“Wow, you sure are being hard on the poor guy.”
“Like I said, we go way back. I’m sure he understands.” Still holding hands, they circled the base of the statue observing the lifelike details of the stone carving.
“Did you ever think about the risk he took to accomplish what he did?” Ryan was trying to turn the conversation toward his third point.
“What do you mean?”
“I really respect those early pioneers. They launched-out into uncharted waters in tiny ships and would be gone for years at the time. They took chances few men would take today.”
“Why do you think they were willing to do that?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I guess it was the promise of a better life, or maybe just the thrill of an exciting adventure. One thing is for sure, they weren’t afraid to pursue what they believed in—regardless of the risk.”
“I guess if you want something badly enough, it’s worth the risk,” she said.
Her words struck home in Ryan’s heart. Logically, he knew it would be best if he
did
wait a year or so to get better established before committing to the responsibilities of being a husband. But like J.R., he felt the risk was worth taking.
He put his arm around her and walked over to the edge of the lookout. Pointing across the water, he said. “You see the Del, over there?”
“Yeah. The red roof makes it easy to spot. It’s my favorite place in all of San Diego.”
“Tonight, that’s where I’m taking you to celebrate our six-month anniversary. The same place where we first met.”
“Really?” She turned and hugged him. “That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait!” She reached up and kissed him. “You are so romantic.” She kissed him again, then snuggled up close to his side. “I can’t wait. It should be absolutely beautiful with all the Christmas decorations.”
“We’re going to have the most romantic dinner ever. As long as I live, I will never forget how I felt that day. Tonight is the perfect night to celebrate,” he said.
Noticing she was chilled, he turned her around, put her back up against his chest, and wrapped his arms around her. Her body was warm and soft. They faced toward the ocean, watching the sky begin its evening performance of colors.
He hoped the three illustrations would settle into the fertile fabric of her emotions: the brevity of life and the urgency to embrace the present; the importance of relationships over places and things; and when faced with the unknown, willing to embrace the driving power of adventure and discovery.
Down the cliff toward the water, he noticed four people standing on one of the lower viewing spots overlooking the entrance to the harbor. He watched as they took turns casting their arm up in the air releasing a fistful of white chalky dust which quickly dispersed into the breeze. He surmised the chalky dust to be the cremated remains of a loved one.
The contrast was sobering. A life from the past was slipping through the fingers of loved ones while he held tight to the love of his future. It was a grim reminder of the pain he would feel if Emily chose not to set sail on the next big adventure of his life.
Her shivers had stopped. The brilliant orange sky transitioned into a deep purple. She said, “I always dreamed of meeting a man like you. I don’t deserve you.”
“I just don’t want to lose you, ever,” he said, pulling her close.
The sun slipped below the horizon. One-by-one, the few remaining on-lookers slowly left the lookout to escape the chill and imminent darkness. Soon, they were alone. The city lights twinkled in the growing darkness. She turned and cuddled-up against him, sliding her arms tightly around his waist.
“Don’t you worry. I’m
never
letting you out of my sight.” She gazed up at him for a minute and then kissed him, long and slow with passion. Her hands firmly grasped the cheeks of his buttocks pulling him tightly up against her. The kiss would have been enough, but the added encouragement of her hands aroused him.
“Excuse me, sir,” said a man.
Ryan opened his eyes and looked toward the strange voice, while Emily continued kissing with no regard for the sound that had abruptly interrupted the silence. Ten-feet away stood the tall silhouette of a man. A sudden flash of light passed across Ryan’s eyes. The tall man stood stiff, much like the statue of J.R., but in a unique green uniform and “Smoky Bear”-style hat.
“The park is closed,” the Ranger said.
After one last kiss, Emily remained snuggled up against Ryan with her arms around his waist, seemingly indifferent to the deep voice and flash of the Ranger’s white saber.
Ryan wiped the moisture from his lips with the back of his hand. “We were just about to leave,” Ryan said.
“Yeah.” The Ranger chuckled.
Ryan took Emily’s hand as they started back to the car with the Ranger close behind. Ryan had been minutes away from popping the big question, that is, until Smokey showed up. However, the thought of a romantic dinner might make things easier.
CHAPTER 15
Ryan held the door for Emily, then moved around the front of the car and slipped in behind the wheel. The beam from the Ranger’s flashlight ricocheted off the dash.
“Drive carefully,” the Ranger said.
“Yes sir. We will.”
The crunch of gravel faded as the Ranger disappeared into the darkness.
Ryan glanced at his watch—six-fifteen. Reservations were at seven. The drive down to the Hotel Del Coronado would take approximately thirty minutes. Even with the few extra minutes they had spent at the lookout, they were still on schedule.
“You sure are quiet,” he said. Emily gazed out her window deep in thought. He wished he could read her mind. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just thinking.”
He started the car and pulled out onto the two-lane road, his headlights carving a path in the darkness. After a short drive, the entranceway to the Rosecrans Cemetery came into view. He relaxed the pressure on the gas. The car slowed.
The cold white stones emerged from the darkened cemetery lawns under the watchful eye of amber security lights. The lifeless remains of brave soldiers shouting their pleas to the living: “Embrace life, before it’s too late!”
He thought, leaving Emily would be nothing less than a “living death.” He reached and took her hand while she continued to stare out her window. She gently squeezed. Within minutes, the car plunged back into the darkness, leaving the dead behind.
Twenty minutes later, atop the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, the lights of the city cast a colorful array across the bay.
“Look how beautiful,” Emily said, pointing to the hotel.
“Impressive,” he said.
The spectacular view of thousands of dazzling white lights magically outlined the magnificent Victorian hotel with its cupolas and turrets rising into the sky. He knew he had made the perfect choice for a romantic evening.
Two valet attendants waited eagerly as they wheeled up to the grand hotel. Emily seemed to enjoy the attention, but not half as much as the young attendant assisting her seemed to enjoy giving it. Ryan grabbed the extra jacket and exchanged the keys for a claim ticket.
The lobby of the hotel was especially beautiful, dressed tastefully in the spirit of the season: garlands weaving down the oak banisters; wreaths of green and red; and the enormous lighted Christmas tree on Windsor Lawn reaching up toward the stars.
Dinner reservations were for the Prince of Wales Restaurant: one of the hotel’s finest. After giving his last name to the hostess, she led them to a private table-for-two elegantly dressed with a white tablecloth. Their server walked up shortly after the hostess left. She greeted them and lit the single candle in the center of the table.
For the next hour, they relaxed in the lap of luxury. The cuisine, service, and presentation were beyond his expectations. Live music played in the background as they both savored the evening. Emily appeared anesthetized by the extravagant treatment.
The culmination of the four-course dinner was a dessert of warmed praline fondant, set with stone fruits of apricots, pears, and peaches, marinated in Armagnac, topped with homemade vanilla bean ice-cream.
“I hope you enjoyed your evening,” the server said.
“It was wonderful,” Ryan said.
“No rush. Stay as long as you like.”
The server cleared the table and left a small black check folder on a silver tray with two mints.
“Thank you,” Ryan said, sliding his credit card into the check folder.
“I’ll be back with your receipt in a moment.”
Ryan turned to meet Emily’s gaze and warm smile. The flickering candle sparkled in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she said. Her bare foot rubbed up against his leg. The expression on her face said it all. The date had been a big success.
The nerves in his stomach tightened. His throat went dry. He took a sip of water. Trying to make a landing on an aircraft carrier rolling with the sea had never tightened his nerves as much. In a matter of minutes, her answer to his proposal would define the course of his life.
The server returned with the check. “It’s been my pleasure serving you. I must say, you make a lovely couple. I wish you both the best.” They smiled.
Ryan caught his first glimpse of the bill.
Wow
!
But then, he thought:
It’s
just
money
.
What
the
heck
.
He added a healthy tip and scribbled his signature.
“Would you like to take a walk?” he asked.
“Sure.” Ryan held the back of her chair as she stood. “Thank you, kind sir.”
How
should
I
do
this
?
He looked around the room.
Maybe
we
should
go
sit
in
the
car
.
No
,
that
won’t
work
.
The
valet
will
bring
the
car
around
and
then
I’ll
have
to
drive
.
I
could
wait
until
we
get
back
to
her
place
.
That
would
give
me
more
time
to
get
her
reaction
to
the
day
.
“Wow! Look at the tree. It’s beautiful,” she said.
Yeah
,
that’s
it
.
I’ll
take
her
over
by
the
Christmas
tree
.
The breeze from the ocean put a chill in the air.
“Here, put this on,” he said.
“Thank you.” After slipping into the jacket, she reached around his waist while they walked. They stopped to admire the tree at the edge of the grassy lawn with the faint sound of the ocean breaking against the shore in the darkness. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Yes, but not as beautiful as what I’m holding in my arms.” Emily turned and faced him. She pulled him up tight against her. Her breasts were soft. The sweet scent of her perfume drifted to his nose. He felt her hands slide down to his buttocks, squeezing, pulling him closer. With her mouth partly open, she kissed him, slowly and tenderly. Her tongue set-off arousing sensations, signaling his heart to pump harder.
Suddenly, she pulled away. “Ryan, I need to tell you something.” Her words sounded serious. A set of counter-alarms sounded: from “all ahead full” to “full stop.”
No
.
Not
the
—“
It’s
been
fun
,
but
,
speech
?”
I
haven’t
even
had
time
to
ask
her
the
big
question
.”
He interrupted. “I need to ask you something, too,” he said, hoping to stall her. The thought of her dumping him was more than he could bear.
“Do you mind if I go first?” she asked, looking down briefly, then back up.
He reconsidered. “Sure, go ahead.” It might save him some embarrassment, he thought.
“Ryan, I first want to say…that…this evening…this whole day…has been absolutely perfect. But more importantly, you have been the best thing that has ever happened to me.” She stepped back and held his hands in hers.
The space between them felt like the Grand Canyon.
Oh
boy
.
Here
it
comes
.
Déjà
vu
.
Keri
Hart
,
all
over
again
.
“I’ve thought a lot about
us
today.”
Which
way
is
she
going
with
this
?
“I know we’ve talked about our future and that possibly, in a year or so…after you’ve had time to get situated in your new job, we could get together. I know how important your career is to you and I want to give you the time you need—”
This
is
sounding
too
familiar
.
He interrupted, “Emily, I need to say something—”
She touched her fingers to his lips. “Wait, let me finish. I would never want to be a burden to you….”
“You will never—”
“Ryan…let me finish.”
His heart dying with each word she spoke. Her tongue, like the razor sharp blade of a guillotine—the same tongue that only moments earlier had pleasured him—now threatened to sever every ounce of hope.
Don’t
do
this
.
Please
don’t
say
it
.
“While we were up at Point Loma watching the sunset, I decided something.”
Regardless
of
what
excuse
she
uses
,
I’ll
beg
her
to
reconsider
.
She
doesn’t
understand
what
she
is
saying
.
I
know
it’ll
work
.