A few days before the wedding, Valerie sat nervously in the seat next to her mother on Delta Flight 1570 to Aruba. Giddy with excitement, Helen evidently hadn’t picked up on Valerie’s somber mood as she chatted nonstop.
It didn’t matter as Valerie half-listened while glancing out the window. Then she stared at her ring finger. Valerie always thought she would be married by now. She had come close. David said he loved her, but was she a rebound or had fate brought them together? For closure, she had to find out.
Tired of her self-imposed hiatus from SFC, Valerie had returned days earlier, expecting a showdown with David, but that never happened. Although she had stopped running from him, it appeared he had given up the chase. Somewhat relieved and disappointed at the same time, Valerie resumed her work in her auxiliary groups as if she had never met David Andersen.
The nine hour flight seemed too short for Valerie to gather her wits as she and her mother landed in Aruba. The sun had yet to rise, and in a little more than twenty-four hours, Joy and Christian’s nuptials would take place on one of the island’s white beaches.
Despite her mother’s earlier energy, Helen Hart was zapped, and the weariness around her eyes was the evidence. “Come on, Mom.”
Joining in step with other passengers, they followed the signs to baggage claim to collect their bags. In the distance, drivers stood holding signs.
As they passed, one caught her eye: Valerie Hart, forgive me. I want our hearts to beat as one.
“Ah, isn’t that romantic,” her mother gushed.
“Hmm-mmm.” What if she hadn’t come? Valerie eyed her mother at the same time David’s face came into view from behind the poster. He flipped his sign over to reveal another message: You’re the other half of my heart. I’m imperfect without you. He blocked her path, towering over her, while her mother kept going to the carousel. She became woozy once he trapped her in a stare and then intoxicated with his cologne.
“There is only one Valerie Hart. No other woman could come close to you. That’s what I meant and should have said, but I didn’t. I want you, and I’ve tried to give you your space so we can reconcile, but woman know this: I will chase you down and wear you out until you say you love me and forgive me.”
Valerie’s vision blurred as his deep voice, which she had missed, seemed to hypnotize her. “I do—”
David lifted her off her feet effortlessly. She laughed, holding him tightly around the neck as her tears flowed. Lowering her to the ground, he engulfed her in a hug. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair.
“I love you, too.”
Pulling back, David held her attention. “Valentine’s Day will never be the same for me because of you. I want for us to get married the next time it comes around.”
“You haven’t asked me yet,” she whispered her reminder.
David smirked as he got down to one knee. “Didn’t you read my sign? Let me interpret that. I love you. I’m not the same without you. Like Jacob found Rachel, I’ve found you. Please be my heart Valerie and marry me.”
Valerie sniffed to foil more tears, but they had a mind of their own. Love had kept her waiting, but she refused to wait any longer. She had four months to plan a Valentine’s Day wedding.
“Yes.” Sweeping her off her feet, David kissed her, then swung her around to the whistles and applause from everyone in the airport.