Chapter Three: Beautiful for a Night

It has been a week and I haven't seen Claire since that day. She said she was busy and I respect that after all she is taking care of a big farm plus Jason. It was the day of the Firework Festival and I walked to her place to remind her. As I walked into her farm, I heard music but not just any music, ballroom music. I followed it and found her in her flower garden, dancing.

"And a one, two, three…" She chanted as she danced around the garden. Her eyes were closed as if she was in her own little world. She was practicing how to dance. "I hope I am doing it right."

"You are doing very well." I said. She collapsed to the ground with shock. "I am sorry that I scared you Claire. I didn't mean too."

"It is fine. I just… well…" She said, blushing. "I must look very stupid."

"No, you never look silly." I said, helping her up. "I just came to remind you about the Firework Festival, I hope I am still your date."

"Of course you are… I love…I mean…" Claire mumbled. "I am happy to go with you. I would be there soon."

"So do you want me to pick you up?" I asked.

"No, I will meet you there. I promise that I would be there. It is just I am…"

"There is nothing to be a shame of Claire." I said, pulling her into my embrace. "I can teach you how to dance. It is really quite simple." We danced and she was so nervous. "See, you are doing great."

"Thank you…" She said. "Well, I have to get going. See you tonight…"

"Yeah, I would wait for you and also there is something I want to give you." I said, pulling out a small pouch. "This is my first date and I don't know how to deal with it so the only thing I can come up with is to give you a gift." She opened the pouch and found diamond earrings. "I made them for you. If it clashes with what you are wearing than you don't need to wear them."

"They are perfect." She said. She kissed me on the cheek. "Oh my gosh, I am so sorry… I didn't know what came over me."

"No, it's fine." I said, blushing. She kissed me and I wanted more. "I am glad you like it."

"Hey Gray, I am glad that I met you." She said. "I feel more at home." She then hugged me tightly. "Well, I have to get ready. It is almost time and I have to get Jason ready too. I would see you there okay."

"Sure…" I said, watching her leave. Maybe I do have a chance. Maybe I can get her love. Hours have passed and well, it is time. I have to put on a suit and well, I have to leave my cap at home. I brushed out my spiky orange hair. I was going to propose to her no matter what. I walked to the Town Square and found a lot of lanterns and decorations hung up and music filled the room. Everyone was wearing their best gowns and suits.

"Hey Gray, have you seen my sister." A voice said. I turned and found Claude in a white suit. All the ladies were enchanted with his good-looks.

"She told me that she would meet me here and she is coming with Jason." I answered.

"Are you nervous?" He asked.

"Yeah but I think I am ready." I replied. I waited and waited but there was no sign of Claire anywhere. "I hope she comes soon."I then spotted Mary walking towards me. She was wearing a shimmering blue dress. "You look beautiful Mary."

"You are too charming." She said, blushing in front of me. "Do you want to dance?"

"Sure…" I lied. She pulled me to the dance floor and slow graceful music surrounded the room. We danced around the room and I tried not to look so sad or show any kind of rudeness. All I wanted was to dance with Claire or see her. Where is she? "What a wonderful party…"

"Yes, everyone is having so much fun." She said. Then I stopped and pulled away from her. My eyes were glue to something, something amazing. "Is there something wrong?" She turned and found the reason why I stopped, it was Claire. She was wearing an elegant and sparkling red dress that reached to her leg. Her long golden hair was pinned up in a bun and was decorated with white flowers. She was wearing the broach and earrings I made her and she was right, it was perfect… she was perfect. Everyone was staring at her. "Is that Claire? She looks different."

"Excuse me but may I cut in." Claude said, grabbing Mary's hand. She blushed intensively as she stared into Claude's eyes. He then moved to my ear and whisper. "Go get her…"

"Thanks…" Gray said.

"Claire…" Karen said. "She's a girl…"

"A pretty one…" Popuri said. "I have never thought she will come in a dress."

"She looks more like a lady." Anne said.

She was escorted by her nephew and all she could do is blush. "Jason, are you sure I look okay?" She asked. "Everyone is staring at me."

"Of course Aunt Claire, you are a babe." Jason said, smiling. "And I know someone that agrees with me." I walked towards her and smiled. "Hey Gray…"

"Hi Jason…" I said. "You look dashing tonight." He was wearing a kid tux and his spiky blonde hair was combed from the back.

"Thanks Gray…" Jason said. I then turned to her. She was beyond beautiful.

"You came…" I said. "I thought you would bail out from this dance."

"I wish I did." Claire said. "Everyone is staring at me. Do I really look that bad?"

"You look breath-taking Claire." I said. "I can't take my eyes off you." She blushed with my comment. "Do you want to dance?"

"I don't know. I might step on your foot or something." Claire said. Then Jason grabbed her hand and placed onto mine.

"Have fun Aunt Claire…" Jason said, smiling. "I would be watching."

"Okay…" She said. "I don't know how to do this. How can we start?" I pulled her closer and placed my hand on her hip. "What's next?"

"Just follow my lead." I said, smiling.

"Okay…" She said nervously. We slowly danced but she stepped on my foot. "I'm sorry…" She then stopped herself. "I think we should stop before I step on your foot again. I am a terrible dancer."

"Don't worry about it…" I said, giving her a smile. "Just dance with me." We danced and I couldn't keep my eyes away from her, she was just too beautiful. We were dancing in the night and even with everyone staring at us, it felt that we were the only ones dancing. "Claire, remember that you told me that you are force to marry a man that you don't know or even love."

"Yes…" She said."What about it?"

"I want to know if you can let me love you." I said. "I want to be that man to love you forever."

"Gray…" She said, blushing. Her eyes were glued to mines. "Why would you love me? I am not like the other girls."

"You are the only one that makes me feel like home." I said, leading her to the entrance to the beach. "And I am dying to love you." I kneeled in front of her and pulled out the box. "Claire, you are a great friend that any crazy blacksmith would ask for but I want to be more than that. I love you Claire and I want to be with you forever. I know that sounds selfish but you are more important to me than my life and my dream. You are my dream. I am not adventurous like Kai or smart like Doctor Trent and Rick. I am not even sensitive like Cliff but I love you." I opened the box and showed her a silver band ring with a sapphire. "Claire, will you marry me?" Everyone in the dance floor froze as they heard what I said. I didn't care. I did what I had to do.

"Oh Gray… I would love to marry you." She cried. I placed the ring on her finger. "It's so beautiful." I stood up and hugged her tightly. "I love you so much Gray." Everyone cheered for our engagement. "I love you so much."

"I am so glad that you do." I said. Without hesitation, I kissed her passionately in front of everyone. I didn't care if they were watching. I was proud that are watching me kiss the woman that I love and she is all mines. I pulled back and all she did was blush happily. "I love you too." I then turned to see Claude but he was nowhere in sight. "Where is he?"

"So is she okay? Is she happy?" A voice said. Claude was walking through the streets, talking on his cell phone. "Is she living well?"

"Everything is fine. She is living on her own and she has grown so much. She can cook and do all sort of things. She has grown up into a fine woman." Claude said.

"She sounds amazing. I wish that I can see her now." He said. "So why did you call me? You said it was important."

"Father, our family has gotten bigger. She just got engaged." Claude said, smiling. "The man she is going to marry is a good one. Are you ever going to see her?"

"I am proud that she found happiness on her own." The voice said. "Her mother will be so proud of her as well. Tell her that I want to give my blessing to her and her fiancé."

"Wise decision father… I would let her know." Claude said. Then a figure walked towards him. He was a man with spiky white hair and in a nice suit. "I see you couldn't stay away father."

"I want to see her. Please show her to me."

I finally found Claude and I walked towards him. "Hey Claude, you heard… I propose to your sister." I said.

"Yes I heard… Also, there is someone I like you to meet." Claude said. The man walked towards us and he looks like he is in his fifties at least. "Gray, I want you to meet my father and soon to be your father in law… Clay."

"You must be the man that stole my daughter's heart. I would like to give you my blessing." He said.

"It is nice to meet you sir and thank you so much for letting me marry your daughter. You have no idea how much this mean to me. Your daughter spoke a lot about you." I said, offering his hand. "There is not a day she never mention her family back at the city especially you sir."

"Really? I thought she hates me." He replied, shaking my hand firmly. "I haven't seen my little girl for years now. I doubt that she wants to see me." Then he froze and his eyes widened. I turned and found why. Claire was standing behind us with tears in her eyes. "Claire, you look so beautiful. You look so much like your mother."

"Daddy, you are here…" She cried, racing toward him. She hugged him tightly. "I am so sorry for running away. I just…"

"No, you did what you had too. I am happy that you are smiling for real." He said, cupping her face. "You are so beautiful." He then started to cry as well. "Can you forgive your naïve father? It is my fault that you have to runaway."

"Dad, I love you too much to stay mad at you." She said. "I thought you were mad at me."

"No, I would never be mad at you only myself. I was such a lousy father." He said. I was happy that Claire got to see her father and also to be her man for the rest of her life.