A birthday surprise

preperations

Jason's pov

I head over to Luke's to tell him the news. "Hey, ya know how you always ragged me about me not asking her to marry me?" I ask, smiling. We're walking out to his deer stand, doing a little hunting. "Yeah, so you finally grew a set and asked her?" He asks. He knows just the right words to really get under my skin. "Yes, I finally asked her." I say, confidently and ignoring his smart ass remark. "What's the ring look like?" He asks. "Well, she's got it right now. You'll see it when we meet up later." I reply, loading my bow and ascending into the deer stand way back in the woods. "Oh yeah about that..." He says. "What?" I ask. "I won't be able to make it. Bo has this eagle scouts ceremony thing and Caroline doesn't want me to miss it. Ya don't mind, do ya pal?" He says. "No, of course not but I do need some advice. Should I go with a big wedding or a small one? As you know I am not a big fan of it all." I say. "Well, it's different for every girl. My girl wanted a small wedding, that's why only very few people were invited." He mumbles, combing the woods for deer. Now what's on my mind. What should I say for my vows but before I have time to ask, he's pointing his bow and pulling it back. I see a bead of sweat roll down his neck. When he hunts, he really focuses hard. He's about to let the arrow fly when Caroline calls his name, catching him off guard. He fires it too far east and it hits a tree, scaring the deer off. "Dammit, she made me miss!" He grumbles, heading for the door. "What's up?" He calls, shielding his eyes from the sun. "Come get ready to go! It's a formal thing. And yes that means a suit!!" She yells. "Ugh, we have 4 hours!" He mutters, getting out. I guess I'll have to figure out vows later. I grab my bow and follow him. "I guess we can talk later." He mutters, annoyed. "Whoa man, what's going on between you and Caroline?!" I gasp, surprised. They've both always seemed so happy together. "Oh nothin' I'm just frustrated about her breathing down my neck all the time." He says and waves. I head to my truck. Her picture sits in my rearview mirror, making me smile. "Can't wait to see you baby." I whisper, staring at it. When I get home, there's a note on the counter. "Gone dress shopping, see ya tonight. Love u." Well now what to do? I guess I'll catch the end of the bulldogs game. I flip it on. After my team won, I started channel surfing, bored out of my mind when I come across that gossip show. Oh I always hate to be on this show. Apparently they found her when she was looking for a dress. She glares at the camera as she walks to her car. "I don't have to answer any of your questions. You'll probably just twist it around. If ya want to know anything, you can catch it when we announce it to the public. I turn it off and call her. "You almost home?" I ask. "Five minutes away. These damn reporters are on my tail. I don't want to lead them home, what do I do?" She asks, sounding worried. "Go to the gas station, I'll meet ya there." I say, grabbing my pistol. I am gonna give them a run for their money. I meet her a few minutes later. The camera folks are still in her face. She's made sure to lock her door. I shoot my pistol in the air. They jump and turn around. "Leave her alone. Get back in your cars and get out of here!" I yell. They start running and I walk over. "Hey babe, you okay?" I ask. She let's down the window. "Way better now." She says, smiling. I kiss her lips. "Just to warn ya, Luke isn't gonna make it tonight. Something with the scouts." I say. "You told him today anyway so it doesn't matter." She says. We both get back home. "Did we even pick a date?" I ask, holding the door open for her. "Uh, yeah everything is already planned out." She says, sounding sad, definitely confusing me. "Honey what's wrong, you sound sad." I say, worried. "My mom had it all planned out in a book." She says. Oh no wonder she's upset! I hug her because that's the only thing I can think of to do. "I remember what your mom first said to me." I whisper, holding her tight. "What was that?" She asks, looking up. "She said she'd been waiting for you to find someone." I say. "That must be why, because of the book." She says. "And now she isn't here to enjoy it." She says, starting to cry again. I wipe away a tear from her eye. "Trust me baby, she'll be there." I say. She smiles. "She'll be telling ya how stupid I'm gonna be and how much trouble you'll have to keep me out of." She laughs. "You're no trouble at all, baby." She whispers and kisses me which I do the same.