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As the slices were handed out, Daphne carefully put both of them on one plate. Max was quick to congratulate his friend as both made their excuses to get away.
“I need to get some rest and finish my antibiotics,” Max began, yanking his bag up onto his shoulders.
“Same.”
“You’re on antibiotics?” Houghton asked, chuckling as he and Logan looked at each other and bumped knuckles.
“Yup,” Daphne smirked, trying not to blush. “Got a big pain in my neck that flares up every once in a while.”
Smiles flew around the table, and no one missed them leaving as Jake and Lena were still engrossed in each other.That’s how it should be, she thought tenderly, casting a glance at the couple before following Max out with their plate.
“Careful, hon…” he said quietly, holding out his hand to steady her. “The top layer has frozen, and I don’t want you to fall.”
Nodding, she put her hand in his and thought it was sweet that he was looking out for her, taking the role of protector despite his crutches. When he took charge, it just did something to her, making her feel cherished… and recognized that he didn’t let go of her hand. Instead, he put it on the back of his neck and smiled at her before moving his crutches.
“I think when things warm up, I’d like to look into a prosthesis to use when we go out,” he said in the stillness of the evening. “The crutches are handy, and I like them better than a wheelchair… but I was thinking that if I had something for occasions, then maybe we could do other things.”
“Like what?”
“Dancing or hiking trails,” he replied simply. “Maybe when it warms up a bit, we could check out Devil’s Tower together or Yellowstone. I’ve always wanted to see the multicolored pools and geysers.”
Her breath caught in her chest as she looked at him, feeling a smile touch her face.
“What?” he chuckled.
“I wasn’t sure you really wanted to do that or just saying it to try warm me up so you could have your wicked way with me,” she taunted playfully, touching his ear, knowing it tickled him… and heard his clear laugh.
“Well, uh,hellooo?”he mocked playfully. “When your wife is as smokin’ hot as mine is, a guy would say anything… but no, Daphne. I actually meant it,” he smiled. “We could put a camper on the back of your truck and toss a mattress back there, so we have vented windows with screening and a little privacy at night. Might be better than a tent – but I’m not opposed to a tent either.”
Daphne just looked at him, realizing that he truly looked happy at the idea of traveling around with her and felt bad for having the thoughts and doubts that she did not long ago.
“Rushmore, the Badlands, all of it…” he continued, opening the front door to their cabin for her and hesitated. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you make the coffee, and we could talk over our cheesecake,” he invited… and she nodded, moving to start the Keurig. She glanced over her shoulder to see him opening his duffel bag that he’d set down on the couch and turned back to the machine to put another cup underneath once it had stopped brewing. Switching out the cups, she turned around and saw his smile as he looked up from something in his hands.
“What?”
“I have something for you,” he smiled nervously and hesitated. “One thing I want you to know about me is that I will never lie to you – and a friend told me to take credit for this, but I can’t… however, I do have an idea.”
“What is that?”
“Well,” he began and walked toward her, letting the material unfold and she hesitated, stunned. There were yards of gossamer, shimmering green material that looked like it was a gown or a layer to a formal dress. “In Afghanistan, some cultures believe that the bride should wear green on their wedding day. It signifies her marriage, and the family shares coffee and sweets before their marriage takes place.”
“Really?” she whispered, stunned as he draped the material over her shoulders, putting her arm through the armholes, and stared at him. Her hands nervously touched the material, smoothing it and admiring the handiwork that was obviously crafted with love. There were tiny stitches, so many little beads and mirrors, and it was glorious.
“You look perfect,” he murmured and nodded before moving back to his bag. She couldn’t help but watch him, unsure what to say or do, as he made his way back with something else wrapped in paper, grinning.
“What’s that?”
“A surprise,” he smiled. “Give me your hands.”
“What about the coffee?”
“In a moment,” he promised, holding out his. She put her hands in his and gazed into his eyes as he spoke directly to her. “When we married, it was a blur because I was scared… and you felt pressured, but somehow we ended up here, together.”
She blinked back tears as she saw his own eyes, which were full of emotion, staring at her.
