Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11 (20 page)

“
We
’
d have
a quiet lunch outside, eat cake…
I loved that big cake today
—
so pretty and
it
tasted wonderful
—
and then we
’
d all walk up to Mother
’
s grave
;
the preacher would give us our vows, we
’
d thank everyone for coming, and then they
’
d go home
.”

A hush fell between them as Chad pondered Willow
’
s words.
Torn between the appeal that a simple celebration
such as
she
’
d described afforded, and knowing that they had more people than themselves to consider, he prayed.
His hand toyed with her hair as Willow shifted slightly to be more comfortable.

“
I think your day sounds wonderful
,
Willow.
It
’
s unusual
,
and
it
’
s not
really
unreasonable but
—”

“
But you want traditional,
”
she interjected dejectedly.

“
No.
I want us to have what we want
,
and I just want you to be happy
,
but we
’
re not the only ones invested in this wedding.
I say we do what we want as long as we don
’
t hurt family in the process
.”

“
Agreed
.”

He twirled the ring on her finger as they sat and listened to the wood crackling in the stove.
Willow sighed.
“
I can
’
t believe you brought that with us
.”

“
I wanted you to wear it home
.”

“
You couldn
’
t wait half an hour?
”

“
No.
I couldn
’
t,
”
he teased as he squeezed her hand.
“
A guy has a right to want his ring on his girl
’
s hand.
Sue me
.”

The way Chad said
“
his girl
’
s hand
”
sent a wave of something unfamiliar over her.
The
gentle possessiveness in his tone peeled away
another
thin layer of loneliness from her.
She
truly
wasn
’
t alone anymore.
While it may have been true for some time,
she now
felt a hint of the old familiar feeling of belonging that had disappeared last May.

Willow stood
,
knowing she needed her sleep.
Aggie
’
s children were coming
on Monday
and
there still was much to do
.
Still feeling the wonder of belonging again, Willow kissed Chad
’
s cheek.
“
Thank you
.”

“
What for?
”

She shrugged.
“
It
’
s too hard to explain
,
but thank you
.”

The scent of sausage and coffee wafted up the stairs and into Willow
’
s room.
Her eyes blinked open as she realized she wasn
’
t dreaming
,
and the scent was truly coming from downstairs.
She flung the covers back, grabbed her robe, and hurried downstairs.

“
What
—”

“
You make me breakfast
—
ok, and lunch and dinner too—
all the time.
It was my turn.
I can
’
t cook much
,
but I can fry sausage and scramble eggs
.”

With a smile of thanks, Willow turned to hurry upstairs.
“
I
’
ll just run up and change and go feed the animals then
.”

“
Already did
.”

“
What?
”
Turning slowly, she returned to Chad
’
s side and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“
Thank you!
”

“
Hey, if I knew you
’
d be this grateful, I would have done this a long time ago
.”

She snitched a piece of cooked sausage and shook her head at him.
“
A long time ago, you didn
’
t want to come here, remember?
”
With an impish grin, Willow snatched another piece of sausage.
“
I think I
’
ll go change
.”

“
You will not
.”
Chad thrust a plate full of eggs and sausage into her hands as he pointed to the table.
“
Eat while it
’
s hot
.”

“
In my pajamas?
”
Her protest sounded weak, muffled as it was by a mouthful of eggs.

“
It
’
s too cold to go without them.
Sorry
.”
His grin caught her off guard.

“
Chad!
”
She eyed him curiously.
“
I
’
d say you
’
re flirting with me
—again
.”

“
I
’
d say I have that right
.”

Her eyes widened briefly.
“
Did Libby say what time they were coming?
”

“
Someone changed the subject
awfully fast
.
Coffee?
”

“
Ew.
No thanks
.”
Her glare was the least menacing glare Chad had ever seen.
“
Libby?
Children?
”

“
Sometime after lunch
.”

Plate empty, Willow stuck her feet in her boots, grabbed her heavy coat, and hurried out front.
Chad, plate in hand, stood at the living room window
,
watching fascinated as Willow carried a ridiculously long garden hose from beneath the steps all the way down the hill from the house into a slight valley
to one side
of the house.
His forehead furrowed in confusion
as she trudged back to the house, turned on the spigot, and hurried inside.

“
What
are
you doing?
”

“
Ice skating!
I have all of my old skates.
Surely we can find a pair to fit them
.”

Pulling off her coat and boots, she handed them to Chad and hurried upstairs.
Breakfast in a robe might be comfortable
,
but she had work to do and didn
’
t intend on lounging around in her pajamas while she could be working.
Within minutes she was dressed in jeans and a sweater, had her hair braided and out of the way, teeth
were
brushed, and
her
face washed.

As she left the bathroom, Chad met her at the top of the stairs
,
carrying an air mattress and foot pump.
“
I thought you might want to make up Ellie
’
s bed before
—
”

“
Oh good!
Bring it in here
.”

The doo
r to the spare bedroom was open, leaving the
room reasonably warm.
Chad started pumping the mattress
,
but Willow shooed him out of the room.
“
I
’
ll do this; can you go up into the attic and bring down my dollhouse?
I
’m going
to set it up between those windows on
—” she hesitated. “Well,
that little table up there
.”