Chasing Forever: Jacob's Story

Dinner For Two.

 I slide out from under Chyenne before the sun rises the next morning, completely silent and sneak out the room. One by one I stop by my mothers, Mike's and Nichola's rooms, silently motioning for them to follow me out of the house.

 As soon as we reach the cover of the trees I take off in a dead sprint towards the old abandoned church and they run after me. I can feel their confusion as clearly as if it were mine through the link but I don't say anything and neither do they.

 I stop a few feet from the doors and turn to wait for them to reach me. My mother is the first to catch up with me and she looks at me, confusion clear on the tired lines on her face. "Jacob..?" She asks as my sister and Mike reach us. "Is everything alright?"

 "Chyenne is pregnant," I say breathlessly, pride in my words.

 Nichola squeals in excitement, jumping up to hug me. "Congratulations, Jacob!"

 "Thank you," I smile, hugging her back. Mike claps me on the shoulder, a broad grin on his face and I nod to him. Only my mother remains silent, tears in her eyes.

 I step towards her and she takes my face in her hands. "Mum," I start.

 "You're officially a man now.." She whispers, joy and sadness mixing together on her face. "A mate, a child.. I'm so proud of you."

 "Thank you, mum." I whisper hugging her tight. "But this isn't the only thing I brought you all here for."

 "What do you mean?" Mike asks, confusion clear in his voice. "Is everything okay?"

 I nod, reaching into my pocket and pulling out the ring. "I'm going to ask her to marry me," I say. "Tonight."

 Nichola squeals, covering her mouth with her hands and bouncing up and down. "Oh my god, finally!" She says. "Yay, oh yay!"

 Mike and I both burst into a fit of laughter at her reaction while my mother nods her approval. "Good." She says. "You should be married before he is born."

 I smile at them. "I want it to be  surprise." I say. "So nobody can tell her anything, got it?"

 Nichola nods crazily. "How are you going to do it?"

 I grin, looking between all of them. "Well, here's what I had in mind.."

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 "Where re we going?" Chyenne grumbles as I lead her through the path in the trees towards the abandoned house.

 My mother had tied a cloth over her eyes before we left, so she couldn't see where I was taking her and she's been complaining about it the whole walk so far. "It's a surprise, love." I say back, struggling to keep my voice steady. "We're almost there, I promise."

 She sighs. "I don't like surprises, Jake." She says and I snort. "It's not funny! I want to know where we're going."

 "And you will," I grin. "When we get there."

 "Ugh!"

 "Please be patient.." I say quietly. "I just want it to be special.."

 She smiles, squeezing my hand reassuringly. "Of course, J." She says.

 A few moments we reach the house and I see the lights on inside, an indication that my mother and Nichola have set up the table. Mike stands by the door, dressed up and his hair combed, smiling faintly. Without a sound he slips inside the house and notifies my sister and mother that we're here.

 I reach the door and push it open silently. "Be careful, love. Watch your step."

 "Okay..?"

 I close the door once we're inside, breathing in the scent of the sauce I'd made all day while my mother and Nichola had distracted Chyenne. It smells perfect and I watch Chyenne take a deep breath. Reaching over I untie the cloth and she pulls it off, looking around the room in shock.

 "Oh my god.." She murmurs. "Jacob, this is beautiful."

 I smile, taking her hand and leading her to one of the tables. "I'm glad you like it."

 "Like it?" She says, awestruck. "Jacob, I love it."

 "Good." I say, sitting across the table from her.

 Immediately Mike walks in carrying two plates of pasta and Nichola follows closely with two glasses of wine. Chyenne giggles quietly and Nich stops to hug her before the two of them disappear back into the kitchen where my mother waits with dessert.

 We eat in silence for a while, both of us glancing at the other every once in a while. "How was dinner?" I ask when we finish.

 "I can't believe you did all of this.." She whispers, staring at me. "J, this is so perfect."

 "Seventy years ago today, I bumped into you outside my fathers study." I say quietly, reaching across the table to take her hand. "And every day since I have fallen more and more in love with you."

 She smiles widely, taking my breath away as she so often does. "As have I, Jacob."

 "I mean that," I say quietly as my mother places a slice of cake in front of both of us. She walks past me, slipping the ring into my hand without Chyenne realizing, and goes back into the kitchen where I can see her stop beside Mike and Nichola, who are in the doorway. "I'm so in love with you, angel. And I can't ever imagine not being in love with you."

 "Neither can I," She whispers.

 I stand and she looks at me, confusion clear in her eyes. "God, I love you.." I whisper, getting down on one knee.

 "Oh my god.." She whispers, her hands going up to cover her mouth in her shock.