'Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others' Aristotle
"A bachelor auction! Really mom?" I add with a chuckle.
"You betcha. You and Stefan are available. There's Ric, Tyler, Jeremy, Enzo of course, and any number of nice looking guys in town. I'll even ask Eli and Nik if they'd be willing to participate as well. I know some of them are spoken for but this is for a good cause. I'm sure their ladies will bid on them anyway.
"But mom. I asked Elena to go out with me. I don't want to go on a date with anyone else."
"I'm sure Elena will understand. I mean the proceeds are to benefit her. She might surprise you and bid on you herself," she says with a smirk that matches my own. Yes folks, that's where I got it.
Exhaling heavily, I raise my eyes back to my mom. "She shouldn't have to spend her own money on this mom. I know I'll never ever hear the end of it from the guys but perhaps the dear lady who I'm privileged to call mom would bid on me? I just don't want to go out with anyone but Elena."
Shaking her head, she breaks out in raucous laughter. "Well, if you're that adamant about it, I'll do it. You like her don't you?"
"Yeah mom, I really do."
"There will be challenges given her disability but if anyone can overcome them, it's you. I know it's taken a lot of time for you to get over that nasty woman. What you ever saw in her, I'll never know?" she says, shaking her head in dismay.
"But I digress. If things don't work out between the two of you though, you better not hurt her the way that Donovan kid did or you'll have me to answer to young man. Understand?"
"Yes mam!"
"Okay. We're already selling tickets for the quilt raffle. The bake sale is scheduled for a week from Saturday at the town hall. June Fell also suggested a community rummage sale. I thought that was an excellent idea too. As far as the bachelor auction, I need a little time to round up some willing and able men. Once I do, we'll pick a date. Sound good?"
"Yes. Thanks so much mom. I have to go. I have a date to plan with Elena and some things to do. I'll be home for supper." I get up and press a kiss to her cheek and pull her into a hug.
"I love you mom."
"Love you too, now run along."
"Hello," I hear from the other end of the phone line.
"Hi Elena, it's Damon. I finally have everything planned for our date. How does Saturday sound?"
"Um... I don't know, Damon?" she says hesitantly.
"No backing out. I promised you a good time and a good time you shall have."
"You're not going to give up on this are you?" she says a bit defeated. "What time do I need to be ready?"
"Hey none of that. You have my word as a gentleman that you'll have a wonderful time. I'll pick you up around eleven. I have the whole day planned out."
"Really?" she asks, her voice sounding a little intrigued.
"Yep. I'll see you Saturday. Casual clothes, we're not doing anything fancy. Bye Elena."
"Goodbye," she whispers back.
The next day while at PT, Bonnie and I discuss all the ideas my mom has for fundraising. She doubles over in laughter when I tell her about the 'bachelor auction'.
"I'll get Jess to volunteer. Can I give him your mom's phone number?"
"Sure Bonnie. The more guys we have, the more money there is to be made. Mom wants me to volunteer too. That's the last thing I want to do. The thing is, it took me a long time to get my head in the right place after she, who shall remain nameless, took me out at the knees. I mean, I know that I wasn't in love with her or anything like that yet, but I thought maybe it could happen. What she did came out of left field. I was completely oblivious to her schemes. I really let myself spiral and not for the better. I'm pretty ashamed of that. Sometimes I have to stop to thank the big guy," I mention pointing upwards, "that my friends still speak to me after treating you all so despicably for awhile there. My dad showing me the error of my ways so to speak, really made the difference for me," I tell her candidly, scrubbing my hands over my face.
"After my dad's 'intervention', I finally found me again and I made a promise that I'd never lose myself to the mercy of a woman or anyone else for that matter, ever again. I know this idea of mom's is for a good cause and I will put myself out there if I have to but I really don't want to go out with anyone but her," I huff as I'm doing my leg lifts.
"Wow Damon," she says patting me on the back. "I was worried about you for awhile there. You were pretty jaded and just plain unlikeable when you first came home. What changed?"
"My parents refusing to put up with my bullshit any longer was a big part of it. That was right around the time that Elena was shot. I saw what happened to her and realized that I was wasting precious time being angry and ambivalent. I was only hurting myself," I explain, raking my hand through my hair.
"Elena had such a wonderful, promising life in front of her and yet in a fraction of a second, her whole life was turned upside down. I've been given this life and I was wasting it. Inadvertently, she helped to save me," I say raising my eyes to Bonnies.
"I'm proud of you Damon. I'm glad you found your way out of the darkness. I could bid on you if you want and then donate my date to Elena?" she offers.
Laughing, "You're preferable to my mom. Although she said she'd kick my ass if I hurt Elena."
"She'd have to stand in line, Mr.," she says poking her index finger into my chest.
"Bonnie, you wound me," I say pretending to be offended.
"Let's move on from kicking asses shall we?" I say with my eyebrows raised.
Laughing, she nods.
"While we're on the subject of Elena, I wanted to ask you about her trunk control? I mean we're going out on a date this weekend. I've planned a picnic at the falls. I was concerned about her being able to sit on the ground and stay upright?"
"She's doing really well with that Damon. I'm sure she'll tell you when she's starting to tire and needs to go back into her wheelchair."
"Thanks Bonnie. You have my mom's number for Jess don't you?"
"I do. I'll talk to him about the auction then I'll give her a ring. Okay?"
"Sounds good," I tell her as I'm strapping my knee brace back on. I'll see you next week. Have a wonderful weekend boss and thank you."
"No problem. Don't forget to do your exercises!"
"Yes mam," I reply as I make my way out the door.
It's eleven o'clock. I'm right on time to pick Elena up. I got up early to fry some chicken, make some potato salad and cut up some watermelon for us to dine on. The evening before, I ran into the store to grab some sparkling cider and other juices. Ric told me that Elena takes medication for spasms. Not knowing how well they mix with alcohol, I decide to just go with sparkling juices and soda. I conned my mom into giving me one of her pretty quilts to lay on the ground for our picnic. I figure we can enjoy the scenery, have a little lunch and get to know each other better. Before I take her home, I thought we could stop by the Grill and see what's shaking.
After pulling into Elena's driveway, I turn off the ignition and walk to the door. Before I can even raise my hand to knock, Ric is pulling the door open.
"Hey buddy. What's up?" I ask a little perplexed.
With a shake of his head, he says, "It's all good. I just saw you pull up."
"Is Elena ready?"
"Yeah, Jenna is just helping her finish up."
Just then, Jenna calls aloud for Ric to bring Elena downstairs.
"Damon's here. I'll be right up," he replies before running up the stairs.
After a few moments, all three of them come downstairs, Elena in Ric's arms.
"Damon, just grab her wheelchair, I'll carry her out to your truck," he says as Jenna opens the front door for them.
Nodding, I follow behind with her chair. I set it aside for a moment to open the door of my truck. Ric places her carefully in the passenger's seat while I fold up her chair and put it in the back. After Elena buckles in her seatbelt, I buckle my own. Both of us wave goodbye to Ric and Jenna as I take off down the street.
"Where are we going?" She asks while looking out of the window at the scenery flashing by as I drive along.
"We are going to the Mystic Falls. It's really pretty there. I thought you might enjoy the fresh air."
"Sounds nice," she says, her voice sounding both guarded and a little more upbeat.
Finally we arrive, I pull the pickup into the parking area. I'm very relieved when there are only a couple of other cars here. This place will be teaming with tourists in a few weeks.
After parking the car, I turn to Elena, "I'm just going to lay the blanket out, then I'll get you, okay?"
Smiling, she just nods.
After we finish eating and with her consent, I pick her up and set her carefully into her wheelchair. "I'm going to wheel us down the path a ways. It's really pretty back in there."
"I haven't been on that trail for years," she tells me. "It's funny, sometimes when places like this are in your backyard, you take their beauty for granted you know?" she says wistfully.
"Very true. My mom grew up near Mt. Rushmore. It's really a sight to behold up close but when you live twenty miles away, you don't think about it much. What's really amazing is that no one died while that mountain was being carved. Anyway, that's what my mom used to tell me too. I've been there a few times. Mom still has a sister and two brothers that live up there but I haven't been back that way since my grand dad's funeral."
"Really? I didn't know you had family up there? So many of the Mystic Falls population have been here for generations it seems."
"My dad went through a rebellious stage too or so he tells me. He took off on his Harley and ended up at the annual motorcycle rally up there. That's where he met my mom and they've been together ever since," I mention as I push her wheelchair off the paved trail a bit to this hidden yet beautiful spot I came across once. "Can I pick you up Elena? I want you to see this spot. It's really picturesque."
"Okay?"
With utmost care, I pick her up and carry her down a low grade embankment. The distance is probably a city block.
"Oh my gosh, Damon. Look at that waterfall. I didn't know there was one back here," she gushes.
"We can walk behind it. Do you want to?"
"Yes!"
"At your service Miss Gilbert," I tease and trudge over a couple of flat rocks to walk behind the water cascading down from above.
"It's beautiful Damon. Thank you for showing me this," she says excitedly.
"You're very welcome. I'm just giddy that you're enjoying our date. Maybe it'll get me another one? Hint...hint," I say, smiling ear to ear.
"It just might," she laughs.
We spent about a half hour under the falls. By then we were both soaking wet. Not wanting Elena to get sick, I carried her back. We laid on the blanket just talking till the sun dried us off a little. After that, I took her home so she could bathe and change her clothes. I went home myself to shower and change with the promise to be back shortly to pick her up to go to the Grill this evening.
We spend the evening at the Grill just talking and getting to know each other better. She tells me she hopes to go back to work for the paper once she finishes with her physical therapy regime and gets settled in this new life she's been forced to live.
I tell how I really enjoy working at the mill with my dad because I enjoy the outdoors and am a hand's on type of person.
Before long, Stefan and his girlfriend Meredith join us. Stefan is in graduate school. He studies forensics and his goal is to work in a crime lab identifying DNA and such stuff. We had a wonderful evening. It really gave me a good feeling to see Elena laughing and smiling so much.
By the time eleven o'clock rolled around, I could tell Elena was getting tired. She was yawning quite a bit and her eyes were getting heavy.
"Are you ready to go home?" I whisper next to her ear.
"Am I that obvious?" She chuckles.
"Just a wee bit," I say squeezing my thumb and index finger together.
"Stef, Meredith, Elena and I are going to call it a night. See you at home brother."
They both tell us goodnight. Stefan holds the door open for me so I can wheel Elena outside. I gently lift her bridal style into the truck. I reach over her to fasten her seat belt, before turning my eyes to her.
"You're so beautiful Elena."
She focuses those gorgeous russet hued eyes on me, reaches up to cradle my face with her palms before bringing her lips to mine.
I tease her lips with my tongue and she lets me in. God, she's perfect, I think to myself. I pull back breathlessly when we both need air.
"Wow," I say, smiling from ear to ear.
"I'll say," she says blushing.
"I better get you home, Jenna is probably waiting up for you."
"Yeah, she worries about me as if I was a teenager again. I love her and she's sacrificed so much for me and Jeremy but there are times, I'd like to smack her," she laughs.
"Oh Ric has told me a few things too. You're right though, she really is a great lady."
After I push Elena to the front door, I stoop down again to her level. "I had a really great time tonight Elena. Can we do it again, soon?"
Smiling again, she nods her head enthusiastically. "I had a wonderful time too. Goodnight Damon," she says.
I lean forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and cradle her face with one hand before pressing my lips to hers in a sweltering kiss.
"Goodnight, Elena. I'll give you a call tomorrow," I say as I turn around and start to walk away. I pause for just a moment, turn on my heels before walking back to her where I lay another mind bending kiss on her lips before trotting off to my pickup and waving goodbye just as Jenna opens the door to help her into the house.
Yes, Mt. Rushmore is a site to behold up close and personal and I do love my home state. Thank you all so much for the reviews. I know I say it ad nauseum but I really do appreciate them so much. Thank you Eva. Have a wonderful weekend. See you next time...