Ria pushed the door to her home open and her nostrils were tickled by a pine tree scent. She hung up her coat and dropped her purse by the front door after removing her iphone and stuffing it into her pocket.
"Jeremy?" she wandered down the entry way.
She paused when she spotted the tall, familiar figure of her fiancée. He was not yet aware of her presence as he wrapped the Christmas tree in lights. Ria said nothing as she leaned up against the wall and watched his movements. She felt like it had been ages since she'd seen him; really seen him. She smiled to herself as she watched him weave his way around the tree, his OCD compelling him to make sure all the lights were perfectly spaced and aligned.
Jeremy glanced up and spotted Ria. He paused in his work and wordlessly stared at her for a moment. She looked tired. Her hair was a little disheveled from her frantically running her fingers through it when she worked too hard. Her eyes were a little puffy from the lack of sleep. She was thinner since she first started the job, but none of this mattered to Jeremy. Through their thick and thin, and this was definitely the thin in their relationship, he loved her.
"Hi," Ria said in a tired, content voice.
"Hi," Jeremy responded, a kind grin slipping across his lips. He was so happy to see Ria home at a decent hour for once. Within the past months, he felt as though their relationship had been slipping. He was proud of Ria for moving up in the business world. Proud she was accomplishing her dreams and part of such a monumental project, but he silently worried her priorities might not be in order any more.
"You've decorated. The lights outside look beautiful," Ria murmured. Tears started to rim her eyes as the painful understanding that she hadn't lifted a finger in her favorite winter activity. She didn't even pick out the live tree Jeremy bought, let alone know he was shopping for one.
"It was no problem. I know you're taking on a lot right now and we just have to be patient. After the Holidays, things will smooth out for us."
"You know I'm working like this for us?" Ria vocally tried to convince herself more than him.
"Are you?" Jeremy asked gently, but the words packed their own punch.
Ria couldn't even protest. She had no idea where to even start. Her original intentions had been pure. It was truly to help fund their wedding. They were both working long hours to accomplish the wedding and buying their first home together.
"Is it worth it?" Jeremy asked, his voice plummeting and his throat tightening.
"Is what worth it?" she had never heard him talk like this before and the words stung. A burning sensation started in her stomach. It was the first time she had experienced the panicked feeling of possibly losing Jeremy. She had been so absorbed in work and so busy lying to herself that she was doing all this for them, she hadn't even considered the price. "What are you saying?"
"Ria," Jeremy breathed and approached her, "is working ourselves to death and never seeing each other worth a big wedding and new home?"
Ria shook her head, relief flooding her. "No, but we are. Right? You still believe that?"
Jeremy nodded his head. Jeremy's blue eyes gave into the tears that had been forming. "Do you still want this?" he whispered. He felt like holding his breath until he expired if Ria said no.
Ria stared at him agape. Never before had she actually stopped to ask that question since the proposal. She didn't want to give him a half ass answer, she knew she really had to delve into her feelings. He was asking her for honesty and she owed it to him. She studied him in his cozy, white sweater and felt herself strain to be in his arms. He was familiar to her. His scent, his blue eyes, his blonde hair, his smile, his laugh... they were all pieces that were tied to so many memories together. For the briefest of moments, Alex flashed through her mind, but she pushed him away. She wouldn't dare entertain any thought of him.
"Yes, I still want this."
"Then lets get married."
"Well, of course, I already said yes," Ria laughed with tear rimmed eyes.
"No," Jeremy shook his head, "I mean, lets just go get married. Lets forget all this planning. It doesn't matter. We'll use the money we've saved just for the house. Let's do it when we go to see your family."
A wave of relief hit Ria. It was like the weight of the world lifted. She couldn't believe how incredibly wonderful the idea of just doing it and dropping all the expenses and planning sounded.
Jeremy dropped down to a knee. "Ria, will you marry me?"
"Yes," Ria nodded enthusiastically, "I will marry you."
Jeremy stood up and kissed her. "All right, over Christmas break we'll become Mr. and Mrs. Tussley. I have a flight that leaves three days before yours. I'll take care of the details. You wrap things up at work and we can start the New Year with a clean slate."
Ria nodded. "I love you." She hugged him and silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I was so scared of losing you," Jeremy kissed her forehead and felt his own tears moisten his face.
"You will never lose me," Ria reassured him, "I promise."