Laughing, she inhaled shakily.This afternoon still seemed so far away.Maybe she could phone him, at least talk to him.She grabbed a light jacket from a chair, picked up Marmalade and, with the dogs at her heels, she headed downstairs.Becket had left his dogs with her last night.They wouldn’t move when he called them, just wagged their tails.
Downstairs she opened the back door for the dogs, put the coffee machine on and opened the boxes she hadn’t gotten to yet.One was full of photo albums and the other one held the beautiful tea set her grandma used to take out on her birthday.Her throat clogging up, Ellie unpacked the box and washed the cups and saucers before she found a place for them in one of the cupboards.
Peering in the other box, she opened the top album.Opening it up, she turned the pages, catching a glimpse here and there.Her grandma had still been so young when these were taken.She’d take the time after the wedding to look through all of these, there wasn’t really time to look through them right now… On her way to closing the album, her eye caught on a photograph of a house on the next page.A woman and a young girl were standing on the steps of the porch.Her heart stopped for a millisecond.
Quickly taking the photo out of the album, she looked closer.Even though it was a old photograph, it was unmistakably this house, this porch.She turned the picture over.There was a date written on the back and the wordsEllie and I visiting Marietta.
Stunned, Ellie looked at the picture again.According to the date, she’d been three years old.At that time, she hadn’t yet been living with her grandma.She didn’t remember the trip to Marietta, but this was proof she’d been here when she was little.And somehow, she’d never forgotten what this house looked like.
Tears were streaming down her face.“Grandma,” she sniffed.“I’m living here.In Marietta, in this house you brought me to.”
Her doorbell chimed, the dogs charged back into the house, barking.Wiping her cheeks, she checked her watch.It had just turned eight.She was expecting all her friends around half past eight, but they were probably early.
Dropping the photo back into the box, she ran after the dogs who were already at the front door.She had a smile ready, one that turned into a laugh when she saw who was standing on her porch.It wasn’t the women, but her soon-to-be husband, Becket.A very grumpy-looking Becket if she read the expression on his face correctly.
“What…?”she began but that was as far as she got.
Picking her up, he kicked the door closed behind them.The dogs went ballistic, jumping up against his legs.“I didn’t sleep at all last night.I don’t ever want to be without you again.”
“You’re not supposed to see me before this afternoon.”
He frowned.“You’ve cried.”
“I have.Happy tears.Let me show you.Kitchen.”
“Is it urgent?”he asked.
“No, but I want you to see something.”
Seconds later, he was staring at the photo.“I don’t understand.”
Ellie pointed toward the little girl.“That’s me and this is my grandma.”
“You mean you saw this house when you were little?”
“Yes.I had to come back here, because this is where I’d find you.”
His eyes suspiciously bright, he bent down and kissed her softly.“I’m so glad you did.Anything else I need to know?”
“Just that I’ve missed you.”
“I’ll never tire of hearing that.”Picking her up again, he walked out of the kitchen and raced up the stairs.
“You’ll have to make it quick.I’m expecting the girls any moment now,” she giggled as he entered the bedroom.
“That’s too damn bad,” he said as he put her gently on the bed.“There is no way I can wait until tonight.”With his eyes on her, he took out a rectangular box from his pocket.“I also wanted to give you this.”
“You’ve given me this beautiful ring, I don’t need…”
But he wasn’t listening and, opening the box, he took out a diamond tennis bracelet.
“Becket, that’s too much, really…”
With deep concentration, he fastened it around her wrist.“You’ve given me your heart, you’ll have to get used to me giving you things.”Bending down, he kissed her.
With a deep sigh, she threw her arms around his neck.“I’m so glad you’re here.I’ve missed you, too, and was going to phone you, but this is so much better.”
“I can’t wait,” he got out.Warm hands slid up her legs before he pulled down her pajama bottom.With those brilliant blue eyes never leaving her face, he parted her legs to find her core.“You’re ready for me?”he got out as he hoisted himself above her.
