CHAPTER 12
Alistair
I’ve got everything ready and waiting for her…except myself.
You can prepare inanimate objects like the chairs you’ll sit in, the clothes you’ll wear, and the books on your shelf. But it doesn’t mean you’ll be ready for this.
I’ve prepared as best as I can, but there’s no telling how she’ll react when I tell her all the things I want to say.
I wanted to talk to her today, but there was just too much going on. Too much preparing her for how her life’s going to change.
But there’s an even bigger plan I have in store for the both of us.
I steady my hand on the arm of the chair and just as I do I see her grace my presence in the doorway.
I instinctively rise from my seat and walk over to meet her.
I’m trying my best not to look her up and down, but it’s so, so hard. She looks absolutely stunning. The tailor did a fantastic job putting together her dress, especially considering he basically had no notice and no measurements to work with.
Then again she’d look incredible in a potato sack. She’s that beautiful to me.
I can’t take my eyes off her, nor would I want to as I approach.
“Thanks for joining me,” I say.
“Thanks for having me.”
“My pleasure.” I extend my hand towards the two chairs and she takes a step forward. My hand instinctively reaches for the small of her back.
Just as I make contact I feel her wobble.
“Oh!” she says.
I catch her as she starts to fall. It’s the second time today and I’m really getting used to this whole hero business.
Whenever she even starts to fall I want to be there for her. Whenever she needs me I want to be there for her. Even when she thinks everything is perfect I want to be there in the background, coming up with ways to make her life even better. She deserves it.
She turns back and looks at me and then smiles.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Are the heels okay? We can get you new ones.”
“They’re perfect. It’s just that I don’t really have any experience walking in something so elegant. I’m more of a tennis shoes kind of girl.”
“Easier to chase the dogs around the yard, right?”
“Exactly!”
Once her balance is steady again I extend my arm. She wraps her arm around mine and I carefully escort her to our chairs.
“I’m glad we can finally have a moment to catch our breaths after everything that’s happened today,” I say.
“Me too. I feel like we haven’t even had a proper introduction, everything is moving so fast.”
“It has. I hope it hasn’t been too fast though.”
“Not at all. I feel really comfortable around you. I mean…in some ways.”
“In some ways?” I say as I pour two cups of tea.
She exhales hard and then smiles really wide.
“You know…we just sat down. We should probably enjoy our tea first.”
First? What is she thinking? Does she have something to say that’s bigger than what I have planned? Something that might lead me to reconsider?
Never.
It’s impossible.
I’m going to say what I have to say tonight no matter what. I have to get it off my chest, even if she thinks it’s foolish.
I don’t care anymore, but first I’ll be a gentleman. I’ll let us relax and come down from the high-strung day.
That and I’ll be a good listener first.
Before she listens to the surprise I have planned for her.