I stuffed the gift back in Renny’s sack before getting back onto Abigail. I waited as Renny mounted Bastard, waved to Rex and we took off past the house.
All I wanted was to run, as fast and far as I could. I wanted the wind to knock my tears and self-pity out of me before it could ruin this day.
13.
Renny and I rode fast and hard. After about a half hour we slowed and entered a beautiful little forest glade. It was something out of a Hobbit book, a tall tree canopy and sunlight streaming between leaves. Renny led me to a place that was cleared and a couple of benches and a fire pit had been placed. Something told me this was a secret, special place. I was beginning to warm to Tennessee. It was just so beautiful.
After we dismounted Renny built a fire in the pit and then sat next to me on one of the benches. Before he could speak I rushed in with my news.
“I’ve made a decision. About the tour. I’m going.”
“You are? That’s … great!” He hugged me with enthusiasm before pulling back and giving me a skeptical look.
“Why the switch?”
“Don’t you want me to come now?” I asked, scared of what he might say. Things had changed since he’d asked me.
“Of course but I want you to be happy more than that. You seemed pretty sure a bus of smelly men was not the way to true bliss.”
“I talked to Marlene last night and she made me realize that you were right, I can edit my book anywhere, why do it alone in Portland when I can be with you? She was right, it didn’t make sense.”
He was silent for a moment, then looked me straight in the face. “Be honest Rach, is this because Jasmine is going?”
“No! Well, maybe. Sort of. Maybe.”
Renny stood and stalked away from me and I could tell he was angry.
“Damn it Rachel! How can you be so insecure? Don’t you know how I feel about you? You are not a replacement for Jasmine.”
I was a little pissed myself.
“I am not insecure! Okay, a little but who wouldn’t be? Look at me Renny, really look at me, we don’t belong together, even a ten year old knows that,” I said, thrusting the horrible elephant figurine at him.
Renny grabbed the elephant and tossed it in the fire. “She’s ten, that’s her excuse, you have none.”
“Then tell me,” I practically begged, “tell me why. Why did you choose me?”
“Because you are my human. You were made for me. When I met you in that stuffy, horrible
hotel I was already impressed with your intellect and courage but there you were, so completely Rachel. You didn’t belong there and neither did I. You were so beautiful and funny and full of piss. How couldn’t I fall in love? I went to my room right after our meeting and wrote that song for you. I made up my mind at that moment I would make you love me.”
I was speechless. It was certainly an impassioned oratory but I couldn’t help wonder just who was he trying to convince.
He went to his horse and pulled a velvet box from his saddlebag. It was not ring-shaped I noticed with just a twinge of regret. I would have said no to a marriage proposal at this stage of our relationship but I was grateful I wouldn’t need to.
He put the box in my hands and said, “Maybe this will explain it.”
Inside was a simple silver bracelet with a quote along the curved outside. It was my favorite writing quote –from Hemingway – “Write the truest sentence you know.”
“Oh Renny, how did you remember?”
“I pay attention to the things that matter to me. Look on the inside.”
The inscription inside read, “To the truest woman I know. I love you. RT.”
I cried, let’s face it, why wouldn’t I?
“Oh Renny, it’s wonderful,” I said throwing my arms around him. “And all I got you was a tie.”
He laughed his one and only Renny laugh and all the tension between us vanished.
He placed the bracelet on my arm and kissed me long and deep. I hadn’t gotten him a tie though and I was excited to give him my gift.
I had had a leather bound book made for him. Inside were his ‘poems’. It was all his lyrics, written as the beautiful verse they were. He was overwhelmed and told me over and over that it was the most perfect, the most thoughtful …. He liked it.
The irony was that I had written on the frontispiece, the first line of the exact Hemingway quote that now graced my wrist.
“To Renny, my poet, my love,
You have followed Hemingway’s advice completely
You have written the “one true sentence”
Over and over.
Your forever Rachel”
I was his forever Rachel. That would not change for me even if it did for him. Sometimes we have to risk our hearts to find our forever.
He placed his forehead against mine and whispered into the crisp December Day, “I love you Rachel, now, always. Okay?”
“Okay.”
We sat back down, his large arm around me, my head nuzzled in his shoulder, and watched the firelight.
Finally he spoke again.
“It’s going to be a hell of a tour.”
I couldn’t have agreed more.
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