25. There Are No Endings
Colin and Olivia walked hand in hand through the cemetery, with Zero as their only security lurking in the background, staying behind in the unmarked SUV, parked behind Colin”s dusky blue vehicle. Olivia looked up at him with a slight smile and squeezed his arm as they made their way to the bench that Colin had erected in his parent”s honor.
They approached his parents” gravesite and Colin took the blanket he had tucked under his arm and spread it out before the bench and the statues of his parents’ likeness.
”Careful,” he said as he helped Olivia down onto the blanket, thankful for once she wasn”t wearing the heels that liked to test his patience.
”Thanks love,” she said, putting down the picnic basket she”d been carrying and opening it as Colin settled next to her. She carefully took out the heated bowl of paella she”d packed and the wine bottle and wine glasses, giving him a spoon. She kept the bundle she”d wrapped and hid amongst the basket carefully tucked away, replacing the lid and pushing it to the side.
She held up her wine glass. ”Let”s toast!” She stated, clinking their glasses together and blushing as Colin looked at her with an expression akin to reverence. They sipped their wine and she watched as he took a spoon and dug it into the seafood and rice.
”So, what”s next for us, love? What grand adventure awaits you and me do you think?” Colin asked, looking across the bowl they were sharing. His eyebrow arched and he gave her a teasing grin as she took the shell of a seafood muscle and sucked on it.
”Well, school starts back up in another month. And other than that…I guess we just have to see where life takes us.” She looked over at the faces of his parents, seeing they were wrapped around each other and staring at the sunset in the distance, getting ready to go down.
That”s a beautiful sentiment.She thought, feeling her heart tug.
”Hmm-hmm….the house should be done within the next couple of years. That was a big project baby.” Colin teased, leaning forward and lowering his voice, he motioned for her to come closer. Olivia leaned in on a giggle, realizing he didn”t want his parents to hear.
Silly man, she thought, hiding a grin.
”The final cost ended up being about twenty-one million dollars, and you know what it did to me when I got the invoice, don”t you?”
Olivia let out a hilarious giggle and put another bite of rice into her mouth, chewing slowly. Her eyes sparkled as she regarded him through her lashes. ”Oh noo…tell me. I can only imagine, knowing you.”
”Good think you”ve got a great imagination then, huh?”
Smirking at his words, she took out her phone and texted Zero.
Now. Just like we talked about. -Olivia
”Oh, it”s time for another page three adventure sweetheart. As soon as we get home.” Colin leaned in further and took her earlobe between his teeth on another growl.
”Ohhh sir. I don”t know if tonight”s going to work. I think we”ve got plans.” Olivia said with a small pout on her face.
Colin pulled back with an arched eyebrow. ”What? What plans?” He frowned, trying to remember if he missed something.
Olivia reached forward into the basket and pulled out the bundle she”d stowed away and handed it to him, trying to hurry.
Colin frowned again, putting down his spoon and taking it from her. His eyes flickered to hers as he began to tear the tissue paper open slowly.
Hurry up slow poke!Olivia silently urged him to go faster. Her eyes scanned the horizon for Zero.
”Oh baby.” Colin”s eyes widened as he breathed the endearment out slowly as the leather bound collar with a simple heart charm fell into his hand. His eyes fell to her neck and there was a brief pause as she realized he misinterpreted the gift. Her own breath froze in her lungs as they locked eyes for a second, and she almost forgot why she even gave it to him until a big black and white mass slammed itself into Colin”s front, knocking him backwards.
Olivia raised to her knees, clapping and cheering as the Dalmatian puppy pounced all over Colin, who was sputtering and squirming on the ground, trying to get his bearings.
”Olivia! Woman, help me!”
Olivia laughed and whistled. Getting the dog”s attention, she scooped some of the rice into a small bowl and giggled as the puppy came over, wagging her tail excitedly. Her entire body was shaking. Colin sat up, thrusting a hand through his hair as he looked rather bewildered at the dog then at Olivia before a huge smile graced his face.
”You got us a dog?”Colin said incredulously, rising up to his knees and shuffling next to her. He reached forward and petted her. ”She”s beautiful. What should we name her?”
”Well, I was thinking we could name her Ginger…she didn”t come with a name. She”s an orphan, just like us,” Olivia said, looking up at him. ”I love you, husband,” she whispered, touching his cheek, ”my other half.”
Colin”s eyes watered as he stared down at her. Feeling a lump swell in his throat.
”God, I love you. Are you as complete as I am, amor?” He choked out, leaning forward to press his lips to hers. Olivia wrapped her arms around him and squeezed, letting him know without words that she was. Finally.
And for a moment, their souls lit up brightly, finally connected.
Knowing this was only the beginning of their love story.