Is This Love That I'm Feelin'

"Hey! Aren't you Valerie Wolff? I just started working at the
hospital today and they mentioned in my orientation that we
would be working together. Name's Asa Kang."

"Yeah, I'm Valerie, but if you don't mind, I'm really not in the
to socialize tonight. Maybe some other time."

"Well, sure. I just thought maybe we could get to know each
other a bit. I'm new in town and the lady in HR said you would
probably be willing to show me around. She did say that you
had just lost your parents though, so, yeah. I understand if you'd
rather not, but...maybe a movie and dinner would be a good
distraction?"

Valerie stood there in the foyer of the library thinking to herself.
OK. He's cute. And friendly. And we're going to be working
together so it isn't like I never have to see him again, so I should
probably at least try to be nice. And the movie that's showing
is one that I have been wanting to see. We appear to have at 
least one thing in common--not that a relationship is anything I
would be interested in right now...." 

"I'm glad you agreed to go out tonight, Val. I've been wanting to
see this one, too. Romantic comedies always leave me with a
smile on my face..." and wishing I could find a girl like the one
in the movie.

The movie was hilarious, and sweet, and they laughed until their
sides ached. They had dinner at Hogan's after and then headed
to the art museum. The two seemed to have a LOT in
common--same taste in movies, love art and music and
books, same career and family goals--its really like they were
made for each other. Hooking up with Mr. Right was NOT
what Valerie had planned when she went to the library. She
was shocked as how quickly things were moving, and with how
comfortable she felt with him. It wasn't like this with Kendall
at all--they had things in common, but with Asa it felt like magic. 

Asa even shocked himself a little when he proposed. It was a
fluke that he had that ring with him. He had found it in a box of
 important items that he carried with him from college--things he
couldn't afford to have lost in the shuffle between med school
and his new job.The ring had belonged to his mother and his
 grandmother before her. He was going to give it to his bride one
 day, but this morning he had stuck the ring in his pocket
knowing as he did it that it was a strange thing to do. He
knew now as he got down on one knee that he was rushing
things, but he also knew she was the one.

 

For days now, Valerie had felt like she was outside of herself
 lookingdown on the events of her life. She had gone into
shock when her mom died, and the mess with Kendall was
still very fresh. She had really hurt him, she knew that,
and she felt terrible about it. And then her dad dying...nothing
was going right.

Until now.

They had just met a few short hours ago, but as she looked
at him, and that ring...she just knew that THIS was what her
mom had wanted for her. This crazy, thing she was feeling--that
she hadn't felt with Kendall--it must be love. Either love, or
Hogan's had served spoiled meat for dinner!

 

Valerie was suddenly very aware that she was IN her body, that
this was all very real and was definitely happening to her. As
she threw her arms around this man she barely knew, she felt
at peace for the first time in days.

 

"So, Asa...how soon do you think we should have the
ceremony? What kind of wedding do you want to have. I
had always thought my mom would be helping me make these
decisions, but now...what do you think."

"Soon...as soon as possible I think. Something simple, maybe
outside near the shore. There must be someplace with a great
view of the bay where we could have a small ceremony."

 

"That's exactly what I was thinking! And I know just the place,
but how 'soon' do you want to do this?" Valerie wanted to
make sure they were really on the same page. It felt so soon to
be getting married after her parents passing and breaking up
with Kendall, but she wanted to start their life
together immediately.

 

"Today wouldn't be soon enough for me. I've been looking for
you my whole life. I know it sounds crazy, but even as a kid I
was looking for my mate. Now that I've found you I want our
forever to start NOW--not later!"

Valerie couldn't believe her ears.



Asa felt a bit intimidated as he walked through the door and into
Wolff Manor. The house was spacious and airy, and the view
was magnificent, but that wasn't the scary part. The place
was FULL of people! Maybe they were just extended family
that had come into town for the funerals? Surely they didn't all
BELONG here!

Valerie led Asa through the house to a spot behind the house.
It was surrounded by hydrangeas and pansies, and the best
view of the bay he had seen yet.

"Would you mind getting married here...near my parents'
graves? I always thought my dad would give me away, and
that they would both be looking on, smiling through their
tears as they watched me get married. Now I'm going to
be smiling through my tears missing them being there, but
this would be the closest I could get to actually having them
with me."

"Valerie, I think this would be a perfect place to get married.
But, I don't want you to do this now if you're going to be too sad
to enjoy the day. We can wait until your heart ache eases and
then there won't be anything but joy as we say our vows."

"I read in a book once that 'What's right to be done can not be
done too quick.' Let's do it today--I don't want to wait. Starting
my life with you is exactly what I need to do to start healing
my heart. Should I make the call and invite the rest
of the family?"

With the phone calls made and her brothers and sisters working
on the food and setting up the chairs and music, Valerie
 went off to look for something to wear. Settling on a
 style was the easy part, but the fabric and accessories
were a little more difficult.

She finally settled for white satin with silver beading, and bare
arms. The clunky bracelets and heavy gloves were just too
much for such a simple gown.

She really wanted a special look for her hair, but this style just
wasn't cutting it.

It took a high-tech styling gadget and quite a bit of gel, but she
finally managed to get her hair up into this French twist. She
felt like a princess, and decided this was the look she was after.

Outside the guests were already arriving. Blaise, her sister
Annada's husband, arrived straight from work. They got the call
in time for him to take his tux with him that morning, so he was
able to change before leaving work.

Her oldest brother, Quillin had threatened to stay home, thinking
a wedding on the eve of their parents' death in poor taste.
Cassi insisted that he had to come, and told him that
Valerie needed his support on this day. Besides, Cassi didn't
think that sleeping on the couch for a month would do much
for his grief.

Opie sported a casual look with a shirt in his favorite color.
Kala loves pink, too, so they should look amazing together!



Davy Linnell showed up looking rather nice, but everyone was
surprised that he was still a teen. He had been a school mate
of Kala and Quillin, but no one had seen him around for some
time.



Rumor has it he just didn't want to take the plunge into young
adulthood alone, because just before the ceremony started
he jumped into the pool and began aging before the splash
was gone.

When he surfaced he had left his teen years behind and was
now able to enjoy all of the privileges of young adulthood.

When it was time, Valerie joined everyone in the spot they
had chosen for the ceremony. None of the attenders were
surprised to find Jamie Jolina sobbing over Thornton's grave.
That she had long been in love with the reluctant patriarch was
common knowledge around town, but he had made it clear to
her that he would forever remain true to his vows. Most of
the town believed it was his money that she was most in
love with, and her musings when she thought herself to
be alone were quite telling.

Once Henry changed into his tux it was time to begin the
ceremony. Richelle wasn't able to come until later because
of her job, and no one knew where Kala was, but thought
the ceremony could begin without her.

"With this ring..."

"...I thee wed."

May I present Drs. Asa and Valerie Kang

"Mom, Dad, you're not the only ones that missed the baby
girl's ceremony. Oh! That ridiculous cabby!"

"That's OK, K. At least you made it for the good stuff. Looks
like little sister caught herself a winner!"

"Why are you crying, Henry? It was a beautiful ceremony."

"Well, Davy, I'm not sure if it's because my baby sister just
married a guy she only met yesterday, because my mom and my
dad both passed away less than two days ago, or because you
are standing here at my sister's wedding in that awful
suit! Take your pick."

As the ceremony drew to a close, everyone became acutely
aware of the members of the family that were missing from
the party. Grief swept through the group turning what
should have been a moment of joy into one of sorrow.
Congratulations flowed freely, and so did the tears.

Inside, the bride and groom enjoyed their first meal together as
husband and wife.

 




Quillin spent the afternoon at the party doing what he always
does at a party.



When Richelle finally arrived she looked lovely in her lavender
 pin-stripped suit.

Quillin's son, Reese, told the newlyweds about a fight that
happened at school that day. Asa got a kick out of it, and
cheered as if he were one of the kids on the playground.

Kala's daughter, Mavis, is going to be as lovely as her mother.

She tried to give Asa a crash course on how everyone at the
party was related, but he was having a difficult time
following. There were just so many of them!

She finally gave up and headed outside to do her homework.
When she said she was going to sit by her grandpa so he
could help her like he always does...well...everyone started
crying all over again.

When Valerie when out to check on her niece, she was shocked
to discover that grandpa was indeed helping her with her
homework.

This time Valerie actually got to introduce the man she loves to
her father.