Chapter 12

With their dinner date a success, Mike had another surprise for Carrie. With the help of Jim, and Terrie, Mike set everything in motion for Carrie’s surprise.

Carrie was surprised when a horse-drawn carriage was waiting outside her apartment for her, courtesy of Mike. As Carrie was helped into the carriage by the driver, the driver took Carrie to the destination where Mike said to take her. Carrie was in awe as the driver drove the carriage around town until it reached the cabin—the place where they first met.

The cabin was decorated for a party and candles lit up the walk way. It looked quite different from their first time there. Carrie almost didn’t recognize it. The cabin looked like a magical place instead of the dilapidated cabin on their first visit.

Then Carrie saw Mike, as he stepped out into the walkway as his face glistened from the candles lighting the walk way. Mike walked over to the carriage and helped Carrie out and escorted her inside the cabin where a party was going on.

As soon as Carrie and Mike entered the building, all eyes were on them. Terrie came over to see her friend. She was happier than she ever seen her. But Terrie didn’t get to chat with Carrie because Mike had escorted her out onto the middle of the living room floor that was made into a dance floor. As the music played Carrie’s favorite song, “George Strait’s ‘I Cross My Heart’”, Carrie felt at ease in Mike’s arms as they swayed to the music.

But the night was far from over as Mike pulled from his pocket a black velvet box to bare a ring as Mike got down on bended knee to a surprised Carrie.

“Carrie, would you do me the honor and become my wife?”

As all eyes were on Carrie, waiting with baited breath for her response, Carrie gave him her reply: “Yes, I will marry you!”

Carrie extended her left hand to Mike where he placed the engagement ring on her third finger. Music played and balloons were released celebrating Mike and Carrie’s engagement.

Terrie got up in front of the crowd to make a toast: “I want to congratulate my friend here tonight. I wish her and Mike the best life has to offer. They deserve it after the everything life gave them the last few months. To Carrie and Mike!”

Glasses clinked celebrating Mike and Carrie’s night.

Chapter 13

For the next six months, Carrie was busy making wedding preparations when she wasn’t working. But with the help of her matron of honor, her best friend, Terrie, Carrie was able to pull everything off.

But the surprises kept coming for Carrie—in the form of her bachelorette party that Terrie set up. Terrie had made it so Carrie’s sister, Kayla, whom Carrie had been estranged for a while, had agreed to show up at the bachelorette party to surprise Carrie.

And sure enough, when Carrie showed up at the country club where Terrie arranged to have Carrie’s bachelorette party, Kayla was waiting to make amends with Carrie.

Meanwhile, Mike got the shock of his life when the stripper that came out of the cake at Mike’s bachelor party turned out to be an ex-girlfriend. She had been doing jobs as a stripper/waitress to make ends meet after her and Mike broke things off to make ends meet.

“Tammy?!” Mike said, surprised to see her at his bachelor party.

“Well, hello, Mike! It’s good to see you! I just didn’t think I’d see you at your bachelor party.” Tammy exclaimed.

“I never thought I’d see you doing this?!” Mike said, pointing to the cake Tammy popped out of.

“Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to make ends meet!”

“Things that bad after our breakup?”

“No, just your average run-of-the-mill bad luck.” Tammy stated, not wanting to get into everything that had gone on since they separated.

“Well, I wish it could have been under better circumstances, it is good to see you again.”

“I can’t believe you’re engaged? I remember when we were dating; you swore you’d never marry?” Tammy added.

“Well, what can I say, the right girl came along.” Mike said, unable to explain how he changed his mind since their breakup.

“Well, I wish you all the happiness you deserve.” Tammy congratulated him.

“Thank you, Tammy, I wish you the best too. I hope things get better for you.” Mike said, wishing his ex-girlfriend well before she departed the room after her “striptease.”

It was a good night, despite seeing his ex-girlfriend pop out of his bachelor party cake. It was at that moment, he knew he was making the right decision marrying Carrie.

Back at the country club where Carrie’s bachelorette party was, Carrie was making amends with her estranged sister, Kayla that Terrie had arranged to surprise Carrie.

Terrie was truly a good friend. Arranging to fly her sister to her bachelorette party and upcoming wedding and helping Mike with the engagement details…she really was blessed to have such good people in her life.

Carrie couldn’t wait for the wedding to arrive.