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A few years went by; Janet was now in sixth grade, and she was continuing getting A’s and Bs in her schoolwork. She was seeing a speech therapist to help her with her speech, and she was improving. Janet became incredibly good at basketball and played shooting guard like John did. Her team won the championship last year and Janet was MVP of the league, one of John’s proudest moments. Janet also won the fifth-grade spelling bee last year. Janet continued to pick out her favorite Christmas presents and even her birthday presents every year and donated them to charity. Things were going very well for Janet and John could not be any happier for his little girl.
John and Michelle had been dating since the night they first kissed. John told her about Ashley and his alcoholism, which Michelle appreciated John’s honesty. She just warned that if John slipped up that she would not be able to continue the relationship due to her history working with families with those problems. John promised her that when Janet came into his life, he was finished.
Janet, John, and Michelle would enjoy trips to New Hampshire and Florida during the school breaks. Michelle would go to all of Janet’s basketball games. Michelle even went to cheer John on in his basketball games in the adult league.
One night when John was tucking Janet into bed, she asked him why he does not just propose to Michelle so she can be her mom. John got a bit shy and told her things like that take time. Janet laughed and reminded John that he was not getting any younger and that he had her blessing. John was a bit taken aback and then tickled Janet. He told her when it comes to proposing to someone that you love, you must be ready and so does the other person. Janet shrugged her shoulders and told John that Michelle is waiting for him to make the move. John chuckled and asked her what she meant. Janet then shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and closed her eyes pretending to sleep. He said goodnight her and kissed her forehead. John walked into his bedroom and took out the ring he planned to propose to Michelle with and smiled as he stared at it.
That Friday, John and Michelle had a date planned. They usually plan a day together just the two of them twice a week. Nancy always enjoyed watching Janet, which she continued to be a savior for John. John wanted to take Michelle to this fancy restaurant that took John weeks to get a reservation. Michelle was a bit taken aback to see this restaurant, but John slyly said he wanted to try something different and that he never ate at this restaurant. John planned with the waiter to serve her desert with the ring, which would be tiramisu.
As John and Michelle were eating, they talked about their days at work. Both always had something to talk about and never got bored of each other, which was one of the many reasons John loved her. As they finished with their dinner, John could feel his palms getting sweaty and his heart pounding. It pounded just liked it did when he first kissed her.
The desert came and Michelle talked about how much she loved tiramisu. As she was about to dip her fork into it, she noticed something reflecting the light. She dropped the fork and looked at John as her eyes watered. John got down on one knee as everyone in the restaurant stared at them with hopeful expressions.
“Michelle, I have never thought I would love again until I met you. You make me happier than I could ever imagine being again. Will you marry me?” John said trying to hold back the tears.
“Yes! Yes, I will marry you!” Michelle said ecstatically.
As the crowd clapped and cheered, John and Michelle embraced each other and were kissing. The waiter congratulated them and said that the meal was on them. John and Michelle left as a newly engaged couple.
They got back to John’s house and were greeted with Nancy who had a bottle of sparkling cider ready. John and Michelle then told Janet the news and she hugged both. She asked if she could call Michelle mom, which was welcomed with more tears from Michelle. Michelle then called her friends and they all celebrated.
John and Michelle were married the following year during the summer. They were married at Craigsville Beach in Cape Cod. Michelle wore the dress her mother wore at her wedding and the white flowers matched perfectly with Michelle’s tan skin.
Janet was John’s best woman. She followed Michelle’s best friend Karen for the best woman’s speech. Janet took out a piece of paper, stood up in front of the crowd, and she put the microphone up to her mouth.
“Good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming tonight to celebrate both Michelle and John’s wedding, or should I say Mom and Dad. My dad is a great guy. He loves basketball, being a police officer, burgers, pizza, me, and of course Michelle who is my new mom. My dad likes to take me to the beach, play basketball with me, have tea parties, reading with me, and lose to me in card games.
“Michelle is a wonderful lady who I have known for a long time. She likes to run, eat pizza, and also lose to me in card games. I cannot help it that I am that good. Anyways, Mom and Dad were meant for each other, and I am happy to be here. Thank you,” Janet said.
The crowd laughed and applauded during Janet’s speech. After the speeches, the crowd danced and enjoyed a lovely evening. John and Michelle could not have been happier with a great wedding.
Michelle and John stayed at the Cape for their honeymoon. They both have had great memories there during their childhood. They spent the week enjoying each other’s childhood memories as they went shopping in Hyannis, walked the canal, biking through Martha’s Vineyard, watching the sunrise at Falmouth Beach, and watched the sunset at Nauset Beach. They planned to retire here when the time came.