Chapter 7
Spring crept in slowly on inconsistent feet; warm days then snowy ones. Yet trees budded and jonquils popped up their yellow heads and by May the breezes shifted to bring the fullness of the season.
One Sunday afternoon as we lazed in Jason’s backyard he suddenly leaned forward and took my hand and said, “You know Baby, we’ve been together for nearly a whole year and it’s been the best year of my life. You are so delightful and sweet and I’ve had the pleasure of giving you so much and watching your face run through so many different expressions of surprise, awe, befuddlement, bewilderment and joy.”
“You’ve given me the pleasure of pleasing you and watching you grow in new experiences. You’ve held me when I needed it; loved me as I growled and waded through remodeling this house. You supported me as I adjusted to retirement, leaving a world that filled my life with busyness for so many years. I love you very much Missy, now let’s go for a Sunday drive, ok?”
I leaned over and kissed him and said I loved him too. I told him how much I appreciated him and all he’d given me, not just in experiencing a new life but in who he was and daily sharing himself with me and never holding back in giving his heart to me.
Heading south out of town I didn’t know he had a destination in mind but soon I knew where we were going; our favorite place of all…the covered bridge.
Parking the car we were delighted to find we had it all to ourselves. Oh how we loved the smell of the old planks and the wooden structure. We loved the feeling we felt when we entered it…like walking into another era and feeling the soft breeze drifting through this manmade tunnel that carried whispering voices from a long ago time. We could almost hear the clip clop of horse’s hooves and wagon wheels as they crossed this old bridge.
Our voices seemed muted to our ears and we felt enveloped in a tender kind of privacy here. Jason briefly became very quiet and lost in thought and once again that little voice inside me stirred with alarm, telling me how ‘all good things come to an end’. Hanging my head I waited for the worst to come.
Then I felt Jason’s hands on my face as he drew my head up to look at him. He must’ve seen the look of fear in my eyes because he chuckled and knew what I was thinking for we had talked about it over the months. “No my little Missy, don’t even think what you’re thinking.” Placing a tender kiss on my lips he wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.
Then stepping back he took my hand, opened it and place a ring on my palm. I was stunned! We hadn’t talked of marriage, ever…not even once! Words escaped me as I stared at it while a lump formed in my throat and tears spilled over to run down my cheeks.
Lifting my face up with his fingers, he wiped away the tears with his thumbs and looking in my eyes he said, “Marry me Jolene…my little Missy. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” With my face encased in those warm hands all I could do was nod my head yes. Yes! Yes! YES!
Driving home we talked of what we wanted in a wedding. We both wanted it quiet and unassuming with just those family members who wanted to attend. We discussed dates and settled on July fourth…our first anniversary of the spilled books and shaky beginning.
The following week, the alley activity began only this time it wasn’t vehicles and workers but heavy foot traffic, ours as we began carrying full boxes, furniture that would fit in that big house and everything including my cats. It wasn’t such a hard job; after all, it was just a stone’s throw away!
The End
Copyright blbadgley
05/10/08
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| A Stone's Throw Away...conclusion (story) |
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