The Harder I Fall (27 page)

“Charlene says I need to let go of my fears and let myself fall. I’m scared to do it.”

“Becca, I will always catch you when you fall.” He leaned in and kissed me.

“What if you aren’t there to catch me?”

“Where will I be?” he asked.

“What if I push you away again, close myself off?”

“You won't do that. You’ve grown so much since then. And you didn’t push me away; I let myself walk. I was scared, and you were afraid to fall in love. I was afraid of how much I loved you. The intensity of my feelings freaked me out. It wasn’t all you. I just needed to push to walk away. That’s not going to happen again.”

“But how do you know?” I could feel my fears strangling me.

“Because I know. I’m not going anywhere you aren’t.” He wiped at the tears on my cheeks and kissed me again.

“
L
ADIES, EVERYONE GATHER AROUND, PLEASE
. We’re short on time.” Renatta tried in vain to get all of us to pay attention. “We have ten minutes before the curtain goes up. I wanted to tell you all how proud I am of each and every one of you. The time and effort you have put in to this has made this show shine. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Now, hurry up and get dressed if you aren’t already, and then line up.”

“I can’t believe this is our last show already,” Caroline said as she joined me in the lineup.

“I know. It feels like we just did
The Nutcracker
.” The year had flown by. We only had a week left of school before the end of the term.

We had gotten our dorm assignments for the Summer Intensive a week before, and we would be rooming together. She was even going to come stay with us the week before so she could get familiar with the area.

“I’m going to say something mushy, so you're just going to have to deal with it.” She leaned in and hugged me. “I’m thankful for you, Becca. Your friendship means more to me than I can say. You’ve taught me so much this year, and I, I just really love you.” She sniffed.

“I love you, too. I don’t make friends easily, and I’ve never had someone like you who shares my passion. As much as I’ve taught you, I've learned from you as well. I’m grateful for the person you are, and for who you have become to me.” I hugged her tight, wanting to remember this moment forever.

We both laughed and wiped at our eyes.

“You know she’ll freak if we have to redo our makeup.” Caroline giggled.

“I’ll wipe yours if you wipe mine.” I grabbed a tissue and handed it to her.

Renatta ushered us all onto the stage a few moments later and we took our places. As the curtain went up and the music started, I felt nothing but joy. To be dancing with my friends, for nothing more than the pleasure of doing it in front of our families and friends...

We danced in perfect harmony, twirling along the smooth wood of the stage. Caroline and I had a solo together, and my heart squeezed as we held hands and danced together. This was right, all of it. We all cheered as we ran backstage. The show had been amazing, the perfect ending to the year.

Levi was waiting for me at the back entrance of the theater with a huge bouquet of flowers. I was in his arms before I could take a step. “I never get tired of watching you dance.” His lips were at my ear.

“So you liked it?”

“Of course I did. You were brilliant. I think you have some people who want to talk with you.” He gestured to the huge group standing a little ways away.

I gasped when I saw all of my students and their parents standing with Gwen. “Miss Becca!” The girls all yelled as Levi and I walked up. I was touched that they had come.

“What did you ladies think?” I asked and they all shouted out their thoughts at once. I laughed, taking it all in. We stayed to talk with them for a little while before Levi told them it was time for us to go to dinner.

“I can’t believe they all came.” My cheeks hurt from smiling.

“I can. You’re magnetic; you draw people to you. I think we have a few more people to say hello to.”

Ruth, Samuel, and Chad were standing by the car when we walked up.

“Becca!” Chad rushed me and pulled me into his arms.

I hugged him back, and then stepped back to look at him. “You look good, man.” He looked like he had gotten taller, and he’d started working out again, so he’d filled out some.

His cheeks flamed crimson. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

To see him smile again, after the year he’d had, made all of the struggles worth it.

“Oh honey, you were wonderful.” Ruth pulled me into a hug and kissed my cheeks.

I found myself thinking of Charlene’s words, of how I had found a family of my own making. She was right; Ruth, Samuel, Levi… they were my family.

“Becca... I told myself I was going to wait, but I can't think of a better place to do this than in front of our family.” Levi kissed me before dropping down on one knee.

My heart stopped. “I know it’s soon, and I know we’re really young, but there is no one else for me. I want to take care of you forever, and to be the one who makes you smile for the rest of our lives. You’ll never be alone again. I’m always going to be here to catch you. Becca, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?” he asked.

Tears sprang to my eyes. He was right. It should be too soon, but it wasn’t. Levi was my happy ending; he was everything. We fit together.

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Levi.”

We kissed to a chorus of cheers. I looked to see Julian, Sadie, and Mel standing with the others. Ruth and Sadie were both crying and hugging.

Levi swooped me up into his arms and swung me around. I looked down in wonder as he slipped the most amazing ring on my finger. “I designed it myself.” He looked so proud.

The ring was beautiful, a narrow row of diamonds around the band with a huge round diamond sitting atop.

“It was you, beautiful and strong.” He kissed my fingers.

“I’m going to love you forever.” I kissed him with everything I had in me.

Everyone rushed us at once, and Ruth hugged me tight again. “Welcome to the family, honey. I’m so proud to call you my own.”

“Oh, Ruth, I promise to make him happy for the rest of our lives. I love him so much. It feels like my heart will burst sometimes from loving him.”

“Baby girl.” She cupped my cheeks. “That’s how you know it’s right. I still feel that way about Sam, and it’s been a lifetime. Never let it go. Hold onto that feeling for the rest of your lives.” She kissed my cheeks and passed me along to Sadie, who was bouncing excitedly next to us.

“Oh my God!! You're engaged!” We danced around in a circle hugging. “Now let me see the ring.”

As I stood with Levi, holding his hand in mine, I knew this was right, all of it. I’d learned so much about myself this year. It was a different feeling to be free, to be happy. I would probably always be marked, scarred, by what had happened all those years ago. But I wouldn’t let it determine who I was anymore. Levi and Charlene had taught me that I could be more, if I would just let myself. I wanted more, and I knew I wouldn’t stop until I got it.

E
VERYTHING HAD HAPPENED AT LIGHT
speed. Ruth had taken care of everything. Levi and I were to be married on Martha’s Vineyard, on the beach in front of all of our friends and family just before school started. While I had spent the summer dancing, she had been planning the wedding. I had somehow managed to squeeze in dress shopping and fittings as well as cake tasting.

Sadie, Mel, and Caroline were to be my bridesmaids. Sadie, of course, had taken over and was in planning heaven with Ruth. The only thing I, for sure, had an opinion about had been my dress. I had fallen in love with it the second I’d slipped it on. It was beautiful and it took my breath away when I saw myself in the mirror. It was soft and lacy, fitting me like a second skin. It just looked so romantic, and I knew it would be the dress I was going to marry Levi in. Sadie, of course, had made me try on tons of others, but nothing could top it. Everyone had cried when the bridal consultant had later put a lace trimmed cathedral length veil on me.

I couldn’t believe the day was finally here. The day I got to stand up in front of everyone and promise to love Levi forever. I surprisingly had no butterflies in my stomach, no nerves. I was just excited. He was going to be mine for the rest of our lives.

Sadie had chosen pale blue strapless dresses that were soft and flowy with soft waves of ruffles flowing down the skirt. They all wore their hair up in big braided buns, and I had to admit she had been right to have everyone uniform. My first inclination had been to let everyone choose their own dress, but she and Ruth had nixed that quickly.

My own hair I wore down, in soft waves that fell around my shoulders. My makeup was simple, a soft golden color on my eyes with a heavy black liner, and my lips done in raspberry. The girls had just gone out to line up. I was waiting for Chad to come collect me to take me to the man of my dreams.

“Wow, Becca, you look…” He stood in the doorway with a look of wonder on his face.

“Thanks, you look very handsome yourself.” He really did, too, dressed in a tux, and looking happy.

“You ready for this?” He took my arm and tucked it into his.

“I really am. He’s it for me, you know?”

“I can see it, what’s between you. I know he’ll make you happy, and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Promise me something, though?” he asked.

“Of course. Anything.”

“Just promise me you’ll never look back. Don’t think about where we came from anymore. Just think about where you and Levi are heading.”

“I promise you that I won’t let it define me anymore, if you can promise me the same thing. The world is yours. You can be anything you want.”

He kissed my cheek and walked me out onto the back porch. I could just make out Levi, standing in the sand in front of a huge arch of flowers and strands of fabric that blew in the breeze. The sun was just beginning to set, and the sky was on fire in shades of pink and peach. It was the perfect backdrop to marry my best friend.

As Chad walked me down the aisle toward Levi, I had tears in my eyes. The look of amazement in his eyes made me melt.

“Remember, only happiness from now on,” Chad whispered and kissed my cheek before handing me over to Levi. Levi hugged him before taking both my hands in his.

“You look miraculous, like something out of a dream,” he whispered.

Finally, we had come to the vows, and I knew it would be the only part of the ceremony I would remember.

“I, Becca, take you, Levi, to be my husband. I promise to love and honor you all the days of my life.” I could barely hold back the tears as I spoke the words that would bind us together forever.

“I, Levi, promise to love and protect you until death parts us.” A tear slipped down his cheek. We exchanged rings and the minister pronounced us man and wife.

“Levi, are you ready to kiss your bride?” He grinned at us.

“Always.” He took me in his arms and kissed me as my husband for the first time.

We walked back down the aisle to a chorus of clapping and shouts of congratulations.

“Are you ready for the rest of your life, Mrs. Klein?” He pulled me to him once we were alone on the back deck.

“As long as I’m with you, I’m ready for anything,” I said and tipped my lips up to his.