11
Jenny
I drive down the curvy mountain road with the top down on my Mini Cooper. The wind tangles my hair. It’s finally summer again. My first year of college was as amazing as I hoped it would be. The only downside was only seeing Ben a couple weekends a month. His son is still in high school, so it’s not like he can drop everything to come see me on a regular basis. Even though I didn’t get to see him that often, the times when I did were explosive. Luckily, I have a really cool roommate and she was willing to stay with her boyfriend the weekends Ben came up, so we had all that time for ourselves. We always made plans to go explore the town, but in the end we rarely left the room, or even the bed.
But now that it’s summer, I’ll have a couple months to spend with him and I can’t wait. When I get to the cabin I see that I’m the last to arrive. Ben and my parents are parked out front, and Tulip and Annie’s cars are off to the side. I park next to them.
The door to the cabin opens before I’m even out of the car, and when I see Ben, I almost forget to put the car in park before I’m opening the door and running toward him. I throw myself into his arms, laughing, on the verge of happy tears. He lifts me into the air and spins me around. His familiar scent overwhelms me with happiness and joy. Everything feels complete when he’s with me. He’s the puzzle piece missing from my heart.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I say.
He stops spinning me and we just hold each other. Both of us refuse to let go. I could stay like this with him forever.
But then someone behind us clears their throat. I look over Ben’s shoulder and see my mom standing there. She has a grin on her face. “You two love birds going to come up for air anytime soon or am I going to have to turn the hose on you?” she says.
My face heats up. I know she’s joking, but it’s still a little embarrassing. “Mom, stop,” I say, laughing and shaking my head.
Annie comes out of the cabin with a big smile and a hug waiting for me. The only thing that could break me away from Ben’s embrace right now is a hug from my best friend. She looks happier than when I saw her last. When she came to visit me a few weeks ago at college, she was teary-eyed and upset. She’d come to realize over the last few months that her mom was using her to get between her and Ben. If Annie had showed any kind of affection for her father, her mother threatened to cut her off. Annie finally got sick of the threats and told her mom off. They haven’t spoken since. Without even telling her, her mom ran off to Japan to be with some new guy she met.
“It’s boring here without you. What took so long?” she says.
“Everyone on campus was eager to leave. It was a mad-house out there. But I’m here now and we’re going to have the best summer ever.”
Tulip comes out of the cabin next and whistles at me. “Damn girl, you look good. Still going to the gym I see.”
We hug and then my dad and the boys come out, smiling and waiting for their turn at a hug as well. It’s so good to be surrounded by the people I love.
* * *
While everyone piles into the kitchen to prepare for the big meal we always have on the first night of our cabin trips, Ben helps me unload my things from the car and take them upstairs. This year we have a room to ourselves, and the boys have to sleep in the living room on air mattresses. I was a little surprised to hear it was my dad’s idea to give us the room. Though I’m not sure why I’m so surprised since my parents have been very accepting of our relationship once they realized we were truly in love and it wasn’t just some summer fling we were having.
As soon as I put my bag down in our room, Ben lifts me up and tosses me on the bed. He kisses me hard and passionately. It’s so difficult to stop him because I want him just as bad as he wants me, but I have to.
“Wait,” I say. “We can’t. We have to be careful.”
He laughs. “I’m pretty sure your parents know by now what we’re up to. We don’t have to be secretive anymore.”
“I know, but I don’t want to disrespect them. I’m sure it would make everyone uncomfortable it they heard the headboard banging against the wall. And we both know it would,” I tell him, nudging him in the side. We both know we’re incapable to being silent during sex.
“Don’t worry, we have plenty of time to get crazy later. Tonight I have a surprise for you down by the docks.”
“What kind of surprise?” I always love his surprises so I know it will be good.
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
He kisses me again and I change into a summer dress and we go downstairs for our annual family barbeque.
* * *
I’m shaking with anticipation when Ben leads me down to the docks later that night. I’m not sure what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t seeing my family and his waiting for us. Everyone has wide smiles on their faces. It’s not my birthday so I have no idea what’s going on or what we’re celebrating.
I look up at Ben once we’re on the dock with my family. “What’s going on?”
He gets on one knee and my heart stops. Is this really happening? Tears explode from my eyes and I’m sobbing before he even gets the words out. I look at my mom and Annie and they’re doing the same.
“Jenny, will you make me the happiest man on earth and be my wife?” He presents the box to me and opens it to reveal a gorgeous heart-shaped diamond ring.
I cover my mouth with my hands.
Annie whispers at me. “Say yes.”
“Yes. Oh my God, yes. Yes, yes, yes.”
Ben laughs and slips the ring on my finger. It’s a perfect fit and I know my mom must have told him my size. I have a feeling they were all in on it from the beginning. I’m so surprised they were able to keep it a secret.
Tulip says. “It’s going to be so weird calling you mom.”
I laugh. “Don’t you dare.”
I look into Ben’s eyes when he stands. I’m so full of love for him that I’m about to burst. Another amazing memory to add to the many I have at our cabin by the lake.