A Gift to Build a Dream On
441 Words
We lay there, half-dressed in exhaustion. We were waiting for marriage, but it hadn’t kept us from other fun before then. Fletcher’s cabin was his family’s, but he moved in once he graduated high school. He had gone to an agriculture school not too far out from the town. The family had properties all over. Sometimes when I needed a break from my parent’s I would stay here when he was away. It felt like so long ago. I was just a kid then, and he really only saw me that way.
I giggled. Clearly that was not the case now, I thought as I picked up my clothes from his floor. I went into the bathroom to wash my face. I looked at the woman in the mirror. I noticed my messy hair, but the mousy brown waves were unremarkable. I was teased for my upturned nose. They called me Miss Piggy, despite being very thin. If anything, they had more cause to call me a chipmunk because of my full high cheeks. Then there were my eyes. They were striking to say the least. A navy rim around the outside, sage green in the middle, and orange flecks around the pupil. Men always noticed them. My granny called them witch’s eyes. I think she was trying to be nice. She didn’t have the best way of expressing her positive feelings.
Fletcher grabbed my arm and shouted. I jumped, and he laughed as though he had won the lottery. He was easy to amuse. I liked that about him. He leaned me into the sink and kissed me deeply. I had to go home. Even back in the woods hidden from the world people would talk. s*x before marriage, or even the illusion of it, was a socially banish able sin. Yes, we do live in the twenty-first century, but also in the South. Needless to say, we are a few decades behind.
“My darlin’ you know I have to go.”
“I know.” He nuzzled into my hair. I walked out into the kitchen, drank a glass of water and gathered my things.
“This has been a great ten months, Graye. I know it’s not a special occasion, but I got you something.” He pulled a small tissue package from behind him.
“Fletch, you really didn’t need to.” I gingerly opened the gift and a small necklace slipped out. He pulled the chain around my neck. I fingered the garnet pendant. I loved it. I loved him. Just that instant, my stomach dropped. This could be the rest of my life.
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