Chapter 10: Making Decisions
Carlisle sighed as he finished packing up his trunk. Sitting down, he pinched the bridge of his nose as he started thinking. For the last few days, all he had done was pack for his trip to Chicago. The last time he saw Elizabeth was the previous evening.
Looking up, he heard a knock on the door. Walking downstairs, he opened the door to reveal Elizabeth. "Good evening," he said smiling.
"Hello," she greeted smiling.
Carlisle opened the door, letting her in. "I have done some thinking," he informed. Biting her lower lip she looked at him. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes. "Do you still want to come to Chicago with me?" he asked.
"More than anything," she replied quietly.
She reached up, holding his hands in hers. "I would be…honored if you'd come to Chicago with me," he murmured. A huge smile appeared on her face. She threw her arms around his neck with a small laugh. Carlisle smiled, wrapping his arms around her in a hug.
"I would love to come to Chicago with you," she whispered.
"Then you should get your belongings packed, we have a long travel ahead of us in a week," he said quietly.
Elizabeth let him go, bouncing a little with excitement. "Carlisle I promise I won't be in the way," she assured him.
"Don't fret about that," he answered smiling.
The young woman was beaming before looking at the clock in the corner of his den. "When does the train leave?" she asked.
"Our train leaves at three on Friday," he replied.
Elizabeth nodded before she started to plan about what she was going to bring to Chicago with her.
When Friday came around, Carlisle was standing on the platform with Elizabeth and their families. He looked over to see Elizabeth saying goodbye to her parents. "Have a safe trip son," Franklin told his son.
"I will," Carlisle answered.
Franklin shook his son's hand with a smile. "No father could be prouder," he commented. Carlisle smiled before Franklin pulled him a little closer hugging him. "I am very proud of you son," he told him.
"Thank you," Carlisle answered.
Franklin let him go with a grin. "Your mother would've been proud," he commented. Carlisle smiled before Franklin stepped back. "Make sure you write," he added. Nodding he looked over as Elizabeth walked over to him.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"I am if you are ready," he replied.
"I am," she told him smiling.
They walked over to the train, handing the man their tickets before he placed his hands on Elizabeth's waist, lifting her up onto the train. "Thank you," she said smiling.
"You are quite welcome," he replied.
He grabbed the railing pulling himself up onto the train.
Once they found a seat to sit in, Carlisle stepped back. "Ladies first," he said smiling.
"Thank you," she answered smiling back.
She sat down, looking out the window as Carlisle sat next to her. He watched as she waved her parents that were still standing on the platform. He was playing with the ring that was in the bottom of his jacket pocket. He tilted his head back and started thinking. "Carlisle, are you alright?" she asked. Carlisle reached over, resting his hand over hers.
"I'm alright," he assured her smiling.
Elizabeth smiled as she gave his hand a squeeze. "This is so exciting," she commented.
"It is," he agreed.
Carlisle looked at her with a small smile, she was now reading a book she had brought with her and he was staring at her beautiful face. Her emerald green eyes were practically sparkling, matching the happy smile on her face. "Even though my gaze is in a book, Carlisle, doesn't mean I can't see you staring at me out of the corner of my eye," she quipped.
"Sorry," he murmured reaching for his own book that was in his own bag.
Elizabeth smiled as she started reading her book again.
The trip was long, but they were able to enjoy themselves with pleasant conversations and plans for what they would want to do when they reached Chicago.
When they finally arrived in Chicago, they got off the train and Carlisle went to get their luggage while Elizabeth waited by the wall for him. As Carlisle came back with a trolley that held their luggage, he noticed that some guys were bothering Elizabeth. "Please leave me alone," she insisted.
"Excuse me, but do we have a problem?" he asked.
"What business is it of yours?" one guy asked.
Elizabeth hurried over standing behind Carlisle, holding onto his arm. "The lady is with me," he informed.
"I'm sure she'd have a better time with us," the second guy commented.
Carlisle rolled his eyes a little as he held onto Elizabeth's hand. "Hey! We were talking to you boy!" the first guy snapped grabbing onto Carlisle's other arm.
"Remove your hand," Carlisle ordered.
"What are you going to do if I don't?" the guy asked.
"Just remove your hand and leave us be," Carlisle answered.
The guy started laughing, but then the first guy who had a hold of Carlisle's arm stumbled back when a punch landed on his jaw. "Carlisle no!" Elizabeth exclaimed grabbing a hold of his arm.
"You'll pay for that!" the guy snapped.
"Is there a problem here?" a guard asked.
They glanced at each other, Elizabeth had her arms wrapped tightly around Carlisle's arm. "No, no problem," the man answered. Carlisle grabbed a hold of the trolley again, leaving the train station while pulling Elizabeth closer to him.
"You alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied looking at the ground.
He heard her sniffle and stopped walking. "Elizabeth…" he started turning her around. She looked up at him with tear filled eyes.
"That was just so…terrifying," she murmured.
Carlisle wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her close for a hug. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck letting out a small sob. "They just kept coming closer and trying to touch me, telling me what they wanted to do to me," she told him her voice shaking.
"I am so sorry that I left you alone," he whispered.
He hushed her gently, resting his forehead against the side of her head. Pulling back he wiped a stray tear from her cheek when their eyes locked. Leaning forward he gently brushed his lips over hers. She moved her hand over the side of his neck as she kissed him back. The kiss deepened a little, Carlisle's hands were resting on her waist while her arms moved around his neck again. After pulling away, Carlisle smiled a little, Elizabeth was smiling back, her cheeks flushed a little. "Uh…um…" he murmured, pulling away a little.
Closing his eyes, he moved his fingers through his hair. "I think there's a new home waiting for the two of us," he murmured. She nodded her head in agreement before they put their stuff in the stagecoach that was waiting for them.
That night after putting his things in his room, Carlisle lied back on his bed, his hands over his eyes. He knew that he had feelings for Elizabeth, she was an incredible girl. What man wouldn't begin to have feelings for her? "God tell me what I should do," he whispered closing his eyes. He let out a deep breath, sitting up and looking at the ring in his hand. Elizabeth was the perfect choice for a wife. "Maybe…one day I could give her my entire heart," he murmured tracing the silver band of the ring.
The problem was, would he let himself develop more feelings for this girl? Closing his eyes he lied back on the bed as he started thinking again.
Two months passed since arriving in Chicago, Carlisle and Elizabeth had grown closer since their move.
One day, Carlisle returned home from the hospital to find Elizabeth sitting outside in the garden reading. Letting out a deep breath, he opened the backdoor. "Good evening," he greeted smiling. Looking up from her book, she smiled back.
"Good evening Carlisle," she answered smiling.
Letting out a deep, he walked over to her clearing his throat. "May I talk to you for a moment?" he asked.
"Of course," she replied.
Sitting next to her, looked around the gardens. "Isn't it lovely out here?" she asked.
"Yes, it does," he answered smiling a little.
Elizabeth reached over, holding his hand. "Are you alright? You look uneasy," she commented.
"I'm alright," he assured her.
He moved his thumb over her hand. "I never really thanked you," he told her.
"What for?" she asked.
"For staying with me when I was being a foolish man who was willing to let go of someone as incredible as you. For making me realize that life does…go on," he replied.
"You are very welcome," she told him smiling softly.
Letting out a deep breath he moved off the bench and onto one knee in front of her. "You asked me once if you were foolish, the answer is you are far from a foolish girl, for I am the foolish man. I almost let you go, but I am grateful that you are here. I hope that you are here to stay…and you are the woman I want to move on in life with," he started. Reaching into his pocket he held up the ring. "Elizabeth Morgan…will you be my wife?" he asked. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him.
"Yes," she replied.
She wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "Yes," she repeated beaming. Carlisle pulled back, slipping the ring onto her finger. Elizabeth smiled holding onto his hand before resting her hand against his cheek as she kissed him. Kissing her back, he rested his hands on her waist finally feeling a little more whole than he had before.