Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

were involved. When Jonathan, Ryan, and Matt showed up so they could walk through their parts as groomsmen, Zach breathed a sigh of relief. But where was Juan, Jonathan's boyfriend? He put the thought to the back of his mind until after rehearsal, when he would have more time to talk to him.
    Ann, on the other hand, seemed completely distracted and kept missing her cues.
    The service was to be a simple one, but she kept getting confused on the slightest things. Yerza, who was stepping in as her Best Man because Leslie had dropped out, kept trying to talk to her. But while she was physically present, her mind was elsewhere.
    Finally, Zach asked for a break and pulled Ann outside for an "air break" since she had quit smoking and no longer needed "smoke breaks"
    "Ok, what is going on?" he asked, bluntly and pushing back his anger. Ann looked away, into the park across the street.
    "Nothing," she mumbled.
    "I'm calling bullshit on that one. Ann . . . " he said, waiting for her to look at him.
    She didn't.
    "Ann, please look at me," he said, trying to keep the tears at bay. She glanced at him and looked away quickly.
    "Ann, do you want to marry me? I mean, really? Because the last few days, you could have been in Alaska and been closer. And a lot warmer." He remarked, trying to smile.
    "Of course, Zach. I love you with all my heart. But—" She stopped herself.
    "But what? You've got to tell me." As he wiped one tear away.
    "Well, there are some things you need to know . . . "And with that she started telling him everything that had happened with Leslie and Naomi and all the things that had been said.
    Zach, sat down and listened to everything Ann said, not only her retelling of Naomi's and Leslie's words, but how they had affected her.
    When he finally opened his mouth, the only thing he could think to say was "I am so sorry, darling." And with that Ann knew that she was right to tell him everything and knew more than ever that she was ready to marry him.
    "So, do I need to answer any of the charges brought against me? " He asked, with complete sincerity.
    "Do you want to?" She returned the question.
    "Ann, you know me, and you know my heart. I want everything and anything for you that you want for yourself, and so much more. I have never and will never hold you back from your dreams. I will always push you into them."
    "I know that."
    "I accept you as you are, and the only time I will ever change you is if you ask me to. I will help you honor yourself, love yourself, and become whoever you want to be. Always."
    "You. With the poetry." She giggled.
    Zach smiled. "So, let's do this."
    Ann nodded and started inside.
    Ryan was waiting inside the door to the church. "Zach, hey man, you may want to head to the hospital."
    Zach looked confused.
    Ryan ushered him down one of the rows and sat him down. Ann sat beside him, gripping his shoulder.
    "Apparently Juan and Dean were on their way here, and they were hit by a car. The hospital wouldn't give Jonathan much, but luckily, he and Juan's parents are on good terms, so they called him. Both of them are in the ICU. Dad was already at the hospital, following up with some patients, so have him paged when you get there.
    CHAPTER 12 : Around the clock, and back at Twelve
    The tears had been fairly steady for the last few days for Zach. In less than 12 hours, he was set to get married. And while that idea held great joy for him, he could not enjoy those thoughts because two of his "chosen family" lay in hospital beds on the razor edge of death. He had not asked and didn't want to know what injuries went where. He knew what he needed to know, that things were very fragile right now.
    He sat holding Dean's hand for an hour and then went to Juan's bedside and did the same. It was the only thing that he could do right now. He couldn't enter the church, knowing how he felt about God right now. And deep inside, he knew that it wasn't His fault, but Zach's anger was close to consuming him.
    ****
    Jonathan looked at Juan, and realized that he could lose the love of his life and all he could think was, I should be wearing black, instead of this tuxedo. He blamed himself for being impatient and leaving without Juan. Please baby, come back to me, he thought, laying his head next to Juan's.
    "You never did explain to me how the two of you hooked up," Ian said as he entered the doorway of the room.
    "Get out." Jonathan said angrily, grabbing a tissue to blow his nose.
    "I heard through the