Love At Last

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“Cayden!” I exclaimed happily and hugged him briefly. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, Lily. How have you been?” he stressed the ‘you’.

“Been good!” “Helloooo….,” I lowered my head a bit and smiled at the little boy he held in his hand, Your son?” I raised my head to ask Cayden.

“Yes! Hey there lil one,” he greeted Jacek.

“Hi uncle Cayden!” he responded cheerfully.

“You remember me! You’re now a big boy, huh?” he ruffled through his hair jovially.

“What’s his name?”

“Aiden.”

“Hey Aiden!” I called out playfully. “And his mum?”

“We’re co-parenting now Lily with no stress. No one’s fussing.”

“You didn’t get married to her?”

“Nah I didn’t get married, I chose to stay single and tend to my son.”

“Interesting. What about your work?”

“I own my own company now and I’m doing pretty well, away from the cameras now, Lily. I finally have my peace and quiet.”

“Wow!” I exclaimed. “That’s interesting, Cayden! I’m happy for you,” I cheered.

“Thank you so much. And by the way Lily, you’re all over my TV and the internet at large. You’re now a top hit, you know that?” I smiled.

“It’s not been easy at all Cayden. Trust me , it’s not. After I moved to California, it took a while for me to even settle down before even starting up my business again. The struggle was real. After resuming my business over there, I tried new methods to make myself grow and I was fortunate enough to meet with important people in the society which played a part in getting me where I am today,” I narrated.

“Why did you leave Nedford?”

“I needed space to breathe. I needed a break from everything and everyone and I’m glad I did. Jarod now manages my shop over there. Right now, I’m so living to the fullest!” I said with so much excitement.

“It was worth it, Lily.”

“Definitely!”

“I am so happy for you, Lily! Honestly, I am glad you were able to overcome the numerous hurdles that came your way and became this big in just two years!”

“I’m happy for me too!”

Meeting Cayden was the most exciting part of the whole event. We sat together and talked, catching on old times while laughing and giggling happily.

It’s day thirty-one of going out with Cayden. The competition lasted for about three weeks, the extra one week I remained in the city was with Cayden as we continuously went on dates – to the park, restaurants, ice-cream parlors and sometimes to the zoo with both our kids – rekindling our old flame gradually. In no time, we were head over heels for each other again as we never fell out of love in the first place. Cayden made my stay in New York very memorable and enjoyable.

It was 7:30pm and Cayden had come to pick me up from the hotel I lodged for a dinner date that night. He had his personal driver convey us as we both sat in the back seat and talked.

“Whoa! Lily you really are something else now,” he was swiping through his phone.

“What’s that?”

“Here you go.” He gave me his phone to see for myself.

I looked at the screen and saw an article with a title that read: ‘Hotshot baker – Best female baker in the whole of California – in a steamy romance with Mr. X. Who is the lucky fellow?’ with a picture of me and a faceless figure tagged ‘X’. “When was this released?”

“That and many other articles on our relationship with me as Mr. ‘X’ is already taking the top spot in hit searches on the internet now. You indeed are a celebrity now!” he was beaming glamorously. “I can’t believe I’m in my car with the best female baker in the whole of California,” he teased.

“Oh please,” I blushed.

In no time, we arrived at the venue for the dinner date.

On getting inside, the whole room was quite dark with the only source of illumination from the diamond glitters on my dress, jewelry and heels. “Cayden?” I called out to Cayden who walked in behind me moments ago and got no reply.

“Cayden!” I looked around for him but couldn’t see anything as the room was very dark. Just when I was about to panic, light shone on the stage. I thought he was taking me to a restaurant.

On the lit up stage was Cayden. When did he get up there? “Cayden what’s going on right now?” in a quite perplexed state, I walked up to him on the stage. “What’s going on right now?” I asked again on getting to where he stood.

“Lily”

“Yes?”

“We’ve been together for so long right?”

“Yes we have, Cayden.”

“We’ve also been through some ordeals together, right?” he asked. Trust me, I was dead ass confused on what the setting was all about.

“Of course!” I still went with the flow.

“I love you Lily,” he took both my hands.

“I love you more, Cayden. Now what’s going on here?”

He let down my left hand and knelt down slowly on his right knee. I now knew what was going on! Putting his right hand in his suit, he brought out a diamond ring and posed me the million dollar question: “Will you walk down the aisle with me and be called Mrs. Cayden McLou?”

Overwhelmed with joy, I almost teared up. Without even thinking twice I agreed. “Yes, Cayden! Yes!”

He slid the ring down my finger and in that moment, the whole room was lit! From all entrances leading into the hall all around, people came in. Reporters were also present from different media outlet to take pictures.

Amidst the cameras shuttering, clapping and ‘congratulations!’, Cayden and I shared a long passionate kiss. I couldn’t believe my eyes, I teared up and hugged him tightly.

“I love you Lily,” he whispered into my ears, pecking my neck continuously.

“I love you more, Cayden,” I shed tears of intense joy, jeopardizing my makeup.

In no time what seemed like Cayden’s acquaintances and my fans walked up to us, giving us congratulatory messages, gifts and flowers. “We love you miss Lily!” a voice cried out from the crowd. I was grinning ear to ear. What I saw next filled me with overwhelming joy; Jacek walked out from behind the stage with flowers in one hand, while holding Aiden in the other as Eliana followed behind them both.

“Congratulations nummy,” he gave me the flowers, causing the tears to flow more. I knelt down to his height and hugged him with affection. Of course Aiden wasn’t left out. I turned to him and hugged him too, planting pecks on their cheeks.

“Congratulations, Lily,” Eliana congratulated.

“Thank you so much,” I wiped my face gently and bugged her.

“Congratulations!” the crowd kept cheering repeatedly.

*SIX MONTHS LATER*

It’s my wedding day! Of course I had nana flown to New York weeks to my wedding.

Currently, I was in my hotel room together with the girls who handled my makeup; I was already dressed in white! I literally glowed like an angel as I sat in front of the mirror and couldn’t help stare in admiration at what a beauty I was.

Nana walked in and the makeup artists excused us.

“Oh…my…God!” she exclaimed.

“Nana!” I called out and stood up to hug her.

“Lily you look ravishing, beautiful, gorgeous, pulchritudinous,” she complimented and had me saying ‘thank you’ with each compliment she gave.

“Nana you’re looking good yourself, you know? This dress makes you look under-16,” I teased, then we both laughed.

“Someone’s here to see you, Lily,” her facial expression changed a little.

“Who?”

“Come in!” She cried out and my dad walked in. I was too excited to lash out on him so I just held my horses and condoned his presence.

“Lily you look beautiful,” he complimented, walking to me as I looked away to tell him I was still very much upset. “I’m just coming from Cayden’s room…,” he called my attention abruptly, “I didn’t go to cause any trouble Lily. I just went there to say sorry to him for not being a good boss to him. And I’ve come to apologize to you,” he took my hands and held them in his. “I am sorry Lily, I really am and I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive I and your mom who couldn’t make it here today. I really am sorry. Please forgive me,” he apologized with so much warmth and feeling, wearing a ‘sorry’ look.

Like I said earlier, I was too excited for it was my big day, to stay angry at him. I was spurred to tears by his heartfelt apology and immediately ran into his embrace. “I’m sorry,” he repeated multiple times.

Locking hands with my dad, I was presented to my groom. In no time, we walked down the aisle – we were pronounced ‘man and wife’, ‘Mr. And Mrs. Cayden McLou’.

It was indeed a happy occasion. I had Jarod and a few of my staffs and of course so many dedicated fans from allover come celebrate my big day with me! The happiness I felt that day was immeasurable and boundless; it’s safe to say that was the happiest day of my entire life!

Two days later, the entire family gathered at the airport to bid us – I and Cayden – farewell . We were on our way to Germany for our honeymoon.

“I’ll miss you so much Nana,” I hugged her passionately, not wanting to say goodbye. “Go well my child.”

“Sweetheart,” I turned to Jacek who looked pretty sad to see me go. I knelt before him and said: “I’ll be back soon for you, okay?” he nodded and we both shared a long hug.

After hugging and saying our goodbyes, we left the scene to board the plane as the flight was only in a few minutes time. It was a touching and painful ‘goodbye’ experience and I felt really sad leaving them behind but all the same, I was going to be with my one true love and spend the rest of my life with him !