Wide Open Spaces

I Do

Stevie hadn't noticed the rain, as Lindsey was the only thing on her mind. She was soaked completely through and shivering. Flashes of light and the thunder in the distance filled the house in strange syncopation.

"Stevie, get up. You're going to get sick if you stay in wet clothes"

"I don't care" came her small voice.

"Stevie"

"Leave me alone" She lay on the floor, her head buried in her arms. He picked her up and took her to her room, flipped on the lights as he went through. He lay her down and began stripping her. "Stop" she said, weakly fighting him off.

"I'm not letting you get any worse than you are, you're sick enough as it is."

"What do you care? You hate me now"

"I do not, I just don't understand you"

Suddenly there was a pop and all the lights went out. He let her go a moment and gathered up a couple of candles, lighting them.

"I'm sorry"

"You're not" he says softly, bringing her pajama bottoms, a tank top and her robe.

"Don't tell me I'm not sorry." She says. "I am but you know how I feel about marriage."

"No I don't! You were so gung-ho to marry Brock. I think what you mean to say is that I know how you feel about marriage when it involves me." His words cut her and she looks up at him with sad brown eyes. "Tell me it's not true."

"Maybe it is. Maybe I don't deserve you."

"Don't sit here and pity yourself."

"Well, what do you want me to do? I said no to the only man I've ever loved in my life, the father of my children...I've ruined something so beautiful between us."

"Stop your whining!" He shouts.

"I'm not whining. I'm upset. I just know we would be miserable if I would have said yes.

"Give it a shot."

"No, I'm not getting married. Not now, not ever. I love you so much and I want to be with you. Why can't you be just be happy? We've had the most amazing six months together. Let's enjoy each other."

"I'm just waiting for another guy to swoop in just like Brock did"

"That won't happen"

"How do you know that? We were practically together a few years ago."

"We never decided on a thing. Plus, you seem to forget about Charlotte ending up in bed with you."

"The girl from the gym? I don't even remember her name now!"

"You're such a pig!"

"Oh come on, Stevie!"

"No, I won't 'come on'! You broke my heart, Lindsey!"

"So you go and find some young guy to sleep with and make me jealous?"

"I guess, at first..."

"You admit it! Finally, the truth comes out!"

"Stop yelling at me!"

"Then stop giving me things to yell at you for!" He screams, and he looks at her. She's fallen silent with nothing left to say. "Things have got to change" She sat down on the bed, shaking her head.

"We were fine" she says. "Better than fine"

"Why won't you say yes?"

"Because I can't. I don't want to go back, I don't want to resent you. We are happy."

"Then fuck the piece of paper and wear my ring" he says, exasperated.

"I already do."

"I bought this one for you after seeing how much you loved it." He takes the ring out of his pocket and holds it out for her. "It's different and non-traditional. I've been looking for a ring for weeks, Stevie. Haven't you noticed me hinting around?"

"No, because we discussed this. We don't need this to be legally binding to prove our love for each other."

"I know that."

"Then why does this matter?"

"I want you to be mine"

"I am yours, Lindsey. I'm yours." she tells him. She tugs his hand and he sits next to her. "I love you more than I could possibly explain. You are my moon and my stars. We have a life together, and kids...this is enough for me. I don't need anything else. I wish it was enough for you, too"

"It is enough, I just..."

"You just, what?"

"I wanted to do it right. I wanted to give you a big pretty wedding and take you on a honeymoon where you're not too tired and pregnant to do anything you had planned for us. I wanted it to be special because I stole that from you last time. We were moving and you were so stressed out. I wanted it to be different for you"

"Linds..." she says, tears falling down her cheeks. "Baby, everything is perfect. You are doing everything different for me. You've grown, changed and you've become the man I knew you were inside. I will wear your ring but this is not an engagement. Maybe in the future, when I'm 75 I will say 'let's get married' but right now..."

"It's a promise"

"Yes"

"I can live with that" he says, nodding.

"Can we seal it with a kiss?" She asks and he nods again. She leans forward and presses her lips to his. The familiarity in his touch calmed her down dramatically. She touched his cheek and angled herself a little bit differently as she kissed him again, eventually creating enough space to look into each other's eyes.

"Can I put it on your finger? I think it will fit nicely with the silver one"

"Yes, please." He slides the ring into her finger and just as he thought, the two rings go together so well.

"You make me so happy, Stevie. I just thought maybe being married would make us even happier. Maybe it would solidify our bond."

"Our bond is stronger than anyone's I've ever seen. We are in this for life, Lindsey. I'm not going anywhere." She kisses him one more time and the lights come back up. The storm had finally eased just as much outside as it had inside.