Kaleidoscope

Chapter Forty-Five

"Brad, I did it. Everyone knows about you and Chicago," Jen said when she saw him that evening.

"And?"

"Well, as expected, Danny and Theresa were glad for me and my dad told me to go for whatever makes me happy. Then there was mom. I know I make her out to be intolerant and bossy, but she's very insecure, Brad, and feels like I'm abandoning her. She'll have to come around because I've decided to tell them 'yes' about the job."

Brad blinked, and after a moment took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. He would miss her so much, but theirs was a relationship based on true love, understanding, and honesty. They would make it somehow.

"There's something else interesting going on with the family. I may have mentioned that my mom and dad have been going to therapy for a little while now. The Doc thinks it's time for a family meeting and we're scheduled to go in on Thursday after my last exam."

"From what you've told me so far, that might be a good idea, Jen. How do you feel about it?"

"Well, I think a lot of crap is going to come out, and there are going to be a lot of hurt feelings if everyone is honest, but it might be just what we need. We've been scattered for so long we're just a shell of a family right now."

Jen knew Brad had a wonderful relationship with his parents and his younger brother and wondered if he even knew the word dysfunctional. That's it, Jen thought, we're dysfunctional. I would never have used that word, but we have no sense of family anymore. How did we ever get this way? This session coming up is going to be very hard, but very necessary.

Jen suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted from her body. She and Brad pulled together a nice home-cooked meal from what she had in the pantry, just to save money, and they ate outside on her small terrace. The days were getting longer, and they sat enjoying their after-dinner wine. Jen could smell the flowers she had planted in pots and realized that Chicago weather would be quite different, even in June and she may have to delay planting until much later. She loved to garden and looked forward to the day when she would have her own home, complete with the proverbial picket fence and plenty of space for a garden.

Brad leaned over, his musky smell seeping into Jen's nostrils, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"I'm going to miss you, this, so much," he said. His eyes bore into hers with such sincerity that, for a moment, she entertained not leaving.

"Maybe I should re-consider, Brad. I'm still waiting to hear from some hospitals around here, and they're all good, too. We could be together all the time if I stayed around."

"You know that's not what you want," he said, his eyes drifting over her body. "You need to do this, or you'll never know if it was the right thing. I'll come every other weekend to see you, depending on my schedule."

"You see, there's that. Your schedule is so crazy how can you expect to get away? And I have no clue how busy I'm going to be."

"Then that leaves us at an impasse, doesn't it?" Brad said, his voice a monotone. "Jen, you have to take this job. You're perfect for it. We WILL survive this year of separation, and then we'll take it from there after I graduate. I want to be with you forever, so one year will not kill us."

"What are you saying, Brad?

"I think you heard me."

"Is this a proposal?"

"I guess it is, Jen. I love you with all my heart, and I want us to be together for the rest of our lives so, yes, will you marry me? I don't have a ring to give you yet, but my heart is yours to wear."

The stars were beginning to peek through the approaching darkness making it easy for Jen to disguise her tears. She was very quiet.

"Jen? Do you have to think about it? I'll give you some time, but this is what I want for us, and I hope it's what you want, too. We won't be able to marry for a while until we're both settled, but I do want to marry you."

"I don't have to think about anything, Brad. I've never felt this way before. You are my life now, and I want our lives to be entwined forever."

"Is that a yes, then?"

Jen got up from her chair and went over to sit in Brad's lap. She looked deep into his eyes and kissed him passionately. "Is that enough of an answer?" she asked.

Brad suddenly let out a shout, making the next-door neighbors look over at them from their patio.

"Oops, sorry," he said. "But this young lady just agreed to marry me."

Jen, totally embarrassed, tried to hush Brad but he would have none of it. He leaned over the separation between the two patios and kept proclaiming, 'I'm in love, I'm in love' for anyone and everyone to hear. The neighbors cheered, calling out their congratulations and offered a toast to the happy couple.

"Let's go inside now, Brad. You're making a spectacle of yourself."

"Oh, don't be such a party pooper. We just got engaged. We need some champagne, but I'm afraid I can't afford the good stuff yet. Intern salaries, you know. One more glass of wine and then I'm afraid I'll have to go so you can get in some studying for your final tomorrow. But, I'd much rather spend the night-just so you know."

"Brad, you're incorrigible. One more glass and then I'm throwing you out. I can't afford to fail this last exam. They might rescind my offer."

They toasted to their future and then Brad got up to leave. Turning back to look at his fiancé, he said to her one more time, 'We're getting married, and I love you to the moon and back.' He swept her into his arms for a fiery kiss and then pulled away. "I'd better get out of here before I get carried away and can't leave. Good night, my love, and I'll text you when I get home."

Jen told him to drive safely, which could be a problem with the euphoria he was in, and closed the door behind him. She leaned against it, closing her eyes, dreaming about him before he even made it down the stairs. Now she had one more thing to tell everyone, and this would be the hardest. She cleaned up the dishes, put on her night clothes and took out her review sheet. How in the world would she ever be able to concentrate now? She was getting married!!