Fighting for love

Chapter 30

She followed Jo through the trees, few steps back. From time to time, Jo would turn her head and give her a reassuring smile. But she was having none of it. The discomfort she felt was growing with every second. Her imagination was running wild. 

Maybe it would be safer to run to her car and leave the foolish woman behind. 

She sighed. It was better to send a text to Nolam, in case anything happened.

She was writing the said message when she bumped into Jo who had come to a halt, making her stumble back a little. She raised her head, her brows frowned.

In front of her was a grassy meadow under the canopy of quaking aspen. The branches were covered with multicolored garlands of flowers. Flower petals floating briskly, releasing their sweet scent. In the middle of the meadow were a picnic table topped with champagne, several dishes and a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers.

Clytia stood there, her eyes widen by the surprise, in awe. It was lovely. In another circumstance, she would have been happy. It was ferric. She was scared to move forward. She looked at Jo who was smiling at her.

"I didn't know what food to bring, so there is some fruits, pastries, hum... basically everything for a brunch. Do you like it?"

She was speechless. What was she supposed to say? At that moment she felt bad for the woman. She couldn't reciprocate her feelings. "How?" she breathed still shocked.

"How?" Jo repeated fazed by the question as she frowned. She looked at something behind Clytia for a second before turning around and walking toward the table.

"How I made all that possible?" she asked whirling on herself, her hands raised, her head leaned back as she laugh. She looked like a happy, yippy kid. "I have my way."

Suddenly, Clytia felt a hand snaking around her waist, startling her. She gasped and jumped forward to escape the unknown, facing the previously unnoticed presence.

"Nolam!" she said a hand against a chest. "You scared me!" she finished as she slapped his arm making him laugh.

He took her hand and drew her closer to kiss her. It was a quick peck on the lips. When he released her lips, he spun her around and took her in a tight embrace, her back to his chest, his chin on her hair as he noticed.

"You never answered the question Jo asked. So, do you like it?"

She gently got out of his arms and stood a few steps away from him. She looked at him and Jo confused. They were both smiling at her. Her mouth slowly formed an O as she realized that they had planned everything together.

"So?" insisted Nolam. Now that she was paying attention to him, she noticed that he seemed a little nervous.

"It's beautiful bae. Thank you." She finally answered as she walked back to him and snaked her arms around him, her head on his chest.

Once again, he cupped her cheek and kissed her.

She turned to Jo who was filming them.

"Eh! So everything you said earlier, it was a trick to bring me here, right?" she asked still a little nervous as she let Nolam walked her to the table.

"Of course Titi. I'm a pretty good actress, in case you didn't know." She replied laughing.

Clytia noted that her laugh seemed forced and didn't reach her eyes. But she thought she was reading too much into thing. She got distracted when Nolam tugged on her hand and she faced him, only to notice that he had a knee on the floor. Her jaws dropped.

"Honey, I love you like I never thought it was possible to love another human being. I love you when you laugh, when you cry, when you're mad at me. I love when you pout whenever you're annoyed at something. I love when you run your hand in my hair when I lay on your legs." 

He had a small smile on his lips as he spoke. His eyes were teary.

"It drives me crazy when you leave your shoes hanging everywhere in the house and I have to remind you that you have a closet for a reason. Yet I love it. I love every little imperfection you have. You make me want to be a better person every single day. And there is no other person I see myself growing older with. I know we're already married. But I'm here today to ask you if you'll have me. Would you accept to have me by your side for the rest of our life?"

Tears were running freely on her cheeks. This was so unexpected! 

He had a beautiful emerald-cut diamond ring in platinum in his hand which was shaking a little. He was nervous. His eyes were hopeful and she could read all the love he had for her. She smiled widely as she nodded.

"Of course I'll have you." She laughed.

He placed the ring on her right finger and got up to kiss passionately. She could hear Jo cheers behind them. But she didn't care.

"God I love you so much." He breathed against her lips when he finally released them.

"I love you too."

"Let's drink now!" playfully said Jo as she smack Clytia's ass, before handing to each one of them a flute.

"To two of the loveliest person I know. May true love always win!"

"To love."

"To love."