Chapter 61

During the next few weeks after Keesha and Julianna had returned to Philadelphia and A.J. had made the return trip to Manhattan, plans came together to begin work on opening the Center in Philly. A.J. relayed the good news to Keesha and Julianna.

"When will you be here?" Keesha asked excitedly when they spoke on the phone one Saturday evening.

"How does Monday sound?"

"Fantastic," she said, so ready to be with him again.

He felt the exact same way.

‘You’ll stay with us," Keesha insisted.

A.J. smiled into the phone. "I’d like that. A lot."

When Keesha told Julianna the news, she beamed. She hadn’t realized how much she would miss seeing her father every day. Even though they communicated frequently, it wasn’t the same as having him with them. She knew her mother felt the same way.

The first few weeks back in Philadelphia had turned out to be an awkward time for Julianna, but her friend Shelly’s parents reconciling and vowing to give their marriage another chance helped tremendously. Julianna saw the perkiness in her best friend that had been absent, and even though she missed Michael something fierce, she was grateful to have Shelly to confide in again and to do things with at school and after school.

A.J.’s move into Keesha’s home was fairly seamless. He marveled at how well she was recovering. She and their daughter were very happy he was with them again.

One evening, after dinner had been consumed and the dishes put into the dishwater, Keesha and A.J. sat alone on the comfy sofa in the living room, night just beginning to fall. Julianna had gone to Shelly’s house to study for a test.

"You know, sweetheart," A.J. began, "we have some unfinished business."

"We do?" she asked, gingerly turning to look at him directly.

She still had to be careful how she navigated her body.

"Yes," he said, reaching for her left hand and gently rubbing her ring finger with the pads of his warm fingers.

"What is it?" she asked, a smile beginning to form on her soft lips as she watched A.J. expertly massaged her hand.

"This finger," he said, capturing it and bringing it to his lips for a kiss, "needs a ring on it. A beautiful diamond ring. Now that I’m here, let’s go shopping."

"I’d love to," Keesha said and then moved closer so he could ravish her lips instead of her finger.

A.J. gladly obliged.

*~*

That weekend, Keesha and A.J. bought her engagement ring, a three carat three-diamond gold wedding set that symbolized her past, present and future. They purchased a matching wedding band for A.J. That night, Keesha, Julianna, and A.J. went to dinner at one of Philadelphia’s finest Italian restaurants to celebrate. Keesha couldn’t stop staring at her ring; Julianna thought it was the most gorgeous piece of jewelry she had ever seen. Except for her friendship ring from Michael which she absolutely cherished and never removed.

"Have you set a date?" Julianna asked her parents.

"No," Keesha said. "We decided to wait until Dr. Williams gives me total clearance to resume all activities. I want to do this right."

A.J. reached across the table to hold his intended’s hand in his. "Soon, Keesha, we will be able to make all the plans we want. Which, by the way, brings me to something I’ve been meaning to ask you."

"What’s that?" Keesha asked.

"Have you given any thought to becoming an employee when the Center opens? We can always use great counselors, which I know you will be from your days as a social worker at GH, and with your medical background, you would be a natural in that type of environment."

"Mama, that would be awesome, wouldn’t it?"

Keesha admitted she hadn’t given it any thought but once her fiancé posed the question, she began to think it was a wonderful idea.

"I’ll think about it," she said aloud, "but I have to admit it sounds interesting. I guess I’ll see what Dr. Williams has to say when I see him."

At her next appointment, Dr. Williams gave her clearance to resume some activities but not all. Somewhat discouraged, she told A.J. the news.

"That’s all right, sweetheart. We need to follow your doctor’s orders."

"I know," she said, gazing adoringly at her engagement ring and then at A.J., "but I don’t want to wait until he says I’m okay to make any kind of plans. Let’s set a wedding date. If I’m really not close to being one hundred percent, then I’ll think about rescheduling, but I honestly want to move forward with our lives. You have been so patient…"

"Because you are most definitely worth waiting for. I love you, Keesha, and that is never going to change."

"I love you, too," she said, caressing his cheek with the palm of her hand, "and that’s why I want to move forward. Please? Do this for me?"

A.J. inched his mouth closer to hers and captured her pliant lips in a kiss that soon had them aching for each other.

"When you ask like that," he said, smiling as he held her in his arms after the kiss had ended, "how can I deny you anything?"

So after talking it over with their daughter, who was in total agreement, a wedding date was set for November 22, 2014.

"I have another request," Keesha said, her voice timid.

"What’s that?" A.J. asked, noting her sudden shyness.

"Would you be agreeable if we were to marry at the mansion?"

A.J. studied her face and her demeanor. "Is that what you really want?" he asked, needing to know the truth. "It doesn’t matter to me, Keesha, but I don’t want you to do anything you don’t feel in your heart is right. This is your wedding, darling. I want things to be the way you want them."

"This is what I want," she assured him. "You survived and thrived in your return to Port Charles. It was a triumph for you, baby. You’re on good terms with your parents. I think it would please them to have our wedding in their home, and it would make me very happy, too, because it was the dream I had when I thought we might marry when we got back together the last time. Don’t laugh at me, okay?"

"Never," he said, but there was a gleam in his twinkling hazel eyes.

"Okay, then, I won’t tell you."

"I’m sorry. Tell me, Keesha. I want to know."

"Like I said, don’t laugh, but I’ve had visions of walking down that spiral staircase and seeing you waiting for me. I’d love to be married in your family home, A.J."

A.J. nodded in understanding. "Then that is where our wedding will be. Let’s call my parents. I’m sure, like you said, they will be honored."

And they were. So the plans for a late autumn/early winter wedding began in earnest.

*~*

The day before their wedding date was A.J.’s birthday, but Keesha also received a most welcome gift. Dr. Williams said he wanted to examine her before her wedding day to make sure the excitement and the stress weren’t too much for her. He also wanted to do his best to give her full clearance.

"I have good news," he told Keesha and A.J. as they sat in his private office.

"Everything is one hundred percent normal," he said and smiled. "If you feel fine…"

"I do," Keesha assured him. "I really do. I’m taking my medication, and I’m following your instructions to the letter."

"I can see that from the test results. The news and the prognosis are excellent. I’m pleased to tell you that you may enjoy everything about your wedding day tomorrow, especially the wedding night and the honeymoon."

He winked knowingly. A.J. and Keesha shared a laugh.

"We most definitely will," the groom-to-be told him.

*~*

"This is really happening," Keesha said to A.J. when they returned home. "By this time tomorrow, you and I will be husband and wife, and we’ll be able to celebrate in the best way possible." She threw her arms around him and hugged him close. "I love you so much, darling. I can’t wait to be your wife."

"I can’t wait until we are married," he said, finally allowing his mind to think about their wedding night and how truly special it would be.

*~*

As soon as Julianna arrived home from school, the trio packed up and headed for Port Charles. They arrived early enough in the evening to have a celebratory dinner at the Grille, just the three of them, before they headed to the mansion.

After dinner had been eaten, the waiter brought a small cake that Keesha and Julianna had ordered. The waiter lit the candle and after they sang "Happy Birthday" to him, they told him to make a wish and blow out the candle.

A.J. wished for continued good health for Keesha because he knew that’s where all this had begun. He wanted his fiancée to be healthy and happy.

After Keesha cut and served the cake, she and Julianna placed their wrapped gifts on the table for A.J. to open.

"All this and gifts, too?! You two are spoiling me."

Keesha thought about it for a moment. "It’s okay," she said and gave him a saucy grin. "You’re worth it."

"Most definitely," Julianna agreed. "Daddy, do you realize this is the first birthday I’ve celebrated with you? Mama and I wanted it to be special. For you."

"I do realize that," he said, giving his daughter’s hand a loving squeeze.

He included Keesha and Julianna in his next sentence. "And believe me when I tell you this couldn’t be any more special."

Keesha gave him a knowing smile as she squeezed his hand.

"Since we are celebrating a few milestones for the first time as a family in the next few weeks," Keesha told her daughter, "your father and I have decided to postpone our honeymoon until after the new year."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Julianna asked. "Don’t you want to take a romantic trip somewhere to be alone?"

A.J. and Keesha shared a smile.

"We want nothing more than to do that, believe me," Keesha said, "but we have our first Thanksgiving next week and we have your Sweet Sixteen party to plan."

"That’s right," A.J. concurred. "We’re going to stay here next week to spend Thanksgiving with the family and to make sure the plans are on track for your party."

"You still want to have it at the PC Hotel, right?"

Julianna nodded. "You guys are the best. Thank you. But you are going to be alone on your wedding night, right?"

Her parents laughed outright as they gazed at each other.

"Oh, we are definitely going to be alone, all alone, on our wedding night," A.J. informed his daughter. "In fact, we may go into hiding for a few days to have some semblance of a honeymoon. You may not see us until Thanksgiving, but we’ll be there for the turkey…or rather the pizza. Actually, I just realized I have no idea what my parents eat on Thanksgiving. Do you think they ever actually had a turkey?"

"No," Keesha said and laughed.

At Julianna’s puzzled look, her father chuckled.

"It’s a long story, baby girl. But we will definitely fill you in when the time is right."

"Speaking of time," Keesha said, "honey, you need to open your gifts."

"Of course."

He opened Keesha’s gift first and his eyes lit up when he saw the handsome eighteen carat gold cufflinks with a diamond stud in the middle.

"Keesha, thank you so much. I will wear them with pride."

"As part of your wedding tux tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

A.J. gave her a chaste kiss in front of their daughter. "Absolutely. My tux won’t be complete until I am wearing these."

Keesha smiled her appreciation.

Reaching for his daughter’s brightly wrapped gift, A.J. opened it and was almost rendered speechless.

"A recording?" he asked, carefully removing the CD from the box. "For me?"

Julianna nodded happily. "Yes. When you and I began to get close, I started writing things in a notebook that I wanted to remember. About you. And me. Those words, thoughts, ideas--whatever you want to call them evolved into a song that I wanted to compose and sing for you. I recorded it at L&B before we left Port Charles. I hope you like it."

"Julianna, sweetheart, I guarantee you I will love it. This is something I will treasure always. Thank you so very much. I can’t wait to hear it."

"You’re welcome, Dad. I love you so much. I just want you and Mama to be happy. Ecstatically and totally happy."

A.J. and Keesha reached to hold hands.

"We’re going to do our best," Keesha assured their daughter. "You don’t need to worry about that."

A.J. opened the CD case so he could look inside. On the jacket, Julianna had written: "My Father and Me"

Composed and Sung By: Julianna Mae Ward Quartermaine

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you with all my heart. I’m proud to be your daughter. Love always and forever, Julianna.

"I’m proud to have you as my daughter," A.J. assured the young girl. "I will never forget this birthday. Thank you so much."

As they headed for the mansion, A.J. realized he couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. It was one that in the coming years he knew he would look upon with fondness. He only hoped there were many more treasured moments to come. For all three of them.

*~*

Alan and Monica greeted their son and his family with hugs and kisses as soon as they entered the mansion. They also wished him a very Happy Birthday.

"Look around," Monica said to the trio. "Make sure everything looks fine for tomorrow. We can’t wait for your wedding."

The living room had been totally rearranged to accommodate the guests and set up in a way where everyone would be able to see Keesha as she descended the stairs and headed towards her groom.

"Mama, this is going to be beautiful," Julianna said her eyes wide with excitement.

"I think you’re right. Thank you so much," she said to Alan and Monica.

"Thank you," Monica said, enveloping her soon-to-be daughter-in-law in a loving hug. "We couldn’t be happier for you and A.J. Be well, Keesha. And enjoy your life together to the fullest."

Keesha looked at A.J. "We plan to do exactly that."

After checking out the formal dining room and adjacent room to see that they had been set up to hold the reception, Keesha admitted she was tired.

"Of course," Alan said. "You and Julianna have rooms in the east wing. Make yourselves at home."

"What about me?" A.J. asked.

"You, my dearest son, will spend the night in the Gatehouse."

"You’re kidding, right?"

"No, I’m not," Alan insisted. "Unless you’d rather spend the night in the pool house or the PC Hotel. We can reserve a room for you, you know."

A.J. shook his head but had to smile. "The Gatehouse, huh? I guess that won’t be so bad."

"You are not to see your bride until the wedding," Monica informed her son.

"Okay, okay. May we have a few minutes alone before you separate us for the night?"

"Of course. We’ll show Julianna to her room."

After their daughter hugged them goodnight, she followed her grandparents up the stairs. A.J. and Keesha waited until they disappeared from their view before they spoke.

"Well, I guess this means we are definitely waiting until our wedding night to be together," A.J. said, holding her hands in his.

"I could sneak into the Gatehouse," Keesha said and gave him a wicked grin.

"You’d better not," A.J. scolded. "I’m sure my parents will have guards on watch or traps set."

Keesha laughed and then her expression turned serious. "I can’t wait to be with you again, darling."

"I can’t either. This is going to be the longest night of my life!"

Keesha nodded. "I think you’re right."

"I love you so much," A.J. said, framing her face with his hands. "Sometimes, I still can’t believe this is actually happening."

"I know," she said, her voice soft and sultry as she leaned in closer. "I feel the same way. But we are going to be married, A.J. In front of all of our friends and family. It’s going to be wonderful and absolutely perfect."

"I agree," he said and then silenced any further words with a kiss that sent them both reeling.

"I—I’d better say goodnight," Keesha said when the fiery union of their lips and tongues finally ended. "I don’t want your parents to have to send you to the hotel. It’s bad enough you’re going to be so far away from the main house."

"But this will be the last time," he assured his bride-to-be, "that we will ever be apart. I plan to make damn sure of that."

Keesha smiled and caressed his cheeks with the palms of her hands. "I like the sound of that, Mr. Quartermaine. Oh yes, I do."

"I love you."

"I love you, too. Goodnight, my love."

A.J. watched as Keesha ascended the stairs and realized in mere hours, she would be walking down those same stairs, ready to become his wife. What a glorious day that will be.

*~*

In no hurry to go to the Gatehouse because he knew sleep would elude him, A.J. lingered in the living room, taking a moment to reflect on his life. He could recall, with vivid clarity, so many conversations and arguments and tender moments that had taken place in this particular room.

As he thought about the guests, mostly residents of Port Charles but friends and employees, too, who would be occupying the chairs set up for the wedding, he realized he had done all right for himself and that being able to spend the rest of his life with Keesha and being in his daughter’s life were the two things he would always treasure, regardless of anything else the future may hold. He had the family he had always dreamed of and no one could take that away from him. No one.

"May we come in?"

He turned at the sound of his mother’s voice and nodded. Alan spoke first.

"We just wanted to tell you how proud we are of you, A.J., and how happy we are that you and Keesha are getting married. Julianna gets lovelier each time we see her. We realize how long it’s taken you to get here and how much hard work you had to do."

"Getting to this moment has taken my whole life," A.J. told them honestly. "But I couldn’t be happier. I’m grateful you’re happy for me. I know that hasn’t always been the case."

"You’ve made the right choice, my darling son," Monica told him. "And you have done this the right way."

"For the first time in my life, right?"

When A.J. would have gone on the defensive, his father stopped him.

"All that matters is that you are happy. We’ve all made mistakes, son. But you have come a long way. We finally recognize and accept that."

"Thank you," A.J. said, inclining his head towards both parents. "That means a lot to me."

Alan and Monica looked at each other and smiled.

"We have something for you," she said. "I guess you could call it a combination birthday/wedding present."

Alan handed the neatly wrapped box to his son.

"Thank you," A.J. said, unwrapping the paper and then removing the lid.

He pulled back the tissue and saw a silver-plated 8x10 photo frame. He lifted it and held it in his hand.

"It’s beautiful. Thank you very much."

"We know there will be a special wedding photo of you and your lovely bride that you’ll want to have framed," his mother said and smiled.

"And placed on that desk of yours in Philadelphia when your newest Center opens," Alan added. "We’re so proud of you, son."

A.J. set down the box and the frame and hugged first his mother and then his father.

"I love you," he told them both.

The words were simple, but he had never meant them more than he did at that moment. He knew his parents felt the same way.

*~*

Still wide awake, Keesha heard the soft knock on her door and told whoever it was to enter. She was not surprised to see her daughter.

"You can’t sleep either," she said to Julianna, and then patted her mattress for her to take a seat.

"I think I can, but I just wanted to talk with you. Alone. Before the wedding."

"Of course. What’s on your mind?"

"You. I know you know this, but I just really needed to tell you how much I love you and how happy I am for you. And Daddy. There was a time when I would have never wanted to see this happen, and now, I can’t imagine the two of you not being together. It’s just so weird."

Keesha smiled and clasped her daughter’s hand in hers. "It’s not weird, sweetheart. It’s life. It’s the journey we end up taking, whether we planned it or not. You’ve had a lot of that in your young life, and you’ll experience more as you go on."

"You’ve been so good to me, Mama. You’re the absolute best. I couldn’t ask for a better mother. I love you so much. I’m glad you and Dad found each other again. I can see how happy you make him. He loves you so much, Mama. I didn’t think that was possible."

"We’ve fallen in love again. And this has been the most joyous time of my life. I love your father with everything I am, baby girl, and I am sooo ready to share the rest of my life with him. I can’t wait to say ‘I do’."

"You are going to be the most beautiful bride ever. I can’t wait to see you descend that staircase. And I’ve never seen Dad in a tux. This is all going to be so unforgettable."

"I agree," Keesha said, her eyes shining. "What about you? You must be excited to see Michael again?"

Julianna’s eyes automatically traveled to her ring. "Yes, Mama. I can’t wait to see him. I hope you and Daddy won’t be upset with us, but we plan to dance to every song. Just the two of us."

Keesha laughed. "That sounds nice, sweetheart, but the reality is, you will dance with other people, your father and grandfather for instance. And Justus. And maybe Michael will want to dance with me."

"So those are more of the plans you were talking about, huh?" she asked and then smiled. "Okay. I guess we won’t be together for every dance."

"Just enjoy yourself, my darling daughter. The rest will take care of itself."

Mother and daughter shared a loving embrace.

"Get some sleep, Mama. I love you so much."

"I love you, too. I’ll see you in the morning. You get some sleep, too."

As Keesha turned out the light, she realized this would be the last night she would be sleeping alone in her bed. Beginning tomorrow night, she would have her husband’s loving arms around her to keep her safe and warm. That comforting thought finally allowed her to drift off into a dreamless sleep.