Jealousy (39 page)

“
Of course I remember.”

“
I remember that night, too,” Heather said.

Kenny giggled.
“I’m sorry, honey. I don’t mean to laugh.  It wasn’t funny.”

“
What happened?” Nick asked.

“
The first real conversation Justin and I had was that night trying to flip Heather over so she could get to sleep.  Poor Heather.  She was in so much pain, and she couldn’t move.  She couldn’t get comfortable no matter which way we positioned her.”

Heather smiled. 
“I think that’s the night I fell in love with Kenny.”

Kenny smiled back. 
“I think that’s the night I fell in love with Justin.  He was so kind and gentle and so worried about you.”  He looked at Justin and his eyes glazed over.  “I knew he was a very special person.  I couldn’t let him get away.”  He kissed Justin and let his lips linger.  “I love you, honey.”

After
almost five years together, he loved Justin just as much as he did when they first met.  Naturally, they had their little spats, but there was never a harsh word between them.  They were still loving and affectionate toward one another, and Kenny couldn’t imagine it any other way.  He adjusted Justin’s pillows so he was more comfortable and smoothed the sheet down.  The entire time Justin gazed back at Kenny with a small smile.

“
You guys have such a great relationship,” Nick said.

For the first time today, Kenny
really
looked at Nick.  His clothes were wrinkled and disheveled, and his hair was a mess.

“
What happened to you?” Kenny asked, with a soft laugh.

Nick shrugged. 
“I slept in a chair all night in my clothes.”

“
You mean you didn’t shower or change?”

“
No.”

“
I’m sorry, Nick, honey.  I’ve been so busy taking care of these two that I forgot all about you.  C’mon.”  He waved Nick out of the chair.  “We’ll get you a shower and some clean clothes.”

As he led Nick down the hallway, Nick suddenly stopped.

“Thanks, man,” Nick said.  “I never thought she wouldn’t let me go home to shower or change.”

“
Have you just met Heather?  She wouldn’t even let you sleep down the hall last night.  Of course, she wasn’t gonna let you leave.  She wants us all there.  The three of us.”

“
I feel so bad for her.  She’s so scared.  So am I.”  Nick paused.  “What if she rejects the kidney?  Then what?”

That
’s the one question that Kenny wouldn’t let inside his head.  He fought like a warrior and built an iron gate to keep it out. For the last 36 hours, Kenny triumphed, but one sentence from Nick sent Kenny’s defenses into unanimous surrender.  A dull pain throbbed in the center of his chest as he was forced to be realistic about the possible outcome of the surgery.  “There’s always a risk,” he said, “but Justin was an excellent match for her.”

That didn
’t surprise Kenny, and he wondered, could it have been coincidence that brought Justin and Heather into each other’s lives?  Could it be mere chance that they were inseparable and shared a bond like no other, or was it fate or some other Divine purpose?

Nick repeated his question. 
“But what if she rejects the kidney?”

Kenny hesitated, and then sighed. 
“Then we have to start all over again.”

Chapter Ninety:

Six Months Later

Heather couldn’t stop admiring herself in the mirror.  The sharp contrast of her stark black hair against the snow white wedding veil was stunning.  Her eyes shifted to the reflection of Justin and Kenny now standing behind her. They looked handsome in their tuxedos.  She looked closer at Kenny.  Was he wearing makeup?  She gasped and spun around.

“
Oh my God!  Kenny!  I don’t believe you finally wore makeup for me!”  She inspected his face with an open-mouthed smile.  He had a smidgeon of charcoal shadow on his upper lids with a small amount of eyeliner and mascara.  It made his eyes glow like two huge emeralds under his blond-sprinkled bangs.  He looked stunning.  “You’re not supposed to look more beautiful than me!”

“
No one is more beautiful than you, honey.  Now, isn’t it time for you to get dressed?”

Heather was in love with her wedding gown as soon as she saw it.  It was a strapless sheath with beaded embroidery over the bodice and around the natural waist.  The detachable modest length train was completely covered with the same beaded embroidery and attached three quarters of the
way down the back of the gown.

She stepped into the gown and
Justin zipped up the back.  She turned to face him.  “How do I look?”

He opened his mouth t
o speak, but nothing came out.

“
How do I look?” she repeated.

“
You look ravishing.”  Justin kissed her cheek lightly and took her hand.  “Are you ready to get married, sweetie?”

#

Justin didn’t prepare anything to say – that wasn’t his style.  He preferred to speak from the heart.  He felt a little intimidated standing in front of Heather’s and Nick’s guests.  He took a deep breath and let out a soft nervous giggle.

“
Most of you know how much I love Heather.”  He scanned the room full of unfamiliar faces.  There were only a few small tables filled with Heather’s friends and extended family.  The bulk of their guests were primarily made up of Nick’s large family and friends, most of which Justin never saw before.  “Actually, now that I look around, most of you probably don’t know how much I love Heather, or who I am,” he said.

“
Me and Heather have been best friends our entire lives.  We’ve been through everything together.  I don’t know what I would do without her.  When she was in an accident about five or six year ago and almost died, I almost died along with her.  I couldn’t imagine living my life without her by my side, but she recovered, and I thank God everyday for giving her a second chance.  But one good thing came out of it,” he smiled and winked at Kenny, “I met a cute boy nurse.”

A soft rumb
le of laughter filled the air.

“
So,” he continued, “when she got sick a few months ago and needed a kidney, I had no reservations whatsoever about giving her mine.  I would have given her both kidneys if she needed them.  I would do anything for her.  I would give my life for her.  That’s how much I love her.”  He gazed at Heather with love and devotion, which she silently returned with the nod of her head.

“
I always said that nothing was ever good enough for Heather, that
no one
was ever good enough, not just because she’s my best friend, but because she’s the kindest, most unselfish person that anyone will probably ever meet.  Like I said, I always thought that no one was ever good enough for Heather . . . until I met Nick.  I liked Nick instantly, but when he came to me before he asked Heather to marry him, and asked for my approval,” he turned to speak directly to Nick, “I knew you were the right guy for her.  You’re a good person, Nick.  You have a good heart, and you’re good to Heather.  You make her happy.  That’s all that matters to me – Heather’s happiness.  You’re a lucky man to share your life with her.  Don’t ever forget that.  And she’s lucky to have you for a husband.  She’s given me a lifetime of friendship and unconditional love, and I know she’ll give you the same.”

He raised his glass. 
“I love you both, and I wish you a life filled with nothing but love and happiness.”

#

The room thundered with applause and Heather ran to Justin and threw her arms around his neck.  She kissed his cheek and gave him a long teary-eyed hug.  Justin was right.  She was lucky to have Nick for a husband.  He
was
the right guy for her.  Nick completed their little family.

Nick and Kenny joined their embrace and the four of them shared a joyous hug.

The applause died down and was replaced by the musical sound of spoons being tapped against water glasses.  Justin and Kenny returned to their seats, leaving her and Nick standing alone at the center of the dais table.  The rhythmic clang of metal against glass grew louder as the guests impatiently demanded a kiss between the newly married couple.

She smiled at Nick as he cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.
“I love you, beautiful,” he whispered, before imparting a passion-filled kiss on her lips.

Chapter Ninety-One:

Heather gazed into the backyard from the kitchen window.  She re
flected on how much her life had changed in the last six years since she married Nick and counted her blessings – she was happily married, Justin and Kenny now lived in their own home directly across the street, the success of her transplant surgery, but most of all, she was blessed with the birth of her two beautiful twins four years ago.

Courtney was the adventurous one, always seeking new experiences with wide-eyed curiosity, while Joshua constantly chased after his sister, mimicking her every move.  Courtney had her father
’s sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, while Joshua inherited Heather’s olive skin and dark features.

Heather watched the twins pull Kenny around the yard on their endless hunt for ladybugs and caterpillars, while Nick manned his station at the grill.  Justin joined her at the window, and she put her arm around his waist. 
“I never get tired of watching them,” she said.

“
Remember when they were babies and we used the hold them and watch them sleep?” Justin asked.

She laughed. 
“We used to have to practically pry Joshua out of Kenny’s arms.”

“
It feels like they were just born yesterday,” Justin said, with a faraway look in his eye.  “They grow up so fast.”

They resumed watching the twins through the kitchen window.  Kenny found two dandelions in the lawn and handed each o
f them a bright yellow flower.

Courtney ran into the house to show off her prize
, her long hair flying in the air behind her.  “Uncle Justin!  Uncle Justin!  Look what Uncle Kenny gave me!”

Justin smiled with warmth and affection and squatted down to Courtney
’s level.  “It’s beautiful, sweetie, just like you.”

Joshua followed his sister,
showing off his own flower.  “Look, Mommy, Uncle Kenny gave me one, too!”

He stretched his little arm up to Heather.  She took the dandelion and brought it to her nose. 
“It smells wonderful, baby.”

As quickly as Courtney ran into the house, she ran back out, with her brother trailing after her.  She slid on the tile kitchen floor, lost
her balance and tumbled.  Heather and Justin rushed to help her, but Joshua had already picked up his sister.

“
Be careful, baby.  Did you get hurt?” Heather asked.

Courtney
’s little eyes opened wide, and her mouth bowed into a frown.  She stared off into the distance and held one knee in the palm of her small hand.  Crocodile tears welled up on her lower lids.

Joshua lifted Courtney
’s hand from her knee to examine it.  “You’re OK,” he pronounced.  “No blood.  Just a little boo-boo.”

Her lower lip quivered. 
“My flower!”  The dandelion she was so proud of hung broken in half in her tiny little fist.

“
Don’t cry, Court,” Joshua said.  “Here.  Take mine.  Uncle Kenny’ll find me another one.”

Her face perked up, and she immediately forgot about her minor accident.  She snatched the dandelion from Joshua
’s hand, and they ran outside together.

Heather smiled. 
“They remind me so much of us when we were kids.”

“
They do.”  Justin put his arm around her and they resumed their post at the window.

“
I need a new flower,” Joshua told Kenny.  “Her’s broke.”

“
Already?  Courtney, honey, what happened?”

“
I fell.”

N
ick put down his barbeque tongs and bent down next to his daughter.  “Where did you fall, princess?”

“
My knee.  But Joshua said I’m OK.”  She extended her leg for Nick to examine.

Nick enveloped h
er tiny calf in his strong hand and placed a gentle kiss on her knee.

Heather smiled from the kitchen window. 
“He’s so good with them.  I never thought I’d find someone like Nick.  I’m really lucky.”

All she ever wanted was to find someone she loved, and someone who loved her back
.  Someone who would take care of her and be there for her.  Someone who would never hurt her and never judge her.  Someone she could trust with her heart.

After the multitude of men she and Justin went through in their lives, they both deserved to find someone who loved them as much as they loved each other, and that
’s exactly what they each found in Nick and in Kenny.