The Broken Lake (24 page)

He grabbed the blanket from the chaise and laid it out in front of the windows and fireplace. I sat down, Indian-style, with one knee touching against the glass. He sat across from me with one leg extended beside me and the other tucked in.

His eyes were warm, and although I was extremely curious about the box decorated in snowmen wrapping paper, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his.

“Is it Christmas?”

He laughed, seemingly a little more relaxed. “No,” he answered softly.

“Then what? What’s with the snowmen?”

After a long silence, he put the box on the blanket in the tiny valley between us. The snow beating against the glass made it seem as if we were outside, right in the midst of the snowfall.

“I knew we were coming here, so I wanted to stay with the theme.”

I smiled a little, still waiting for an explanation. He reached up and moved my bangs behind my ear. “I want you to have this,” he said, never looking down at the box. “But, before I give it to you, I want to tell you something.”

My heart felt constricted, my pulse raced, my chest pounded. “Where are you going?” I asked, fearful that he was leaving me with a consolation prize.

He looked out the window and my gaze followed. “It doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere,” he joked.

I looked back at him. “Wes, be serious.”

He moved the box, pulling me gently onto his lap. He leaned his back against the window and I felt his breath on my neck. It was slow, calm, and hesitant.

“Listen to your heart,” he said. “It’s going wild.”

I moved his forearm away from my left rib cage, sure the ricocheting beat accentuated my nervousness. “Something’s different. I don’t know what it is.”

He gave me a gentle squeeze before picking up the box. Still close enough for me to feel his breath on my ear, he began murmuring.

“I’ve been thinking about something you said to me a few weeks ago. About going away with me. At first I thought it was a crazy idea, and I still don’t think it’s possible right now, but I know one thing.”

My breathing was steadying at the sound of the possibility and I leaned into him, seeking his comfort and hoping whatever he was planning included both of us.

“These past few weeks, you’ve opened my eyes to the idea of change. I’ll never forget the past that has made us who we are, but now I want to be new, with you. I want Sophie and Weston to change the future. I want to take that detour around fate’s path.”

I felt myself smiling and tightened my elbows against his arms beneath mine.

“I’ve also felt what it’s like to worry when you’re away from me. When I have no control over your safety. When I can’t be there to protect you.

“I’ve also felt your never-ending care for me. And when you’re around me, I just want to let go and sink into it.”

He paused again, and I felt the pulse of his breath on my ear. I absorbed it into my skin and into my veins. I closed my eyes until he told me to open them. Hovering a few inches from my chest was the box.

“And all of this has made me know one thing, Sophie. That I want you with me, always.”

He put the box in my hand and I stared at the snowmen. They were laughing and having fun. Some were sipping hot chocolate and a few on the side were ice skating. I smiled and gently unwrapped the paper, being sure not to disrupt any of their smiles.

Inside were two smaller boxes, stacked on top of each other. I turned to look at Wes as if I needed a lesson on opening a present. He nudged me with his forearms, encouraging me to continue.

I removed the box on top and set the other one in front of me. Curiosity was killing me, but the moment was so tender, I didn’t want to ruin it by flinging the top open. Slowly, I pulled it back to reveal a porcelain white horse standing on his hind legs.

Every bit of apprehension and tension escaped my chest in one long, built-up breath.

“A white horse.” I turned to look at him. He was too close for me to see his eyes, so I pressed my face against his cheek. “A white horse,” I repeated.

It meant everything. Symbolized all that I had hoped for. He was giving me his word that he would take me away. The two of us in a special place that was peaceful and ours alone.

I gripped it in my palm and pressed it against my chest, almost forgetting the remaining box. He had to pick it up to remind me there was something else.
What is it?
I wondered.
Folded plane tickets?

Unable to contain myself, I turned the box upside down until the smaller one fell out. I picked it up and pulled the top off much faster than the first. A black velvet box remained. I opened it with much less hesitation.

Every ounce of tension that I had just exhaled quickly returned with one long inhale. My entire body stiffened as I stared at—a ring.

I turned my head, pulling far enough back to see his eyes. In the same moment, he lifted me, positioning me on his bent leg and more at eye level to him. My breath was labored and my eyes wide. He was watching me and studying my face for a reaction. I knew what I wanted, but the look I was giving him didn’t mimic my feelings.

And instead of fumbling with a stupid question or comment, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pressed my face into his neck.

I felt him sigh and lean his lips into my ear. “I want you to be with me always. Every day. I want to take care of you and let you take care of me. I want it so badly.” And with a binding whisper, he murmured, “I want you to
marry
me.”

The tears I was holding back wasted no time traveling down my face, and although I held in the clichéd audible sniffle, I let them fall.

Not caring, I wiped them on my shirt sleeves and clearly and effortlessly answered, “Yes. Yes. And Yes.”

He kissed me with a need that spoke of everything. He had made a decision about our life together that I hadn’t expected, but knew in that instant that I wanted.

Once it registered completely, I turned my attention back to what was in the box. My hand was shaking. It was exquisite. I had never seen a ring like it. Staring at me was a large princess cut diamond with a golden hue to it.

“Is that…?”

“It’s a yellow diamond,” he said. “I thought it would go with the stones.”

He pulled it out of its slit in the velvet and turned it around. Small brown stones encircled the entire ring.

“Axinite crystals,” he whispered.

He had to have had it specially made for me and it couldn’t have been more perfect. It looked classic but also new.

“Is this all
new
?” I asked.

He nodded, possibly unsure if I liked it.

Quickly, I shot down any doubt. “This is beautiful. It’s perfect. I’m just surprised that you didn’t go with something older. To represent us.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want this to represent the old us. This represents the new us. The Sophie-and-Weston us.”

I stared at him almost like the first day I had seen him.

“So may I?” he asked.

I blinked. “May you what?”

His ridiculously delicious half smile returned. “Place it on your finger.”

“Of course.” I cleared my throat and watched as he slid the ring on my shaking finger, where I felt both the weight of
it
and everything it meant to me. At that very moment, nothing else mattered. Not that we were surrounded by a bitter storm. Not that I didn’t want to go home. Not that I might die in a year or less. None of it mattered, because nothing could take away this moment. Nothing.

B
y the time the rest of the crew came back inside, Wes and I were already downstairs. The television was on and we were cuddled up on the couch, watching for the most recent weather updates. Even as the weatherman carried on about the relentless, slow-moving storm, I couldn’t bring myself to stop smiling the whole time. My grin turned to a laugh as soon as I saw everyone burst through the door with red cheeks and chattering teeth.

“Build a good snowman?” I asked.

Dawn and Jackson were too busy blowing into their fists to answer, so I looked at Kerry.

“Let’s just say Mr. Snowman is not so tall.
And
he’s a little lopsided.”

“A little?” Rich said. “He’s leaning over, about to nod off.”

“Well, I think he’s cute,” Dawn said.

“I bet he is,” I offered, hopping up. “I’ll make some hot cider while you all warm up.”

“Yum,” Kerry said, as they quickly dispersed to their rooms for a dry change of clothes.

I heated the cider in a big pot on the stove and set out six mugs. The aroma of cinnamon and cloves filled the open space.

“That smells so good.” Dawn was the first one in the kitchen. With her arms folded, she was rubbing her biceps.

“Not used to the cold, are you?”

“Heck, no. I don’t see how people live here.”

“Look outside.” I pointed.

She turned to the live mural of snow-covered trees. “It’s pretty, but I have to say, I like that view from the inside
way
better.”

I laughed as I ladled her cider into a mug. She took it and held it under her lips, letting the hot steam travel beneath her chin and up around her face.

“Oh, gosh. This is so warm.” She rolled her eyes, like it was making her high, and turned and made a beeline for the fireplace.

I ladled out some for Wes, which he took without as much greediness as Dawn. On my way back to the kitchen, Kerry and Rich burst through their bedroom door in a pillow fight. Well, not really. Kerry was the only one with a pillow.

“I’ll get you!” she screamed.

I didn’t even want to know what that was about. None of my business. But I did take it upon myself to warm everyone up. Kerry was the last to grab her mug and, as always, the first to notice something new.

“What’s that?” she asked.

I curled my fingers into a fist. “What?”

“Don’t what me? Is that what I think it is?” She grabbed my hand. “Holy crap. It
is
. He didn’t.” I stood still and innocently shrugged. She scrutinized my face. “He
did
. Let me see.” She pulled my hand to within a few inches of her face, inspecting my ring. “Must have been some speech,” she declared.

Then she turned and dragged me into the great room. “Have you guys seen this? Sophie and Wes are engaged.” She held up my hand like I was the champion of the world. I pulled it back down.

Dawn jumped up, almost spilling her cider. “Shut up,” she yelped.

She and Kerry began chattering a million miles an hour.

I glanced at Wes for rescue. He didn’t budge. Then I took a quick peek at Rich and Jackson and saw shock, wonder, and mental calculation. Probably recapping our ages in their minds. Then they went over to Wes to give him a brotherly handshake with a look of, “What have you gotten us into?”

Yeah, we were on the young side, and we certainly wouldn’t suggest that our decision was normal. But for us it was. We had so much at stake in our lives. So much to win and so much to lose, and not a whole lot of time guaranteed for it. But none of them knew any of that.

“Sophie? Hello?” Dawn snapped. “Are you freaking?”

Well, I didn’t feel like I was freaking, but I did sort of have an urge to jump, so I shifted my weight to my toes and gave a little squeal. That’s right, a squeal. And the girls capitalized on it, taking over with their own squeals, which overwhelmed mine.

“So, now that our news is out of the way, can I drink my cider?”

With a fierce stare, Kerry said, “You
will
tell me all about it.”

I nodded, and the commitment was enough to have me escorted into the kitchen. I was sure I was the most excited, but by their behavior, no one would know it.

That afternoon we all lounged around on the sofa and watched a movie. Kerry’s dad was a World War II buff, so he had a ton of those. We watched
Pearl Harbor
because it seemed like a compromise between the girls and the guys.

For dinner, the girls cooked, and although we wouldn’t admit it, and the guys were too smart to say it, their spaghetti actually tasted a bit better but we called it a tie. After that, I wanted to go upstairs and spend the rest of the evening alone with Wes, but Kerry talked us into playing Taboo.

We changed into our pajamas first, and as soon as we had everything set up, Dawn’s phone rang. Normally, no one would have noticed or cared, but the way she jumped to get it made us remember that she was still on edge about having her dad find out that Jackson was with her.

“It’s Danny,” she said. “Crap. He is
so
going to rat me out. I hate that guy.”

“You do not. Just answer it,” I told her.

She rolled her eyes. “Hello? Where are you? No, he’s not with me. No, he’s not. Damn that Jared. What do you guys care? I swear, Danny, if you say one word to Dad, I will stab you in your sleep.”

Danny must’ve started talking because she huffed and became quiet. Then she started again. “Yeah, there’s a storm, but we’re waiting it out. As soon as the roads are clear we’re coming back. I just need to buy some time. You guys can help cover for us.
Please.”

Then a look of confusion crossed her face. “Yes, she’s right here.” She looked at me and reached out to hand me the phone. I hesitantly took it, wondering what Danny would have to say to me.

Dawn quickly whipped her head around toward Jackson. “Your brother told Danny you were here because he was following the weather in Virginia and was worried. That’s just great.” I tuned her out at, “If my dad finds out…”

“Hello?” I said.

“Hey, Sophie. Danny.”

“I know. What’s up?”

He paused for a minute and then spoke in a whisper. “I can’t talk long.”

“What? Are you at work?”

“Yes,” he whispered.

“Your dad?”

“No.”

My stomach twisted in disgust because that meant only one other person. “Chase?” I gritted my teeth.

“Yeah. Hang on. Okay, bro.” He turned his attention back to me. “Okay, he’s outside. Listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but I overheard some freaky stuff.”

“Like what?” I wondered what kind of lies Chase was spitting out now.