Rose felt the blanket against her bare skin. Opening her eyes, she suddenly felt a chill from the cold room, so she pulled her arm into bed under the blankets. The sunlight spilled through the large window in Jack’s bedroom, causing Rose to squint heavily. She placed her right hand over her eyes in an attempt to shield the sun away. It looked like another beautiful day. Memories of the night before came rushing back to her. She and Jack had made love, been close and naked together. This day felt like the happiest one in her life.
She didn’t know what this meant for them. Stretching slightly, she found the bed empty. Squinting her eyes, she ran her fingers through her disheveled hair and called out to Jack, with no reply. Pulling herself out of bed, she found her clothes scattered on the wooden floor. She found her dress on the floor and pulled it on, running her fingers through her hair once again in an attempt to neaten it, but to no avail. She called to Jack again; leaving the room, she checked the hallways before descending the stairs.
She wondered where he had gone. She didn’t know the time, but it wasn’t afternoon. The night before she had slept soundly, knowing Jack was beside her and that she was in his arms. She knew from that moment it was where she wanted to be forever.
Smiling, remembering the details from last night, Rose found herself in the living room. The glasses of wine, which they had started to drink last night, sat untouched on the coffee table. The wooden floors were cold against her bare feet, and she wished she had found her shoes, which she had taken off the night before.
Entering the dining room, she called Jack once more. On the table sat a piece of paper with writing on it. From a distance, Rose guessed it was from Jack. Wandering to it slowly, she took a seat at the table, which they had dined at the night before, and read the note.
Rose,
Gone into town to find some dinner.
Jack
A smile came across her face and she stood and stretched out once more. She yawned, not realizing just how tired she still was. Finding her way to the sofa, she sat down before laying her head down on one of the hard cushions. Minutes later, she had fallen fast asleep again.
*****
“Good afternoon.”
Rose opened her eyes slightly, squinting from the light. She felt her head hurting from laying on such a hard, uncomfortable cushion. Where was she? Stretching out her body, she remembered she had dressed and come downstairs earlier in the day.
“Sleep well?”
She looked up to see Jack smiling at her. He wore an apron and almost looked like something from a play she was once in. Sitting upright on the couch, she couldn’t help but smile. The fire roared in the stove and she wondered why he was dressed in an apron.
“I slept like a baby.” She ran her fingers through her hair, realizing just how rough she must look, but any thoughts she had were discarded when he leaned forward and kissed her lips just once before kissing her nose. Her nose crinkled and she giggled.
“I’m making some dinner.” Jack grinned. Rose saw the sack of potatoes on the counter, heard the fire roar in the stove, and shook her head. How had she slept through that? “Nothing fancy—just some chicken and potatoes.”
“I’m starving.” Rose came up behind Jack. He stirred some vegetables on the stove with his right hand and placed his left arm around Rose. “You were up early.”
“I went into town to pick some dinner up. It’s so beautiful out there. Everybody is so happy.”
For a second, Rose’s eyes met Jack’s and she kissed him with some force. She wanted him to know just how happy she was to be here and how lucky she felt. Her whole body felt warm, not just from the heat of the fire, but from how happy she felt.
“So am I,” she spoke in a quieter voice.
The wooden floor felt cold against her feet, but the heat from the stove was boiling. She leaned against Jack’s body and shivered slightly. He glanced down to see her bare feet, his hair flopping in his face as he did so. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead from the sweltering kitchen.
“You should find your shoes, Rose, or at least put my jacket on.”
He pointed to the coat stand where his wool overcoat was hanging. He had worn it into town earlier on in the day, but the heat from the room should have melted away any icicles that had landed on him as he had darted home.
Releasing her grip on Jack, she pulled the coat from the coat stand, smelling the fresh air immediately on the material. She pulled it around her body, closing her eyes. She was about to curl up on the sofa when she felt something digging into her side. She pulled the coat from around her body and eyed the pocket. She thought maybe it was his wallet or the cigarette tin that he carried everywhere with him.
Putting the garment back around her shoulders, she caught Jack’s eye. He had a small smile on his face, the edges of his lips slowly curving into a mischievous smile. She, too, smiled, not knowing what had amused him so.
“There’s something in the pocket, Jack,” Rose told him, her eyes not leaving his.
Jack raised his eyebrows. He felt giddy inside, like a child. He removed his apron and placed it on the kitchen counter.
“Oh, really?” He stepped closer to Rose. “I don’t know what it is. Have a look for me, will you?” His tone was serious.
Reaching into the coat pocket, she felt the object and pulled out a small box…carefully, she opened it, revealing a small ring sparkling inside.
As her eyes found his, he slowly bent down on one knee, as if in slow motion. It took a few seconds for her mind to comprehend what was happening. He wanted something…cupping her hand around her mouth, she felt like she was dreaming everything.
“Jack?”
“There’s one thing I want, Rose, for Christmas…” He smiled at her, but tears shone in his eyes. He held out his hand to her and she shakily she slipped her hand in his, feeling nervous. She couldn’t believe that this was happening. Was he going to ask her to marry him?
“I want you to marry me.”
As he spoke the words, tears finally escaped her eyes and she felt dizzy. A smile came across her face, and she knew there would only be one answer to his question.
“Rose, will you marry me?”
Rose hesitated in her answer, and Jack hoped with all his heart that she said yes. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Rose bent down on her knees. She touched his face with both of her trembling hands, seeing how nervous he was.
“Jack…of course I will marry you,” she whispered to him.
Shakily, he pulled the ring from the box and hoped that it fit her finger. To both of their surprise, it did. It wasn’t anything grand, just gold with a small diamond—all she needed.
“Oh, Rose…I love you so much.” He felt tears prick in his eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her, slowly at first, but then she put both of her arms around his neck.
“I love you, too,” she whispered back to him. She had never felt so close to anyone as she did Jack.
“Are you happy, Rose?” he asked her quietly.
“Of course I am. Why would you think I wasn’t?” Worry tinged her voice, but her eyes were sparkling.
“I just wanted to make sure marriage was what you wanted.” Jack smiled a little.
She touched his face. She couldn’t believe she had just become engaged to Jack. She felt her heart churn with happiness.
“It is what I want, Jack. More than anything.”
The End.