AllFreeNovel
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Autumn nights morph into winter and we no longer see each other only twice a week. He comes over most nights for dinner, sometimes a movie. Sometimes he picks Ivy up from school when I have to work late, and stays with her until I’m back.
He is with me every day, but in a way that exists outside of our relationship. I feel like I have been holding the world on my shoulders for a very long time, and now someone is doing it with me.
* * *
Christmas approaches, and I remember this time last year, when I first met Noah. I remember the way sexuality formed so much of our relationship and now our love is full of so much more. Though God, if we don’t make love soon, I am going to combust, because I still want him as though he is the salvation to all my ills.
* * *
Ivy performs in her school concert; this year she’s a Wise Man. Noah comes with me, sits beside me, laughs with me and holds my hand. When I get tears of pride over Ivy’s performance, he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my inner wrist. My heart soars.
* * *
It is Christmas Eve and Noah is with us. I didn’t invite him, but it makes no sense that he’d be anywhere else. My family come too; they are all familiar with Noah by now. And while they don’t understand our relationship, they like him. Even Aaron’s mum seems to find him charming. I serve turkey with all the trimmings,
and Ivy has made custard for dessert. It’s late when everyone leaves.
Noah doesn’t.
* * *
It’s a long time since we met, and a long time since my heart was ripped apart. A long time since hurt and pain dogged my steps and life seemed like an impossible journey.
I’m happy.
I shower, butterflies in my stomach, because I know that tonight is special. I know that he’s staying over, and that tomorrow it will be Christmas, and that beautiful morning will be all the more special because he’ll be with me. With Ivy. With us.
When I emerge into the lounge, everything is spotless. Noah has done the dishes, tidied the table and put out some mince pies. There is a little gift bag beside them.
‘Just a small trinket,’ he says with a shrug.
‘Oh, Noah.’ My heart churns. ‘Shouldn’t I save it for tomorrow?’
He shakes his head. ‘There’s more for tomorrow.’
And I look towards the tree and draw in a shocked breath. He’s right! The tree is groaning under the weight of gifts.
‘They’re mostly for Ivy,’ he admits with a self-conscious grimace. ‘I hope that’s okay.’
God. He’s so perfect. I nod and close the distance between us. The bag is simple white and inside there’s a small box. I open it, my confusion growing when I see a ring inside. A ring with an enormous sparkling diamond in the centre and several more surrounding it.
I turn to Noah to ask him what it means, but he answers me silently, for he’s knelt to the floor and his expression is loaded with feeling.
There is no long, flowery speech. What can he possibly say that will mean more than these last eleven months? He has shown me every week, every day, every minute we’ve been together that he loves me.
‘Will you marry me?’
He need say no more.
I nod. ‘Yes.’
Our hearts, though, are full and they communicate for us, and when he stands and kisses me everything we’ve been, everything we are, explodes around us. I cry, but they’re happy tears. The Christmas tree shines, my ring sparkles and hope no longer beats its wings only within my chest: it is everywhere around us, and I know we deserve that.
* * *
