Destiny
Chapter Eight
Lucas stopped the car at the spot he had in mind when he had proposed the outing to Dara.
Dara's breath caught in her throat at the beauty of the scene before her. It couldn't have been more perfect if it had been a painting done by the hand of one of the masters. The blue and green of the pureness of the water, mixed with the green of the grass and pure blue, tinged with white of the sky. Instead of being a painting done by the hand of a mortal, this was done by the hand of God.
Shaking her head at the majesty of it all, she got out of the car and went to stand next to the round lake, which was fed by three small waterfalls converging together. Turning to look at Lucas she stated softly, "This is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever seen."
Lucas, who had laid a blanket on the ground along with the basket he had placed in the trunk of the car before the funeral services, came to stand next to her. Towering over her, he looked down with a wistful look in his eyes. Without a word he released the clasp that was holding her hair, releasing it to fall freely halfway down her back. Running his fingers through the long spill, he shook his head as he voiced, "I would definitely have to disagree with you on that one, darlin. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." With that, he descended to take possession of her mouth, kissing her gently.
Dara, losing herself in the contact with him, lifted her arms to place them around his neck, while Lucas wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.
Lifting his head to gaze into her eyes, he felt himself lost in their sea-green depths. Wordlessly, he bent down and swung her up in his arms and walked to where he had laid the blanket on the ground. Placing her gently on the cloth, he lay next to her and began teasing her mouth and throat.
Dara, with her arms still wrapped around his neck, looked up at him, smiling contently. "Is this what marriage with you is going to be like, a little bit of heaven?"
Lucas, lifting his gaze to look at her, replied silkily, "Why not, I certainly have the angel to make it that way."
He thought he had never heard anything sound so musical as the sound of the laughter she was caught in from the enjoyment of their playfulness.
Sitting up, he let Dara make herself comfortable with her head in his lap, as he reached over and pulled a bottle of wine and two wine glassed from the basket. Carefully, he opened the bottle and poured them both a glass as he toasted. "Here's to the beginning of our life together. May it always be as it is now."
Relaxing they continued enjoying their playful moods as well as the scenery before them. Lucas finally inquired, "Do you feel like you're ready to go now?"
Sitting up with a relaxed smile on her face, she kissed him before explaining, "Yes, thank you, I really needed this."
Reaching over and pushing her hair over her shoulder, he smiled tenderly at her as he returned the kiss. "You're more than welcome, sweetheart."
When they returned home they were once more thrust into a fury of preparations. This time instead of sorrow over her mother's funeral, it was joy for Dara's wedding.
Dara felt more able to deal with the details now that she had more or less had a chance to stop and relax and simply allow the world to pass by, if only for a short time, thanks to Lucas.
When they pulled into the driveway Lucas noted Caleb passing around the corner of the house with a fishing pole in his hand. Shaking his head he stated, 'Well, at least we'll know where to look for Caleb when we can't find him."
Dara smiled, "I don't mind."
They both heard a splash of water and a scream. Looking at each other they both had the same thought; one of the children had fallen into the river. Running around to the back of the house they stopped short when they reached the pier at the sight before them.
Kara was standing in the middle of the water, soak and wet and raving. "Mara Danielle, so help me, as soon as I get out of this water I am going to kill you."
Mara, who was standing there with her hands covering her mouth in shock, as well as trying to contain her laughter, swore, "I promise, Kara, it was an accident."
Kara looked suspiciously at her older sibling. "Oh yeah, sure it was." Catching sight of Dara and Lucas, Kara asked sarcastically, "I suppose you two think it was an accident too, huh?"
Lucas could see the mischief in Dara's eyes, and had a fairly accurate idea as to what she was planning when she went to stand next to her sister. "Of course I do, Kara. If Mara had intended to push you into the water, why she would have done this." With that, Dara placed her hands on her sister's back and shoved her into the water.
Now Kara and Dara, as well as Lucas were laughing at Mara, who was surfacing, blowing water out of her face and pushing her hair away from her eyes. "Dara, that was a dirty trick."
Dara knelt down, bracing her hands on her knees, to look at her sisters. "Yes, but it was definitely funny."
Before Dara could react, Mara and Kara both had grabbed an arm and yelled, "Oh yeah, so is this." With that they catapulted Dara into the water beside them.
Lucas walked up to the pier and laughed as she surfaced, pushing her hair away form her face, and muttering.
"That was definitely uncalled for."
All three turned and looked at Lucas, who was not only laughing but also smiling smugly. Looking at each other in question, they all silently agreed to their next course of action.
Dara approached him with her arm stretched out. "Aren't you going to help your wife to be out of the water?"
Shaking his head in amusement, Lucas reached his hand down to pull her out. That was when Mara and Kara both grabbed his other arm and helped Dara to pull him in with them.
Lucilla, having heard the commotion of the children laughing and the loud splash of water, had ventured down to the water to see what was happening.
When Lucas surfaced she was standing there with her hands on her hips, admonishing, "Boy, I thought I taught you better than that, if you're going swimming do it with some trunks, not fully dressed. You four best be glad it's as warm as it is considering its January, otherwise, you'd all have pneumonia." With that she turned and headed back to the house.
Lucas turned and looked at Dara, for a second she was afraid he was truly angry with her, then, despite himself his face broke into a wide grin. Pulling her against him he stated, "Well, I'm glad I at least took off my jacket and vest." Smiling she splashed him, then turned and followed her sisters to find dry clothes.
Lucilla was waiting for them at the back door with towels and bathrobes, admonishing them sternly, she stated, "I don't know what's gotten into you four, I swear, swimming with your clothes on. And in front of the children took, know what kind of example is that?"
After everyone was once again dry, Lucilla began putting supper on the table. Dara looked at her in shock, "Mama, you didn't have to do that, although I do appreciate it."
Shaking her head she offered, 'It's nothing fancy and I didn't mind. Besides, I think you all needed a good laugh earlier."
Jacob sat looking upset with the adults, as he demanded, "Mama, why won't you let me swim with my clothes on, that's not fair, you all did."
Laughing at the child's statement the mood became light for everyone.
The sadness of having to lay their mother to rest was quickly passing behind the girls as they prepared for Dara's wedding.
Mara, ever the one for detail, began rattling off the list of things done and left to do. "Let's see, we have the dresses. What about the flowers and license?"
Dara spoke up, explaining, "Lucas has already taken care of the flowers, cake and we got the license day before yesterday. So all we need to do is get married."
After everything was cleared away and everyone was relaxing, Lucas broached the subject he had been dreading. "Honey, have you given any thought as to what you're leaving here and what you're taking with you?"
Dara glanced around the house, she hadn't considered this before, but she realized that she wouldn't be able to move everything into Lucas' house, although it was very large. Shaking her head, she replied, "I thought we would just take it as it come. Mara and Kara are welcome to any of Mama's things they want and furniture can be given away or sold. I would like to keep my piano and Mama's bed though, and a few other things."
Lucas nodded his head in agreement with her logic. "We can figure all of that later."
After everyone else had decided to retire to the night, Lucas looked at Dara, "Want to ride with me to take them home?"
Smiling in response she eagerly accepted his invitation. "Yes, I would."
Handing her keys to Lucas, they proceeded to her car. After Caleb and Lucilla had hugged her and wished her goodnight, Lucas decided to drive around for a while to give Dara some breathing space.
Lucas could see her relaxing with the calm of the night. Breaking the silence he reminded her, "Just one more day and we'll be married, are you nervous?"
Shaking her head, Dara replied, "Not like I thought I would be. I just wonder what life is going to be life as your wife, that's all."
Lucas reached over and squeezed her hand in reassurance, "It's going to be as wonderful as I can make it for you, I promise."
Smiling in the darkness, Dara sighed with contentment, 'I believe you."
The next day saw everyone in a flurry of activity, in preparations for Dara and Lucas' wedding. Her sisters were determined to make it as special as possible, having assessed that once their younger sibling married this man, it would be for life.
After a day filled with decorating and cooking, the latter helped significantly by the contributions donated by Mrs. Adams and Loris Crower, Dara and Mara were content to relax on the porch swing, awaiting their middle sister's return from her errand to buy film.
Lucas arrived to find them relaxing in the cool air of January, having attended to a few last minute details himself. Halting beside the swing he bent down to place a kiss on Dara's upturned smiling mouth. "I knew there was something I was missing all day, that was it." Observing the tired look on both women's faces, he asked, "Tired, girls? This house definitely looks as though you've worked all day on it."
Dara motioned to her sister, "Blame her. I wanted to quit hours ago, but Mara wasn't satisfied until everything that would stand still had bunting around it."
Mara feigned a look of hurt, "Well, it isn't everyday that my baby sister gets married. I just wanted it to be memorable. By the way, I'll be rude enough to ask. Where are you two going for your honeymoon?"
Dara glanced at Lucas in question; she hadn't considered the possibility of a honeymoon, not with all the activity of the past few days.
Lucas knew that Dara wasn't expecting any sort of formal honeymoon, but he had stubbornly stood by his plan that they would at least have a memorable wedding night, but with her house full of her family and his occupied by Lucilla and Caleb, he knew that would mean they needed a place all to their selves. That had been the last minute detail he had dealt with this morning. Reaching in his pocket and producing a set of keys, he dropped them into Dara's hands.
Looking at them in curiosity, she asked, "What are these, my set to the house?"
Lucas shook his head, smiling. "No, actually they're a set of keys to a small cabin near where I took you yesterday. I thought we could go there for our wedding night. How do you like the idea?"
Dara yelped in happiness and surprise as she launched herself from the swing into his arms, kissing him soundly.
Lucas smiled down at her as he laughed. 'I take it you like the idea, then."
Dara nodded her head enthusiastically. "No, I love the idea."
Kara chose that moment to return, grumbling about the excessive lines and traffic in the stores. "I'm telling you, if we forgot something one of you are going back for it, because I wont." Catching sight of her future brother in law, she changed her attitude and tone, becoming more amiable. "Hi, Lucas. How was your day?"
Lucas smiled at her chatter and show of feigned temper. "Well, apparently not as productive as yours, but I did try. By the way, how about pizza for supper, my treat? You three look like you're wiped out."
Nodding in obvious relief of having been relieved from the chore of cooking, Dara got up to go phone the order in.
After the evening meal had been concluded, everyone settled down for the evening, with the exception of Lucas and Dara, who were now seated on the porch swing, with Lucas having one leg across the bench and one dragging the floor, and Dara reclining against his chest, both enjoying not only the other's company, but the sound of the night as well.
"Just think, by this time tomorrow you're going to be Mrs. Lucas Buck, you nervous?"
Dara shrugged her shoulders in uncertainty, "I am a little. The closer we get, the more nervous I get. By the way, did you pick up our wedding rings?"
Dara had readily agreed to let Lucas handle the detail of picking out their rings; Dara had only concerned herself with the inscription she wanted engraved inside of his ring.
Lucas pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, much like the one her engagement ring had come in, and opened it to show her."
Dara could only gasp when she saw her ring. It resembled two diamond ropes twisted around each other with a v shaped dip in the middle to accommodate her engagement ring.
Lucas lifted it from the box and handed it to her. "Read what it says."
Dara held the ring up to allow the light pouring from the living room windows to shine on the metal, illuminating the words printed on it.
"To my wife, Dara, my love for eternity and beyond, love Lucas."
Looking up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes at the thoughtfulness he continued to lavish upon her, she exclaimed, "It's beautiful, thank you."
Lucas leaned forward and kissed her gently, and then pulling away turned serious. "I meant what it says, Dara. That's why I picked that ring out. I intend for us to be with each other through eternity, just like that band intertwines itself around for eternity, I intend for our lives to be the same way. So if you have any doubts, you need to tell me before tomorrow, because once you're my wife, there wont be any way I would ever let you go."
Considering the seriousness of his statement, as well as the look in his eyes, Dara contemplated the knowledge she had, the innuendoes, the whispered comments behind her back, as well as the things she had seen and knew for herself to be true.
When she looked at Lucas once more, the only things she could focus on that truly mattered to her was the loving, devoted, and caring side he presented to her, she realized that there was a much darker side to him, but in order to bask in the warmth of his better side, she would whether the darker side as well.
Lucas sat waiting with baited breath, until she smiled up at him and shook her head, stating emphatically, "No doubts, I know you have a much darker side, but I still love you and that means acceptance and tolerance of it. To a point."
Pulling her back against him and wrapping his arms tightly around her he lowered his head to meet her upturned mouth in a kiss of unadulterated love, neither of them making or expecting any demands from the other.
Lifting his head she smiled ruefully, "As much as I don't want t go, if we're going to follow your tradition, I had better leave."
Dara merely nodded her agreement, she didn't particularly want him to go, but her family was strict on the issue of not seeing the bride before the wedding, which meant that Lucas would be sleeping in his own bed that night.
When Dara entered her house she felt as though she were floating on a cloud as she drifted off to sleep.
Once Lucas had reached his own home he found both Caleb and Lucilla sound asleep. Prowling his domain for a short time to wind down he finally made his way to his room and bed. Once he lay down he reached his hand over to smooth the sheets on what would be Dara's side of the bed. "Only one more night, then I'll have her beside me for the rest of my life."
With that thought firmly in mind, he was able to drift off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Lucas stopped the car at the spot he had in mind when he had proposed the outing to Dara.
Dara's breath caught in her throat at the beauty of the scene before her. It couldn't have been more perfect if it had been a painting done by the hand of one of the masters. The blue and green of the pureness of the water, mixed with the green of the grass and pure blue, tinged with white of the sky. Instead of being a painting done by the hand of a mortal, this was done by the hand of God.
Shaking her head at the majesty of it all, she got out of the car and went to stand next to the round lake, which was fed by three small waterfalls converging together. Turning to look at Lucas she stated softly, "This is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever seen."
Lucas, who had laid a blanket on the ground along with the basket he had placed in the trunk of the car before the funeral services, came to stand next to her. Towering over her, he looked down with a wistful look in his eyes. Without a word he released the clasp that was holding her hair, releasing it to fall freely halfway down her back. Running his fingers through the long spill, he shook his head as he voiced, "I would definitely have to disagree with you on that one, darlin. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." With that, he descended to take possession of her mouth, kissing her gently.
Dara, losing herself in the contact with him, lifted her arms to place them around his neck, while Lucas wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.
Lifting his head to gaze into her eyes, he felt himself lost in their sea-green depths. Wordlessly, he bent down and swung her up in his arms and walked to where he had laid the blanket on the ground. Placing her gently on the cloth, he lay next to her and began teasing her mouth and throat.
Dara, with her arms still wrapped around his neck, looked up at him, smiling contently. "Is this what marriage with you is going to be like, a little bit of heaven?"
Lucas, lifting his gaze to look at her, replied silkily, "Why not, I certainly have the angel to make it that way."
He thought he had never heard anything sound so musical as the sound of the laughter she was caught in from the enjoyment of their playfulness.
Sitting up, he let Dara make herself comfortable with her head in his lap, as he reached over and pulled a bottle of wine and two wine glassed from the basket. Carefully, he opened the bottle and poured them both a glass as he toasted. "Here's to the beginning of our life together. May it always be as it is now."
Relaxing they continued enjoying their playful moods as well as the scenery before them. Lucas finally inquired, "Do you feel like you're ready to go now?"
Sitting up with a relaxed smile on her face, she kissed him before explaining, "Yes, thank you, I really needed this."
Reaching over and pushing her hair over her shoulder, he smiled tenderly at her as he returned the kiss. "You're more than welcome, sweetheart."
When they returned home they were once more thrust into a fury of preparations. This time instead of sorrow over her mother's funeral, it was joy for Dara's wedding.
Dara felt more able to deal with the details now that she had more or less had a chance to stop and relax and simply allow the world to pass by, if only for a short time, thanks to Lucas.
When they pulled into the driveway Lucas noted Caleb passing around the corner of the house with a fishing pole in his hand. Shaking his head he stated, 'Well, at least we'll know where to look for Caleb when we can't find him."
Dara smiled, "I don't mind."
They both heard a splash of water and a scream. Looking at each other they both had the same thought; one of the children had fallen into the river. Running around to the back of the house they stopped short when they reached the pier at the sight before them.
Kara was standing in the middle of the water, soak and wet and raving. "Mara Danielle, so help me, as soon as I get out of this water I am going to kill you."
Mara, who was standing there with her hands covering her mouth in shock, as well as trying to contain her laughter, swore, "I promise, Kara, it was an accident."
Kara looked suspiciously at her older sibling. "Oh yeah, sure it was." Catching sight of Dara and Lucas, Kara asked sarcastically, "I suppose you two think it was an accident too, huh?"
Lucas could see the mischief in Dara's eyes, and had a fairly accurate idea as to what she was planning when she went to stand next to her sister. "Of course I do, Kara. If Mara had intended to push you into the water, why she would have done this." With that, Dara placed her hands on her sister's back and shoved her into the water.
Now Kara and Dara, as well as Lucas were laughing at Mara, who was surfacing, blowing water out of her face and pushing her hair away from her eyes. "Dara, that was a dirty trick."
Dara knelt down, bracing her hands on her knees, to look at her sisters. "Yes, but it was definitely funny."
Before Dara could react, Mara and Kara both had grabbed an arm and yelled, "Oh yeah, so is this." With that they catapulted Dara into the water beside them.
Lucas walked up to the pier and laughed as she surfaced, pushing her hair away form her face, and muttering.
"That was definitely uncalled for."
All three turned and looked at Lucas, who was not only laughing but also smiling smugly. Looking at each other in question, they all silently agreed to their next course of action.
Dara approached him with her arm stretched out. "Aren't you going to help your wife to be out of the water?"
Shaking his head in amusement, Lucas reached his hand down to pull her out. That was when Mara and Kara both grabbed his other arm and helped Dara to pull him in with them.
Lucilla, having heard the commotion of the children laughing and the loud splash of water, had ventured down to the water to see what was happening.
When Lucas surfaced she was standing there with her hands on her hips, admonishing, "Boy, I thought I taught you better than that, if you're going swimming do it with some trunks, not fully dressed. You four best be glad it's as warm as it is considering its January, otherwise, you'd all have pneumonia." With that she turned and headed back to the house.
Lucas turned and looked at Dara, for a second she was afraid he was truly angry with her, then, despite himself his face broke into a wide grin. Pulling her against him he stated, "Well, I'm glad I at least took off my jacket and vest." Smiling she splashed him, then turned and followed her sisters to find dry clothes.
Lucilla was waiting for them at the back door with towels and bathrobes, admonishing them sternly, she stated, "I don't know what's gotten into you four, I swear, swimming with your clothes on. And in front of the children took, know what kind of example is that?"
After everyone was once again dry, Lucilla began putting supper on the table. Dara looked at her in shock, "Mama, you didn't have to do that, although I do appreciate it."
Shaking her head she offered, 'It's nothing fancy and I didn't mind. Besides, I think you all needed a good laugh earlier."
Jacob sat looking upset with the adults, as he demanded, "Mama, why won't you let me swim with my clothes on, that's not fair, you all did."
Laughing at the child's statement the mood became light for everyone.
The sadness of having to lay their mother to rest was quickly passing behind the girls as they prepared for Dara's wedding.
Mara, ever the one for detail, began rattling off the list of things done and left to do. "Let's see, we have the dresses. What about the flowers and license?"
Dara spoke up, explaining, "Lucas has already taken care of the flowers, cake and we got the license day before yesterday. So all we need to do is get married."
After everything was cleared away and everyone was relaxing, Lucas broached the subject he had been dreading. "Honey, have you given any thought as to what you're leaving here and what you're taking with you?"
Dara glanced around the house, she hadn't considered this before, but she realized that she wouldn't be able to move everything into Lucas' house, although it was very large. Shaking her head, she replied, "I thought we would just take it as it come. Mara and Kara are welcome to any of Mama's things they want and furniture can be given away or sold. I would like to keep my piano and Mama's bed though, and a few other things."
Lucas nodded his head in agreement with her logic. "We can figure all of that later."
After everyone else had decided to retire to the night, Lucas looked at Dara, "Want to ride with me to take them home?"
Smiling in response she eagerly accepted his invitation. "Yes, I would."
Handing her keys to Lucas, they proceeded to her car. After Caleb and Lucilla had hugged her and wished her goodnight, Lucas decided to drive around for a while to give Dara some breathing space.
Lucas could see her relaxing with the calm of the night. Breaking the silence he reminded her, "Just one more day and we'll be married, are you nervous?"
Shaking her head, Dara replied, "Not like I thought I would be. I just wonder what life is going to be life as your wife, that's all."
Lucas reached over and squeezed her hand in reassurance, "It's going to be as wonderful as I can make it for you, I promise."
Smiling in the darkness, Dara sighed with contentment, 'I believe you."
The next day saw everyone in a flurry of activity, in preparations for Dara and Lucas' wedding. Her sisters were determined to make it as special as possible, having assessed that once their younger sibling married this man, it would be for life.
After a day filled with decorating and cooking, the latter helped significantly by the contributions donated by Mrs. Adams and Loris Crower, Dara and Mara were content to relax on the porch swing, awaiting their middle sister's return from her errand to buy film.
Lucas arrived to find them relaxing in the cool air of January, having attended to a few last minute details himself. Halting beside the swing he bent down to place a kiss on Dara's upturned smiling mouth. "I knew there was something I was missing all day, that was it." Observing the tired look on both women's faces, he asked, "Tired, girls? This house definitely looks as though you've worked all day on it."
Dara motioned to her sister, "Blame her. I wanted to quit hours ago, but Mara wasn't satisfied until everything that would stand still had bunting around it."
Mara feigned a look of hurt, "Well, it isn't everyday that my baby sister gets married. I just wanted it to be memorable. By the way, I'll be rude enough to ask. Where are you two going for your honeymoon?"
Dara glanced at Lucas in question; she hadn't considered the possibility of a honeymoon, not with all the activity of the past few days.
Lucas knew that Dara wasn't expecting any sort of formal honeymoon, but he had stubbornly stood by his plan that they would at least have a memorable wedding night, but with her house full of her family and his occupied by Lucilla and Caleb, he knew that would mean they needed a place all to their selves. That had been the last minute detail he had dealt with this morning. Reaching in his pocket and producing a set of keys, he dropped them into Dara's hands.
Looking at them in curiosity, she asked, "What are these, my set to the house?"
Lucas shook his head, smiling. "No, actually they're a set of keys to a small cabin near where I took you yesterday. I thought we could go there for our wedding night. How do you like the idea?"
Dara yelped in happiness and surprise as she launched herself from the swing into his arms, kissing him soundly.
Lucas smiled down at her as he laughed. 'I take it you like the idea, then."
Dara nodded her head enthusiastically. "No, I love the idea."
Kara chose that moment to return, grumbling about the excessive lines and traffic in the stores. "I'm telling you, if we forgot something one of you are going back for it, because I wont." Catching sight of her future brother in law, she changed her attitude and tone, becoming more amiable. "Hi, Lucas. How was your day?"
Lucas smiled at her chatter and show of feigned temper. "Well, apparently not as productive as yours, but I did try. By the way, how about pizza for supper, my treat? You three look like you're wiped out."
Nodding in obvious relief of having been relieved from the chore of cooking, Dara got up to go phone the order in.
After the evening meal had been concluded, everyone settled down for the evening, with the exception of Lucas and Dara, who were now seated on the porch swing, with Lucas having one leg across the bench and one dragging the floor, and Dara reclining against his chest, both enjoying not only the other's company, but the sound of the night as well.
"Just think, by this time tomorrow you're going to be Mrs. Lucas Buck, you nervous?"
Dara shrugged her shoulders in uncertainty, "I am a little. The closer we get, the more nervous I get. By the way, did you pick up our wedding rings?"
Dara had readily agreed to let Lucas handle the detail of picking out their rings; Dara had only concerned herself with the inscription she wanted engraved inside of his ring.
Lucas pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, much like the one her engagement ring had come in, and opened it to show her."
Dara could only gasp when she saw her ring. It resembled two diamond ropes twisted around each other with a v shaped dip in the middle to accommodate her engagement ring.
Lucas lifted it from the box and handed it to her. "Read what it says."
Dara held the ring up to allow the light pouring from the living room windows to shine on the metal, illuminating the words printed on it.
"To my wife, Dara, my love for eternity and beyond, love Lucas."
Looking up at him with tears glimmering in her eyes at the thoughtfulness he continued to lavish upon her, she exclaimed, "It's beautiful, thank you."
Lucas leaned forward and kissed her gently, and then pulling away turned serious. "I meant what it says, Dara. That's why I picked that ring out. I intend for us to be with each other through eternity, just like that band intertwines itself around for eternity, I intend for our lives to be the same way. So if you have any doubts, you need to tell me before tomorrow, because once you're my wife, there wont be any way I would ever let you go."
Considering the seriousness of his statement, as well as the look in his eyes, Dara contemplated the knowledge she had, the innuendoes, the whispered comments behind her back, as well as the things she had seen and knew for herself to be true.
When she looked at Lucas once more, the only things she could focus on that truly mattered to her was the loving, devoted, and caring side he presented to her, she realized that there was a much darker side to him, but in order to bask in the warmth of his better side, she would whether the darker side as well.
Lucas sat waiting with baited breath, until she smiled up at him and shook her head, stating emphatically, "No doubts, I know you have a much darker side, but I still love you and that means acceptance and tolerance of it. To a point."
Pulling her back against him and wrapping his arms tightly around her he lowered his head to meet her upturned mouth in a kiss of unadulterated love, neither of them making or expecting any demands from the other.
Lifting his head she smiled ruefully, "As much as I don't want t go, if we're going to follow your tradition, I had better leave."
Dara merely nodded her agreement, she didn't particularly want him to go, but her family was strict on the issue of not seeing the bride before the wedding, which meant that Lucas would be sleeping in his own bed that night.
When Dara entered her house she felt as though she were floating on a cloud as she drifted off to sleep.
Once Lucas had reached his own home he found both Caleb and Lucilla sound asleep. Prowling his domain for a short time to wind down he finally made his way to his room and bed. Once he lay down he reached his hand over to smooth the sheets on what would be Dara's side of the bed. "Only one more night, then I'll have her beside me for the rest of my life."
With that thought firmly in mind, he was able to drift off to sleep.