Bring Me Back (18 page)

I opened it up and pulled out a hot stone massage set.  I looked up, raising my eyebrow. “Is this for me or you?” I asked.

She blushed a little bit, “I imagine it would be for both of us.”

“I bet you’re right,” I said winking at her as I leaned forward for another kiss.  The morning continued with us opening several little gifts that were special in their own little ways.  I loved that Ally picked things out for me for a reason or with a purpose, no matter how small.  She took so much delight in giving me gifts, and I found that watching her during the exchange was a gift in itself. 

I was just about to give her my final present when she jumped up and ran to the back room.  She came out a moment later carrying a large wrapped package.

“This is for you.”  She set the package down carefully in front of me, stepping back to watch me open it.  As I started to tear the paper, I could see the hint of a design underneath. 
She made me something!
 

As I pulled the rest of the paper off I gasped. “Oh. My. God!”  I looked up at her and saw her eyes start to water.  The rectangle was a framed mosaic design.  The center had two hearts that were woven together.  The upper right corner had a beautiful sun made with yellows and oranges, and had “Ian” under it.  The bottom left had a moon surrounded by different shades of blues and had “Ally” just above it. This was all made with beautiful cut colored glass, but what was so spectacular was that all of that was surrounded by pieces of pottery,
my
broken pot that she cleaned up off my porch after I shattered it. 

I looked up at her as she spoke softly, “
No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away.”

“Ally?” I reached for her.

“It’s a quote by
David Matthew Click
.”  She explained as she walked toward me, repeating the quote, “
No matter how dark the night, somehow the sun rises once again and all shadows are chased away.”
  Kneeling down, she took my hands in hers and whispered, “Ian,
you
are my sun.  You chased away my shadows and brought me back.  I love you so much!” 

I couldn’t speak as tears rolled down my cheeks.  I cradled her face with my hands and kissed her with more love and passion than I had ever kissed anyone with before.  This woman was my life—my future.  I pulled away, and reached for an envelope that lay alone under the tree.  “This is for you.” I said, my voice thick with emotion.  She looked at me and opened the envelope, pulling out the note inside.

My dearest Ally,

You changed my life the moment you popped out from the trees.  The day I met you, was the day the missing pieces of the puzzle all fell in place.  I love the way you look at me, the way you kiss me, the way you touch me, I love
everything
about you baby and nothing could ever change that!

You are so much more than I could ever hope to deserve.  When I look in your eyes I see comfort, when I lay in your arms I feel safe, when I kiss you I feel loved, but knowing you’re the only one for me gives me a hope that I’ve never had before.  I love you Ally, with everything I am.

Forever yours,

Ian

I watched Ally fold the note after she finished reading it.  She looked up at me and gasped as I knelt before her, holding a red ring box.  “Ally, it doesn’t matter if you know someone for two weeks or two years, when you’re so sure of something, you just know.  I have
never
loved another person like I love you.  I can’t imagine even one more night away from you.  Please tell me you will marry me.” Her hands were shaking as I looked at her, begging for an answer.

“Ally?”  I whispered.

She looked up at me and smiled as tears rolled down her face, “I'll do it if it means I get to love you forever.”

Epilogue

~ One year later

“Are you coming Ally?”  I hollered from the wraparound porch, watching as my very pregnant wife walked up our new steps.  “Jeez Ian, give me a break here.” Ally laughed as she waddled across the porch to me.  As she reached me, I pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard on the lips and placing my hand on her very full belly. 
God, this woman was so sexy!

Ally and I had gotten married only two months after our engagement, and had gotten pregnant almost right away.  Ally had been able to get back in touch with her extended family and some of her old friends at our wedding, and realized just how much they all cared about her.  I had been accepted with open arms from all of them, and loved that I had a new extended family too.

We decided to build a new home right in the middle of our two lots.  The other houses were removed, and a lot of the materials were able to be salvaged for use in our new home, bringing with it the character that we both loved so much.

The house was two levels.  The bottom floor had a gourmet kitchen and open living room with a wall of glass that overlooked the mountains.  We had an art studio built onto the back of the house for Ally.  She had been creating bigger and better art pieces, and was really making a name for herself in local galleries.  She had designed many pieces that were built into our new home, and I loved each one of them. 

The upstairs had four bedrooms and three bathrooms.  Ally and I were hoping for more children in the future to fill them up.

“Well, are you ready?”  I asked as we walked through the door for the first time since the house had been finished.  “Oh Ian!  It’s gorgeous isn’t it?”

I watched as she moved across the entry way, looking around our new home.  I was unaware of anything else, looking only at the woman I loved.  “It sure is.”