This is a long one. But maybe none of you will mind...
Chapter Thirty Eight
Edward
I lean over and kiss the top of Bella's head and wrap my arms around her.
"What have you been doing out there?" she asks from the couch in front of me, where I told her not to move from.
"Something for you."
"For me?"
"Of course for you."
"What is it?"
"A surprise."
"Can I see it?"
"Yeah. It's ready now."
She puts down her book and I lift her up and over the back of the couch and set her gently on her feet.
"I need my shoes," she says.
"No, you don't need them," I tell her, "But you have to close your eyes."
"But if I close my eyes I won't be able to see."
"You only have to close them until I tell you you can open them."
"Okay."
"Close them now."
"Okaaay. Bossy."
She sticks out her tongue and closes her eyes.
"Don't tease me, Bella. Or you might get a different surprise."
"Well, if I like the one you have for me, maybe I'll let you give me a different one."
She reaches down and rubs her hand over the front of my jeans and smiles, eyes still closed.
Because she found exactly what she knew she would.
And for a second, mine close, too.
Because of what she's making it now.
What she found.
But a second is all it is.
All I let it be.
Because I love her.
Really really love her.
And that's why I remove her hand from my now painfully hard cock - that really really loves her, too - and clasp it in mine.
"Let's go," I say with a sigh.
"You must be really excited about my surprise," she says with a giggle, and lets me lead her through the house.
"I am."
"Then I am, too."
"Good. And don't try to peek. I mean it."
"Edward, I have enough trouble walking when I can see where I'm going... doing it with my eyes closed is just asking for disaster."
"But I'm right here. I have you. I'd never let you fall, Bella. Don't you know that?"
"Yes. I know."
"I hope so."
"I do."
"Just trust me, okay? Don't be afraid." Like on the ferris wheel... when we were stuck at the top... before I kissed you.
"I trust you with everything, Edward. It's why I decided to let you be the boss."
"You didn't decide to let me be the boss, Bella. You were just unable to deny my power any longer."
"Yeah," she giggles, "That's definitely it."
"It is."
"Whatever you say, baby."
"Really? Whatever I say?" I ask excitedly as I lead her out the back door.
She giggles again.
And tries to distract me from the subject.
And I try to distract myself from something else. Damn, that hurts...
"Can I look now?" she asks, as she feels the grass beneath her bare feet.
The grass that I made sure there were no sticks in before I went to get her.
Made sure there was nothing that could hurt her.
"No."
"But we're outside. Where you were."
"I know. But you have to be patient."
"Okay. I'll be patient."
"Thank you. Even though you already have been."
"No I haven't."
"Yes you have."
"Not very."
"Yes. Very. Completely."
"How?"
"You'll see."
"But I can't."
"You can now. Open your eyes, sweetheart."
She opens them.
Sees her surprise.
And then looks at me.
And squeezes my hand.
With tears in her eyes.
"Did you make that for me?"
I nod.
"Emmett helped... but yeah. I made it. For you."
She purses her lips together.
I know she's trying not to cry.
"You even remembered that it was green."
It's a replica of our ferris wheel carriage.
The one I first kissed her in.
The one we rode in every summer after.
Kissed in...
The one she always chose...
I made it for her.
Copied it.
As close as I could remember...
And I think it's exactly the same.
Though made of wood instead of metal.
Wood that I painted green.
As close as I could get it.
To the color of my eyes.
The reason I know she always chose it.
The reason she doesn't know I know.
But I do.
And I wanted to give it to her.
This...
Now...
Because we didn't ride in it this summer.
Our ferris wheel carriage.
Didn't kiss in it.
Because I wasn't here.
I had already left.
I was nowhere when the fair came to town this time.
To my somewhere.
And I know she didn't go.
Didn't want to without me.
And I want to give her back some of what she missed.
And my wish of what's to come.
"Of course I did," I tell her.
And lead her through the path of lights.
The lanterns I placed along the grass.
Forming an aisle of sorts.
Like the one I want to see her walk down to me.
Soon.
As soon as possible...
But for now I lift her onto the platform it sits on.
Our ferris wheel carriage.
Green with a red and white striped cushion.
Just like ours.
And she turns and reaches for me.
Holds her hand out to me.
And I take it and jump up beside her.
Lift the wooden rail so she can climb into the seat.
Sit down beside her when she does and put it back down.
The rail.
It's important.
Because it locks her in with me.
Helps me protect her.
And for another reason.
That I wait for her to see.
Answer.
The words I carved into it...
Bella, will you marry me?