I Do, Don't I?

Chapter Twenty-Four

I woke up back at my cabin. My head no longer carried the heaving load of pain which made me think that last night was just a dream but my white tank top tucked in to my yellow chiffon summer skirt proved that last night was real.

I peeked out of the cottage window and saw John early in the field, working along with the gardeners he has probably worked with for years. A man came up to him who was working a few feet away from him and when I looked a bit closer, I recognized him as the waiter from last night. He has dark tousled hair and is no doubt just about John's age. His white shirt was decorated with dirt and soil that would surely take long to wash.

I went to my hardcase and pulled out a fresh pair of denim shorts and button-down white tank top. I tucked it in my pants and tied my hair to a messy bun before heading out. Thank God I brought flip-flops, I didn't mind my feet getting soaked in the soil. In fact, it felt good. It was as if I am capable of planting alongside him without flinching at the feel of dirt slipping through my toes.

As I passed, gardeners lifted their heads to watch as I made my way to John and his friend. When they probably noticed the other gardeners in front stared past them, they turned and I watched their expressions turn to even wider smiles.

"Hey," John greeted. "Good morning, princess."

I giggled. "Busy day?"

He studied the field which looked a bit quite a mess. "Not really. The flowers were picked fresh this morning even after the heavy rain last night. We just need to fix it a bit and the soil will eventually dry itself."

I frowned. "It rained last night?"

"Yeah, well..." he shrugged.

I looked away, trying to remember. The last thing I could remember is my head on his chest as we moved along to Edwin McCain's "I'll Be".

He studied me. "Don't you remember?"

I looked at him. "The last thing I remember was dancing with you."

There was a strange silence. "You don't remember any of the things you said after that?"

I closed my eyes and looked away. I could remember telling him that my brain could forget but my heart couldn't and all those words but they were all too jumbled up.

He smirked, breaking the tension. "It's alright. I knew this was coming. You told me your head throbbed and so I carried you back to your cottage when you don't seem to answer after I asked you if you could still walk."

I stared at him, waiting for him to go on.

"We were sitting at the steps of the gazebo. My arms were around you and I told you that even if you'd forget me a hundred times, I'd be glad to repeat that night for you a thousand times just for you to remember what we have forever as we watched the stars."

The nearby lady gardeners gave out soft "awe" sounds but it was still audible since everything was still, except for John who continued to elaborate the things that I forgot last night.

"Then you named a star. I thought you actually knew the stars but then you started calling one Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Juliet, Romeo," he chuckled as the others did, I couldn't help but giggle as well, but that didn't stop him from retelling the night. "Then, we laughed and you pulled your head up  and stared to my eyes. We looked at each other for a moment before you asked me to walk you back. Then, we held hands as we made our way to your cottage. You went out of balance and I knew what was going to happen and before you passed out, I carried you all the way to your bed and stayed beside you just as the rain began to fall."

I couldn't help but smile at the image of him right beside me, respecting me, not taking advantage of my vulnerability.

"Then, in the morning, Nick called me up," he glanced at his friend/our waiter last night. "And told me that we need to save the flowers or business would surely plummet." He held out his hands, beholding the field. "And here we are."

He made it sound all so simple but just visualizing what last night had been made me feel sorry for myself that I couldn't remember the whole thing. I don't remember how my head hurt so bad that I almost passed out. I don't remember passing out and I don't remember him carrying me back to my cabin but I could feel everything he said, I knew they all happened.

"I just want you to know that the night had been wonderful," I said, breaking the long silence.

"It wouldn't have been wonderful without you," he smiled.

There were teases and cheers around us. Nick nudged John with a huge grin. I felt the involuntary flush come to my cheeks and I didn't try to stop it from coming.

"Rachel, dear, what are you doing there?" I turned and saw John's mother by my cottage. "Come here and I've got something for you. You'll love it."

I turned back to John. "So, I guess I'll just see you."

John nodded before I turned back and made my way to his mother.

"Come here, dear. Don't put yourself in the mud," she said as I closed the distance between us. She puts an arm around my hip, leading me to their home.

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I don't know about you but my bones have been tingling to sweetness <3

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