June 2013
A neon signed blazed overhead - Fill 'Er Up in cursive script - casting the rain-soaked highway rest stop in red-gold monotone, like an old sepia photograph come to life. Jennie stood frozen in place, looking down at the person who knelt before her on one knee.
The water ran down her face in rivulets. Droplets dangled from the tip of her nose. Jennie watched the water trickle and fall, and she listened to the words she thought she'd never hear her say, the words Jennie thought were lost to her forever.
"Jennie, you're the one. I love you. Will you marry me?"
Jennie touched her on the cheek. Her eyes were locked with Jennie's, trying to read the answer on Jennie's face before she said the words. She was holding her breath - they both were - and Jennie felt the air escape from her lungs in a silent sigh.
"Lisa..." she said at last, tugging on the hand that was holding hers. "Get up."
Lisa dropped Jennie's hand and pressed her lips together for a moment before she rose to her feet. "I'm guessing that's a no, then?" Lisa said, her eyes on the ground.
"It's not a no. It's just..." Jennie shook her head. "Lisa, it's way too soon."
Lisa rubbed one hand across her eyes to clear away the rainwater. "Ok then." she said, nodding once. "Let's go." Lisa jerked her head towards the car and started walking towards it.
Jennie grabbed her arm, and Lisa turned back towards her. Lisa's gaze was directed somewhere just over her left shoulder. "I love you too." Jennie said. "There's just a lot we still need to figure out."
"Yeah." Lisa shrugged. "I get it. Totally." Lisa forced her eyes to meet Jennie's, and the sadness Jennie saw in them tugged at something deep inside her chest. "Lisa." she whispered.
"It's ok." Lisa said, forcing her lips to curve into a smile. "Come here." Lisa pulled Jennie into her arms and looked down into her face. She brushed the damp hair off of Jennie's cheeks, and then she lowered her head to kiss Jennie, slowly and gently.
"What now?" Lisa asked once they were back in the car.
Jennie looked down at her watch. "Right now you have a flight to catch," she said.
"That's not what I meant."
"What, then?"
"You said it's too soon, so I'm asking you, what now?"
Jennie shook her head. "I don't know."
"I think you need to come out to LA."
"Lisa, you can't just snap your fingers and expect me to turn my whole life upside down..."
"Jen, I'm not asking you to turn your life upside down. I'm asking you to come for a visit. I have six weeks of downtime before I head out on the summer tour."
"I can't take six weeks off work," Jennie protested.
"So how much time-off can you take?"
"I don't know." Jennie looked up at the ceiling of the car for a minute, calculating. "Maybe two weeks?"
"Ok then. Come to LA. Stay with me for two weeks."
"Just drop everything and jump on a plane to Hollywood. That's what you're asking me?"
"No, Jennie. I'm asking you to marry me..." Lisa reached out and took her hand, twining her fingers through Jennie's. "... but Jennie, if two weeks is what you'll give me, then two weeks is what I'll take."
