Chapter Forty-Four
I’m woken to the sound of my phone going off, but it's not an alarm. It’s a phone call. My stomach sinks. Unknown Caller. Barnsdall, Oklahoma. The phone ringing wakes Gavin up as well. We both sit up, and I reach for the phone. “Hello?” I ask, trying to shake the sleep from my voice.
“Hello, good morning. Is this Juniper Monroe?”
I start to stutter before I speak. “Yes, this is she. How may I help you?”
“Mrs. Monroe, this is Deputy Beau Donnelly with the Osage County Sheriff's Office.” I can feel Gavin's body tense beside me. “Ma’am, are you free to talk?”
“I am.”
“I am very sorry to inform you that, around 5 AM this morning, your husband, Reece Declen Monroe, was found deceased at his last known work location.”
My eyes bug out of my head as I turn and look at Gavin. “I’m sorry, sir, but my husband and I recently split and haven't seen each other in over a month. Are you sure it is him?”
“Yes, ma’am, we had to run a DNA sample due to the state he was in.”
“DNA? Sir, I don’t understand. Do you have a cause of death?”
“Your husband was brutally murdered last evening.”
My breath hitches. I take a dramatic pause like any shocked wife would. “ M-murdered?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do have to ask. I know you were separated, and I saw the hospital reports, the evidence of abuse, but you are the legal next of kin. Will you be claiming and making arrangements for Mr. Monroe?”
“No, sir, I will not be claiming him. The only other family member he has is Richard Monroe. He goes by Ricky. He should be your next call.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Detective Nolan Pierce and I are working hard to solve this case. There was significant DNA at the scene, and we plan to arrest a person of interest soon.”
I try not to react. But I’m freaking out.
Gavin. Reece was found too soon. “Thank you, sir. Have a good day.” I hang up, and my eyes fill with tears, and they land on Gavin.
What is going to happen?… Did he clean up enough of the DNA?
My body starts to shake. “Grav… Gavin, they have DNA. What the fuck are we going to do?”
His large hand cups my cheek, steering my eyes to meet his. “Shhh, Любовь. It’s going to be okay.”
“How can you fucking say that, Gavin? If they actually have DNA… you're going to go to prison.”
“Then that means I’m going to Prison, Juni.
It was more than worth it. You’re safe now, Любовь.
” He leans down and captures my lips. This feels final, like an ending.
We were just getting started. We almost had what we both had been dreaming of.
“Любовь,” his eyes are telling me so much more than he’s saying.
“What is it, Gavin?” Concern clouded my voice.
“Marry me.” He says as the emotions settle in.
“Gavin… this isn’t how this was supposed to happen.”
“I know, Любовь. I don’t have much time to make this right.”
Standing up, he walks over to his dresser, pulling out a black satin box I haven’t seen before.
Crossing the small distance, he gets down on one knee in front of me.
His smile breaks across his face, his eyes becoming glassy.
“I’ve been holding on to this ring for so long, I felt like a fool for keeping it.
I got it before Isaiah’s death. My whole plan was to propose on the night of graduation.
But because I was so scared of the unknown, I pushed you away.
I can’t go to prison without you being truly mine.
And they are coming for me.” He lets out a hard breath.
“Juniper Lilith, please, fucking marry me.”
He opens the box he’s been holding. Tears start rolling down my face. A beautiful silver three-stone princess cut sits in white satin. The band is lined with small, encrusted diamonds. It’s beautiful. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Gavin.”
Embracing each other, we take everything in. “The last thing I want is to give you another courthouse wedding, but it’s the best I can do, right now. I promise you will get the wedding you have always dreamed of someday.”
“We are going to need witnesses. I’ll call Peyton, and you call Brenden?”
“Yeah, good idea.”
Picking my phone back up. I call Peyton. She answers on the second ring. “Peyton? Where are you right now?”
“Are you okay, Juni? What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Nothing bad happened, Peyton. This is a good thing.”
“What’s a good thing, woman? Spit it out!”
“I need you to meet me at the courthouse.”
“Uhhh… what are we doing at the courthouse, Juni? Can you just tell me what the fuck is going on?!”
“Long story short, I need you as my witness… again. They found Reece. Hinted that they have found the murder suspect. And Gavin and I decided we need to get married.”
“Married! Juni, that’s a huge step, don’t you think?”
“This is nothing like before, Peyton. I have been in love with this man since we were eighteen years old. He actually gave me the ring he was holding on to since then. This is meant to be. I need you to support me on this.”
“You deserve this and so much more, Juni. Of course I’ll be there. I’ll see you soon. Wear that black sundress with the leg slit. You’ll drive that man wild.”
“Great minds think alike,” I laugh. “Already planning on that. I was not going to wear white anyway.”
Hanging up with Peyton, I go and pick out the black sundress.
Gavin stops me dead as he stands there talking with Brenden on the phone.
He’s in a long-sleeve black button-up with the sleeves rolled just below his elbows.
Black fitted dress pants and black dress shoes.
How is it even possible to look like heaven and sin at the same time?
“Brenden is also going to meet us there,” he says
“Perfect, let me get changed and we can go.” I go with Peyton’s recommendation.
Grabbing the dress, I go into the bathroom and plug in the curling iron. Waiting for it to heat up, changing into the dress, and putting on makeup.
My curls look perfect. Once I’m satisfied, I set out into our bedroom. Gavin’s eyes drag slowly down my frame. “ Jesus Christ, Любовь,” he all but growls. “You are so fucking stunning”.
His long legs close the distance in seconds. Cupping both sides of my jaw with his hands, he takes a deep breath, inhaling my lavender scent. Leaning down, he captures my lips, and the kiss starts to grow heavy.
“Gavin, we have to go. We will have time for that later.” Groaning, he lays his head on my shoulder.
“Rationally, you are right, I know this. But fuckkkk, I wish we had time to be wrong.”
Walking out of the bedroom, we make our way downstairs. Charlie was following us, not far behind.
“I kind of have an idea.”
“What’s that Любовь?”
“Can we ride your bike to the courthouse?”
“Yeah, just be careful with the exhaust. With you wearing a dress, you could get burned.”
Feeling giddy, we make our way out to the garage.
Gavin throws his leg over the seat and settles.
Disengaging the kickstand, he sets the bike up fully.
Stepping next to him, I place my hand on his shoulder and wait for him to nod his head.
I then throw my leg over the seat and lean against the backrest.
He starts the engine, and it rumbles beneath us. Opening the garage door, he turns his head, saying that he was ready. I nod my head, giving him the go-ahead. Placing my hands on his hips, I sit back and enjoy the ride.
Once we are out of the development, he picks up speed toward the courthouse.
“Enternly yours” by Motionless In White starts playing through the speakers, taking in the lyrics, I lay my cheek on his shoulder blades. He reaches for my knee, squeezes it, then rubs my thigh.
It doesn’t take long before we pull into the parking lot. This feels like déjà vu. But it’s not. This is so different. I’m not signing a death sentence this time.
We spot Peyton and Brenden by their cars. They look to be arguing heatedly. But they stop as soon as we pull up by them. Tapping my knee, I take that signal to get off, swing my leg off the bike, and land on my tiptoes. Gavin cuts the engine as he effortlessly backs the bike into the spot.
My eyes meet Peyton's. I can tell that whatever they were arguing about, she’s in some kind of state of being upset.
“Are you ready, twinkle toes?” Brenden slams his hand down on Gavin’s shoulder, shaking him excitedly. “You really can be a handsome bastard when you dress up.”
“Are you guys ready? Let’s get inside.”
Grabbing Gavin’s hand, we walk side by side. I can’t believe this is finally happening. Wherever we may end up, at least he will be my husband.
Stepping into the building, we both walk up to the reception desk and check in.
We all sit down and calmly wait to be called back.
“Gavin Petrov and Juniper Monroe”
We all stand and head in the direction of the officiant.
The room is small and clean. Almost lifeless.
“Please state the full legal names of the occupants getting married, please.”
“Gavin Demitri Petrov,” he says gruffly.
“Juniper Lilith Monroe,” I say, feeling relieved that I’ll no longer need to use that name.
“You are here today to be joined in marriage under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. Marriage is a legal union entered into voluntarily by two individuals who choose to commit their lives to one another.” Pause “Do you both enter into this marriage of your own free will?”
“Yes,” we both answer at the same time.
“Please face each other and take one another’s hands.”
“Repeat after me. I, Gavin Dimitri Petrov, take you, Juniper Lilith Monroe, as my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health. To love and to cherish, till death do us part”.
Gavin repeats, his accent thickening with each word.
The officiant turns to me. “Repeat after me. I, Juniper Lilith Monroe, take you, Gavin Demitri Petrov, as my lawfully wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness or in health. To love and to cherish, till death do us part.” Emotions clog my voice, but I make it through. “Do you have rings?”