Love is in the Air
The evening had been perfect for what was definitely not a traditional wedding. The ceremony was held on the edge of the ridge. The mountains and sunset created a magical backdrop as the trees were radiant with red and orange. The happy couple had just finished a ride around the farm when the MC of the evening told everyone it was now their turn. The hayride was calling Isabella’s name. Stepping up the makeshift steps, she felt someone take her hand.
It was him, the man she had noticed earlier when he took his seat on the groom’s side. She was captured by the way he smiled and when their eyes had met, her heart had skipped a beat.
“Please, ma’am. Let me help you up.” His deep rich voice made her weak in the knees. As she grasped his hand, her heart fluttered.
“Thank you.” Isabella took a seat and he slid in next to her. After the small talk of exchanging names and how they knew the bride and groom, Isabella went to adjust herself on the bale of hay at the same time the wagon hit a bump. Jay grabbed her so she wouldn’t go over the side, and once again, Isabella’s insides were tied in knots. Before they knew it, the hayride was over. Isabella, not wanting to seem too forward, thanked Jay and proceeded to the bonfire area that was now teeming with guests. The temperatures had plummeted to the high 50’s after the sun went down and without a sweater, she rushed to find a spot to warm up.
As Isabella was trying to position herself away from the smoke, while still trying to stay warm, a jacket was placed around her shoulders and that same rugged voice, again, soothed her soul.
“You took off from the hayride. I thought we were getting along.”
Turning in Jay’s direction, she smiled as she slipped her arms into the sleeves of the coat. She wanted to thank him, but couldn’t speak past the lump in her throat. Her heart was about to beat out of her chest.
“Isabella. I hope I am not being too bold, but I had to meet you after I saw you in the wedding party.”
Just then, the band came back from break and started their set, calling all to join the happy couple in a dance under the stars. Isabella took hold of the massive, but gentle hand Jay stretched out to her, and started to laugh because it basically swallowed her dainty one. Jay held her close and Isabella felt so secure, she laid her head against his chest. The smell of his cologne brought back memories of her dad and the way he used to dance around the house with her and her mom. After sharing the last dance as the evening’s festivities were winding down, Jay cupped Isabella’s head in his hands and gently kissed her on the forehead. She stood in silence as he turned and walked up the path to the parking lot.
For the next year Jay and Isabella spent as much time as they could on video chat. She never knew where he was or when he would be able to call. They talked a lot about the future but Isabella was hesitant not knowing from day to day where he would be stationed next. She was counting down the days until they would be reunited.
The season moved on to fall, that magical time of year when Isabella loved watching the trees turn from green, to yellow, to orange, to red. Even though there was a crispness in the air, the sun made it feel a little warmer so she decided to sit on the front porch one day with her homemade apple cider. She was savoring the smell of someone baking a pumpkin pie when her attention was drawn to a vehicle driving down the road in her direction. She could have sworn it was Jay but he wasn’t due home for another month. To her disappointment, though it was a truck that looked like his, it kept driving right past her house.
Moments later, when Isabella stood and turned to walk in the house, she came head to chest to a man in uniform. She knew that cologne. Before she could step back she was picked up and immersed in much more than a polite kiss on the forehead. All the pent-up emotions of being separated for just under a year, came spilling out. Isabella had always dreamed of being swept up by a man in uniform, of being twirled around without a care in the world, while passionately being kissed. Today she lived that out.
Jay lowered her to her feet and got down on one knee. He pulled a box from his coat pocket and opened it for Isabella to see.
“Isabella, we’ve had this long-distance relationship, but I’ve known from the day I met you at the wedding. Will you marry me?”
With tears flowing, Isabella was able to squeak out a yes. She bent down and this time she was the one who cupped his head in her hands, and gently kissed his forehead.
