Caine kissed me softly on the cheek. “Let’s get going. We have one more stop to make.”
We were driving through a lovely neighborhood when he pulled up at a house. The house was painted a soft yellow with white trim. The manicured lawn had a white picket fence, which also encased the house. There were perfectly pruned pink and yellow rose bushes under the white shutter windows. The house looked like it came right out of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
“Who lives here? Who are we visiting?” I asked in confusion.
“I’m not telling you yet. It’s a surprise,” Caine teased as he got out of the truck and walked around to open my door.
“Did I meet whoever lives here last night?” I asked. I was still nervous about meeting all of his friends.
Caine reached for my hand and led me to the front door without answering my question. When he reached the front door, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Instead of knocking, he inserted the key and opened the door. Before I could protest, he softly pulled me inside. I looked around cautiously and noticed the house was completely empty.
I looked around again at the space and asked, “Why are we in a vacant house?”
Caine smiled and took both of my hands into his. “It’s ours. I bought it so we could have a house that is one hundred percent ours. Not my house you moved into, but a brand new house that is only filled with our memories.”
I stood speechless. He bought us a house. He bought this picture perfect house for us. I didn’t even know what to say or what to do. I just stood in place, stunned with the realization I was inside my new home.
“I hope you like it, baby. I promise the only decision I make is the house, but you can decorate it however you choose. You can do whatever you want to make it ours. Do you like it?” Caine asked nervously.
I wrapped my arms around Caine’s neck and looked into his eyes. “I love it! I love you! I love everything!”
“Come on, let me show you around,” Caine said as he grabbed me by the hand.
He walked me through the house showing me all of the rooms. He walked into one room in particular, stopped and faced me with a smile.
“I was thinking about this room for the nursery,” Caine suggested with a huge grin.
I opened my mouth in shock. “What? A nursery? We aren’t even married yet and you are thinking about children?”
Caine laughed. “When I know what I want, I don’t like to wait.”
I circled around the room, taking in the space. “It’ll be perfect. The whole house is perfect!”
“I can’t wait to start our life together and make a family,” Caine confessed.
I smiled and put my hands on my hips. “Well, you have to marry me first, before any baby making happens,” I teased lovingly.
Caine approached me and grabbed both of my hands in his. “I agree. Wedding first…but we can practice, right?”
Caine lifted me off of my feet and spun me around. “I was thinking we wouldn’t tell anyone our news until we have an engagement party to announce it,” Caine suggested.
“Oh, I love that idea! Then we don’t have to worry about who to tell first, or if we forgot anyone,” I said.
Caine raised one eyebrow. “Can you keep a secret?” Caine asked suspiciously.
I giggled. “Yes, I promise I can stay quiet until the party.”
Caine smiled. “You better, or you won’t be sitting for a week!” Caine warned, trying not to show his smile.
“I can’t wait to tell everyone! Can we have the party soon?” I begged.
Caine nodded. “This upcoming weekend soon enough?”
“Yes! I love you so much!” I almost shouted.
Caine grabbed my head and softly pulled me into an embrace. I could hear his heart beat against his chest. We stayed like that for a while. We took the time to just let everything sink in. I closed my eyes and prayed that I could do it right this time. I prayed that I could marry Caine and make him happy, that I could feel this content forever. Caine asked me to have trust in him, and I knew that I just needed to let go and have faith. I needed to trust that he would always keep our love strong, and he would fight for what we have. But in the darkest depths of my mind, I still had doubt.
18
Today was the day I had been dreading since returning home. Today was the anniversary of my mother’s death. I did so well, for the most part, dealing with her death. But the anniversary of the day she died ripped the band-aid right off and reopened the wound. I tried to stay happy. Caine and I were planning not only our engagement party but also a move. I tried to remind myself of how joyful this time should be. But the sadness was like a vise on my heart that kept getting tighter and tighter as each day got closer. Today my heart was broken.