Chain Reaction 3.45: Timeless

Charlotte

     Jarvis is up to something. And he's right, I don't really know what it is. I can just feel him scheming. He's become a tad unpredictable lately. Just being able to read his emotions doesn't mean I know what he's going to do next.

     I gasp when I see where he's taken me. "Oh maker, Jarvis. This is beautiful!"

      He smiles hugely. "I thought you might like it. I know how much you like good thinking spots."
      Tears try to prick the sides of my eyes. No one knows me like he does.
      The setting sun throws a rainbow into the mist of the waterfall, making the whole scene magical. A string of lights comes on as if from a timer. This has been one of the most scary and yet wonderful days of my life, and it's all due to the man standing next to me. How could I have ever thought I could live without him?

      "I had to pick nice spots because my thoughts were always painful." I was so stupid! I did everything I could to push away those people who meant the most to me--with the exception of my immediate family. And although they come close, no one matters more to me than Jarvis. It took Aunt Isabella dating him to force that reality into my face. I still feel bad about that, but I think Isabella is okay. She got pregnant, but Kade and she got married.
      I turn to see him look at me with his eyebrows scrunched up in worry. To ease the tension, I smile.
      "But I still can appreciate a good spot, and this one takes them all." I wish I could paint like Chloe because then I might be able to capture the beauty of this moment.
      Jarvis acts like he chooses his words carefully. "I hope that in future you go to your thinking spots to think about happy things."
      "What I was doing was escaping. Nature has a steadiness about it. Timeless. We're so temporary."

     "I don't feel temporary when I look at you. You give my life meaning, purpose. My love for you is timeless. It'll never end." Love pulses out of him in massaging waves of utter bliss.
     Plum, he is such a romantic! He looks like he's going to say more, but I have to interrupt him.

      He grunts in surprise after I grab the back of his neck and pull myself to his lips. He needs to be kissed like this. He has been nothing but wonderful today, making what could be a spectacle of disappointment for some women a fountain of pleasure--and not just physical.
      From his tumultuous childhood, Jarvis is by nurture a solitary, independent type of man. He told me meeting me turned that on its head, and he found he wanted me with him more and more, turning want into need. It takes quite a person to reach someone like that, and I accomplished it as a child. He says he's been mine since the first time he heard me giggle.
     Jarvis lets out a regretfully pleading noise. He has more he wants to say, but he doesn't understand that if I hadn't have kissed him like I'm doing, I would've lost my mind.
     Giving up, he merely groans and keeps kissing me. We don't get disturbed by anyone while we do nothing but enjoy the feel of the other one... as if we hadn't done plenty of that today already.
     Panting, he pulls back. "Lottie, please."

      I release him. Something has made him start into a mild panic. What's going on?
      "I was hoping..." He stops. Then he starts again. "I mean I didn't want..." He swallows. "I'm trying not to be predictable."
      "It's working," I tell him quietly.
      He lets out a huff. "Today has been the perfect day, and I don't want to ruin it."
      I smile now. I think I'm understanding the panic now. "You can't possibly ruin it, Jarvis."
      "Yes, I can. I really can. I can't help it if to some people this looks overeager. I really meant everything I said earlier.

      "All that was supposed to help segue into what I had to say next, but now I can't remember exactly how I was going to word it. So right now, I'm just trying my best not to look like a bumbling idiot and failing miserably." He closes his eyes like he thinks he's a walking disaster.
      I giggle. I think my guess is right, and I love him all the more for trying to make everything perfect.
      "I always end up blurting things out, and I, for once, had it all suddenly map out for me in my mind, but now, I can't remember what it was, and I wish I did because I'm trying to make everything perfect while I ask you to marry me." He opens his eyes.

      He realizes what he just said, and I'm guessing that's not how he wanted it to come out. His jungle green eyes watch me carefully. I can't help but remember that time at the diner when he let it slip he was crazy about me. At the time, I was shocked and worried. Not now. Now, I think he looks the most adorable I've ever seen him.
      He swallows hard again. "I mean, I..." He huffs. "Plum, Lottie. Just kiss me again."
      No, I have one better: "Yes." To his look of surprise, I repeat. "The answer is yes, Jarvis. Nothing could possibly be more wonderful."
      He exhales and wraps me in his arms.

     Pure joy. Love. Success. Tenderness.
     Then worry.
     What could he possibly be worrying about?
     His voice sounds in my ear. "I love you, Charlotte Taylor.

      "So many people love you. I'm so glad I get to be one of them."
      "You're the best one," I whisper. I don't want to cry right now, and I think I just might.
      "I went to your dad for advice."
      "You did?" I feel my surprise when he pulls back and looks at me.

      "He gave me something, and I can't believe he did considering what it means to him. I had intended to do this on my own, but like I said, I'm not the only one who loves you." He reaches into his pocket and holds something in his hand. "He wanted me to use this." He opens his hand and takes what's in it into the fingers of his other hand. "It was your mother's."
      It finally registers what it is I'm looking at: a ring. It's not exceptional, not especially unique--to the untrained eye. But it was Mommy's. Aw plum. Now I am going to cry! Tears roll down my face as Jarvis takes my hand and puts the ring on it, where it fits perfectly. Then he hugs me tightly while I drench his shirt.

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