claiming the space as its own. Angela looked around, her face the picture of serene beauty framed by nature's canvas.

Will's heart hammered against his ribcage. He released her hand and dropped to one knee, his movements deliberate. He produced a small box from his pocket, feeling its weight like destiny in his palm.

"Angela Matthews," he began, his voice a soft but firm anchor in the breeze, "I've loved you since the moment I saw you."

The ring emerged from its velvet cocoon, catching the sunlight and transforming it into a thousand tiny rainbows. Angela gasped, a delicate hand covering her mouth, her eyes reflecting the sparkles thrown by the diamond.

"Will you marry me?" Will's words hung in the air, tender and hopeful, the silence around them thick with promise.

Angela's breath caught, suspended in a moment that stretched and twisted time. Her eyes, vast oceans of azure, widened as the reality of Will's question sank into her heart like a stone breaking the surface of a still pond. She nodded, words unnecessary in the face of such raw emotion.

"More than anything," she finally managed, her voice a whisper that carried the weight of all their shared dreams. "Yes. The answer is yes."

Will leaped to his feet, the ring now a symbol of their intertwined futures. He slipped it onto her finger—a perfect fit—and they both stared for a heartbeat, marveling at how a small band of gold could hold so much promise.

"Angela," he breathed out, and she met his gaze, finding a reflection of her own overwhelming joy.

"Will," she replied, the name a vow in itself.

Their lips met then, a collision of passion and certitude that marked the beginning of a lifetime. This kiss was a seal, an unspoken pledge that bound them closer than any words could. It was a fiery crescendo that rose from the depths of their beings, a confluence of every whispered "I love you" that had danced between them in the quiet of night.

Around them, the world blurred into irrelevance, the park with its towering trees and dappled sunlight fading into a backdrop for two souls fusing into one. There was only the sensation of connection, the electric charge that hummed through their joined hands, the soft sounds of their unity that spoke louder than any cheer.

They parted their lips, breathless but undefeated by the intensity. Their foreheads touched, a silent communion as they allowed the world to spin back into focus, their shared pulse the rhythm to which it moved.

---

The gravel crunched under Will's shoes as they approached the Matthews' family home later that same day. Angela's hand, still trembling with fresh excitement, gripped his tightly.

"Ready?" he whispered, a conspiratorial glint in his eyes.

"Let's do this," Angela said, her voice a mix of nerves and delight.

The door swung open before they could knock. A swell of cheers erupted as faces familiar and dear crowded the entryway. Angela's heart leaped into her throat, her breath stolen by the sudden wave of affection. They stepped over the threshold together, enveloped in the warm embrace of their awaiting world.

"Congratulations!" The chorus of joyous exclamations washed over them like a celebratory tide.

"Angela, my darling!" Her aunt's voice rose above the rest, the woman's arms encircling her in a fierce hug that left no room for anything but the moment.

Glasses clinked, held aloft by hands interlinked by blood and bond. Will's arm found its way around Angela's waist, grounding her as she floated on the sea of elation that filled the room.

"To Angela and Will," her uncle called out, his glass raised high, a beacon for all to follow. "To love that endures!"

"To love that endures!" The echo rang true, bouncing off walls adorned with memories.

Will's gaze met hers, steady and sure. In his eyes, she saw her world, her future. Smiles spread, laughter bubbled, and Angela's gentle voice lifted to join the symphony of good wishes.

"Thank you," she beamed, her soul alight. "Thank you all."

Diane's arms swept around Angela, a fortress of maternal love. Her tears cascaded, diamonds of joy against the dusk. Angela's breath hitched, her own eyes shimmering in response.

"Mom…," she whispered, voice muffled in the warmth of Diane's embrace.

"It's your dream come true," Diane said through tears, "it's what you've always wanted, my dear."

Angela nodded, words unnecessary in the current of understanding that flowed between them.

"And what a handsome man he is," she added. "And a doctor. You're a lucky girl. Don't ruin this."

"I won't, Mom. I promise."

"Will!" His older brother's voice boomed across the gathering, slicing through the hum of conversation. He approached with outstretched hands, clasping Will's with a vigor that underlined his words. "You did it. You got the girl, and you've made us all proud today."

"Thank you, " Will replied.

The evening unfolded like a series of snapshots: smiles exchanged, glasses raised, stories spun into the growing tapestry of their lives together. Will and Angela wove through the crowd, threads of gold in a familial fabric.

---

A year later, sunlight pierced the stained glass, casting kaleidoscopic patterns on the aisle. Angela glided forward, her gown a cascade of silk and lace that whispered against the floor with each step. Her father had died years ago, so it was her uncle who gave her away on this happy day. Her gaze was anchored ahead, where Will stood—a beacon of calm and certainty.

"Beautiful," someone murmured as she passed.

The word seemed too small for what this moment held—too simple for the swell of emotion that tightened around Angela's heart like a vise. She could feel every eye in the church, but they might as well have been miles away. There was only Will, his smile reaching out to her, promising everything.

"Angela Matthews," the officiant began, his voice deep and resonant, "do you take William Jennings to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Her breath hitched. "I do."

"And do you, William, take Angela to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Will's voice didn't waver. "I do."

Vows were spoken, a lifetime condensed into sentences. The rings, cool and heavy with significance, slipped onto their fingers—a tangible symbol of the intangible bond they shared.

"By the power vested in me…"

The words faded into a crescendo of anticipation. Angela's pulse hammered a against her throat, her fingers trembling slightly as they found Will's.

"…I now pronounce you husband and wife."

A collective exhale swept through the congregation like a wave cresting and breaking over them. Tears blurred Angela's visionbutcouldn't obscure the sight of Will, her anchor, her now-husband.

"Kiss the bride."

Their lips met, a collision of love and destiny. The kiss was a seal, an agreement made not just in front of witnesses but in the silent language of their hearts—a conversation that had started the day they met and would continue for all the days to come.

Applause erupted, loud and joyous. Angela's mother shed a tear as they turned to face the world, hand in hand, united. Angela's eyes flickered across the crowd, catching glimpses of tear-streaked cheeks and wide smiles. This was more than a ceremony; it was the beginning of a journey—one they would walk together, step by step, through whatever life might bring.

"Mrs. and Mr. Jennings," someone called out, the titles new and exhilarating.

"Forever starts now," Will whispered, his voice for her alone.

"Forever," she echoed, her heart surging with the weight and wonder of that single word.