Page 155 of Forbidden

After a perfect afternoon, and dinner at The Hamptons, I ask Storm to take a walk on the beach. She has no idea of my plan, but as she turns from the sunset, next to our mansion, she finds me on my knee.

The love of my life then agrees to marry me, and we hold each other under the sunset, and forming stars.

I am beyond words, and the armor I’ve built up to survive in this world, falls to the ground.

Together, we can do this.

Together we will be unstoppable.

A week later in NYC, I ask Storm to dress up. And I tell her we are going out. I put on my best suit, and one of the recently tailored ones that arrived from Saville Row in London.

We head downtown in the Bentley, and Storm eyes me wearily.

I arranged a private appointment in a Manhattan boutique, and today, Storm and I will see the finest Cartier diamonds in the world.

Storm walks in with me, her soft hand is in mine.

She is wearing a Givenchy dress, she looks classier than anyone in Manhattan. Only I know she is panty-less.

We take our time with the spectacular wedding rings, finally agreeing on an antique style of ring. Storm glows, as we exit arm in arm, and then our eyes meet as I open my sweetheart’s door.

On the way home, I have one more surprise.

We’ve only touched on it in light discussions, and we have not fully planned it yet. It just feels right.

After pulling up to NYC’s main dog pound, I watch Storm smile wide. We enter, and we are shown around by my contact.

It is touching, and hard to not want to take every dog home, but then we find the one.

The most amazing set of eyes belong to a large black Labrador, and he looks at us as we pass.

Storm and I share a look, and we crouch together.

Something feels right, too right.

Without hesitation, we ask about the dog, and we are let inside with him. The dog’s name is Night, and Night, is a male.

Night is slim, calm, graceful, and quiet.

The uniformed staff member explains Night was found alone in the city one evening. And that he was supposedly owned by a very old couple who had both passed, together, leaving him alone.

Night is likely heartbroken, and I feel his pain as I crouch. Night keeps his distance, and he just looks at me.

He then looks back at Storm, and her hand that is held out. Reluctantly, Night smells her, and then slowly, he wags his tail. He warms to Storm, and then to me.

As Night and I look at each other, it feels like we have some kind of connection. Maybe it’s because we need some healing, and we both have to understand rejection.

All I know is, I can help him, and helping him, may help me.

As Storm crouches at my side, and with Night in the middle, the old lab relaxes, and warms. As he accepts our gentle pats, it’s as if he can tell, we’re his family now, and he will always be safe.

“Well?” I ask turning to my fiancée.

Storm nods, and she wipes a tear as I stand. She is right.

“He comes with us. And now.”

As we walkNight slowly out of the penthouse elevator door, he stops and looks around. He then looks up and into our faces, he walks around and sniffs.