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“Sunshine and Thunderstorm worked together,” Cole continues the story. “At first, Thunderstorm would try to rain all over Sunshine’s day.”
The little girl representing the sun bolts across the stage with a shriek. The thunderstorm runs after her, screeching at the top of his lungs. For the next bit, Cole has to yell to make himself heard over the noise of the actors.
“But eventually, Thunderstorm realized that he actually really liked Sunshine. He secretly wished that he could be more like her. She made people happy wherever she went.”
The kids stop screaming and take each other’s hands, swinging them as they walk around the stage.
“Sunshine was really nice to everyone, but she paid special attention to Thunderstorm. She made him feel special. She remembered things he said. She brought him coffee. And Thunderstorm realized that he was falling in love with Sunshine. That even though they bickered sometimes, she made every aspect of his life better.”
Tears slip down my face as I watch Sunshine and Thunderstorm embrace. I can’t help but smile.
“When Thunderstorm got a job offer overseas, he and Sunshine fought. She felt sad, like even Thunderstorm wouldn’t like her anymore if she showed him who she truly was. He was scared too, afraid to tell Sunshine how he really felt. So they decided not to see each other anymore.”
The sun and the thunderstorm run to opposite sides of the stage, each crossing their arms and looking angry.
“Thunderstorm realized that Sunshine probably had a lot of emotions she hid under her rainbow. And he decided to make a last-ditch effort to woo her back,” Cole says. He looks down at Charlie, bouncing his son on his lap. “Can you remember the last line?”
Charlie shakes his head. Cole leans down and whispers in his ear. Charlie grins and belts out, “Forgive me!”
“Good job. Thanks for helping me tell my story.” Cole kisses Charlie on the head and sets him down. Then Cole wriggles off the stage and walks back to me. He kneels down before me and looks me deep in the eye.
“This is me groveling. I’m sorry I was such a stubborn bastard.”
I give my head a shake. “I don’t understand. Are you turning down the job in London?”
“It’s already done.” He grabs my hand and places a gentle kiss against the inside of my wrist. “I don’t have to have a fancy job. But I need you, Savannah. I’m afraid I can’t live without you.”
My jaw drops. I don’t know if I heard him right.
“Cole…,” I struggle to piece sentences together. “I don’t understand. What changed your mind?”
He looks circumspect. “Honestly? It was my brothers and my father telling me to knock it off, wise up, quit being a scaredy cat, and ask you to marry me.”
I shake my head. “Honestly Cole? You fucked up.”
His smile slips away. “I know. I know I did. I deserve the blame.”
I grind my teeth. A part of me is willing to cave and accept his apology. But another part of me wants to hold him off just a while longer. I can’t be so forgiving that Cole thinks he can just walk all over me again and apologize later.
“I’m not marrying you, Cole. I haven’t even decided if I forgive you yet!” I yelp.
“Please forgive me. Please, Sav.” He kisses my knuckles. “You don’t have to agree to marry me. But I need you in my life. I need to know that you are by my side.”
I shake my head. “What if I say no?”
“Then I’ll lose the love of my life.”
I pinch my lips together and stare at him. I press my knuckles against my mouth, and try to hold in the tears that are overwhelming me. Cole hesitates for a second and turns his head to look at the stage.
“Could y’all give us a moment in private? Not you, Charlie. Just everyone else.”
A keening sound escapes my chest. I bow my head and struggle to keep it in.
Cole pulls me out of my seat and down onto the floor with him. He wraps his arms around me tightly. Vaguely, I think I can feel his fingers in my hair, pushing it back.
“Savannah, it’s okay to cry.”
A jagged sob bursts free, and I double over in agony. All the times I held my tongue. Every moment my mother told me to stay sweet when I wanted to scream. Each moment that I stuffed my feelings deep down inside since I was a freaking child.
