Mark shouldered one bag and packed the other by the handle and headed through the terminal. Janine would be waiting for him near the entrance and he began scouring those standing around, some holding signs with the name of their parties. Janine wouldn’t be holding a sign.
His eyes passed absently over the bystanders as he searched for that one familiar face. Where was she—
Mark faltered when his stare was suddenly grabbed by a hand-written sign and the name scrawled across the front.
Pooh Bear.
His feet rooted to the floor, halting him dead in his tracks. He swallowed hard and blinked.I’m imagining it.But the sign remained as he stood and stared. His heart pounded as he tentatively looked up at the person holding the sign and was captured by a pair of sky-blue eyes that for almost a decade he had only seen in his dreams.
I’m asleep on the plane. This isn’t really happening.
His knees weakened, and it took every ounce of strength not to crumble right there on the floor and cry because he wanted so bad for it to be real.Please don’t do this to me, God…don’t make me dream this, please.
The blue eyes held him, refusing to let go.
Mark trembled.Jeff.His heart broke apart inside him and tears filled his eyes. He was too afraid to believe, too scared of the pain that would tear through him when it proved to be an illusion, a fantasy of his weary mind and aching heart.
Jeff came forward, his steps slow and uncertain, the sign gripped in his hands. He paused in front of Mark, dampness in his eyes and—fear.
Mark lowered his stare to Jeff’s left hand.No ring.But the wedding wasn’t for two days yet. Mark swallowed, his voice barely audible as he managed two words. “The…wedding?”
Jeff stared back at him, his blue eyes shimmering. “There’s no wedding.” He looked at Mark with deep longing and anguished remorse. “Not until I can marry the one I truly love.”
Trembling, Mark whispered, “Who is that?”
“Don’t you know?”
“When you love someone,” Mark said thickly, “you’re not ashamed for people to know. Youwantthem to know.”
Jeff let the sign fall to the floor and stepped closer. He touched Mark’s face, combed his fingers through his hair—and kissed him in front of everyone. “I loveyou,Pooh Bear,” he trembled against his lips. “And I am not ashamed.”
This isn’t a dream.
The bag slipped off Mark’s shoulder and hit the floor along with the other piece of luggage. His chin trembled, and he didn’t fight the tears as he embraced hismiracleand held on for dear life.
