As Abby climbed into bed, her heart was heavy with guilt, and she tried to push the feeling aside. She needed Gary here; there was nothing more to it. Abby stared at the ceiling, and listened to Gary snoring in the next room. She did feel safer knowing he was there to protect her, even if what they were doing wasn’t morally right. Abby turned on her side, and tried to fall asleep. Outside she could hear something crunching through the leaves, and all her nerves stood on end. Was Jay outside her window? Forcing her self to stay calm Abby reached for the gun in her nightstand drawer. Wrapping her hands around it, Abby listened closely. Silence surrounded her. Slowly, Abby relaxed again.

The next morning, Abby awoke to bright sunlight streaming across her face. She could hear someone moving around in the kitchen, and for a moment thought someone had broken in on her, until she remembered Gary had slept on the couch last night. After she dressed, Abby headed toward the noises. From the sounds she heard, Abby guessed Gary was making breakfast. The smell of bacon frying met her when she opened the bedroom door. “Hey Baby, sleep good last night?” Gary asked after he kissed her good morning.

“I slept better than I have in a while, but kept hearing noises out my window.” Abby said, grabbing some toast as it popped up. “Why didn’t you call me, I would have checked it out for you.” Gary said, worry lines creasing his forehead. “Because, you know I worry too much, I’m sure it was nothing, just my nerves.” Abby said smoothing out his forehead with her fingers. “I have to run,” Abby said, breaking the embrace. “I’m going to be late for work.” “But you haven’t eaten anything.” Gary said while smearing butter on the toast she had dropped on the counter. “At least take this with you.” “Okay, I’m on my way,” Abby said, as she grabbed her purse, and headed for the door. “I’ll see you tonight!” As Abby drove to work, she thought about how much she enjoyed waking up to Gary, and suddenly she wanted to be married to him more than ever before. Rummaging in her purse, Abby retrieved the cell phone, and dialed Gary’s cell phone. “Gary, I want to get married as soon as possible! I don’t want to live another moment not being your wife.” She listened as he dropped the cell phone, and finally had to pull off the road to recover it. “Honey, are you sure? I don’t want you to think I am trying to pressure you into a mistake. I want to be married, too, but I want to be really sure you are comfortable with this.” Gary sounded like he was ready to explode from excitement. “I want this, I’m sure of it.” Abby said her excitement building too. “Okay, we’ll talk about it when you get home then. See just how soon we can arrange a wedding.” Gary said, trying to regain himself. “If planning a wedding mean we have to wait longer, I don’t want a church wedding. I’ll call Kim and you call Nick, we will find a minister who can marry us tonight or tomorrow.” Abby said, her mind going in a million different directions. It surprised her she remembered Gary’s best friend’s name was Nick, since she had only heard Gary mention him a couple of times, and had never met him.  Abby was just hanging up the phone as she pulled into a parking space at the hospital. Plans were well under way for a wedding that night, or the next.  For the first time in months, Abby’s mind was too occupied to even think about Jay.

Abby waited anxiously for Gary to return from having his blood work. They would be going to get their marriage license next. The wedding had been delayed a few days, by all the formalities, and this irritated Abby. While all the necessary paperwork was processed, Gary had slept on Abby’s couch, and it was starting to show, he had dark circles under his eyes. Abby had been very disappointed when she found out getting married took longer than one day. When Gary rejoined Abby, she was pulled from the daze she had fallen into. “It’s your turn, want me to go with you?  After leaving the hospital, Gary and Abby went for a walk in the park, to look at the stars.

Nick turned out to be a red haired and blue-eyed hunk. If Abby had not been so captivated by Gary, Nick would have even caught her eye. Gary welcomed Nick inside, then settled on the couch, his arm draped over Abby’s shoulder. Kim arrived a few minutes later, and Abby excused herself to answer the door. Gary rose, and took the bakery box Kim held in her hands. As Gary headed to the kitchen with the box, Kim’s hands remained as if they held the box.  From the moment Kim spotted Nick, everyone could tell she was taken. For the first time since Abby had met her, Kim was speechless. She just nodded her head when Nick shook her hand and introduced himself. While they waited for the minister to arrive, the two couples talked. When Abby excused herself to get dressed, Kim followed her to the bedroom. Kim was about to bust, trying to contain a million questions. “So, tell me, is he available?” Kim nearly shouted as soon as the door was shut. “ I don’t know, I just met him tonight, so I know just as much as you do about Nick, but even I have to admit he is cute.” Abby took her time getting dressed, and was just emerging from her bedroom when she heard Gary open the door for the minister. Abby was barely able to contain her excitement when she took Gary’s hand, at the beginning of the ceremony. The minister began speaking, and Abby forced her attention away from the man standing beside her. It seemed forever before Abby heard the words she had been waiting for. “You may now kiss you bride.” Abby wrapped both her arms around Gary’s neck, and savored the moment.