The next day Dani was in the nursery again helping Guinevere put together things for the new baby. Since they did not know whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl, they used yellow to decorate the room until they were sure. Dani was in a chipper mood and literally dancing around the room. Guinevere knew something was up.
"What's his name?" she asked making Dani pause in mid-step.
"Excuse me, what did you say?" Dani asked.
"I asked what his name is. The boy you're dancing around because of. I've only seen you like this when there is a boy involved. Is it that stable hand I told you about yesterday?" Guinevere asked.
"Yes, if you must know it is the stable hand you told me about yesterday. His name is Henry. He is so sweet and kind. We stayed in the stables talking about everything imaginable after I got back from my ride. I found that we have a lot more in common than I could ever think of," Dani said as she smiled from ear to ear.
"My, my, my…how the times have changed. You said I was crazy over Arthur, but this definitely tops it," Guinevere replied, nudging Dani on the arm.
"Does not!"
"Does too!"
"No it most certainly does not!"
"It most certainly does!"
"No!"
"Would you listen to us? We're arguing like we were five years old or something," Guinevere said laughing about the silliness of their argument.
After a few more hours of working on the nursery, Guinevere was exhausted and Dani was fidgeting to go meet Henry in the stables. They decided to call it a day and do separate things. Dani bolted out the door, down the hall, and ran all the way to the stables. When she arrived, Henry was right there waiting for her.
"Sorry I'm late, my sister and I were finishing some things on my future niece or nephew's room," she explained.
"You don't have to apologize, I understand family comes first," he said.
"You're sweet," she said.
"I have a surprise for you. First I have to blindfold you and then we'll go from there. Is that alright with you?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
Dani turned around and allowed him to put the blindfold on her. Then he grabbed her hand to lead her to a horse. He lifted her onto the horse first and then got in front of her to grab the reins.
"Hold on to me tight," he said as he snapped the reins and kicked the horse to go.
"Where are we going?" Dani asked as she grabbed around his waist.
"You will see when we get there. I promise you will like it," he replied.
The ride was relaxing to Dani, as she held on tight to Henry's waist. She had never ridden a horse blindfolded. This was a totally new experience for her. She didn't mind it however. When the horse finally stopped, Henry helped her off and unblindfolded her. In front of her was a picnic set up under a shade tree by a river.
"Surprise," he said.
"This is amazing. No one has ever done anything like this for me. How did you know that I would like a picnic?" she asked.
"Actually I didn't know you had never been on one. I just guessed you would like one since you like being outside," Henry replied.
Dani laughed as she sat down on the quilt that was laid out. There was a basket, which contained mountains of food. Henry and Dani began to eat. Every so often she would catch him glancing at her. His eyes were sky blue. They laid on the quilt after lunch and stared up at the passing clouds. Dani closed her eyes and rested for a few moments. When she opened her eyes, Lancelot was standing over her. She jumped about four feet off the quilt in surprise. In a moment of panic, she glanced over at Henry. He was fast asleep on the quilt. For that, she was thankful. She turned back to Lancelot.
"Who is that?" he asked angrily.
"None of your concern," she replied.
"It is my concern who he is. He could hurt you," he said.
"He could hurt me! Like you didn't hurt me enough?" she replied.
"I never meant to. That was not my intention at all. I loved you Dani and I still do," said Lancelot as he crouched down beside her.
"No, I can't do this. You hurt me so much that I never wanted to love anyone again. Now that I've finally found someone that I can begin to have a relationship with, you come charging in and expect me to jump into your arms like nothing ever happened? Guess again because I'm not going to," Dani said.
"Dani, please," Lancelot begged.
"I said no. Now please leave before Henry wakes," she said solemnly.
Lancelot could see that getting Dani back was not going to be easy. He stood up and walked away from her back to his room on the wall. When he got inside his room, he sat on his bed, hung his head, and cried. Dani was the only girl he had ever loved this way. Someway, somehow he had to win her back. Lancelot walked over to his window and noticed there was a vine of roses growing up the wall right by his window. He picked one and smelled it. It reminded him of Dani and the roses she would put in her hair when they were together. He was resolved to get her back.
Dani, why must you torment me so? I see you now with another and my heart bleeds. Nothing is the same without you. It hurts me so to see you with him, knowing that those stolen glances should be mine. Your eyes light up when you look at him. They used to do that for me. Now, I feel that you hate me. But I could never hate you. I love you too much to hate you. I can't live alone knowing that you are happy with someone else. There must be a way to get you back.
Later that night, when Dani was getting ready for bed, she thought about the afternoon's events. The picnic with Henry was wonderful. He was so sweet and thoughtful to set that up for her. It was perfect until Lancelot showed up. He was always the jealous type, not willing to let something go. She thought of the hateful things that she said to him and felt somewhat guilty. The guy may have hurt her, but she was over that and had no right to say what she had said.
Lancelot, I'm so sorry for the things I said. If I had the chance I would jump in your arms and let you take me away. Why am I so stubborn? It's not that I don't want to be with you; it's just that my mind oversteps my heart sometimes and my mouth runs away with me. How could I be so stupid? Henry is sweet, but I don't love him. I only love you. The past five months have been torture. I thought I was finally over you, but I'm not. I keep falling back in love with you and would until the day that I die. Please, save me from myself and find me. I will come back to you someday.
Dani drifted to sleep. Her dreams were filled with images of a family of her own. In the dream, a little girl ran up to Dani. The little girl bore a resemblance to Lancelot, only with Dani's eyes. Dani's heart warmed at the sight of her daughter. She was beautiful and full of spirit. When Dani woke the next morning, her heart was still warm with joy. The dream was a sign to her that Lancelot was the one for her. Her heart was made up, now all she had to do was convince her mind. While she was thinking, there was a knock at the door. Dani ran over to open it.
As she opened it she said, "Lancelot!"
Only it wasn't Lancelot.
A/N: Dun dun dun...don't you love cliffhangers? I do! Let me know what you think.
