Dawn avoided Luke’s eyes as he put her down on the bed. “Luke, I’m really sorry. I honestly didn’t mean to worry you, or for you to come all this way.”
“So what did you mean by disappearing without a word to anyone?” Luke eyed her every movement, trying to read her body language.
“I just needed ….. Oh I don’t know ….. Luke this is such a life changing decision.”
“I agree Dawn; marriage is not a decision to be taken lightly. Are you having doubts about us?”
“Aren’t you?” Dawn asked watching his expression closely.
“Whatever makes you think that? We’ve been together four years now. We’ve talked about getting married just a year after we’d been going out. You seemed so sure back then. What happened between then and now to make you doubt your decision to marry me?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know Luke. I’m just worried we are doing this just because it’s what our families expect.”
“Dawn you were so excited when I proposed at your 21st birthday celebration. When you said yes, it was sort of set in stone that the next step would be to get married. We waited a whole year Dawn. Why now, do you feel it’s wrong?”
“Luke do you love me?”
“Of course I do you silly girl.”
“Please don’t talk to me like I’m a child. You may be four years older than me, but I’m not a child. I’m not the naïve eighteen year-old you met four years ago.”
“I’m sorry Dawn, but you must realise I would not be here now, if I didn’t love you.”
“Luke you haven’t told me you love me in such a long time.”
“Of course I have. Every time you’ve asked me I’ve said yes.”
“That’s just it, Luke.”
“What now Dawn?”
“I’ve always had to ask you, ever since we got engaged and you always just say ‘of course I do’ or when I say I love you, you always say ‘me too’ you have not actually said the words I love you since …. Well since after we got engaged.”
“Dawn you are just making mountains out of molehills now. Of course I love you.” Taking her hands in his he kissed them and pulling her into his arms he kissed her lips softly. “I do love you Dawn, now please Honey lets go home and help the family prepare for our special day.”
Dawn sat quietly on the bed watching Luke pack her things in her bag. “Luke, I do love you, but is there a difference from loving someone to being in love? The romantic kind of love that sweeps you off your feet and makes you feel faint.”
Luke stopped what he was doing and went and knelt down beside her. Taking her left hand in his he kissed the diamond ring he’d put there just a year ago. “Dawn it’s just wedding nerves we are experiencing. I promise you after the wedding all our nerves and doubts will settle down and we can get on with being husband and wife living all the dreams we’ve had together.”
A tear rolled down Dawn’s cheek. “Luke I am sorry for putting you out like this. I’m sure you are right and once it’s all over things will get back to normal and we’ll probably look back on this day and laugh.”
Luke smiled, stood up and lifted her into his arms, hugging her close he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “There’s my girl, all smiles. Now can we go home Honey?”
Dawn nodded. “I can walk, Luke, just need my crutches, if you’ll just carry my bag please.”
“No need Honey, I’ll carry you to the car and then come back for your bag.” Luke said as he walked out the room carrying Dawn in his arms.
They met Andy in the hallway. “Everything okay Dawn?”
“Yes thanks Andy…… I’m going home with Luke.”
Andy sensed the brief hesitation in Dawn’s voice. “Dawnie if you need anything just call okay.”
“I’ll be fine Andy, thanks so much for everything. I would’ve been sort of lost without you.”
“Whilst Luke carries you to the car, I’ll get your bag.”
“Thanks Andy.” Dawn said smiling.
“Yes, thanks Andy for helping my fiancé and letting her stay here.”
“The pleasure was all ours.” James said as he came up the stairs to see what was going on and turned round again and walked down the stairs with Dawn and Luke.
When Andy picked up Dawn’s bag he noticed her phone lying on the bed and without hesitation he punched his number in and set it up for speed dial.
Luke settled Dawn in the car and took her bag from Andy. Shaking Andy and James’ hand he thanked them for their kindness.
“Any time Luke. Come back and visit whenever you can.” James said shaking Luke’s hand.
Andy leant inside the car and gave Dawn a hug goodbye and remembering her phone he pulled it from his pocket and gave it to her. “You left this on the bed.”
“Thanks Andy thanks for everything. Hey will you both come to the wedding?”
“We’d love to come.” James replied.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Andy responded, giving her another hug and whispered, “My number’s on speed dial, just in case.”
They both stood waving till the car disappeared out of sight.
~~~
Driving home Luke put all thoughts of Annie out of his mind now and forever. Everything he felt or thought he was going to say was now banished forever. A brief interlude …. Best forgotten. Water under the bridge now and there was no turning back. He had to put all his unsettled feelings behind him and concentrate on showing Dawn everything was going to be alright and he had to bring back to the surface the love he’d felt for her when he placed that diamond on her finger.
He stopped outside the gates to the ranch and turned to Dawn, “I do love you Dawn, everything will be alright now you are home again. It will all fall into place and be perfect, just you wait and see.”
Dawn smiled and squeezed his hand, “Yes I’m sure it will be just fine. Dad and Aunty Eve will make sure it’s perfect for us.”
“Do you love me Dawn?”
Dawn hesitated for a split second. “Yes Luke.” She leant forward and hugged him.
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes for a moment and then kissed her softly.
YOU ARE READING
DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance
عاطفيةA dark haired beauty stands tall in a satin white wedding dress. Her deep brown eyes stare back at her. Is this really what she wants? Was the overbearing influence of her brother's, the reason she found herself standing in this dressing room, tryin...
