His Flower

Chapter Eight

We all break apart and enter the park as well. Lia and I leave Gem and Alex a few feet behind us as we gawk at all the beautiful trees and gush at the little ones running around and playing games. I can see Alexei and me walking the trail as our children run around. Lia and Gemini's kids join in as they catch up to us. I can see our family dinners, birthdays, holidays, and big announcements happening in our home. I can hear the little kids that look just like Alexei jumping on our bed early in the morning, calling us mommy and daddy. I can see my future here clearly as we walk through this park. I'm so lost in thought that I don't feel Alexei pulling me into his arms until I hit his chest softly. He walks us to this beautiful pond with Lilly pads floating on top.

    "What are you thinking about so deeply?" he rubs my back and I snuggle into his hold.

    "I can see us happily living here. I can see all the dates and events we'd have in this park. How many dinners and parties we'd have in our home." I lean up to make eye contact with him and he's already looking at me.

    "I see our children running around this park. I see you swollen with our child, waddling around the house, or in your library reading to our baby. I see forever with you, Darling." My heart bursts as he admits to seeing forever with me. I rest my head on his shoulder as we watch to water flow and the kids play.

    "I see our kids too. I see Gemini and Lia's kids playing with our kids and wreaking havoc in our home. I can see all the vacations and activities we'll do together." Alexei spins me in his hold. When I'm facing him he just smiles with an adoring expression.

    I'm not gonna lie, our connection scares the shit out of me, but I would rather work through this fear and be with him than leave and never see him again. This man has made me feel more loved in the short amount of time we've known each other than any of my exes or even my family. Alexei is so gentle and considerate. He's always patient with me and moves at my pace. He's always checking on me and making sure I'm comfortable and I adore that about him.

    "Come Pet, I want to show you my favorite spot in this park." He takes my hand and we walk on the trail for a while until he leads me off the path and into the woods. My heart and mind race with confusion and fear. What could he possibly want to show me in the woods? I know that I can trust him, I do trust him but when you lead me away from people and into the woods alone with a vague spot you want to show me, I think I'm allowed to panic a bit. I take slow breaths and close my eyes to calm my poor heart. When I open my eyes, I see a bird in this skinny tree. It's small and very cute. I stare at it until we pass the tree and walk onto a clearing in the woods. It kind of reminds me of the clearing in Lovely Bones, but this clearing is different. It's surrounded by thick and tall trees and the grass is an unnatural green color. What is this place? Why am I slightly creeped out by this place and why did he want to show me it?

    "I know you're thinking about how creepy this place looks, but trust me it's not that scary. Just beyond these trees is a creek that I want to show you." He tugs me softly and I follow in his steps. We walk a little farther and a beautiful creek with rocks of all kinds lying under the surface of the water.

    "This is where my mom would take me when Gemini would go camping with our dad. I wasn't the outdoorsy kid that he was. I hated camping and fishing but going to this creek with my mom to read, write, and draw was the highlight of my childhood. I looked forward to it every weekend and nothing was better. When our parents announced our move I was devastated and ran away for a couple of days. My mom found me at this creek sleeping on a jacket I had on that day. She told me she knew I was here and just wanted to give me time to say goodbye. I was twelve, I had gone to this creek almost every day and now I was moving away for it." His parents must have been so worried about him. The panic his mom must've felt when she initially found out that her baby was missing, I couldn't imagine.