by Leen Elle
But there was still something else. Something she'd seen there for a long time without seeing. The longer her silence stretched the dimmer and guarded his eyes became until they dropped their hold on her gaze. She remained unable to speak, her mind scrambling for the term she wanted. The look in his eyes was so familiar and yet so strange. A geriatric voice whispered through the hollows of her mind. His heart in his eyes.
Closing the lid to the box before him, Colin refused to meet her gaze. "I…"
Cutting him off, she held the rose to her nose, closed her eyes, and inhaled the scent. Her eyes swept upward and meet his as she spoke, "a dozen roses is hard to turn down." The glimmer of hope returned, flickering, threatening to disappear at the first hint of rejection. She needed to say something else she knew, to reassure him but words failed her. Leaning over, she fluttered a kiss against his cheek. His eyes now wide, she could clearly see his heart beating in them. It was a beautiful sight.
When Selah arrived at the café that morning, there was a package on the ground. Picking it up she tugged at the ribbon about it then, thinking better of opening it outdoors in case it was important, tucked it under her arm. Once she was inside she dropped her keys onto the counter and hopped up onto a nearby high chair.
Pulling on the string, she carefully removed the lid and gasped at the contents. It was just as she had pictured it. So many emotions tumbled through her she was on the verge of tears for confusion of what to feel. It was the rose from the blueprint. All the same questions tumbled through her mind again.
The glass creation that had been raised on her fingers slipped back into the foam lining of its case. Who would have given it to her? Why? Running her fingers across her temples she stared down at the rose. It was flawless but the center… Remembering the margin notes on the blue print, she scooped it gently from its case. Slipping her fingernail under a crevice in the middle bud, she was still surprised when it lifted.
A small sound directed her gaze below the rose into its case again and she gasped, nearly dropping it. It was the ring. Her confusion level doubled. When a voice sounded behind her, she screamed. When a hand wrapped about her arm she screamed again, nearly knocking the priceless rose to the ground. Taking hold of her other shoulder he stared her down; she froze.
"If I'd thought you were going to wake the entire town I would have left a note."
Relief flooded through her quickly, breaking the dams of her eyes. She wrapped her arms about Michael and held him tight as she shuddered with quiet tears. "I was so scared it was…"
"This wasn't my most ingeniously concocted plan," he admitted as he wiped away her tears and moved the rose back from the edge of the counter. She watched him as he plucked the ring from the case's interior and placed the rose in with ease and care. Turning his back to the counter, he looked at the ring then at her. "Have you tried it on yet?"
Taking the ring from his extended hand she slipped it on her finger and smiled. "It fits like a dream."
Hearing what she thought was a sigh she looked up to find Michael closing the rose's center. "I'm glad you like it."
"I'm…"
"Confused?"
"Yes…"
"And I'm crazy," he muttered to himself. Slipping the ring from her finger, she fiddled with it in her fingers. Catching a glimpse of an imperfection on the band, she brought it to her eyes for inspection.
"Violets are blue?" She read aloud in question. Michael's attention flew up from the counter then dropped.
"Yeah, 'Roses are red, violets are blue…"
"Wait, it says something inside…" Michael's face changed but out of the corner of her eye she couldn't make out the emotion. "'Crazy about you.'"
Michael remained silent as she stared at him. It had occurred to her several moments ago that the rose was from Michael but it never occurred to her she might have been the girl Michael was crazy about. It never occurred to her, even after the blueprint disappeared after his visit to the Daisy, that it might have been his. In that moment, also, it was just occurring to her that this was the project he had ditched her for. She was the girl she was jealous of.
The thought cracked her lips wide open. Giggling bubbled out as poor Michael watched on with a look akin to horror on his face. Still giggling she slipped the ring back on her finger and stretched to her tiptoes. Running her fingernails gently down his face she informed him, "I'm crazy about you, too." Her heart beating wildly, she kissed him.
Mr. Matthews stood behind his desk, hand extended towards her with a smile on his face. Adelie fidgeted nearby, already seated and ready for the news Mr. Matthews was going to announce.
"Miss. Genson, I read the last chapter of your book and it is absolutely marvelous. With your permission I would like to publish it. I've already had an illustrator working on several cover designs in hopes that you would say yes."
Promise looked to Adelie, too astonished to speak on her own. Her eager friend motioned her to give the man her answer. "How soon can I see the cover designs?"
"Just as soon as we can iron out all the paperwork," Mr. Matthews informed her eagerly. After digging about in his desk he produced several papers for her to sign and look over. When they left there that afternoon both of them floated to the car.
"You have to let me take you out to celebrate! I know it's late for lunch but…"
"Another time perhaps," Promise responded, dampening her friend's enthusiasm, "I have a date with Colin tonight and I don't want to go half full."
"A rain check it is then," Adelie chortled, "say Promise, you never let me read the final chapter. What did it say exactly?"
"I think I have time to show you," Promise replied, her glee poorly contained.
Selah watched the sea of people ebb and flow outside her window, searching. Where was Dante? Was he coming? Her mother smoothed her veil down of her face and clucked about her not holding still.
"I've heard of nervous jitters, child, but this is ridiculous," she sighed as she adjusted a few more folds then adjusted them again when Selah moved.
"They're just going to fall out when I starting walking anyway, mother; don't bother."
"Why are you so antsy? Even when your father and I drug into church a few Sundays ago you sat still than this."
"I'm trying to find someone in the crowd," Selah said a bit distractedly as her eyes scanned the group below again. He had to come; Dante was supposed to be Michael's best man. Of all the days for him to be late, she whined inwardly.
"Come away from the window, dear. Someone will see you." Selah obeyed her mother's command hesitantly. If she knew who was missing she would be looking out the window too.
There was a knock on the door and after the superstitious woman confirmed there was no groom on the other side she opened it. Selah's father looked at her and smiled then ask her mother if she would please come out into the hall. There was hushed conversation exchanged between the two for a few seconds then her mother's voice rose into a distinguishable language.
"The best man is missing!"
You may kiss the bride
Looked at her finger and smiled. One last thing she couldn't resist.
And they lived happily ever after.
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Copyright © 2013 by Leen Elle
