Chapter five:
The next few days were more of the same, except for when he surprised me with a picnic for two down by the lake. On his five acres was this pristine clear and calm lake that was easily the best spot on his land to go to contemplate things. He had made me close my eyes and I had to be careful not to stumble over my own feet. He guided me with a gentle hand and then he pushed on my shoulders to indicate that he wanted me to sit down.
“You can open your eyes now.” We had been getting to know each other. Kissing was part of that ritual. It was good that first time, but it had gotten better with trial by error. We learned to predict what the other one wanted without having to say anything.
I saw the red and black checker blanket and the basket that was closed. I stared at it, but he was not taking the bait. He didn’t allow me to see what kind of goodies he had supplied for this picnic. He did pull a bottle of wine from around his back with two glasses in the other hand. He tried to pop the cork, but it didn’t look like it was going to budge. He shrugged his shoulders and then bit into it with his teeth, squeezing it out, until it was far enough that he was able to pop it clean.
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, but I must’ve been a very good girl in a past life.” He poured me some of that wine. I took one sip and found myself wanting more. “That has some interesting overtones. Is it my imagination, or is there some kind of fruity element mixed in with the alcoholic content?” The one thing that my husband Duncan and I had done on various occasions was to sample the local wine. Most were foul and not fit for consumption, but there were a few that tickled my palate.
“I make my own. That does have a peach taste and I’m glad that you like it. I’m thinking about selling it at the market and seeing what kind of demand I get from it. I would like you to help me.” He opened the basket. There was fried chicken and a creamy potato salad that made my mother’s nothing to compare it to. He fed me a drumstick and on the end of the bone was a ring. I almost choked on the white meat, before he presented me with that ring and placed it on my finger.
“I don’t know what to say. This is all, so very sudden, but maybe you know something that I don’t.” I let him slip the ring on my finger.
“I was going to wait for a few more days, but this romantic setting is perfect. I always carry it with me waiting for the right time. I’ve known from the moment that I met you that there was something special about you. You may not know this, but every day with you here has been a blessing. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I need you in my life.” He waited for me to say that one word.
“Oh my god… Yes… I will marry you.” It had only been a few days, but it fell right. I had this feeling that Duncan was looking down and wishing me well. It wasn’t the same kind of love that I had with Duncan. It was very strong and not something that I could just walk away from. “I want you to know that I never thought that this was going to work out. I really did believe that we didn’t know enough about each other to make a lasting commitment. I’m glad to say that I was wrong.” I had allowed some of my aunt’s pessimistic notions to bleed into my consciousness.
“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. I’m sure that you can see the smile that I have on my face.” He reached for another piece of chicken and I placed my hand on top of his. He looked at me with questions in his eyes. He was probably worried that I was going to take it back, but that was one thing that I had no regrets about.
“The last few days have been magical. I’m here for the long haul, but I don’t think that I need anything more to eat. That was just the appetizer and I think you know what the main course is.” The ring was on my finger. He suddenly swept me up into his arms and started to carry me back to the house.
“My father is in there sleeping off a little bit too much of this wing. I can tell on his face that he enjoyed every single glass. We can’t go in there and disturb him.” I took his hat and placed it on top of my head, before pointing towards the barn and the freshly lane hay that was waiting to make our union complete. “Are you sure about that? I don’t want you to think that this is something that is fleeting. I do find the idea of having sex with you in the barn a little bit too exciting.” That was evident from the way that his pants had filled out.
“William, I don’t care where we are at, just as long as we are together. It makes no difference, if it’s in a real bed or on a bed of hay. I just want to feel you next to me. To touch you like a man and a woman should. I know that we should wait till marriage, but I don’t think that either one of us can. It might not be right for some, but it is for us and that’s all that matters.” He smiled and continued to kiss me, while he was walking towards the barn and using his foot to open up the door.
I saw all the horses in their stalls. He put me back on my feet. He climbed the ladder to the loft and I followed with this giddy little thrill in my heart. I was never one to play on the wild side when I was younger. This was my chance to spread my wings and do whatever I damn well pleased.
After we were done, I lay there and looked at him. I knew that I had found my new home. Nothing was going to pull me away from him. William had turned out to be something of a surprise. I thought that he was going to be a replacement for what I had lost. What I found instead was something entirely unique. He was not anything like my husband and I don’t think that I would want him to be. I placed my hand on his chest.
I soon found out that Cecile had gotten together with Linus. He had to fight tooth and nail to get her to notice him, but he had followed my directions to the letter. They were not at that place where they were going to get married, but they were holding onto each other.
Looking at Williams face, I could see the story of my life and it made me smile. I saw us growing old together with our children taking their rightful place in the home that we were going to fill with love. I saw those children running around the apple tree in the back of the property. I saw them growing up and leaving the nest, until gracing us with grandchildren. Chapter by chapter played out in front of my eyes. It was a moment of clarity. My life had come to an end with Duncan, but William had jumpstarted my heart back to the land of a living.
THE END