Can You Hear My Love? EPILOGUE
The final chapter for Ian and Marissa.
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EPILOGUE
It's been five years since that fateful accident. So much has happened. Ian graduated high school and moved on too college, to become a teacher. He always says that the laughter of children makes his job worth it. I soon realized that there were many things about Ian that I hadn't realized, but I should have. One of those being, how truly hurt he was that he couldn't hear me sing. He loves to hear, and my singing makes him happy. I'll be singing while doing the dishes or taking a shower, and I'll turn around to see him just sitting there, listening to me with tears in his eyes and a huge smile on his face. Every once in a while he still likes to feel my throat, just to remind him that we're still in love like we were that day. (not that he needs reminding, but sometimes things get hard when big changes happen). After graduation, I became the photographer I've always hoped to be. My favorite subject is my fiance. Yes, that's right, my fiancé.
The day that Ian proposed to me was the happiest day of my life. I left school for the day and went to join Ian at his school (Which also happens to be where my sister in law is the principal). While Ian and I were walking out of the building to go home, Vanessa stopped me and started talking about Austen, who'd just found out he needed his tonsils removed. Ian said that he would go out to start the car and he'd meet me out there. Sadly, I left Vanessa's office about a half an hour later, I was feeling really bad about it until I saw him.
My car, once again, was filled with Orchids. Ian was down on his right knee with a ring box in his hand and the writing on the car this time said "Will You Marry Me?" My hands flew to my mouth as I started crying and nodding my head up and down. He stood up just in time for me to fly into his arms. I was greeted with the sweetest most passionate kiss of my life. I watched him slip the ring onto my left ring finger and looked up to see that he was crying just as hard as I was.
"I love you". He said.
I giggled and smiled "I love you too."
***
This leads me back to now. After a year and a half of planning, I'm here. Getting married to the one man I've ever loved. And I'm freaking out. I'm so nervous. I've never doubted Ian and my relationship, and I'm not now, but I can hardly breathe right now. I'm about to walk down an isle to a man who I love and will always love and like an idiot, I'm standing here hyperventilating.
Why am I acting like this?
Oh wait, I know. Ian's mom is out there, and I'm still expecting the worst. Ian is going to see her and realize that she was his family way before I ever came along and will be long after I leave, not that I'm planning on leaving. Jesus Christ, this shouldn't be like this. When I was five and dreamed about my wedding, I never imagined that it would be to a man who cut off connections with his mother for me. How did I let this happen? He shouldn't have had to choose. I'm such a horrible person.
*flashback*
"Are you excited?" I asked Ian. Today Ian is getting out of the hospital. He's been in here for about a week and a half. The doctors are saying that his head is healing very nicely and they see no problems with his hearing so far. We still need to come in and get checked for infections every two weeks for about a year, but after that, he's free.
"Yeah, I can't wait to take you out on a date." He said with a smile that looked far away. I looked up confused.
"We've been on plenty of dates Ian." I told him. He seemed to come out of his trance and look at me.
"I know, but I've never been on one where I could hear you, and we've never been able to go to a movie, or a concert, or anything that requires real hearing. I've never been able to look you in the eyes over a candle light dinner and know what you're saying. I want that." He was so sincere in his explanation that I couldn't even argue.
"Looks like we need to get you home and changed then. I highly doubt that you want to wear jeans and a t-shirt on our first "real" date." He smiled and shook his head. As we walked out of the hospital, holding hands, he stopped just outside the doors and closed his eyes. I could tell by just looking that he was absorbing the sound of traffic and the birds chirping around us. A sound he hadn't heard in over three years. I was so happy for him.
He finally looked at me. He seemed so content. "You ready?" he asked. I grinned and said "Are you?" He just smiled and started towards the car. We finally arrived at his house, after various stops he wanted to make like the playground, a and a beach nearby. Walking in the front door, we were welcomed by his whole family. There was music playing and they had streamers all around. There was a huge "SURPRISE!!!" and cheering. Ian looked so pleased.
The celebration went on for a little while, all with gifts like an ipod, a stereo for his room and one for his car, along with gift cards to every music store in the area. Everything was going great, until his mom decided to speak her mind again.
"Ian, it's so great that you and Marissa have decided to stay friends despite this all." She said. Ian looked up and scrunched his eyebrows.
"What do you mean, still friends? of course were still friends, but we're also more than friends. You know that mom." He explained.
His mom huffed with frustration. "Ian, you can hear now, you don't have to lower yourself to her level. You can do better now." She said nodding her head towards me.
"Stop this." Ian's father said to his wife.
"No, I won't stop this. She's ruining everything. Ian can have a great future now. He can have anybody he wants and she's only bringing him down." His mom sounded hysterical now.
"Ian, I think it's time that I leave." I said while standing up.
"No, stay." Ian said. At first I looked at him thinking he was trying to convince me to stay and listen to him mom, but instead I saw a look of determination on his face.
"Mom, you won't talk to her like that anymore. I love her, and I won't leave her. I'm so lucky she feels the same way about me, you aren't coming between us. I've lived here for the past three years in a constant hell. You made me feel less than adequate when it wasn't even my fault. It took a complete stranger to make me fell special, and like I wasn't a bad person. Marissa has changed my life, yes, but only for the better, and I wouldn't have it any other way." He told her.
"If you want to stay in this house, you'll live by my rules. And my rules are that she leaves and doesn't come back." Ian looked at me and back at his mom.
"Then your rules just lost you your son." He said. He took my hand and pulled me out of the door.
We got into the car and I drove off. We drove a couple miles before I pulled over, looking Ian in the eyes. He broke down crying. He pulled me into his lap (which was a little bit awkward being as we were still in the car). We just held each other for the longest time.
Once he seemed to settle down, I said "Ian, I can't let you do this." He just looked at me. "You can't give up your family for me. It's too important. Things can happen between us that we could regret. I won't let you regret this." As I was talking, I started felling the tears leave my eyes. He brushed them away with his thumbs, while holding my face, he kissed my lips softly.
"I'm not giving up my family for you. I'm not allowing my mom to abuse me anymore. If that means that I'm spending all of my time with you, then that's how it is, but this was bound to happen anyway. She's been wrong for far too long, it took you to make me realize that, and I thank you. I love you." I looked at him for a minute.
"What about the rest of your family?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll still see them. I'll probably even make up with my mom, but right now, I can't do it anymore. I love you, with my entire heart and soul. Please don't doubt that just because my mom can't handle it." The look in his eyes could have said it all without words. There was a combination of hurt, hope, love, but most of all, trust. He trusted me enough that he was leaving his mom.
"Okay." I muttered.
He kissed me. It wasn't a passion filled kiss, it was soft and sweet and comforting. Exactly what we both needed right then.
*present time*
That day was the last time Ian had seen his mom. Now, after five years, I'm surprised she showed up. Damn it. I'm so nervous, what if she ruins my wedding? I've been trying to get Ian to talk to his mother for a few years now, but he always refuses. He's like a child about it. He feels like she's the one who should apologize, and although I agree, I also realized that his mother was too stubborn to do anything about it.
"Marissa, you ready?" Polly sticks her head into the doorway. It's time.
I leave the room they gave me at the castle. Ian and I both decided to get married in Ireland. Being as his parents have the money to fly all of our guests out, which still shocks me being as there are about twenty five on my side and thirty on his. It's so beautiful here. Everything is so green. Luckily, today is one of those rare days where Ireland is sunny.
I go around the corner and find Ryan and my mom. Their both walking me down the aisle. I would have let my dad to it, but I couldn't help but feel he'd missed out of too much of my life, he didn't deserve to give me away. They both have tears in their eyes as they look at me. I feel like a princess today, and they both just proved how I feel.
Of course my wedding is full of orchids and calla lilies. I love it. My hair is pulled off to the side and put in a chignon. My make up is a romantic look, back eyelashes, a little eyeliner, and red lipstick. Simple, but elegant. My necklace is one that my grandmother gave to me before she passed a couple years ago. That's all the jewelry I'm wearing today. It's all perfect, for me.
We head outside and all I can see is the man of my dreams. Standing there, beckoning me to join him up there. I almost run, and if it weren't for mom and Ryan there holding me back, I would have. These slow and steady steps are killing me. I want to be up there with him, I want to spend the rest of my life with this man.
Finally. I'm standing with my future husband. In about fifteen minutes, I'll be his wife. The officiant speaks "We are gathered here today to join this couple in matrimony......" This part seemed to drag on for me. Finally, he says "Ian, you may now kiss your bride." Ian gives me a heart stopping smile as he dips me and kisses me like I've never been kissed in my life, there was so much passion and happiness in this kiss that if it weren't for him holding me, I'd surly have passed out by now.
Inside the ballroom, where the wedding is being held, we sit and enjoy the speeches made by the guests. Ian stood up and makes his speech "thank you all so much for being here for us today. Everybody here means the world to both of us. I just want to say that today has been the most amazing day of my life." Turning to look at me "I've married the most beautiful, kindhearted, generous, funny, loving woman in the world. I could never have made it this far in my life without her. Baby, you are my whole entire world." He pulls me up to him and kisses me. With tears in my eyes, I grab the microphone and say "Well then, how do you top something like that?" I got a laugh from the families. "No, but really, I don't know what I would do without Ian in my life, so I decided that the perfect way to tell him was to show him I remember when we first said I love you. This, after much discussion with the relatives present at the time is the song I was singing before you ran."
I turned towards the DJ as to tell him to turn on the music.
"Everything"
You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.
And you play it coy but it's kinda cute.
Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true.
'cause you can see it when I look at you.
[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.
And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.
[Chorus]
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
[Chorus:]
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.
You're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything.
Yeah, yeah
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
So, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
**
By the end of the song, Ian was crying like a fool and he jumped up to kiss me. It was an even better kiss than the one we shared previously that day.
And we lived happily ever after.
P.S. Ian's mom caused no trouble at all, in fact, she apologized.
P.S.S. It's been about a year since we got married, and I'm now welcoming a very beautiful baby boy into this world, named Johnny.
*****************************************************************************
Don't forget to look for sequels :D
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