Subj: Secrets and Alibis 1
Date: 3/12/00 1:29:47 AM Central Standard Time
From: KimD
It has been two months since Barnabas had been released from jail. The months had been wonderful. Barnabas had been so concerned and attentive while Vicki suffered through a broken leg. The evenings spent with him had felt like paradise. He had a way of making her feel special, and important.
That night she was to dine at the old house. Barnabas met her at door. She noticed that he looked especially nice tonight. “I thought we were going to stay in tonight,” she said feeling terribly underdressed.
“We are,” he said. He stepped back and looked at her. “You look wonderful.” He escorted her into a small room that had a feeling of intimacy. There was a small table in the room next to a cozy fireplace. The table was set and there was one candle burning in the center of it. “This is nice. I don’t think that I’ve ever been in this room before.”
“I only use it for special occasions.” This comment drew a questioning glance, which received no further answer.
He led her to a seat on which he had placed a single red rose. She picked it up and inhaled its sweet scent. “This is very lovely.”
“No more lovely that you are,” he said, as a warm glow seemed to come into his eyes.
He held out the chair for her to set down, then sat down himself. He reached across the table for her hand. “I’ve wished for evenings alone with you like this for so long. It seems incredible that it should actually happen,” he said.
“Yet after all we’ve been through together it seem right. It seems like you ’ve always been somewhere close to me. Anytime I need someone you were there. I never thought we would get to this point.”
Willie came in silently to serve their dinner, fresh bread, salad, and pasta.
“Thank you Willie,” Barnabas said. “That will be all for tonight.”
“Yes, Barnabas,” Willie said and left the room.
Dinner proceeded nicely. They both stole appreciative glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Occasionally they would both look up and be caught in a gaze intense with longing.
Vicki made him feel so much younger. Barnabas thought of how beautiful Vicki looked. The light of the fire glowed softly on her skin, and the candle flickered in her eyes. Vicki looked into his eyes and saw there a warmth and passion that warmed her soul and made her heart soar.
“I have something very important to ask you,” Barnabas said. “I don’t know how or why you’ve come to love me, but I’ll always be thankful that you have. Being with you has been better than I ever could have imagined. You’ ve come to mean a great deal to me.” He got out of his chair, and knelt down on one knee in front of her, and retrieved a small box from his pocket. “I love you so very much. Will you marry me?” As he opened up the box to reveal a perfect diamond ring, Vicki was so overwhelmed with emotion that tears started to fall. “Now don’t cry. That wasn’t the reaction I was looking for.”
“You’ve made me so very happy. I love you, and would be honored to marry you.” He placed the diamond on her finger. “It looks so beautiful there.”
“Like it was meant for just you.” He stood up and enfolded her in his arms. A kiss sealed their promise.