My eyes jerk up from my phone, expecting to see a volcano exploding or an animal takeover.What can I say? Duck Norris has me believing it’s within the realms of possibility.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my eyes darting out the window.
“Nothin’swrong, but look, there's that gnome fence George was tellin' us about, right over there," she says, pointing to the left-hand side of the road. "We should stop, wedidbuy a gnome, after all.”
I follow where she’s pointing to, and there it is–a fence with what looks like hundreds of gnomes hanging off hooks on the wires. “We can’t have Gnome-lo Baggins shirkin' on his responsibilities now, can we?”
Mags groans and shakes her head. “That name’s terrible, Red. Seriously bad. I’m sure we can come up with somethin’ better. Besides, ours is a cowboy. Remember?”
“OK, darlin’. Have at it,” I reply as Mags pulls the truck over to the side of the road and we both hop out, but not before I reach into the back and grab the gnome in question.
Soon enough, we reach the fence covered in gnomes of all different shapes and sizes, each one more whimsical than the last.
“These are so cute,” she replies, slowly walking the length of it and bending down to look at all the different types of gnomes and garden ornaments hung there.
I hold up our offering from George’s One Stop Shop. “They’re not as cute asthisguy.”
Mags makes her way back to me, her eyes soft and warm. Myfiancée. MyOne.
“Why’re you lookin’ at me all funny there, Redmond?” she asks curiously.
Reaching out, I hook an arm around her waist and pull her body flush against mine before dropping my chin and kissing her, doing it until she melts into me and has to grab my arms to stay standing.
“What wasthatfor?” she breathes.
There’s no wiping the satisfied smirk off of my lips. “Because I wanted to. Is that OK?”
She scoffs. “Is that OK? The man I love asks me if Imindhim manhandlin’ me because he wants to kiss the boots off of me. Ofcourseit’s OK, Redmond. Feel free to do thatwhenevertakes your fancy.”
I grin, suddenly feeling ten foot tall and bulletproof. “Duly noted. Now, where do you want to putourspecial gnome then?”
“First, we need to name the guy.Then, I think we’ll put him on that hook in the middle of the fence halfway down. How does that sound?”
“Fine by me. He’s got a new home, now he needs a name.” I hold the silly ornament out in front of me, pulling Mags into my side so that we can both look at our acquired gnome. “What about George?” I muse.
Mags playfully hits my chest. “No, that’s just… no. OK. What are some good gnome names?”
I chuckle, unable to stop myself. “Can’t say I’ve owned a lot of gnomes, let alonemetmany. Whataregnome names anyway? It’s agnome.”
She scoffs. “I know! It’s funny though. You can’t tell me you’re not excited to give him a name or see him hang on the fence!”
“Darlin’, I think I’d be more excited to watch paint dry. But knowin’ you’re excited about it is enough for me. Let's name this guy and get this show back on the road.”
Just as I say that, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Unfortunately for me, Mags doesn't miss it since she's right up against that side too. She arches a brow.
“Damn phone won’t stop buzzin’.”
She shoots me a questioning look. “Is somethin’ wrong back home?”
“No,” I say, already shaking my head. “Nothin’ like that. Just discussin’…ah… logistics, that’s it. Now, back to this guy.” I hold up the ceramic person in my hand again, hoping she’ll stop askin’. She hates surprises and this is one I’mnotgoin’ to let her ruin for herself.Not this time.
“Hmm. You’ll keep, Redmond. Just remember that I knowallof your tells and I know when you’re hidin’ stuff.”
Thatdoes get my attention and my head snaps toward hers. I don’t ever want her to doubt me so I give her a little bit of information to tide her over. “How ‘bout this? Iamhidin’ somethin’ from you but you’re goin’ to love it. So let me have this one secret because I promise you, it’ll be worth the wait. Just like you were,” I say, feeling the words as deeply as I say them.
Mags's features soften, her body sagging against mine, her eyes warm. “You’re suprisin’ me again?”
“Yep.” Little does she know that this will blow the glacier tour surprise right out the window. There’s no stopping the chuckle that escapes me at her wide-eyed expression. “Darlin’. Can wepleasename this damn gnome because the longer I keep hold of it, the more I worry I’m goin’ to turn into one. And that just won’t do because then youdefinitelywon’t want to marry me, mountain’s Call or not.”
