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Sage’s eyes filled instantly.
“Cal…” Her voice cracked.
He stood a few steps behind her, watching her reaction quietly, looking at Sage with pleased happiness—shoulders relaxed, and that increasingly common, boyish smile on his face. But he wasn’t ready for what she did next.
Sage spun, dropped the picnic basket, and launched herself at him. She climbed his big body like a tree, legs wrapping around his waist, arms around his neck, and kissed him hard—hungry, desperate, tears mixing with the cold on her cheeks. Her mouth was hot against his, tongue sliding in like she needed to taste every ounce of love he’d poured into this.
Cal laughed into the kiss, big hands cupping her ass to hold her up, but he gently pulled back after a moment. “Wait, Baby girl. Dinner.”
Sage whimpered, chasing his mouth. “Fuck dinner. I want dessert.”
He chuckled again, a deep, warm, rumbling against her chest, and kissed the tip of her cold nose. “Dessert comes after. Promise.”
She groaned dramatically but let him set her down, though she kept one hand fisted in his coat the whole way to the table.
“Fine. But I reserve the right to change my mind.”
Cal chuckled as he slowly unpacked the basket with deliberate care: Mary Sue’s rosemary roasted chicken still warm, crusty bread, herb butter, glazed carrots, a bottle of sparkling cider and lemonade, and two slices of cinnamon-apple pie. The smells rose into the cold air—savory, sweet, comforting.
“Mmm, that smells amazing. I can’t believe you did all this babe. How long have you been planning this?”
Cal paused as he considered “Oh, you know. Just a day or two.” He didn’t quite meet her eyes.
Liar! You've been planning this for a long time lover…I love you so much….
Sage sat, trying to behave, but her eyes kept drifting toward the pavilion as she once again took in the magical fairytale quality of the lights and fire. The way the warmth drifted across her, and then she saw it.
Wait…is that my…OMG. It is…oh Cal…
Tucked carefully among the pillows on the big flannel bed was her old stuffed bear, Shadow — twelve inches of matted black fur and one missing eye. The same bear she’d slept with through every nightmare, every locked door, every lonely night before Cal.
Her breath hitched. Then the tears came for real—hot, overwhelming, spilling down her cheeks in silent rivers.
“Princess, you want lemonade or I have some… honey? What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
She couldn’t help it. She crawled straight into his lap, straddling him on the camp chair, burying her face in his neck as huge, wrenching sobs shook her whole body. Cal wrapped her up instantly, one massive arm around her back, the other cradling her head, rubbing slow, soothing circles between her shoulder blades. The fire crackled nearby, sending waves of warmth against the biting mountain cold that nipped at her ears and nose.
“I can’t believe you did this,” she cried, voice muffled against his warm skin. “You planned this. You’ve been planning this for weeks. You knew. You knew we’d be here like this and you still…” Another sob tore through her. “I love you so much, Cal. You’re so perfect. You’re everything I never thought I could have. The way you love me, it’s like a dream and every day I expect to wake up, but you just keep the dream going.”
He held her tighter, chin resting on her hair, letting her cry it out while the lanterns glowed soft gold and the valley lights twinkled far below like they were cheering them on.
After a while he said softly, “You’re wrong, Sage Thompson.”
She looked up at him curiously, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
Cal brushed her hair back from her tear-streaked face, the gesture so sweet and kind it made fresh tears spill. His pewter eyes were filled with pure devotion as he leaned in and kissed the salty tracks on her cheeks. “You’re the dream, my love,” he whispered, voice rough with emotion. “A dream I never thought would come true.” He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers. “A dream I didn’t think someone like me was allowed to have.”
Sage looked up at him. He stared back. The fire crackled. The cold night air kissed their skin.
Then she whispered, fierce and certain, “I will love you my whole life. You and no other.”
Cal looked at her for a long moment, something deep and decisive settling in his eyes.
He gently stood, still holding her, then set her carefully on her chair.
“Cal?”
“I’ve got you, princess,” he murmured, voice low and steady. “Just a second.”
