Just Between Friends (2 page)

     “Steven, aren’t you hungry?”  She inquired, arching a brow.

     As he sat there with his arms crossed over his knees, he wasn’t sure how to begin. He took a deep breath then swiped his hands down the sides of his trousers.  “Miranda, you know how I feel about you, don’t you?”

     “Well, yes, Steven.  I suppose so.  Why?”

     He didn’t know quite how to start. 
What was he going to say?  How was he going to say it?
  He just blurted it out.  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.  I’m bringing in good money now, and my job is real steady.  Well, what I want to ask is, well I mean …”

     “Oh, for crying out loud, stop stammering!” Miranda exclaimed, “and just speak what’s on your mind.”

     After a long silence, Steven spoke, “You know how much I love you Miranda.  You mean everything to me.  Well, what I want to ask you is,” he took a deep breath before suddenly blurting it out, “Miranda Porter, would you marry me?  There could never be anyone else for me, but you.”  He then reached into his shirt pocket and produced a small black box, and handed it to her.

     Miranda was so taken by surprise that she could only stare, even though deep down she had suspected something like this to happen.  With hands shaking, she slowly opened the gift that Steven had handed to her.  She gasped at what she saw.  Inside the box was the most beautiful, shining engagement ring she had ever seen.  She opened her mouth to say, yes, she would marry him, for she loved him more than anyone else also, but nothing would come out.

     “Well, Miranda,” Steven asked again, “will you marry me?”  

     The love she felt for Steven washed over her.  She looked into his big blue eyes and it was as if the world had stopped.  She heard the word, “yes,” come from her mouth, and she felt his lips brush hers then she felt his tongue slip inside.  This was something new to her, and she felt a tingling sensation all over.  She pressed her body against him and she heard him groan.

     “Oh, Miranda,” Steven said as he released her mouth.  “I need you so.”  He ran his hands down the curve of her neck and down her sides and she let out a gasp.  Laying her down gently, he lay beside her.  “You’re so beautiful, Miranda.”

     She instinctively reached out to him, and he positioned himself over her, and slowly lowered himself atop her.  She had never known feelings like this.  She reached up and caressed the sides of his face, and he lowered it to hers.  When his mouth covered her lips, their tongues entwined once more.

      Finally, reality hit Miranda and she realized just how foolish she had almost been.  Why, what if this went further and something happened?  “Steven, we must stop!”  She exclaimed. 

     It was the hardest thing in the world to do, but Steven rolled off Miranda, both their breathing labored.

     It was a long time before either of them said anything, and Steven was the first to speak.  “I’m sorry, Miranda.  I never meant to go that far, but just being near you anymore drives me crazy.”

     “It’s alright, Steven,” she soothed.  “I guess deep down I’ve wanted something like that to happen.  We just have to be more careful from now on.”

     Steven nodded his head in agreement, but added, “We should hurry up that wedding, don’t you think?”  She chuckled at that, but she felt the same, and couldn’t agree more.

     Only a few billowing clouds were scattered across the azure sky.  They watched as two gray squirrels ran up a tree in the distance.  Wind was lightly moving across the grass, giving it a ripple effect. 

     Steven and Miranda sat, still feeling a little tension between them. They were doing their best to gain some composure from what had just happened between them.   Their breathing was still a little shallow, but risking a glance in each other’s direction, they smiled, and reached for their plates.  They tried their best to eat, but were still a little shaken.

     The air was filled with awkward silence as they sat on the blanket under the big oak tree.  The water sounded relaxing as it rushed over the rocks, making its way downstream.  The breeze was gently blowing their hair, and they watched as a flock of birds flew overhead.  It really was a perfect day.

     They picked at their food for a long while, until Miranda finally spoke.  “Steven, there’s only one thing I’m worried about.  Getting married, I mean.  How are we going to break the news to Alec?  It’s going to hurt him so.  You and I have always gone out of our way to keep our relationship secret from him, because of his feelings.  What will he do once he hears of our engagement?  It will devastate him!”

     “Well Miranda, we can’t put a stop to our lives just because of Alec.  I know it’s going to hurt for a while, but he’ll learn to accept it in time.”

     “But he’s been our friend all our lives, Steven!  We can’t just drop it on him!”  Miranda exclaimed, worriedly.

     “Well, what do you suggest we do anyway?” He asked.

     “I’ve been thinking about that.”  She answered.  “You know Emily Simpson, and how she’s always had her eye on Alec?  Now, if we could only get him to notice her, well, who knows?”

     “It’ll never happen, Miranda.”  You know how he feels about you.”

     “I know, but it’s worth a try anyway.”  She replied, as she reached up and pushed some strands of her hair from her eyes.

     They let it go at that and finished their meal.  When everything was cleared away and Steven and Miranda were ready to leave, he gathered her in his arms and held her close.

     Looking into each other’s eyes, Steven declared, “Baby, I love you so much.  I can’t wait until we’re married, until we can truly share our lives together.”

     “I love you so much too, Steven.”  Miranda stated.   As they stood in each other’s arms, dreaming of their future together, little did they know of all the hardships yet to come.

                                           ***

     Alec  Williams, a handsome boy with rather long black hair and dark eyes, not quite as tall as Steven, but as equally good looking, was just leaving the General Mercantile when Emily Simpson came strolling up. 

     “Good afternoon,” Alec,” she greeted, “fancy meetin’ you here.”

     She was a pretty little thing, Alec thought.  Her golden hair, when worn down, cascaded more than half way down her back, and not one of those hairs were ever out of place.  Of course most women wore their hair up nowadays. The fashion, he supposed.  Her sky-blue eyes twinkled every time she looked at him. 

     Why, if it wasn’t for the way he felt about Miranda, he might have even given Emily a chance.  No, he knew no-one could make him feel the way Miranda did.  Just thinking of her made his heart beat a little faster.  One day he would get the nerve to tell her how he felt, that is, if Steven didn’t beat him to it.  He wasn’t blind, he could see how close he and Miranda were. 

     Alec had a special gift for Miranda, and once she saw it, she would surely know how much she meant to him, then maybe he could tell her everything, but until then, he couldn’t let Miranda see him with anyone else.

     “Good afternoon, Emily.”  Alec responded.  “How are you today?”

     “I’m just fine,” she replied.  “Mama sent me with a grocery list, and I have shopping of my own also.  Are you on your way home?  If not, maybe we could have lunch together.”

     Although he would have liked that very much, he knew he couldn’t.  What if Miranda were to see them together?  She could get the wrong idea.  He couldn’t chance for that to
happen, so he let her down the best he could. “That would be nice, Emily, but today is Miranda’s birthday, and I need to stop and give her the present I bought for her,” He explained

     “Oh, can’t you hold that off for a little while?  It would be nice to have some company.”

     He shook his head and apologized, “I’m afraid I can’t, Emily.  I’m sorry, maybe some other time.  I really have to be going.”  Alec walked on feeling a little guilty, for Emily was only being kind, but he just couldn’t do that to Miranda.

                                              ***

     When Miranda returned home that evening, her family was awaiting her.  Her mother had made a beautiful cake and there were presents spread atop the marble-top table in the parlor.

     Mary Porter was a petite woman, whose dark-brown hair, which she kept in an upsweep most of the time, had just a sprinkle of gray beginning around the edges.  She had worked hard that day, and wanted Miranda’s birthday to be perfect, but was totally in shock when Miranda announced her engagement.

     The shock quickly turned to excitement, as Mary threw her arms around her daughter, “Miranda, I’m so happy for you, even though I admit, it makes me a little sad too, with the thought of losing you.  I know how much you and Steven love each other though, and I know you will have a wonderful life together.”

     Her father, who had been quietly observing the scene, cut in.  “Yes, you’re marrying a fine young man, a hard worker.  He’ll make a fine husband.  When he came asking me for your hand in marriage, it was all I could do to keep from roaring with laughter.  The boy was so nervous.  He asked me not to mention that he had talked with me, so I didn’t tell anyone.”  He glanced at his wife, “Sorry, dear.  I just didn’t want to ruin this for him.  I’m just glad that he didn’t chicken out at the last minute.” 

     “Oh Papa, don’t make fun of Steven.  You know he holds you in the highest respect.  He was only trying to make a good impression.”

     Frank Porter removed the cigar from his mouth and lay it down.  He then made his way toward his daughter.  Placing his hands on her upper arms, he looked down, as she stared up at him.  “I know that, Miranda, but I still have fun teasing the boy.  He reminds me of myself at that age, when I asked your grandfather for your mother’s hand.  It just brings back memories, I guess.”  He pulled her into his embrace, and said, “Congratulations honey.  I’m truly happy for the both of you.”

     “Oh, by the way, Miranda, Alec stopped by looking for you.  He waited for about an hour, and when you hadn’t returned, he had to leave.  His father was waiting on him, something about needing his help on a neighbor’s farm.  He left his gift for you though.”

     She turned and faced her mother, “Oh, I was afraid of something like this.  I have no idea what I’m going to say when I see him.  I need time to prepare.  This is going to hurt him so.”

     “Yes, I suspect you’re right, but he’s going to have to find out sometime. I know it’s going to be difficult when that time comes, but he’ll eventually learn to accept it.”  Mary made her way to the sofa and motioned for Miranda to join her.  “Let’s not talk about that now.  This is your special day.  Why don’t you open your presents, then we can cut the cake?”

     Miranda obeyed and took her seat beside her mother.  Her presents were piled in front of her on the table.  She opened her parent’s gift first, and was very pleased with what she received.   After opening the satin dress of alternate brown and white plaid from the package, she rose and hugged her parents.  “It’s beautiful.  Thank you both so much.” 

     She then returned to her seat and began opening Cassie’s present.  As she pulled the gift from the wrapping, she was very surprised at what she saw.  Holding up the bonnet of pale-blue uncut velvet, she looked at her sister and questioned, “How did you ever know I wanted one of these, Cassie?”

     Looking smug, she replied, “I overheard you telling mama one day when we went shopping, so I decided that’s what I would get you.”

     Realizing her little sister must have saved for a very long time to be able to afford this, she arose once more, and hugging Cassie, remarked, “Thank you.  I love it.”  What a wonderful family she had. 

     There was one small gift left on the table. She picked it up, and swallowed hard.  She knew this was the gift from Alec.  It looked to be jewelry of some kind.  She took a deep breath then untied the string that surrounded it.  She paused a moment before removing the wrapping.  As she opened the box, her fingers trembled.  Inside was a locket.  It was gold, with a flower design in each corner, and a scroll design in the center. When open, it had places for a picture on each side.  It was beautiful.  Alec must have paid a lot of money for this, she reasoned.