My Flufftober 2023 contribution for the prompt : Porch Swing
I'm sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer : Outlander belongs to Diana Gabaldon.
Porch Swing
Jamie hammered in the last nail and stood up. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve and smiled with satisfaction. He had finally finished the surprise he had prepared for Claire and with that surprise, Fraser's Ridge construction was finished.
He put away his tools and entered the house. Claire was at the kitchen table, arranging the different herbs she had picked in glass jars.
"Sassenach, come with me. I have something to show you. But first you have to close your eyes."
"What ?" Claire exclaimed, both surprised and amused by his behavior.
"Do you trust me ?"
Even though he knew the answer, he liked hearing her saying that she trusted him. She trusted him with her life, as he trusted her with his. It had been that way since the beginning of their marriage.
"Of course I trust you."
Claire immediately closed her eyes and Jamie gently took her hand to lead her outside.
"What did you do ?" Claire asked.
"Don't be so impatient, Sassenach."
Jamie could not help smiling. She had always been like this. Impatient, curious, fiery. These were traits of her personality that he liked. They stopped on the porch where Claire's surprise awaited her.
"You can open your eyes."
Claire opened her eyes and a huge smile lit up her face.
"You remembered," she said, moved.
"Of course. I remember everything you told me."
Several months ago, while Jamie was explaining how the construction of their house would progress, Claire looked thoughtfully at where the porch would be.
"Is something wrong ?" He asked.
"No, it's just… It's nothing."
"Tell me."
"I always dreamed of having a porch swing."
"A swing ?"
Of everything he had thought about, he could not have imagined that Claire would want a porch swing. This was not a common thing in Scotland, but perhaps it was common in her time or in America.
"I know it's stupid, but when I lived in Boston I wish I had that kind of swing. But we couldn't have one on our porch. But that doesn't matter. Even without a swing, our house will be wonderful."
Jamie put his arms around her and hugged her. He looked at the place where the porch should be and imagined how to build a swing and where to place it. He would have to change his plans a bit, but that did not matter as long as Claire was happy. It had taken him a while, but with this swing, everything was perfect.
"Do you want to try it ?" He asked.
Claire nodded. Jamie kissed her knuckles and they both sat on the swing. They swung slightly. Jamie put his arm around Claire's shoulder, who snuggled up against him.
"It's perfect," she said. "Everything is perfect."
Jamie smiled. These last twenty years without Claire had been a hell from which he thought he would never escape. For her to reappear in his life had been a true miracle. Since the day she entered his printing office and despite the difficulties and trials they had to go through, every moment spent with her had a taste of paradise. He had been in darkness for so long that he believed he could never be happy again.
Building Fraser's Ridge had been a new adventure in their lives and he hoped he would spend many happy years with Claire. And this swing was the beginning of their new adventure.
The end