Epilogue
With the first lecture, two years, and six HIV tests behind them, Gracie and Marcus were blessed to consummate their love with marriage. Marcus respected and loved Gracie as he said he would. God’s grace was sufficient in their lives.
The months turned into years. Seeing how love had conquered all for Marcus and Gracie, Kendra and Dillian clung to each other and allowed mutual feelings to develop overtime. With the past behind her, nothing distracted Gracie from her future. All she knew was that she needed Marcus; and Kendra and Dillian obviously needed each other.
Even when Kendra and Dillian’s dating grew into an engagement and then marriage, nothing changed. Granted, the couples only socialized at charity events or lectures promoting HIV/AIDS awareness. But the new marriage didn’t bring them closer or push Gracie or Marcus farther away. There were still no hard feelings. If Dillian or Kendra ever needed her, Gracie had enough room in her heart to be there for the two.
Waiting until their wedding night to be sexually intimate, Gracie and Marcus were blessed by God. Before they entered their honeymoon suite, Marcus stopped short to speak words into his new bride’s ears that he had practiced over and over in his heart.
“Gracie, I love you. It’s a love that is felt from my soul, my being . . . who I am. It’s more than just words that are said on an everyday basis. These words are sacred. I promise to love you thoroughly and without recourse. If you’re worrying about anything, I want you to let go and let God. Let go of everything that we have gone through individually and everything we’ve gone through together and give your heart and your mind to God and then me.” With a soft kiss on her forehead, Marcus allowed Gracie to speak.
“I love you, Marcus.”
Marcus told Gracie that he respected her for looking out for him for the past two years and thanked her for looking out for his future as well. He then let her know that the vows they had taken united them as one.
“When I love you tonight, I love you for all that you are. Just like I said in my vow to you, I meant it, Gracie.”
He wanted Gracie to understand that all the protection she had gotten for the both of them for their honeymoon vacation was not needed. After he rocked and swayed her in his arms until she felt the passion in his heart for herself, Gracie prayed and then agreed.
Being beautiful and whole is one thing, but being complete is full circle. Gracie was now beautiful, whole, and complete. The truth came out when she had the privilege in announcing a honeymoon baby three months later. When the baby inside grew to two, she knew for sure that she was blessed.
With a new marriage, a baby on the way, and the grand opening of Full of Grace II Spa and Gym, Gracie knew that her life was right where it needed to be.