Micki was ticked when Vincent finally walked through the door an hour and a half after he'd left. "Where have you been, and I know you ignored my calls, Mr. Manor!" She blocked his path with her arms folded. Rocky D stood beside her, wagging his tail.
"I'm sorry, baby," he said, circling his arms around her waist, resting his chin on top of her head. "Celisha still here?" He had noticed that her SUV was still parked out front.
"She's in the guest room." Micki unfolded her arms.
"She told me about that sorry Aaron."
"Don't judge him, Micki."
Micki smacked her lips. "I know you're not taking his side, Vincent," she vented. "Because he is not," she paused when someone entered the front door. She leaned over to find Aaron standing in the doorway holding a large bouquet of long stem, red roses.
"Shhh," Vincent said. "Let's let them talk." He reached for her hand and led her outside where he apologized to his guests for his disappearance.
Once Micki and Vincent were outside, Aaron made his way to the guest room where Celisha was laying in bed with a troubled heart. She looked up when someone knocked on the door. She figured it to be Micki. She wiped her eyes, sitting up. "It's open," she said.
Aaron entered the room and closed the door behind him. Celisha stood up from the bed and was standing there speechless.
Aaron got down on one knee. "Celisha, I want to prove that I'm sorry. I know I caused you a ton of pain with my words and my actions. I'm so sorry for hurting you. I beg of you to forgive me, and take me back, please. I promise-" He paused as she reached out to tenderly touch his bruised lip.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Uh, some sense got knocked into me." He tried to smile.
"I love you, Aaron." She caressed his face. "I forgive you."
Aaron laid the flowers on the bed, then stood up. They hugged each other and started to cry. He felt blessed to have her. She silently thanked God for answering her private prayers.
"House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord," he whispered, quoting Proverbs chapter 19 verse 14. Two weeks later, they became husband and wife.
Vincent kept his promise to be a B.F.F. to Shana. It saddened him that she would not experience the simplest of life's pleasures, so he did something about it. He rented a helicopter for two hours and she rewarded him with an endless smile. He took her out on a jet ski and on an airboat ride in the Everglades. Although it was a first for him as well, he even took her fishing.
Shana was speechless when she fed and touched two playful dolphins at Sea World. Her greatest joy came when Vincent printed one of her poems in his book.
Celisha and Micki added smiles as well by having an all girls' pajama party with Shana.
With all the fun and activities outside of Vincent's busy career schedule, the summer moved in quickly. It was time for Vincent to make Micki his wife. He was still out of touch with his mother. The burden hadn't been helped by her, by any means. It wasn't as if Vincent hadn't taken the first step to reconciliation. After she ignored his countless emails, he had given up.
Micki was his life now; his wife, whom he cherished daily. She took his name and became Micki Nicole Manor. They continued their growth in knowing God and having Him in their life. Vincent's writing was on a new level. He found a way to keep his readers hooked and in the truth of life. With Micki and Celisha's encouragement, he reached a dream that he had once given up on. He started his own publishing company. He was now his own boss!