Emmalee (27 page)

Chase matched my grin and tugged me
closer. 

           
We rambled our way down to Mom’s gazebo.  It was
wonderful, for once, to just talk about anything and everything—or
nothing at all—and be content in each other’s company. 
Contentment was such a random feeling for us; it was crazy, but so
cool.

           
Once we snuck through the back gate that shared our properties I
asked, “Where are you taking me?”

           
He squeezed my hand.  “You’ll see.  There’s
something I want to show you.”

           
“Hmm… mysterious,” I chuckled softly and rested my
head on Chase’s shoulder as we leisurely followed the path that
led to the pond.  And then Chase stopped.  Right next to
the dock.  “There,” he simply stated.

           
“You wanted to show me the pond?” I grinned up at him and
rolled my eyes.  “Hate to break it to you, but I’ve
seen this place before.”

           
Smiling Chase leaned down and placed his forehead on mine.  “Not
through my eyes, you haven’t.”

           
“Prove it.”

           
I wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but I didn’t
expect Chase to turn me around so that my back was facing him and
then wrap his arms around me.  “See where that large oak
tree is back there?”

           
He didn’t have to point.  I knew the tree well. 
“Yeah.”

           
“Now follow your eyes about twenty feet from the foot of that
tree straight into the pond.”

           
“Okay.”

           
“What do you see?”

           
“Cold water,” I chuckled.

           
“Is that all?”

           
And then it hit me. 
Oh my gosh! Why did he bring me here?
 
Instantly, I shuddered and took a step back into him.  Horrid
nightmares flew at me in an awful swoosh.  “It’s
where—it’s where—”

           
“It’s where I fell in love with you.”

           
What?
  The nightmares fled.  “Y-you did?”

           
He wrapped his arms tighter.  Of course I didn’t know it
then.  All I knew was I couldn’t live if anything where to
happen to you.  My heart stopped beating that day.  Just
seconds more and you would’ve been gone.  Do you know when
it began to beat again?”

I bit my lip and shook my head no. 
 

           
“When you kissed me on that dance floor.”

“Really?”

“Well, when I got back from
Spain, I felt a small faint beat—but I tamped it down and hid
it away.  It wasn’t until you kissed me and nearly knocked
me over that it began to beat—really beat—and loudly. 
I’ve always been drawn to you.  Always.  I just
didn’t realize why until you kissed me.  I needed you—you
where who I was looking for.”
           
He’s so amazing!
  “But why did you want to
go back to Phoenix?  Wait!  Don’t answer that.” 
I already know.
  I closed my eyes as another bout of
regretful misery washed over me at the thought of my immaturity.

“Emma?”

“Emmalee.”

“Emma-
lee,
what do
you see when you see that spot in the pond now?”

Slowly I opened my eyes.  A
soft warm glow beamed off of the clear sparkling water.  “The
most beautiful water in the whole world.”

“I love you, Emmalee Glumm,”
Chase whispered in my ear.  “Do you think you could put up
with me for awhile?”

Slowly, I turned around within the
circle of his arms and laid my ear against his chest.  His
strong steady heartbeat made me joyously happy.  “I’ll
put up with you as long as you promise to be my shining knight
forever.”

“Done,” Chase murmured
in my hair.

I grinned and snuggled closer.
 “It’s a real good thing you’re hot, isn’t
it?”

Chase chuckled and pulled back--his
eyes seared into mine.  “That’s my Emma, always a
brat.”

“Hey, it’s Emmalee.”
I giggled.  “And I prefer the term, princess.”

Chase threw his head back and
laughed.  “You would!”  Then he swooped me up
in his arms and tossed me over his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare throw me
into that pond!” I shrieked.  “I swear down Chase,
I’ll kill you!”

“Knowing you, I wouldn’t
doubt it.”  He headed up the path.

“Where are we going?” 
My tummy jolted on his shoulder, but I was too curious to care.

“Well, your majesty, I thought
the first order of the day would be to rescue your dog.”

“Clementine!  Really? 
But how?” I twisted to see his face better.  It didn’t
work.  “Chase, put me down!”

He ignored me, as usual.  “Your
mom seemed to think you’d learned your lesson, when you went
over to the Harts, and she wanted to make sure I took you back to get
your puppy.”

“But what aboutGeorgia?”
I grunted as my stomach jolted again.

“She figured she wouldn’t
get to keep her forever.  As soon as I saw her with Clem, I told
her we were going to take her back, anyway.”

“Oomph!  Really?”

“Yep.  What did you think
me and your mom were talking about earlier?”

“I have no idea.  Ugh. 
Put me down Chase, I’m gonna get sick.”

“Almost there.”

“Are you going to be like this
forever?  I’m not sure I can handle it.  As far as
I’m aware princesses don’t get lugged around by their
knights anyway.”

“Haven’t you ever seen
Shrek?”

“Shrek?”  I
laughed. 
Great! 
“That is where you’re
getting your inspiration from?  Shrek?” 
This is
so my luck!

“Hey, you’re the one who
brought up my looks, not me.”

Good grief!
  “Your
handsome looks—not ogre looks.”

Chase laughed as he gently brought
me down on the porch.  For a minute he just stared at me. 
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  His eyes
seared into mine.

I beamed my new Emmalee Glumm smile
and captured his palm that rested against my cheek with my hand. 
“Just as long as you remember that, we’ll be good.”

Chase leaned in and whispered
against my lips sending sparks everywhere, “Emmalee, you’re
beautiful.  Can I hold you?”

I sighed and melted into his arms. 
What else was I supposed to do? 

It just goes to show that even
though everything may seem perfect, it takes a whole lot of work to
get it there. After months of trying to change everyone else, little
did I know it was me who needed the most help.  Thankfully, I
was able to realize that fact in time to open my eyes, and my heart
to allow my knight his greatest rescue of all. 

Bottom of Form