Thankful (25 page)

She slipped her palm right next to his. “Aden—”

“
Jah?
” he said as he planted one foot in the snow and pulled himself up.

“If I fall . . .” She bit her bottom lip, obviously too unsure how to verbalize what she needed to say.

And because he knew he loved her, he made a promise he could only hope the Lord would help him keep. “I won't let you fall.”

“But if I do—”

“I won't,” he interrupted as he pulled her up beside him. Summoning a smile, he met her eyes. “Remember? I've got you. Now, stop worrying and follow my lead.”

Her steps were as wobbly as her smile as she got to her feet. Her grip, however, felt as strong as his own.

He'd never been so proud of her.

And as they stepped onto the ice, Aden realized two things. One, he was going to skate as if his life depended on it. And two? He now knew without a doubt why his life depended on it. Christina Kempf was his life. She always had been, from the first time he'd spied her. She always would be his life, too. And now that they loved each other, he knew she was his forever.

He didn't even care any longer if her family hated him for falling in love with her. He'd waited too long for this moment. And just as he held her hand, she held his heart forever.

With a deep breath, he positioned one arm around her waist, his other holding her left hand securely. Then, at last, he said a silent prayer and pushed off with his right toe.

And like it had always been meant to be, they glided across the ice as one.

chapter twenty-three

Christina was learning that it was possible to see absolutely nothing with her eyes wide open. Her world felt like a black void, illuminated only by the wind blowing across her face and the mind-numbing realization that she was facing her greatest fear.

“You're doing it, Christy!” Aden called out. “
Gut
for you!”

His voice sounded like it came from the back of a long, windy tunnel. It registered in her brain but she still remained confused. It was truly as if her brain and her body were two separate beings. Little that she saw and felt made any sense.

All she was aware of as Aden led her across the ice was that she was surviving. She wasn't falling through the ice. She wasn't gasping for air as frigid water tried to choke her.

Then Aden laughed. The sound was filled with such joy that it jarred her from her stupor. She blinked once. Twice. And then finally allowed her eyes to focus.

What a sight was before her, too! The tree branches that surrounded them were covered with bright, sparkling snow. The air was crisp and smelled fresh and heavenly. Delicate snowflakes painted their coats and cheeks. And Aden was gazing at her with so much love in his eyes that it nearly took her breath away.

“There you are,” he murmured. “For a moment there, I was afraid I'd lost you.” His lips curved upward as he pulled her a little closer, easing her around the pond in a wide circle. The pace was just fast enough to keep them easily upright. Just slow enough to let her feel like she was in control.

“For a moment, I thought I had gotten lost. That I'd slipped into another dream,” she admitted. “But now here I am, skating by your side. I can hardly believe it.”

“I'm so proud of you, Christina.”

“And I'm so thankful for you, Aden. You've given me a gift today. A wondrous gift. I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you.”

“I didn't do anything. It was your courage that got you here.”

Not wanting to argue the point, she merely smiled. As they made another pass, she slowly let herself relax enough to allow her body to settle into an easy stride. But still she clung to his hand.

“Good girl. You look like a champion again,” he teased.

“Hardly that. But don't let me go.”

“Never.”

His voice was so solemn, she tilted her chin up, met his gaze. And read the promise in his eyes. “You're talking about more than skating, aren't you?”

He nodded. “When I said I loved you, I meant every word. Did you?”

There was only one answer. “I love you, too, Aden. I've loved you for years. I've simply been waiting for you to feel the same way.”

He chuckled. “It sounds as if we'd been a little bit braver we could have saved ourselves a lot of pain.”

“Maybe so. Or maybe the Lord had always intended for this to be the right time.”

“I think that's it. At last, this is our time, Christina. And though I may be rushing things too fast, I have to warn you that I want it all. I want you to be mine forever. I want to marry you.”

“You want to marry me?”

“Uh-huh. And as soon as possible.” He winced. “Did I speak too soon?” He stopped abruptly, obviously trying to gauge her reaction.

Taken off guard, she teetered on the blades of her skates, let go of his hand in order to regain her balance, and then promptly fell.

“Oh!” she cried, closing her eyes tightly and preparing herself to face her worst nightmares. But all that happened was that she landed with a
thud
on her backside. “Umph!”

In an instant, Aden was kneeling next to her. He reached for her and held her close. “Christina, are you all right?”

As she looked into his eyes, all the fears and doubts and pain drifted away in a bubble of laughter. She'd done it. She'd conquered her fears and had skated a full circle around the pond. Her worst fear had not come true. She'd fallen, but instead of crashing through the ice, she'd merely gotten a little jarred.

Aden loved her and he'd asked her to marry him.

“I don't know if I've ever been better!” she exclaimed, wanting to shout her happiness to the heavens. “Oh, Aden, look at us!”

Little by little, his tentative smile eased into a genuine one, and then was replaced by a low chuckle. Within seconds, he pulled her to him and kissed her.

And kissed her again.

It was miraculous. And magical. And life affirming. Making Christina realize that the Lord had been exactly right. For everything there really was a season.

Everything was going to be just fine. Aden and she were going to finally stop playing games and circling each other. Instead they were going to declare their love and begin to make plans to be together.

Already she could imagine how excited everyone was going to be about their news!

“Christina?” her father's voice reached them like the deep clang of a brass bell.

Startled, Aden broke apart from her and clambered to his feet. “Joe. And Martha. What a surprise.”

“If you're surprised, I am shocked, Aden,” her mother said. “And you, Christina? Why, I don't know what to say to you.”

“Obviously you do,” she muttered under her breath. Christina didn't trust herself to stand up quite yet. Instead, she braced herself on her hands as her parents strode forward.

As they marched closer, Aden reached down for Christina's hands. “Let me help you to your feet.”

His voice was as gentle and silky as she'd ever hoped. And it gave her courage to clasp his hands and get back on the blades of her skates.

And as he helped her, she realized that she only had eyes for him.

Nothing else mattered.

chapter twenty-four

This was certainly a situation she'd never expected to be in. Her parents were standing on the edge of the pond, both looking angry enough to spit nails.

And here she was standing next to Aden in the middle of a frozen pond. Which, of course, was the absolute last place she'd ever dreamed she'd be.

The situation was so fanciful, Christina didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

She decided to keep silent and hope that Aden would know how to best handle the situation.

“What is going on, Aden?” her father asked. “When Treva told us her skates were missing and that she feared you took Christina skating, we could scarcely believe our ears. But this sight you treated us to . . . both of you lying on the ice, kissing?” His expression darkened. “I hardly know what to say.”

Christina opened her mouth, more than ready to explain things. But before she had a chance to utter a word, Aden replied.

“What just happened is all my fault,” he answered. “Christina asked me to help her conquer her fear of the ice and I agreed. But I should have asked you first.”

Martha folded her arms over her chest. “Yes, you should have. Anything could have happened! Christina could have fallen again!” she exclaimed, each word practically shaking with emotion. “Or she could have gotten hurt. All sorts of things could have happened and we wouldn't have known. You shouldn't have kept this a secret, Aden. After everything we've given you, you've repaid us by betraying our trust.”

“I realize that.” Not meeting Christina's eyes, he stepped off the ice. “I am sorry,” he told her parents. “It is obvious you are angry, and you have every right to be.”

Still wearing a thunderous expression, her father glared at her. “Christina, do not think that you have gotten out of this discussion. We have not even started.”

“
Jah
, Daed.”

“Now, get off the ice, change out of those skates, and then come along. We will discuss your behavior at home.”

A couple of things were preventing her from doing that. She didn't want to be dragged home like a wayward child. She certainly didn't want to follow her parents down the path toward the house, wondering all the while what was going to happen.

But more than anything, she realized that she wasn't in any hurry to leave Aden's side. She also had a bit of a problem. Without Aden by her side, she was a little afraid to skate off the ice. “I canna do that,” she blurted.

Before her parents could comment on that, Aden turned around and skated back to her side. “What's wrong? Did you get hurt when you fell?”

“My body is okay, but everything else? It's not,” she whispered. “This is ridiculous. We've come too far to be ordered to take off our skates and go back home. My parents are acting like I'm too young to know my mind.”

“So you have no regrets?”

“Not a single one,” she said with a smile.

Her father groaned. “Christina, if you're going to get all upset and in a mood, I'd rather you did it in the kitchen. There at least we'll all be warm.”

“Daed, Aden and I are fine. He and I will be inside in a moment. But I need you to leave us alone.”

“Christina, are you sure about this?” Aden asked.

She looked into his eyes, and for the first time she saw an honesty there that gave her hope. “I'm certain. I'm more than sure.”

After giving her a brief nod, he turned to her parents. “I'll bring Christina home in a little while.”

Her father looked flummoxed. Martha looked stunned. “Are you ignoring our wishes, Aden?” she said.

“Not at all. I'm simply choosing to follow Christina's wants.” He turned back to her. “Listen, I want to talk with you for as long as you want, about whatever you want. But not while standing out here on the ice. May I help you skate to the edge?”

Christina was afraid her legs were shaking too much to support herself. “
Jah
. As soon as we're alone.”

Thankfully, they didn't have to wait too long. After few more grumbles, her parents walked away, their steps measured and slow.

When she was sure they were out of sight, Christina held out her hand with a laugh. “Now you can help me. But I have to warn ya, I think my legs are frozen stiff.”

“I hope not. Your parents are mad enough at me. I can't let you get sick, too.”

“I'll worry about them.” She chuckled. “You worry about getting me off the ice.”

Something new lit his eyes. “Hold on to me and hand me your foot.”

Mesmerized, she did as he asked, then gasped as he started unlacing one boot. “Aden, what in the world?”

“Shh. Don't argue. Give me your other foot now.”

Now feeling like she couldn't have ignored his wishes even if she'd wanted to, Christina straightened her other leg and let him unlace her boot.

Then she stood motionless as he carefully tied the laces together in a neat bow and walked them to the bank. When he returned, he murmured, “Lift your arms, Christina.”

She lifted her arms. And then gave a little shriek as he swung her into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. Giggling, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight. “Aden, be careful. I fear I'm too heavy for you to carry around.”

“Never,” he said as he easily glided to the side of the frozen pond with her in his arms. When he stopped, he looked down at her. “Do you feel better now?”

“Jah.”
To be truthful, she wasn't sure how she felt at the moment. She was relieved and stunned. Astonished and happy. “You can put me down now.”

Carefully, he repositioned his arms, then let her slide to the ground. “You'd best put your boots on, Christy.”

She nodded, then did as he suggested as he switched out his own boots.

At last there was nothing else to do but talk. “What did you want to say?” he whispered.

“That I meant it when I said I loved you.”

“I meant it, too. You're my girl now, Christina. You know that, right?”

“I know,” she whispered. Because she'd always known it from the start. From the moment they'd met, he'd always had her heart.

She was just thankful that at long last their love was out in the open.

So very thankful.

H
and in hand they walked back to the house. Christina couldn't help noticing that the snowflakes no longer seemed ominous. Instead they were simply pretty reminders of the miraculous changes that had taken place between them.

Aden kept her hand nestled in his when they stepped inside. When they walked into the kitchen everyone was there waiting for them.