Page 166 of Stealth Mission
He watches me. What’s that look in his eyes?
“I hope it is,” he says in a rough whisper.
“What are you up to?”
He motions to the blanket.
“Oh… are we going to?” I laugh huskily. “I like the kind of dessert you’re talking about. I’ve been afraid I might accidentally scream your name, or call you God in the house.”
Evan pulls me down next to him. I stretch out on my back as the little lightning bug swirls around overhead. After being there a second, my eyes adjust and the stars start to twinkle.
I find a comfy spot on his shoulder, my favorite place to lay. “This is incredible.”
Evan reaches down and finds my hand. He traces his fingers in circles over mine. “I want to tell you a story.”
“Ohh, this sounds romantic. I’m all ears.”
“Actually you’re all heart.”
I snuggle closer. “Says he who has the lion heart. What is this story?”
He clears his throat. “Okay.”
Below my ear his heart sounds a little too loud and fast.
“Are you?—”
“Shhh.”
“Okay, I was just worried…”
“This is a true story.” He pauses as if gathering his focus. “There was a night a long time ago when a little boy slept in the cold. He didn’t dream because he was too broken. The only thing he felt inside of him was anger. The world was dark and colorless to him. The hunger tore at his stomach. Made his legs weak. But one night everything changed. He slept under a clean blanket and the food in his belly made him sleep a deep, deep sleep. He had his first dream that night. Of a land far away where the earth is moist and green and trees are covered with beautiful red fruit. Where the wind whispered and carried the scent of the ocean.”
He stops and draws in a ragged breath. “That kid had never been to the ocean or even heard the sound, but his dream was so real. And the next night he filled his belly again, but before he went to that warm, safe bed, he walked with the lightning bugs. They showed him the way to a new place. There, the moon was sparkling on the river. It was magical and sitting in this spot gave him the first peace he had known. For a while, he laid on hisback watching the stars dot the ink-black sky, and while he did, he imagined he could catch a falling star in his hand and keep it forever. A piece of heaven on earth.”
I’m crying, biting my lip, fighting the sobs that are trying to burst my lungs.
His fingers shift and turn my hand over. In my palm he places a small, cool metal object. He wraps our fingers together over it.
Tears rush over my lashes.
In a low, rough voice he breaks me.
“I’ve caught my star, Marianna. While this diamond will never shine as bright as you, I hope it will remind you of the light you’ve brought to my dark life.”
I bury my face against his chest crying as he exhales shakily. “My past is ugly, Mari. Now you know who I was, I just hope you’ll give me the chance to be the man I want to be. Will you marry me, and make me the happiest man on this great Earth?”
I squeal. My heart is soaring as he rolls on top of me. “Yes!”
This time I lead the kiss and I show him just how much I love him.
He laughs against my lips. “God, I love that. But you’ve got to give me your finger, sweetheart.”
Tears are rolling and I’m breathing madly as he takes my ring finger and slides a beautiful solitaire all the way up to sit against my knuckle. Red sparks fire from it, magically lighting the darkness.
It’s stunning. “I love it. So much. It’s amazing. Just like you.”
He looks at me with wonder.