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“Unless the lady desires something else, we’ll have your most expensive champagne.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Champagne it is,” said the server and left.
“But first, bring me somepalincaas well,” Gabriel said.
Within two minutes, the server brought a small pitcher ofpalinca, the Romanian moonshine, and poured a shot. Gabriel smelled it and downed it in one go. The scene was mesmerizing.
Does it taste the same?” I asked.
“The taste is lost, but the smell is intensified. Though I do not feel bad about it since the best taste comes from other things,” he said with a mischievous smile.
I blushed at the boldness my husband exuded and chuckled like a schoolgirl. “You’ve changed so much from the man I left in Wallachia.”
He looked at me astonished, trying to hide an alarming sensation. “I hope in a good way.”
“It is not comparable, but I cannot say it is bad. That’s for sure”, I said.
He smiled like I took a great burden off his chest. “I do everything to please my queen,” he said and kissed my hand. “Let’s eat lunch and leave, for we have more to do today.”
“Wasn’t driving on the brink of death the entire point of our trip?”
“That’s just the beginning.”
The server came and placed our salad plates in front. As I grabbed a fork, ready to dig in, Gabriel asked, “Can I see your left hand?”
His request confused me, but I obliged. He took my hand and inspected my ring finger. “Is this my mother’s ring on top of the wedding one?”
“Yes, your mother gifted it to me before I time-traveled.”
“It is a stunning ring. I’m glad you’re wearing such a precious Stoica family heirloom.” His eyes became darker and somewhat pensive. Even after so many years, the memory of his parents still lived in his soul.
After lunch, Gabriel paid the server and led the way to whatever he had in plan. He stopped in front of the restaurant, where I could see another police car holding off the incoming cars from the other side.
“I would like to request an embrace from my queen,” Gabriel said solemnly.
“They’re not that expensive, you know,” I said and came closer to him.
Once in his arms, he held me tighter than usual. “Brace yourself,” he said.
Before I could ask what he meant, he went supersonic, and in the next two seconds, we were on top of the highest mountain peak.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, fearful I might tumble down given the edge’s proximity. After I felt a bit more comfortable with my surroundings, I turned to Gabriel, who suddenly began kneeling on one knee.
“What are you doing?”I asked.
He presented me with a small velvety box and said, “Petra Costin, will you marry me?”
Chapter 10
Though I was already married to him, I still lost my footing and almost fell to my guaranteed death. Fortunately, Gabriel stood up, caught me in time, and held me close in his arms. “Once, I had failed to take your hand and lost you. It will never happen again,” he whispered and showed me the little box.
I took it with trembling fingers, not only because I was excited to see what was inside but also because one little slip and the box would end in a ravine somewhere at the bottom of the mountain. I opened it, and to my astonishment, I saw a black, teardrop diamond ring. The contrasting play of light and darkness conferred the center stone great depth. It reminded me of old mirrors. Surrounding the black diamond was a halo of white diamonds which extended around the white gold band.
Gabriel saw me ogling at the jewelry piece and decided to help me. He took the ring out of the box, moved the ruby ring my mother-in-law gifted to me on the other hand, and placed the engagement ring instead. “Now your fingers hold two chapters of our love story: the past on your right hand and the present on your left.”
“You didn’t have to do this, you know? When we got married, these traditions didn’t even exist,” I said as I admired the ring on my finger.
