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“Us?” I nodded. “Good, because I want there to be an us. Adilyn, we talked last night about me leaving and you waiting. But I meant what I said. I don’t want to lose you. If my joining the Marines means losing you, then I won’t go.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Mark, you can’t be serious. It’s your dream.”
“It is, but you have my heart. I can’t live without that,” he said.
I reached across the table and took his hand in mine. “And you have my heart. But I can’t let you walk away from your dream. It would be a roadblock in our relationship.”
“But being in a relationship with someone who is serving in the military isn’t easy,” he warned.
“I’m sure it’s not. But do you know what is harder?” He shook his head. “Not being in a relationship with you. I love you, Mark. And I meant it when I said I was proud of you. If you love me too, then you will do this. Follow your dreams and trust us to be there for each other too.”
He smiled. “You sound like my mother did when my father was in the Marines. She stood by him too.”
“And they seem very happy,” I replied.
“They are. And you’re right. Love is what binds them together, and love has seen them through it all. I love you too, Adilyn. If you are really okay with me doing this, then I will sign the enlistment papers after the New Year.”
“I am,” I said.
He got up and pulled something out of his pocket and sat back down. “I know we haven’t even officially dated, but I want you to know that I am fully committed to you. This is a promise ring. I promise to love you. I promise to return to you every chance I get. And I promise to replace this ring someday, with a diamond. Will you wear it?”
My heart was pounding as he held my hand and the ring just inches from my finger. “Yes. Yes, I’ll wear it. Yes, I’ll wait for you. Yes, I promise to be yours and to be here every time you return.” He slipped the gold band with two hearts entwined and a ruby gemstone in the center. “It’s...beautiful,” I said.
“No. You’re beautiful.” I looked up at him and he lifted my hand and we stood. “Do you know I’ve wanted to dance with you from the first time I saw you in the study hall?
“Why didn’t you ever ask?”
“Afraid you’d say no,” he said.
I slipped my arms around his neck, and we started to sway to the music. “Mark, you once told me that you couldn’t deny me anything. Funny, I can’t seem to say no to you either. Never have been.”
“I hope you still feel that way when I step on your toes,” he warned.
I beat him to it. I intentionally placed my feet on his and said, “Now I don’t have to worry about it. Problem solved.”
He kissed me and said, “You were right.”
“About what?”
“That everything is easier when we’re together.”
“It sure is,” I replied.
I rested my head on his shoulder just as the music stopped. But we continued dancing to our own music, the one in our hearts. Under the peaceful quiet of the night, we just held each other.
I felt the cold wet flake land on my cheek, then another. Looking up, large snowflakes started to drop. “Maybe we should go back inside,” he suggested. “I don’t want you catching a cold.”
“Not yet. It’s almost midnight.”
“I know. And it’s snowing like crazy.”
I looked at my watch and waited. Then it turned to twelve. Looking up to the sky, I closed my eyes and made my wish.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Calling on Winterberry’s Christmas magic.” I said, then looked at him. “You know, making a wish. Don’t you want to make one?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Why? I have everything I’ve ever wished for right here in my arms.” He stopped and then said, “I do have one wish.”
