As she walked through the arch, her heart warmed. Flower petals were strewn on the pathway leading up to the gazebo where Michael was standing by a small table covered in white linen. A candle in a large tall glass glowed brightly against the dark background. She ran towards him.
“What are you doing? Are you crazy?” she asked, her wet hair plastered against her head, her delicate laced bra evident through her shear soaked blouse.
She was more beautiful than he had ever seen her. He certainly wished his romantic lunch had gone more according to plan.
“The weather didn’t cooperate,” he told her, smiling that mischievous grin of his she couldn’t resist.
He looked amazing, dressed up in the same crisp blue suit he was wearing when she had first met him.
“I must look awful.”
“Trust me…” He bit his lip. “You look fantastic.”
He reached for her package and set it on the table. “Thank you,” he told her. “I told Christine I absolutely needed this right away.” He reached for her hand and brought her closer.
“Didn’t you take it with you after the show?”
“I did but then I brought it back. We needed a ruse.” He smiled at her, making her want him even more.
“So everyone was in on it?” They both looked over to the arch where Ellie and Dot were standing, getting soaked, eyes wide open.
“You can go now,” Michael yelled out. Dot reluctantly followed Ellie, her shoulders hunched.
He wanted Angela all to himself. He wrapped his arms around her waist. She reached up and wrapped hers around his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin.
“I wanted you here to finally tell you something.”
She looked at him, eager.
He mustered up all the courage in him, and finally gave her his heart.
“I love you, Angela.”
Her heart pounced. Her stomach was in knots, a lump in her throat. She could barely contain her emotions.
“I l-love you too, Michael. I’m crazy about you.”
“I know the feeling,” he said as he leaned his head down and his lips searched for hers; opened and ready. Their tongues danced. Angela pulled him against her. She propped herself on the table.
“Whoa.” He backed up a bit. “Angela. Wait a little bit.” He took a step away from her. “I was planning a nice romantic lunch but...” He looked at the deep grey sky. The heavy raindrops pounded loudly on the gazebo rooftop.
“It’s ok. I’m not hungry.” She gave him a wicked smile.
“I want you to know I can wait for you. I understand you don’t want to jump right into this,” he told her “If you don’t feel right about it, I can wait. I’ll wait as long as you tell me to wait.”
“I’m just not sure how long I can wait for you,” she confessed as she pressed against him and circled the buttons on his shirt.
“Oh, you be good now,” he told her.
With those words, she kissed him again and all her doubts and reservations just flew away. Kissing him felt right; right as rain. And as it turned out, Mondays weren’t so terrible after all.
Epilogue
One year later.
The bride wore a classic silk strapless gown with a folded bodice and sarong style skirt embellished with flowers. A delicate pearl necklace graced her neck and went perfectly with her silver hair; styled in an intricate bun. Her smile gave away her emotions; happiness she hadn’t experienced in decades.
Angela sat in the crowd, tears in her eyes, thinking how fantastic it was that at any age, one could find love. Dot had found love. And so had she. She held Michael’s hand, remembering her own wonderful wedding day, not long ago.
