Seven o'clock...
Precisely on time, Ray pulled the freshly washed, waxed and detailed GTO up to Fraser's apartment building and put it into park. He then checked his reflection in the mirror for the dozenth time in an hour. Nervous, he pushed a fresh piece of gum in his mouth and opened the car door. The lieutenant had worn a suit and a tie, hoping to make the best impression he could, although he didn't know what for, he'd been dating Maggie for years. Knocking on the door he heard the thud of feet rushing to answer.
"Aunt Maggie, your date is here." Ben sing songed as he threw open the door and let Ray in. The boy grinned like a little devil as Maggie snapped a dish towel at his behind for teasing her.
"Hello, Ray, you look very handsome tonight." She smiled as she took him in from head to toe. The dark blue suit, baby blue dress shirt and champagne, colored silk tie suited the distinguished officer very well. He wore shined shoes and his tie was firmly in place.
"Nah, I look like a bum compared to you." He eyed her, blown away at the sight of the lady mountie. She was as fit and trim as ever and the deep, cadet blue, silk dress she wore complimented her pale blue eyes. The modest V-neck and split, handkerchief sleeves showed off her shoulders and the cut of the A-line skirt hugged every curve perfectly. Her blonde locks had been pulled back in a half-ponytail and was adorned with a silver clip. Maggie had never looked lovelier to the man standing before her.
"Hey, Fraser, I'm gonna steal yer sister for the evening, that alright?" Ray didn't look away from the beautiful woman standing in front of him to talk to the mountie leaning against the door frame between the kitchen and the living room. Fraser just shook his head.
"Be careful this evening, Ray, drive carefully." The ever vigilant mountie handed Maggie the navy blue shawl she'd laid on the loveseat for the evening.
"No worries, Fraser, I'll be driving precious cargo." A dopey grin spread across his face as he offered her his arm, his eyes still never leaving her beautiful smile. She giggled like a school girl as they walked out the door.
Nyala ….
The maitre 'd seated the couple at a table along the outside of the the dance floor of the refurbished, art deco restaurant. A jazz band played old standards as a singer in a black, strapless dress crooned, her throaty voice carrying well in the auditorium sized space. Nyala sparkled in tones of gold and bronze, a chandelier lighting the main dance floor as guests swayed easily to the love song being played on stage. Sconces of frosted glass on gold pedestals created a soft, romantic atmosphere. Hard wood floors gleamed from a fresh wax as waiters in black and white anticipated patrons' every need.
"Your waiter will be with you momentarily." The maitre'd spoke with a quick, clipped voice, then left them to sit at the white, damask clad table for two.
"I thought I'd take you somewhere nice for a change, Maggie." Ray couldn't believe he was sitting with such a beautiful woman. He'd been drawn to her the first time he'd seen her, her bright, blue eyes and easy confidence. Their first kiss had left him wanting one every day for the rest of his life.
"You know I just like spending time with you, Ray, you didn't have to go all out for me." Maggie squeezed his hand tightly for a moment, shaking her head at him like the silly boy he was underneath.
"But I wanted to, Maggie, I always want to go all out for you, everyday." He took her hand in both of his. "I was going to wait until after we'd had dinner, but I don't think I can," Ray pulled out the Canadian red, velvet box he'd been dreaming of giving her for months. "Maggie, will you marry me?" The sound she made was somewhere between a gasp and a hiccup. She looked down at the simple, platinum ring with the inset diamond and tears fell from her eyes. All she could do was nod and try not to wipe what little make-up she wore off.
"That's a yes then?" He had to ask, unsure if it was reality or a dream.
"Yes, Ray Kowalski, I'll marry you." Maggie leaned over and kissed him, her heart beating furiously. He slipped the ring on her left ring finger clumsily. Ray felt like a teenager again as she laughed.
"I love you, Maggie." The cop couldn't find any better way to say it but those three words.
"I love you too, Ray, and it's about time you proposed, I've been waiting too damn long." She laid one hand along his cheek and looked deep into his eyes. Maggie wanted to look into those eyes for the rest of her life.
Midnight ….
Fraser stood looking out the third floor window, a cup of tea in his hand and his head leaned against the window frame. A street light below cast a yellow light around the shining, black muscle car Ray drove on special occasions. It was his pride and joy. He and Maggie had been sitting in the car for the last half hour, the motor turned off. By the way his friend looked at Maggie, Fraser suspected Ray had finally nerved up and asked her to marry him. He hoped she'd said yes. Diefenbaker, the ever present, ever nosy wolf stood up on his hind legs, his front paws on the sill, to see what his human saw.
"She'll be quite happy with Ray, I wish them both the best." Fraser looked down in to his constant companion's amber shot eyes for a moment. The wolf groaned.
"Yes, I hope she stays in Chicago, it's not like I'd be welcomed back with open arms, after all, I was the one who exposed the damage the dam was doing to the caribou herds." Fraser sipped his tea, tasting the rich, berry flavor on his tongue. The wolf snorted quietly and slid down to all fours again. Ben tossed in his sleep, his dad's voice rousing him just a fraction.
"I'll have to find a two bedroom apartment soon, he should have a room of his own." Benton thought to himself as he walked over to the couch and adjusted his son's quilt. He sat on the floor for a while, waiting on Maggie to walk upstairs and thinking about the last few days. Almost losing Ben made the mountie's heart tighten just thinking about it.
"I felt the same way when I heard you were shaving for the first time, son." Robert Fraser spoke from out of the darkness, his voice clear and steady.
"Dad, you weren't losing me." Benton spoke in a hoarse whisper as the apparition took a seat beside him against the living room wall.
"It wasn't immediate peril, but I did eventually lose the little boy I'd left with his grandparents, you became a person in your own right, it seemed like I was looking at a shadow of my little boy in the grown man you were turning into." The old mountie talked with his hands, not looking at Benton or Ben.
"I can only imagine how you felt about missing Maggie's childhood all together, at least I get to have Ben from fourteen on." Benton observed, glad he had those precious years ahead of them.
"You've already been a better father than I ever was, Benton, you'll do just fine from here on out, Son." Fraser turned to respond to his father and he was gone. The sound of a key in the door brought him back to reality. Maggie held her high heeled shoes in her hand, her keys in the other. A radiant smile spread infectiously across her face.
"Is every one asleep in here?" Ray asked, tip toeing into the apartment.
"Hello." Fraser whispered loudly as he stood up from his seat on the floor. Maggie grinned, giddy with recent events. Benton led the way to the kitchen and turned on the light. The first thing he saw was Maggie's left hand and the glittering engagement ring nestled there.
"He finally asked me to marry him." RCMP officer or not, Maggie bounced like every other happy female as she stood in the kitchen looking from an equally giddy Ray to an elated Benton.
"I don't know if I should ask you to be the best man, who'll give her away, right?" Ray asked, his eyes kinda glazed from being tired and very happy.
"We have plenty of time to figure it out later." Maggie waved the question away. She already knew the answer, Benton would walk her down the aisle and Ben would be one of the groomsmen. Maggie didn't care if they flew off to Vegas to get married.
"Congratulations, Aunt Maggie." Ben said as he took a seat at the kitchen table, his green eyes full of sleep.
"Thank you kindly, Ben." She ruffled his brown locks with her fingers. The boy just shrugged.
"Do I smell coffee?" He asked, hoping to get a cup of the caffeinated joy juice.
"No!" All the adults spoke in unison.
"Could I smell coffee?" He looked from one adult to the next, but none of them relented.
"Go on to bed, Ben, sleep tight." Fraser nudged the teen back to his bed on the couch and made sure he laid down.
"I guess that's my cue to leave, I'll see you tomorrow, Mags." Ray took her hands in his and leaned in for a kiss. "Fraser, turn around." Ray ordered.
"Yes, Ray." Obedient, the mountie faced the opposite direction while Ray took Maggie in his arms and gave her a breathtaking kiss good night. After a moment Fraser turned back around. Grinning, Maggie ordered him to turn around again.
"Good night, Maggie," Ray walked softly to the door as she stood beneath the overhead light, glowing with happiness. He winked at her before closing the door. Fraser watched the scene with a sadness he couldn't name. The mountie said goodnight to his sister, then laid his tired bones down on the sleeping bag to rest with the old ghosts in whose company he'd spent too much time.
Love is a blessing to some and a cruelty to others. We live to give and receive, hoping to see kindness in another's eyes, if only for a fleeting moment. ~Anonymous.
The End