Mandie's heart soared. Her small gloved hands squeezed Joe's firmly and her cheeks felt tight from the wide smile that was now present on her face. He said it! He wants to court me! He loves me back! thought Mandie excitedly. Her thoughts buzzing from the revelations Joe had just shared. After all these years Joe still loved her and it relieved Mandie. This wasn't one-sided and both of them wanted to pursue a courtship. She wasn't a girl anymore, this newly found affection made her feel sure of that. It made her feel mature. No longer denying the attraction and feelings she had for her best friend and realising how much she had grown to love him.
"Please say something Mandie. You're making me worried," whispered Joe, his voice hinting of the vulnerability he felt for sharing his feelings.
"Oh Joe! I feel the same way!" Mandie exclaimed, breaking her silence. "Yes, I would like to pursue a courtship with you too!"
Joe's slouched shoulders immediately straightened and he returned Mandie's wide smile. Releasing Mandie's hands his arms wrapped around her shoulders and gave her a tight hug, staying closer to Mandie longer than usual.
"I'm so glad you said yes. I didn't want to be rejected again," teased Joe, his usual mischievous self shining through again. "How many times will I have to ask you to be my wife? I've already asked before, maybe 3 times? Twice more if I'm lucky."
"Joe!" Mandie exclaimed as she leant back out of his arms, "Stop teasing me! Just be happy I said yes to courting you!"
"You're right. I'll stop. I just feel so happy, you finally said yes! You have no idea how long I've waited for you Amanda Shaw."
The young couple sat on the swing for a while after enjoying the company of each other without being interrupted and watched as the light started to fade from the sky.
"I had this awful dream before you arrived," Mandie began after a brief moment of silence between them, her attention focussed on the hedges in the front garden. Joe's attention however was entirely on Mandie, his upper body still facing towards her. "It pulled at everything in my heart and I just knew then that I couldn't put you off any longer. I'm sorry Joe, it has taken me a while to come around but I have always loved you. I've always felt something different towards you but it has only been recently that I realised what that was."
"That's alright Mandie. I could have waited longer but now that you've said yes I am just glad that you feel the same way," Joe responded gently. "May I ask what the dream was about?"
"Oh Joe, it was about you dying. I was standing at your grave which wasn't too far away from my fathers. It was at your funeral and it was awful, I hope you don't die anytime soon," Mandie replied, tears gathering in her eyes. Her attention drawn away from the hedges and towards Joe's face.
Joe smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry that you dreamed that. I don't plan on going anywhere, anytime soon. How would you like when you come home with me after Christmas we go visit your fathers grave as soon as we can?"
"I'd love that, thanks."
Soon the darkness forced them to go inside which was just in time for the evening meal. Mandie felt more at ease throughout the meal. Her feelings towards Joe had affected her more than she had liked. At least she knew where she stood with Joe now and could tell her best friends. Mandie, Sallie and Celia were in Mandie's room preparing for bed when Celia began probing Mandie again. Both of her friends had noticed a difference in Mandie throughout dinner. It all came after her discussion with Joe so her change in behaviour must have come from what he had said.
"So Mandie," teased Celia with a grin, "what happened with Joe a few days ago? You've been very tight lipped about everything, something must be going on."
"Celia, I thought you'd let Mandie tell us whatever is on her mind when she was ready," scolded Sallie.
"No Sallie, it's alright," Mandie replied gently. "I believe I am ready to tell you what has been happening." A smile breaking out on her face as she considered where to begin.
"I might as well just get straight to the point. Joe just asked if I would court him just before dinner and I said yes. I-"
"I knew it!" exclaimed Celia, interrupting Mandie. "It's about time, see Sallie I was right. It was going to happen this Christmas."
"You were guessing when we were going to start courting?!" Mandie asked in disbelief.
"Well yes, after our conversation on our walk. When you got quite agitated, I just knew something was going to happen soon and so I told Sallie."
"She's telling the truth, I thought it wouldn't be this Christmas but I knew it'd be soon," added Sallie timidly.
"Well, I had every right to be agitated. I had this awful dream the night before about Joe dying. It shook me up and here you two were taking guesses at when I'd say yes to Joe. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was shocked." Mandie replied in a serious tone.
"I'm sorry about your dream, I had wondered what it was about if it made you toss and turn so viciously," said Celia supportively. "I'm excited for you too! Now we are all in that stage of life where we are courting!"
"Yes, I am excited," replied Mandie as she climbed into her bed and lay down."With all that's happened with Joe, I haven't even thought too much of Christmas! I can't believe it's tomorrow."
"Me neither," replied Sallie.
"I agree, soon we'll be going back to college and our Christmas break will be over. I hope it will be a good day," added Celia.
"Me too," said Mandie. "We better get to sleep otherwise we won't want to get up."
