July 22, 2026
It was a hot, lazy day in late July. The kind of day made for doing nothing. For once nothing exciting was happening in Salem. Most of the people in town were bored. Joseph Kiriakis and Celeste Donna Carver were no exception. They were sprawled across the love seat in the house they shared. They held hands, but it was too hot to do much more than that. "Joe?" CD's voice was soft.
"Yeah?" He sat up to look at her.
"Are we going to do anything today?"
"What do you mean sweetheart?"
"Just that."
Joe thought for a minute. "Do you want to do something?" He ventured.
"Well, yeah." CD said.
"Anything special in mind?"
"No." She said glumly. "Any ideas?"
He shocked her by rolling off the couch and going on one knee before her. "Yes actually."
"What is it?" Her heart pounded.
Joe took a deep breath. "CD, we've known each other for long time now. I love you and I think you love me. Will you marry me?"
"YES!" She said. Her voice squeaked. "You know I will."
Joe took another deep breath and grinned. "Thank God. I don't know what I would've done if you had said no."
"Hey," CD caressed his cheek softly. "I love you. I want to be with you for the rest of our lives. And I am so happy you want me to be your wife."
Joe kissed her passionately. He released her and took her hand. He held it gently as he warned, "Your father won't forgive you for this. If we thought he was angry before this the fat's really gonna be in the fire now."
"I know Joe." She said, a frown crossing her face. "But he hasn't talked to me in four years. I've accepted that he probably never will." But the trembling of her lip showed otherwise.
"I know baby. I just want to be sure you're sure." He was still on his knees.
"I'm sure. I can't tell you how long I've wanted this."
Joe smiled. "When should we make the wedding?"
"Today." She said decisively.
"TODAY?" Joe asked. "I don't think we can call everyone in our respective families to get together for a wedding today. Not to mention your dress, my tux, flowers, a reception hall, rings�" Joe was getting worked up.
"Joe, I don't want a big family wedding." CD interrupted. "For just this once let's do something wild and crazy and unexpected and frivolous and unnecessary and shocking."
Joe realized what she meant. "You want to ELOPE?" He asked, shocked.
"We'll only invite one or two people. That way, later on, I can pretend that if we had a big family wedding my dad would've come."
"You really think he would refuse to come to our wedding because our your fight with him?"
"Yes." CD said. "But I can't be sure and I'm going to cling to the uncertainty." She added.
"Okay, so we'll elope." Joe nodded his understanding. "I'll call your sister to get her over here to help plan this thing."
"All right!" CD was grinning. "This is going to be so much fun!" She exclaimed.
Joe laughed. "Fun, sure." He stood up. "Oh, wait, I forgot your ring." He exclaimed.
"I'm getting a ring?" She grinned. "I'd almost say you were planning to propose."
"Who says I wasn't?" He winked.
Her jaw dropped.
From underneath a cabinet he pulled a small black ring box. He handed it to her, saying, "If you don't like it we can return it or exchange it."
"Hush, I'm sure I'll love it." She said honestly. She opened the box and gasped. Inside, couched in velvet a ring made of platinum with a diamond glittering proudly at the top sat. On each side of the large diamond was another smaller diamond. "Joe, it's perfect!" She exclaimed.
"You really think so?" Joe was pleased. "I picked it out myself."
CD met his eyes. "Thank you." She stared at the ring. "Will you put it on for me?"
"Of course." He smiled back. He took the ring out of the box with his right hand. His left hand held hers. He slipped the ring onto the third finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly.
"Joe, it fits! How did you know?"
"I measured how far apart the keys on the keyboard you made are. I made an educated guess."
CD stared at him, then started to laugh. "Only you would guess my ring size from a computer."
Joe joined in ruefully. "I wanted to surprise you. And it would be a little unusual for me to say, 'Hi sweetheart, by the way, what size ring do you wear?,' don't you think?"
CD nodded. "I can picture it now."
"Picture what now?" Asked a new voice from the doorway.
"Nothing much, Joe and I were only clowning around. Why are you here Frannie?" CD asked, disturbed by her sister's appearance for some reason. "Joe didn't even call you yet."
"I just had a feeling." Frannie answered. "What's up?" She plopped down next to her sister.
Joe squeezed her hand and murmured, "I'll be back," into her ear.
"SO?" Frannie asked again.
CD didn't meet Franceska's eyes for fear of laughing. "How would you feel about going to a wedding today?"
"A wedding? Sounds cool. Anyone I know?" Frannie was honestly disappointed. She had expected something a lot bigger than an invite to tag along with her big sister and sister's boyfriend.
"Yes, you know them." CD couldn't stop the merriment in her eyes. "How would you feel about being my maid of honor?" She whipped out her hand with the engagement ring on it. "Joe and I are engaged!"
"ENGAGED?" Frannie squealed. "How long? Why didn't you tell me sooner? And what do you mean today?" She emphasized 'today.'
"One question at a time." CD giggled. "He asked me today. We're going to elope."
"ELOPE? That's so romantic!" Franceska grinned. "And here I thought you were acting like an old married couple already! What do you need me to do?"
Joe returned. "I've divided the list of everything we need to do into four smaller lists. Frannie, you and CD need to find a dress and a chapel. Then go to this spa," He handed CD a piece of paper, "For a full day of pampering and beauty. I told them it's your wedding day so you might get something special."
CD stood up to hug Joe. "Love you." She whispered.
"Love you too." He leaned in for a kiss.
Francesca interrupted with a simple, "What are you doing?"
"I'm getting a license, a tux, and planning our honeymoon."
"Ooh." Franceska cooed. "A honeymoon. Where are you going?"
"That's for me to know and you to wonder." He said smugly.
"Vic's coming over to help me. He said he'll get the flowers."
"Do you trust his taste?" CD asked a bit nervously.
"No. That's why I've written out everything he needs to get on this list." Joe held up another piece of paper.
"Sounds like you're in good shape. Come on CD, let's go." Franceska grabbed her sister's hand and dragged her out of the house. "We have some SHOPPING to do."
A chapel outside of Salem, Eight O'clock that night
"Relax, man." Vic laughed as his brother retied his tie for the fourth time in ten minutes. "What are you so nervous about? You're marrying a great girl."
"I know." Joe fretted. "But what if I am too old for her? What if her father was right, a mixed race couple can't make it? What if-,"
"What if nothing." Vic said firmly. "You love her and she loves you. End of story."
"But-,"
"NO buts." Vic insisted. "Stop worrying."
Joe laughed a little, harshly. "That's like telling me not to breathe."
"Actually I think you need to breathe more than you are." Vic teased. Joe glared at him. "Seriously man." Vic said. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Huh?"
"Nothing's wrong. That's the problem. This is SALEM. Every time you think nothing is wrong everything blows up in your face."
Vic sighed. "What do you have that can blow up in your face? You're not involved with another woman, you're not stealing money from the business, you love her and you've always been true to her."
"But I'm so much older."
"It doesn't seem to bother CD." Vic pointed out. "The family thinks she's a doll. Everyone loves her. This is the smartest decision you've made in a long time."
"I know." Joe said calmly, relaxing. "Do you have the ring?" He panicked again.
"Right here." Vic patted his pocket. "Time to get out there."
"I'm glad you could come." Joe said sincerely.
"I wouldn't miss my brother's wedding for the world." Vic said sincerely.
Joe took his place at the altar.
Vic escorted Francesca down the aisle. They each took a place on one side of Joe. The wedding march began. Celeste Donna Carver began to walk down the aisle. The second he saw her, all doubts vanished from Joe's mind. He absolutely couldn't wait another second. He ran down the aisle and grabbed CD in a hug. He kissed her.
Frannie looked at the ground, trying not to laugh. The priest looked at them with amusement. Vic just shook his head.
CD and Joe resumed their place at the altar before the priest. "May I just say that I rarely have the opportunity to perform this ceremony for two people who are as obviously in love as you two are." The priest said.
"Thank you." CD blushed.
Joe smiled. They linked hands. The ceremony went smoothly, with an unknown gentleman videotaping the ceremony. At the end, after Joe and CD had left for their honeymoon, with Vic, Frannie, and the church staff throwing rice at them Vic and Frannie exchanged high fives.
"I thought they'd never get married." Vic admitted.
"I'm happy for them." Frannie smiled.
"I'll take this tape home and make copies. I assume your parents will want one." Vic said.
Frannie's smile faded. "My dad will probably be pretty upset actually."
"I'm sorry." Vic said sincerely.
"How long are they going to let this stupid thing go on?" Frannie asked. "My dad loves CD, and she loves him. So why can't they just say so?" She demanded.
"People are complicated." Vic said knowingly. "But I bet it's just a matter of time."
"I hope they're happy." Frannie said sincerely.
"Who?" Vic asked. "Your dad and CD?"
"No silly." Frannie laughed. "Joe and CD."
"You don't have a thing to worry about." Vic said. "As long as they have each other I bet they will be."
"You know what? For once I think you're right." Frannie agreed.
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