Chapter 7
Nathan had a sneaky suspicion that the reason Dominique hurried off the phone was because Marnie was standing right there when he called. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he was praying this wasn’t her way of running and hiding.
Nathan was never a pushy or demanding man, but he was the type of man who always went for what he wanted. Since he had gotten so used to driving from the coast to Kingston, it was nothing for him to drive to Marnie’s home and ask that they have heart-to-heart.
Still, he wanted to give her the opportunity to call him back and say something, anything.
He had left his office space and was about to making himself something to eat when the phone ranged. His heart leaped and he hoped it was Marnie calling back. No. It was Dominique. Just as well. At least he knew he’d get the truth out of Dominique as to what was causing this sense of space between him and Marnie. Maybe she’d even assure him he’s overreacting and Marnie is crazy about him. Either way, he was more than happy to answer his phone.
“Hey, Dominique,” he answered.
“Hey. Look, sorry for cutting it so short earlier. I got the feeling that maybe you had a lot on your mind and didn’t think it was best to talk about while I was right there in Marnie’s house.”
Nathan figured as much. Now that he had her on the phone, however, he got right to the heart of the matter. “I know Marnie has a habit of getting really distant when it comes to our relationship. I have learned to…cope with it for the most part.”
Nathan chose his words carefully. He trusted Dominique but still had the common sense that close friends tend to repeat everything between each other. The last thing he wanted was anything he hadn’t said to Marnie herself to get misconstrued.
“I wanted to know what I could do to make it alright and it stay that way,” he said earnestly.
He could feel Dominique take a deep breath on the other end of the phone and exhale slowly.
“Nathan, the only thing in her way is her fear. She is truly happy, and although I can’t tell you all of what she had to say to me on the matter, I can tell you she wants things to be ok too.”
He was glad to hear these words of encouragement but still needed a more in depth answer as to the best way to get them to the place they apparently both wanted to be.
“I needed to hear that. I really did, Dominique, because I was thinking about taking a big leap to make it happen, make it right,” Nathan said.
“Oookay.”
He could tell by her tone that she had already come to some kind of conclusion, so he decided to just spill the beans and get right to the point.
“I want to ask her if she’ll move in with me, here to Ocho Rios.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. He couldn’t help but worry if that was a bit of weariness at her best friend possibly moving so far way or elation that he was wanting to take such a big step with her.
It was the latter.
Dominique let out a loud yes on the other end of the phone. “Yes! Absolutely, you should ask her! She should get away from here all the past of just being with the same men and the same problems that are stuck here!”
Nathan couldn’t help but smile at Dominique’s enthusiasm. He really had to admit Marnie was fortunate to have such a caring friend. He could even go so far as to say he envied that she had someone who cared so much. He couldn’t say that of any of his childhood friends or colleagues.
“I wanted to call her back, but I’m glad you returned my call instead,” he said. “With that said, I really want to make asking her super special and I’m not sure how.”
There was more silence, then Dominique’s quick thinking took over.
“Where was your first date?” she asked.
“It was at this wildlife preservation type park. We had a picnic at night during a classic film viewing.” How could Nathan forget? It was the night he got to kiss the most amazing person who had come into his life since he and Hilary split.
“Well,” Dominique continued. “Why don’t you set up a date there again and find a unique way to ask her? You could hide it inside a bowl or cup or something or have it written on a piece of paper in the bottom of the basket.”
Nathan thought about that suggestion for a moment, then he realized hiding the message for her to discover was a perfect idea. “You might be on to something,” he told Dominique.
She laughed and said, “That’s why I’m here.”
They ended the phone call and Nathan quickly made arrangements to be there in Kingston that weekend. He was still going to be patient and give Marnie a chance to get back in touch with him, but he knew that weekend he was finally going to make probably one of the best decisions he had made in his life in a long time. He was going to let himself fall in love fully, no matter the cost.
*****
The next day Marnie had been called away to assist with a birth a few blocks down the street from her home. It was amazing that what her ancestors had done traditionally in homes to heal the sick and bring new life into the world was now popular in mainstream society. You had couples in modern Kingston that were looking to get in touch with their ancestral roots more by enlisting healers and midwives like Marnie more and more. She was very much appreciated as it was, but the past few years her community truly made it a priority to let her know she was not only needed but also wanted.
As she knocked on the door, the father-in-law of the young wife answered.
“Marnie, love, come in,” he welcomed her.
Marnie stepped in and was instantly greeted by a living room full of smiling faces. The family was already a large one with two kids, both sets of parents and grandparents, siblings, as well as nieces and nephews all in attendance.
She smiled to the expectant and exhausted looking mother with her husband who were both squeezed into a small kiddie pool in the center of the living room.
“Looks you almost started without me,” she joked with the two of them.
Despite the obvious pain the woman was in, she let out a small laugh, which was immediately followed by a low groan, then a pained scream.
Marnie hurriedly asked a nearby a relative where a room was that she could change clothes. After being pointed to a tiny room with a curtain for a door, she was changed and back out to somehow squeeze herself into the kiddie pull with the couple.
The pregnancy was one of the fastest she had every witnessed and a huge baby boy was in the world. He had swum right out into his father’s arms, kicking all the way. When the father lifted him up out the water, Marnie took her surgical snips and cut the cord.
The young man’s mother had a towel ready and the father quickly wiped and wrapped his son up. The new mother was crying tears of joy and relief as he looked upon her newborn son. Marnie let her know there was still a bit more to do before all rejoicing and went right into assisting with the afterbirth.
After the small child was cleaned up a bit better in a separate small bath, the father returned and handed him to his mother. The infant was no longer crying but looking around curiously at all the new faces in his life. Marnie always loved this part of what she did for new parents. It was triumph after all the birth pains. The end of a new beginning, in a way.
As she looked upon the boy, nestled securely in his mother’s arms she heard the mother say to him, “I love you, Nathan.”
Months ago, that name would not have had any more meaning than the names Johnny, Daniel, Elijah, or Justin. But hearing at this moment made Marnie give a stunned glance up at the mother.
“Nathan,” whispered Marnie.
“Yes,” the young woman said. “After his great-great-grandfather.”
Marnie looked taken aback for a moment then she had the biggest smile on her face anyone had ever seen. The night before she had prayed and asked the good spirits of Creation and the All to send her a sign that she was indeed doing to right thing by finally confessing to Nathan how much she loved him. They hadn’t spoken yet, but the last thing she remembered before dozing off to sleep was begging Them to give her a sign of what she should say.
I love you, Nathan.
She was never more ready to get home after a birthing than she was right then. Except for this time it wasn’t to escape the pain of seeing someone seem to have the thing she was lacking her life but to run to the very thing that had finally arrived within it.
When she made it back home she didn’t even go straight to the shower but took her cell phone out and began dialing Nathan’s number.
It rang once. Then, twice. By the third ring, she was worried he was maybe angry about the other day and wasn’t going to answer. She was so relieved when she heard his voice on the other end.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said warmly.
“Hi.” Marnie’s voice was dreamy and slow.
She was floating on cloud nine. Never had she been so sure of love in her life and she couldn’t wait to tell Nathan how much she did indeed love him. Maybe not right this second, but she already had it set in her mind she wanted to meet him to tell him face-to-face.
“How are you?” Nathan asked.
“I’m doing a lot better. I’m glad you answered.”
“I’m glad you called back.” He chuckled.
Marnie began walking back to her bedroom, phone still up to her ear. His voice had never sounded so sweet until this day. All she wanted now was to see him. Look up in his eyes. Tell him she wanted nothing more than to be with him today, every day, and every night.
“I wanted to know what are you doing this weekend,” she said.
“Glad you asked. I had wanted to plan something really special for this weekend.”
Her face lit up when he said those words. He had already surprised her so much already she couldn’t imagine what else he could possibly come up with.
“Special? Special like what?” she teased.
Nathan wasn’t going to take the bait apparently. “I can’t say,” he laughed.
“Aww. Not even a hint?”
“One hint. It’s going to be where we had our first date.”
That didn’t really tell Marnie much, except the setting. Now her curiosity was definitely peaked. For a moment, she even considered if this was his way of considering a marriage proposal. To Marnie’s surprise, she didn’t completely freak out at the thought of being married to Nathan.
“So,” said Marnie. “Does this mean I’ll be seeing you on Friday or Saturday?”
“Saturday,” he confirmed. “And just like last time I’m going to have everything prepared beforehand. All you have to do is be as close to ready to leave by two that afternoon.”
“Hmm. Well, I’ll see what I can do,” Marnie teased. Of course she was going to be ready by two. As excited and hopeful as she was, she was liable to be ready by ten a.m., if it meant he had something special in store for her.
They gave their goodbyes, but Marnie could tell there was a lingering sense, this time, they both wanted to say more than goodbye. Deep down what they wanted to say was goodbye, and possibly even I love you. Marnie hoped this weekend would be their chance to say those words they had been holding back.