Chapter 22: CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Jake would love that!” They were enjoying their last full day. Dwight released her as she propelled forward, snatching up the small toy. Tomorrow they would return to their respective domains and the ordinary that was Maryland. Savannah had insisted that they hit all the local souvenir shops so that she can pick out some things for Kim and her husband and the boys.

Savannah held up the model airplane that resembled one of the jet planes that flew over her house occasionally. Jake was becoming a little man and his interests were changing. To be on the safe side, she picked one up for Nicholas as well. In her small shopping basket, she had tucked a bunch of silk scarves and some vials of perfume for Kim, a handmade wallet with decorative markings on the front for Kenneth. He was such an easy man to shop for and truly appreciated any gift he received. For Duncan, she found some pocket squares that she knew he would like. While Dwight had been looking at some maps in the corner, she had found a trinket that she thought represented his place in her life. She hoped that all that was happening to her heart would be conveyed in the gift. Dwight nodded at the plane and handed her some candies.

“This chocolate is sinful. Here. You have to try one.” Before she could object, he had placed the sweet square against her lips.

“Get me two boxes, will you?”

Dwight walked away and wiped his hands against his pants. Excellent idea for him to wear the black linen pants. His face was hot, and his heart was beating a mile a minute. Frederico had called moments after they entered the small store and confirmed that everything was still in place for that evening. If only he could keep himself from passing out, then the night would go on without a hitch. His plan was perfect. After talking things over with Frederico, he was sure of it. He had to keep to the schedule for things to work, so after a few more minutes of watching Savannah glide back and forth across the store, he gently ushered her out the door.

“I got something for Izzy too. It’s a doll set. I like the fact that her skin is brown and not porcelain. Not that I have anything against porcelain-skinned dolls. I just think that it is important for children, especially young girls to have dolls that they can relate to and that look like them.” She was rambling. Like some drunk teenager at the prom. She always rambled whenever she was nervous, but it wasn’t her energy that was making her feel that way. It was Dwight. Something in him had shifted and the vibe that he was sending out was wreaking havoc on her nerves.

“Are you okay?” She eyed him as he headed toward the car.

“Yes. Just eager to get back. Mr. Dutes arranged for us to have dinner at Bacio Fresco.” He opened her door and jogged around to his.

“What does that mean?” She put on her seatbelt, noting the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead.

“Fresh kiss. Doesn’t that sound romantic?” He smiled at her. She could not place what she had glimpsed in his eyes when he smiled. The smile was genuine, she could tell, but there was something else there that puzzled her.

She shrugged it off for the moment. They had plenty of time to talk. “I got something for you too.” She reached into her shopping bag and pulled out a small velvet bag. “Here.”

Dwight reached inside and pulled a silver ring. There was an inscription on it. He glanced up and met Savannah’s smiling eyes.

“It’s Italian. It says, ‘forever my heart.’ Do you like it?”

“I love it.” He pulled her close so that she wouldn’t see the tears lining his eyelids.

Once they reached the hotel, Dwight whisked her up to the room and headed straight for his closet. He pulled a black suit, starched and pressed to perfection from it. Dangling from the collar was an emerald green bowtie with a matching handkerchief tucked into the chest pocket. He noticed the smile in her eyes and smiled back before removing polished black shoes from the bottom of the closet. She noticed that her dress was laid across the bed and the jade shoes placed neatly beneath it. A large, velvet box was next to the dress. She reached for it.

“No ma’am. Not until you are dressed. We have a reservation to make.” He kissed her cheek and took the box with him into the guest bathroom. She sighed and headed towards the master bath to get ready.

Savannah drummed her fingers against her leg. Gabriel was driving and singing softly in Italian. Dwight was next to her in the black sedan, immaculately dressed in his dark suit. His bowtie perfectly complimented her dress. She was impressed by the effort he took with such a small detail. She fingered the emerald jewels that hung from her necklace. She could feel it sparkling against her skin. He was spoiling her. She grabbed his hand and intertwined her fingers between them. He kissed her knuckle and returned his attention to the street.

Moments later, they were seated at a table set off into a corner. The lights above were dim and cast a yellow-orangey glow against the cloth. All around her couples were whispering to each other, eyes glazing over with love. Dwight fidgeted, moving the menu from one side to the other. He repeatedly picked up his utensils and glared at them before placing them back in their respective spots.

“Are you all right?” She smiled at him.

“Yes. Of course.” He stammered. “Just checking everything over. I want it to be perfect.”

Savannah placed her hand on his. “It doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“But it does. A trip to Italy should be something you always remember. I want everything to go great for you here, so you’ll have something to think about when things get tough at home.”

When the waiter brought their food to the table, it was all Savannah could do to keep from wolfing it down. She was never the type of woman to starve herself while on a date, but she assumed that bringing the plate up to her face and licking it would take away from the very romantic and serene atmosphere. After they had finished dessert, the waiter returned with a bottle of wine.

“Compliments of Signore Dutes.” With a bow, he was gone. Dwight and Savannah shared a glass of wine before leaving the restaurant. Dwight stood near the curb, his head scanning left and then right.

“Did you enjoy dinner?” He looked back at her, his thumb waving to their car nearby.

“I had a wonderful time. Despite eating all that rich food, I seem to be fully awake. Did you want to go back to the hotel?”

Gabriel pulled close to the curb and Dwight opened the door for her. “There is a place that I wanted you to see before we leave tomorrow.” The ride itself was nearly 20 minutes long. Dwight felt as if his chest was going to explode. The ring was burning a hole in his jacket and if he didn’t give it to her soon, he would fall out. When they pulled up to the bridge, Savannah squeezed his fingers. The lights from the streets around the bridge shone upon the structure and made it appear to be on fire.

A few couples strolled along the street or across the bridge. He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. The moment was upon him. He steered her near the middle of the bridge where a bench had been installed. Walking around the bench, he placed her hands on the stone wall of the bridge. The slow rush of the water beneath them was soothing yet did nothing for his fiery nerves.

“It’s beautiful.” Her back was to him, but he could still see the huge smile plastered across her face. He reached into his pocket and removed the box. He closed his eyes and took one more deep breath before opening the box and placing it in front of her. The gasp echoed around the bridge. Faces turned in their direction and ogled Dwight and Savannah.

“I know all the reasons why we shouldn’t do this. But there is only one reason why we should.” Dwight turned her to face him and stared into her watery eyes. “I love you. I want to be the one to take care of you and Jake and Nicky. I cannot imagine anyone else next to me. If you’ll have me.” He lowered himself down to the ground and lifted the ring to her. From somewhere on the bridge she heard violins. The people she had thought to be merely enjoying the bridge were now holding instruments. She recognized the tune of John Legend’s ‘All of Me.’

Savannah could not breathe. The lump that had formed in her chest had risen to her throat and she struggled to swallow. She stared down at him, his eyes dancing between uncertainty and desperation, love, and promise. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t want to pressure you, but I already see you as my wife. I know that’s crazy since we haven’t known each other for a long time.”

“I just don’t know. I’m still figuring out what’s happening with my cancer. I don’t really think it’s a good idea. You’ll be stuck with me and who knows what will happen.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. She glanced around at the musicians, still playing their instruments.

“I don’t love you in ignorance of what’s happening with you. I love you in spite of it. I know it won’t be easy but living without you wouldn’t be either.” He stood up and placed his forehead on hers. “I need you.”

Savannah whispered yes into his mouth when she kissed him. Dwight lifted her from the ground and squeezed her into his body. His hands trembled as he worked the ring onto her hand, trying to keep from breaking them. “I can’t believe this!” She cried into his shoulder. Applause erupted from around them. Gabriel appeared with champagne, that he had opened and that was now bubbling out onto the bridge. When he put her down, she held her hand in front of her and admired the ring. It was finally happening. When Thomas left her with the boys so long ago, she had prayed for another man to enter her life everyday afterwards. It seemed that God was not intent on granting her request, so she stopped asking and began working on herself. Strange how things worked. Here she was on a path to possible death, trying to resign herself to the fact that she would be leaving her boys, and a perfectly good man shows up to take care of her.

*****

They were sitting in a cab outside of Dwight’s house when the tears finally fell. Even with Frederico tearing up and hugging them for a solid ten minutes; even when Gabriel sung a song in Italian in honor of them; even as she watched the sunrise from her seat on the plane, the tears would not come. Identifying why she was crying was even more puzzling.

“I’m sorry.” Dwight whispered to her.

Her eyebrows furrowed and she looked at him. “Why?”

“I never thought how the proposal might affect you.” Dwight turned to look at her. She noticed the slight wrinkles near his eyes. The stress lines around his mouth. The fresh sadness across his face. His brown eyes were dark as they stared into hers.

“No. I’m looking forward to this… us. I guess I’m just overwhelmed with everything. Never thought I’d be getting married again.”

Dwight ran his eyes over her face, sighed, and opened the door of the cab to help her out. They were quiet as they walked into Dwight’s house. He walked over to the end table and gathered up the mail. As he sorted through it, Savannah walked into the kitchen. She walked back into the living room carrying two glasses of lemonade. Dwight dropped the mail on the coffee table and sat beside her. “We can leave in a few minutes. I’m sure the boys will want to see you.”

“Wait until Kim hears what happened. I’m sure she’s going to say something colorful.” She sipped from her glass. “Do you mind if I take a nap first. The plane ride really took it out of me.”

“You can lie down on my bed.”

Fifteen minutes later, Dwight was sitting in the living room, his glass in one hand and the phone in the other. “I decided not to get the horse drawn carriage. Seemed a little corny. Besides, I was just trying to keep from throwing my dinner up.”

Duncan laughed boldly. “I can just imagine you standing there, ring in hand, all sweaty and stammering over yourself.” He paused to laugh. “You almost hit the floor when you proposed to your first wife. Is she already planning the wedding?”

“That’s the funny thing. She seems sad. Like she’s not really excited about it. I caught her looking at me a few times, like she’s thinking about changing her mind. Part of me feels like she may not want to marry me.” Dwight looked toward his bedroom to make sure he was alone.

“Well, she has a lot of things going on. Not everyone deals with them the same way. Give her some time.” Duncan glanced over at his sleeping niece. Izzy had been a handful, as usual, but he relished the company. It had been many years since he had a child in his home for longer than a weekend and taking care of her had awakened a need he didn’t realize he had. “That kid of yours is something else. I didn’t know she knew all those words. Talked my head off.” He patted her leg.

“She is something. All that reading she has me do for her every night. Once Savannah wakes up, I’ll be over to get Izzy.” He stretched. Apparently, the flight was taking its toll on him as well.

“I was wondering if I could keep her until tomorrow. That week flew by. We have a movie date.”

“Um… no problem. Let me talk to her when she wakes up, huh?”

“Sure.”

Savannah tiptoed back to the bedroom and laid on the bed. She never believed herself capable of sabotaging her own happiness. A mere few hours into her engagement and Dwight was already doubting her feelings for him. Logically, she should be ecstatic. Dwight loved her, was in love with her. Loved and cared for her boys. Wanted her around his daughter. She pressed her face into the pillow and inhaled Dwight’s scent. A smell she was willing to wake up to every morning. He said forever. He promised. And he was dependable. She needed that.