Jaded. She had mishandled her heart before, but this time could it be. She has to figure out how to keep Kyle. Jade has waited long for this day to come, but when he asked the question, why couldn‘t she answer him? He is there, waiting for her answer. He wants her to marry him, but she’s hurting. She’s heartbroken at his idyllic behavior. Spending nights at the bar, returning home to make love to her, tainted with the demon’s breath. No soft whispers of I love you, no caressing of delicate skin, just in and out, and the sounds of thunder. Jade cried herself to sleep those nights. When he returned home just a week ago, and saw her bags packed, he apologized. He fell to his knees just as he did just ten minutes ago. This was the best week of her life, but she still couldn’t answer that question. She knew what she wanted to say. Yes. Could it be the forever she’s looking for? Or will he continue to treat her as a double life. She was still walking. Cold. Thinking about how they met. He was handsome in his sweatpants and tee shirt, sweaty as he ran passed her. They were jogging in opposite directions, but he was there overcome with her beauty. There was a loud thud as he ran into the recently trimmed Hawthorne tree. With a moan he fell to the ground Jade turned around and ran back to help him up. On her knees, she caressed his forehead, eyeing the gash.
“That’s a beauty,” she said taking out the bandana that was tucked into the back of her sweatpants. She gently dabbed as the gash removing hints of shredded leaves.
“Yes you are.” They smiled at each other.
“You should watch where you are going, I need to check the tree.”
“I’m sure I’m the only one hurt here.” They laughed as she helped him to his feet.
She smiled at the memories of there two years of dating. He wouldn’t go anywhere without her with him. He enjoyed her every moment, and when they were apart he would send her sweet emails, blow kisses over the phone, wink at her if they were more than a foot apart. She felt as if she were the one for him. They bought the house. It was beautiful, everything they wanted. Then one night he didn’t come home from work until the early morning. Leaving her worried, questioning. He apologized that night too. Told her he’d gotten carried away with the boys down at the bar. Then it start happening two or three times a week, without a call, or a hint that he would be late. She sat in the house waiting, allowing only a few tears to escape her eyes. He had changed in that two years. It wasn’t all bad, but it was enough to make her feel unloved at times.
She arrived at the trail, and started to stretch, and as she began jogging, she continued to replay their relationship. She loves him, she knew that, and he loves her. Would he continue to change? Would the rest of their lives be like this past week? She continued to jog, and think about the good things. She realized that she was smiling, and as her breath escaped her mouth, she wished he was there in that moment. She turned around, headed home, so she could give him her answer. She walked slowly down Cherrylane quickly, still smiling. She saw him sitting on the stoop, head in hands looking distressed. Her walk became a jog, and became a halt when he lifted his face, and she saw the tear falling from his eyes. He stood up, and walked quickly towards her.
“Jade, I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
“For not being the man I’m supposed to be.” He let a few more tears escape.
“Yes.”
“Yes I know I’ve not done right by you, but I want to make it up to you.”
“No, Yes.”
“What?” He questioned.
“My answer is yes. Yes you’ve been lacking in showing me affection, but you’ve never been any less of a man then when I first met you. You love me, I never doubted that. What I did doubt was whether our love could make it over speed bumps life throws at us, and as I was running, I found my answer. I didn’t tell you how I felt about you staying out all night, it’s as much of my fault then yours. The only thing I wanted was you to call telling me that you would be late, so I wouldn’t sit around her waiting worried. When you did come home I was relieved, and making love this past week was more than enough to show me that those drunken sex sections are another part of you I’ve come to love. I just want to be apart of every aspect of you. I find myself smiling anytime I’ve thought about you, even then. So my answer is yes.” He leaned in and caressed her face, kissed her softly, and continued to allow the tears to fall through his smile. Forehead to forehead, breath to breath, he whispered, “I love you Jade,” and she whispered back, “I love you too baby.”
Doris the neighbor gossip was walking her Highland Terrier down the street watching the two of them holding each other.
“She said yes.” Kyle said to her with excitement, and Jade giggled.
“Well it’s about damn time.” She replied walking faster down the street. They laughed and went into the house.
Wedding plans began that night as he made love to her. It was how she imagined it. He had been thinking about it all along, and planned it to a tee. She couldn’t believe his ideas. Eight months later they were married by the Hawthorne tree that brought them together. After the I do’s, smile to smile, breath to breath, “I love you” was whispered into their kiss sealing their union, forever.
