Ten
Chelsea
“Hey babe, I need my clothes. Your clothes are comfortable and all, but I’m not leaving the house in a baggy t-shirt and sweats.”
“Why do you need to leave the house?” He questions from the shower I just hopped out of. I’m in the middle of wrapping my hair up on top of my head when I stop and give him the side eye.
He laughs as if what he said was the funniest thing in the world. “Kidding Angel face. I have your clothes in the bed of my truck.”
“Say that last part again.”
He peeks his head through the opening of the walk-in shower and repeats it. “I have your clothes in my truck.”
“When the hell did you get my clothes? I’ve been by your side for the past three days.”
“I packed your room at Spanky’s while you were with Darla making pies. You didn’t need any of your things since then, so I forgot to mention it. I didn’t even think about it until you said something just now.”
“You packed my room up? Like you went through my things?”
“Actually, Emersen went through your things and helped me pack. I mostly loaded it all into the back of the truck.”
Harrison finishes his shower while I stand there pissed that he didn’t even ask. The more I think the madder I become. Those are my things, things that I worked my ass off to get over the last few months. He didn’t have any right to do what he did.
I walk out of the bathroom and grab a t-shirt to slip on over my naked body. I walk into the kitchen and snag the keys to his truck. Stupid big truck. When I walk into the garage the lights turn on automatically, and I see not one truck, but two. The second is smaller, more like normal sized, and is a pearly white. It’s a beautiful truck that looks brand spanking new. What does he need…
“It’s yours.” He says from behind me. “You know you needed a vehicle baby. Please don’t be mad. I just wanted to make sure you were safe when I couldn’t be there to protect you. Are you mad?”
“You bought me a truck?”
He grins and excitedly grabs the keys from my hand and unlocks the truck, correction, my truck. I open the door and get into the driver’s side, and Harrison sits in the passenger seat. He gives me a run through of all the kick-ass features it has, and I can’t help but be excited. I’ve never had a vehicle before.
“When did you buy this?” I ask, interrupting his speech on using my Bluetooth while driving.
“Hmmm? Oh, about a month ago.”
“You were barely talking to me then. I mean sure, you were always there, always watching, but this is crazy Harrison.”
“It was too hard to talk to you. It was torture not being able to bring you home and claim you, but I knew I had to give you time to heal. Which gave me time to get things ready for our life together.”
“Thank you, Harrison. There are so many things I’m thankful to you for, but most of all, thank you for loving me.”
He leans over and places a kiss on my forehead. “As much as I want to spend the rest of the day loving on your body, we have things to do that cannot wait.”
I smile, happy and free for the first time. “Like what?”
“We need to move your stuff into the house. Then we need to go grocery shopping. Go start getting ready and I’ll bring your stuff up to our room. We can put it away and then go for a drive in your truck.”
I move fast wanting to take my new wheels for a spin. My life is getting started, and it feels as if I’m along for the ride. I could get used to this kind of life. When Harrison comes in with the last box, I stare at the contents of my life. It all fits into four boxes and a duffel bag. Is this really all that I have to my name? These are my only worldly possessions?
For a minute I’m sad, but then I remember that I have a fiancé who loves me, a best friend who is happily engaged, and friends to take the place of the family I never had. My life has become fuller in the past few months than it ever has been. So many, many things to thank this beautiful man for. My things may only take up a few boxes, but I’ve gained peace, independence, and family. Who could ask for more?
∞∞∞
Later that afternoon
“I thought we were going to the grocery store,” I ask after Harrison turns right instead of left like he needs to.
“We are.”
“Which one?” I probe.
“Will you just be patient.” He laughs, and the butterflies in my stomach flutter around. I can be patient, for him, I can do just about anything.
When he pulls into the parking lot of our towns only jewelry store I can only hope that we’re here for what I think we are. I nibble on my bottom lip, trying to keep my excitement at bay.
“You ready Angel?”
I nod and wait for him to get me. When he comes around to the side and opens my door, he stops me from getting out. He places his hands on my thighs and looks me in the eyes.
“Chelsea, since the day I met you, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. I spent the last few months making sure that when you were ready, I was able to give you everything you deserve. I picked the house for us to raise our family in and I found a vehicle that’s safe for you and our children. I did this while you were healing. I did this to prepare for our life together. I want you to choose this part. If it were up to me, I’d tattoo my name all over your body so no one would have any doubt as to who you belong.”
“I’m sure you do.” I giggle and wipe my tears away. This man keeps giving, and I hope he knows it’s more than enough.
He helps me down, and we walk into the store hand in hand, facing our journey together. It takes me all of fifteen minutes to find the ring that feels like us. I chose a platinum band with a 1.5-carat princess cut diamond. It’s bold and straightforward, just like our love.