Chapter Eight

Shortly after her birthday it was time for her to graduate. 

Joshua - Happy Graduation sweetheart.

Lydni - Aww, Joshua. I am so lucky.

Joshua - Not as lucky as I am.

Marry-Ella started talking to one of the other graduate's. His name is Newton and it turns out he lives next door.

~**~

The time flew by it before they new it it was Katherine's birthday.

Her aunt and namesake held her as she blow out her candles.

She was surrounded in sparkles and a moment later was standing there, a beautiful young girl.
Joshua walked over to her.
Joshua - Happy birthday baby girl.
Katherine - Thank you Daddy.
Joshua - Hey, you know what?
Katherine - What?
Joshua - I think I want to do something special just us. How about I take you to dinner, just the two of us, this weekend.
Katherine - Okay!

Marry-Ella -  I think that's a great idea.
Newton - Hey Marry-Ella.
Marry-Ella - Newton, I'm glad you came. I thought you didn't like children.
Newton - Eh, I don't really care for kids but,a, your little girl is alright, I guess.
Knowing they were next door to each other they had become friends and hung out a few times since graduation.
Newton - Hey, can I talk to you a minute, alone.
Marry-Ella - Yea, I guess.

Newton - So, um , Marry-Ella, we've known each other for a while now and I like you a lot and, um... will you,um...
She laughs, waiting for him to get his words out.
Newton - I'm sorry, I'm not normally this nervous.
Marry-Ella - I know.

He inhaled deeply then took both of her hands in his.
Newton - Will you go out with me?
Marry-Ella - Yes.
Newton - Yes?
Marry-Ella - Mhmm. Yes, I'll go out with you Newton.
Newton - Tomorrow night?
Marry-Ella - Okay.

At the same time Joshua was talking to Lyndi about taking her out the next night as well.
Lyndi - What are we going to do, where are we going.
Joshua - It's a surprise.
Lyndi - What should I wear?
Joshua -  What should you wear?
Lyndi - Well yea, I don't wanna wear jeans and a T-shirt and to go to some nice restaurant, or a fancy dress  to go to a club or something. So I need to know what we're doing so I know what to wear.
Joshua - I wanna surprise you, just a, wear something... special.

Lyndi - Emmie will you help me get ready for my date with Joshua?
Marry-Ella -  Where are you going?
Lydni - It's a surprise, he just told me to wear something special.
Marry-Ella - Special huh?

Lyndi - Yea, so will you help me?
Marry-Ella - Maybe, if you help me get ready for my date with Newton.
Lyndi - Deal.

Joshua - You look amazing.

Lyndi - It's not to much, is it?

Joshua - No, it's perfect. You're perfect.

Lyndi - Joshua...

Joshua - I mean it , you are. I love you Lyndi.

Lyndi - I love you too. 

They seemed have the bistro patio to themselves as they ate a romantic candle lit dinner under the stars and talked. 

Lyndi - I'm glad you like the dress, Emmie helped pick it out and helped me get ready.

Joshua -  Oh?

Lyndi - Yea, we helped each other actually. She's out with Newton.

Joshua - Newton? From next door?

Lyndi - Mhmm.

Lyndi - I've had a wonderful time.
He chuckled lightheartedly.
Joshua - The night's not over yet love.
Lyndi - It's not?
Joshua - No.

Joshua - Walk with me.
Hand in hand he led her across the road, down the steps, to the waterfront.

Lyndi -  Oh wow.You can see most of the town from here. I never really realized how beautiful it is.

Joshua - Almost as beautiful as you. 

Joshua - Now, I know you don't like using your full name but in this case it doesn't seem right not to.
Lyndi - Wha...

Lyndi -  What are you doing?!?
Joshua - Lyndela Elise Harlow...

Lyndi -  Oh My God!
Joshua - Lyndela Elise Harlow, you are my world, I love you more then anyone I have ever known....

Lyndi - Oh My God!!

Joshua - I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Joshua - Will you marry me?
Lyndi - Yes, yes Joshua yes.

Lyndi - Oh my god, Yes, I'll marry you.

Lyndi - Oh my god.

Marry-Ella - Lyndi! You're home. I had a great time with Newton, he's so sweet and... and we'll talk about me later, how was your date?

Lyndi - Well...
She was so happy, smiling and laughing, she could barely talk and raised her hand for Marry-Ella to see the ring.
Lyndi - HE PROPOSED!!

Marry-Ella - Oh my god, Lydni. Congratulations 

Marry-Ella - I'm so happy for you, for both of you.

Joshua - Are you excited to be starting school?
Katherine - Yea, I can't wait. I'm surprised they took me so late into the year, its already late fall.
Joshua - What do you mean?
Katherine - Mom said that when you were little cause your birthday was after the start of the school year so you had to wait until the next year.
Joshua - She told you about that huh? Yea well luckily Twinbrook isn't as strict as North Crest, where your mom and I grew up.

Joshua - I wanted to talk to you about something.
Katherine - Mmm?
Joshua - It's about me and Lyndi.
Katherine - You're not braking up are you?!?
Joshua - No, no.
Katherine - Good. 
Joshua - Haha,Quite the opposite actually.
Katherine - The opposite? What's the opposite?
Joshua - I've asked her to marry me.

Katherine - Really?
Joshua - Yes, really. 
Katherine - Are you going to have a big fancy wedding , wish pretty dresses and lots of flowers and stuff?
Joshua - I'll leave the planning to Lyndi, but I'm sure she'll let you help.

Katherine - Can we go home now?
Joshua - Okay sweetie.

Katherine - I'm tired Daddy.

Joshua - Okay princess, lets get you home. It's starting to rain.

They climbed into the car,before driving her turned to check on her.
Joshua - Seat belt.
Katherine -  Right.

She buckled herself in and he began the drive home.

The rain was making it hard to see and he had to keep his eyes on the road. While her father wasn't looking Katherine removed her seat belt to lay down, falling asleep. The rain was getting heavier and a fog raising the farther they drove causing low viability. Another car, coming from the other way, started to veer from the other lane, Joshua barely saw them in time, it didn't have it's headlights on, and swerved to avoid a crash but the road was slick and wet from the rain and he lost control spiraling across the road.

The engine burst into flames as the car hit the tree. Joshua hear Katherine's scream as she was flung forward out of the car before losing consciousnesses as his head slammed against the wheel, knocking him out.

Chapter Seven

Marry-Ella's pov

 Sorry it's been awhile since you heard from me. Katherine's gotten so big, she'll be in school in another couple years,man time flies. So Joshua and I aren't together anymore. I broke up with him this time, don't feel bad for him though.

He's with someone else now, they're way better together then he and I ever were and I'm very happy for them both. Okay, you're probably a little confused , so lets go back over what you've missed the last few years and how we got here.

I was starting to feel more and more distant from Joshua. Normally I would go to Lyndi when I need someone to talk to but I couldn't find her so I ended up telling Alice.

Alice - Okay,close your eyes.
Marry-Ella - Why?
Alice -Trust me. Now close your eyes.
Marry-Ella - Okay.
Alice - Now, imagine this, you're standing there, in a white dress, your wedding day. .Hey, keep you're eyes closed! Now, you look back towards Mel, Lyndi and me, your brides maids, we smile, then  you lower your head and take a deep breath. Eyes closed!  Lifting your head you smile and look into the eyes of your groom.... Is it Joshua?
Marry-Ella - No...
Alice - Okay, open your eyes. You and Joshua have been together for years, you have a child together, and yet you can't see yourself marrying him? What's that tell you?
Marry-Ella - The same thing I already knew, that we're growing apart.
Alice - It says that you have no future. That the relationship is going nowhere. 

Alice - You need to talk to him.
Marry - Hmm. Thank's Ali, I'm glad I talked to you.
Alice - No prop, you should come to me more often. Don't get me wrong , Lyndi's a great friend and good to turn to in a crisis, but she'll tell you what you want to hear. I'm the one who will tell you what you need to hear.

So I talked to Joshua, he was upset at first but eventually after I calmed him down he agreed that we'd been growing apart and we needed to end things and not drag it out until we both end up hurt and can't even be around each other. Katherine needs us to be able to be friends.

I was just sitting around a few months later when Lyndi plopped down next to me saying she wanted to talk to me about something.

Marry-Ella - Kay, whats up?

Lyndi - Well um,... it's about Joshua.

Marry-Ella - What is it?
Lyndi - I think, I kinda,maybe...

Lyndi - I like him.
Marry-Ella - Oh.
Lyndi - And I wanted to talk to you before I said anything to him , which I won't even do if you have a problem with it, cause you're my best friend and you two have a history and you have a child together and I just wouldn't want it to make you uncomfortable. Are you mad?

Marry-Ella - Mad? No. I'm glad you talked to me first but I have no problem if you want to be with Joshua.

Lyndi - Really?
Marry-Ella -  Yeah, go for it. 

She decided to wait until her birthday before doing anything.

Then she went over to him.

He throw a glace at me clearly wondering the same thing she was when we talked, am I okay with this. I nodded.