Hayley helped Ashton change into comfortable clothes before heading for a shower. Ashton looked around her huge bedroom suite fit for a princess. The king-size bed invited him and he lay down to wait for her.
All the tension eased out of his mind forever. With Francesca’s death, the last threat that was looming over their heads also eased away. Now they were free! Free to enjoy life together like the others. He had always wanted such a free life and now his wish had been granted at last.
“What are you thinking?” asked Hayley, looking fresh and dewy in a pair of lavender pajamas as she emerged from the en-suite. Ashton smiled and held out his right arm for her. She climbed into the bed, closer to him and he wrapped his arm around her soft body. It felt so good to be alive and cuddled up against her. After his accident, he had never thought he would live to see this day.
“I’m grateful to God for granting my wish and reuniting us forever!”
“Yes. Are you upset that we can’t marry this Saturday as we had planned?”
“No, I’m not upset at all. I’m here for at least two weeks. I’ll talk to your parents and we will fix the date after we’re better. I’m glad that I didn’t start the preparations. I had just gone to see a wedding planner near Miami Beach when I had the accident.”
Hayley gasped at what that implied. “So Francesca had been keeping a tab on you. She didn’t want you to marry me.”
“Yes. I never could understand how her twisted brain functioned. I’m glad that it’s all over.”
“This time I want to be involved in our wedding preparations. Will you take me with you!” Ashton kissed her forehead and smiled at her.
“Yes, baby. You can do anything you want. But first, we will rest and regain our strength.”
“Hmm! How is your head injury? Are you in pain?” Ashton raised an eyebrow quizzically at her question.
“It’s healing and I’m taking painkillers. It should improve in a week!”
“Oh, I can wait!” she said shyly, making him chuckle.
“Wait for what?” he asked in a whisper, as if it were a secret.
“To kiss and make out if not make love.” Ashton’s eyes glittered with excitement on hearing his favorite subject being brought up.
“We can do that any time. I’m not that injured, but I want you to rest for a few more days before we make love.”
So, they cuddled, kissed, and bonded together in Hayley’s childhood room for the next two weeks. Her family took care of them and soon both felt energized and healed. Ashton called his parents, and they came over to see him regularly. Victor helped Ashton with work and returned to Miami afterwards. Ashton noticed how weak Hayley actually was and refrained from any physical intimacy. Hayley didn’t mind as long as she could cuddle up with him.
They enjoyed dinner with her family every night and Ashton decided to talk to her parents finally.
“I need to get back to work next week, Uncle Chris,” said Ashton over dinner.
“Stay for another week, Ashton,” said her mom.
“Okay, if you insist. Thank you for everything, Aunt Carol. I’m feeling better already.”
“The pleasure is all mine. By the way, we’re waiting to hear what you wanted to say to us.” Ashton colored up and glanced at Hayley, who nodded at him.
“I wanted to announce our engagement, actually. It happened so fast that we couldn’t inform you. The pregnancy and Eva and Alyssa’s sudden wedding complicated things. But now that everything has settled down, I want you to bless us and help us plan the wedding at the earliest,” he said, his cheeks coloring a little more.
“How early do you want it?” asked Hayley’s dad, looking amused.
“A fortnight later?”
“Do you want the wedding here?” asked her mom.
“No, Mom. We want a beach wedding in Miami,” said Hayley, in case her mom planned something else.
“Leave everything to me. You can give me your guest list,” said Ashton, but her dad intervened.
“No, son. You can choose the venue but I will bear the expenses. It’s the wedding of my only daughter and I want it perfect. Why don’t you just relax and enjoy yourself, son? You shouldn’t take so much stress.”
Ashton gave up trying because her dad was adamant. He left it to her parents to plan a grand wedding in Miami. After a few days, they had a small family get-together to celebrate their engagement. Ashton called his parents and friends to invite them to the wedding to be held a month later. It had to be postponed after consultation with Hayley’s doctor.
“I knew the next wedding would be yours,” said Alyssa, helping herself to the delicious food.
“Even I had the inkling when he told me about Hayley,” said Aunt Jodie. “Hayley, come home to dinner tomorrow. I won’t ask Ashton because he has turned into a workaholic. It’s your responsibility to bring him home.”
“I know, Aunt Jodie. It’s because of his injury that he’s imprisoned here,” chuckled Hayley.
“Do you need help with the wedding preparations? We could go to Miami and help you,” asked Daniel Van Every.
“We’re planning to visit on the 14th. Why don’t you join us, Daniel? We could jointly do it?” said Hayley’s father.
“Who’ll look after the business, Dad?” asked Hayley with wide eyes. Surely her dad wouldn’t expect her to do it?
“The business doesn’t need looking after. It can survive without me for 15 days.”
Alexander turned to Ashton and gestured to him he needed to talk to him.
“Stay back!” he said to his friend.
“So, who’s arriving when?” asked Hayley, and they announced their plans. They planned their bridesmaid outfits and guest list and much more. Hayley was on top of the world! All her life she had waited for this day when she would plan her wedding with Ashton and now it was coming true! It was an overwhelming feeling!
Ashton watched the sparkle in her eyes with awe. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction inside to see her so happy.
“She looks so beautiful! Is she expecting?” asked his mom, Jodie Van Every, as she joined him on the terrace adjoining the dining room. With the others busy with the drinks after dinner, they watched Hayley enjoying herself with her friends.
“Yes, Mom. She is. Are you happy?” came Ashton’s spontaneous reply. It brought tears to her eyes! For years, she had brought him up like her own child, yet he had always addressed her as his aunt. It was the first time he had called her mom and she couldn’t control herself.
Ashton froze and looked at her, realizing what he had said. “Umm, I mean, Aunt Jodie.”
“Call me, Mom, please. Am I, not your mom?” she whispered through her tears. Ashton hugged her close. Yes, she had done more than her biological mother ever did for him. She was his mom!
“Yes, Mom. You are my everything!” he whispered, his eyes filling up with tears.
“What about me?” asked Daniel Van Every. “You can call me Dad, you know. Big Steve would be at peace to see you happily settled in a loving family.” Ashton gaped at his foster dad. How did he know about his real dad?
“Gambino called Daniel when we brought you home. He wanted to capture you as well, but we didn’t give you up. Then he quoted an amount in return for you. We paid him the full amount and for years, he left you alone to grow up in peace,” said his mom, and Ashton gaped at his parents. It was because of them he was alive and seeing the light of the day. Else he would have been in Gambino’s custody, just like his dad was.
He hugged Daniel Van Every with tears of gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you, Dad, for everything that you did for me.”
“It’s my pleasure, son. You could have told me he was bothering you. We could have wiped out his existence and rescued your dad long ago with the help of the Navy SEALS. ”
“Yes, Dad. I should have, but I was scared that he would harm my dad.”
“I understand. Chris told me about what you and Hayley had to go through. Why didn’t you inform me?” asked his dad, looking hurt.
“I couldn’t endanger your life knowing your condition, Dad. It’s okay. Uncle Chris and Henry, Hayley’s bodyguard, helped us.”
“That’s a relief.” His parents joined the others and Ashton felt like now had everything in life. He couldn’t have asked the Almighty for more. He looked up in the sky at the brightest star that he considered his dad looking upon him like a guiding star.
“Are you happy for me, Dad?” he asked in a whisper. The star twinkled as if answering him. Ashton smiled and went inside to seek his love, Hayley.
The next few days were quite busy for them. Alexander was going through a tough time when he got involved in a murder case. Although he hadn’t committed the crime, all evidence was against him. As such, he needed their support to prove himself innocent. They all helped him to the best of their abilities and finally succeeded in winning the case and proving him innocent. His parents accepted Alexander and Eva’s wedding and there was finally peace at home.
Ashton returned to Miami with Hayley. Their parents would join them a fortnight later to start the wedding preparations. Until then, they had a lot to catch up on. With Ashton’s injuries healed up, he couldn’t wait to resume where they had left off. It seemed ages since they had made love!