Wild flowers; Housekeeper's Bell

Chapter 14

Hand in hand they walked down the path they had taken earlier that afternoon down to the lake, before taking an old familiar trail that made Bell smile. She begun to feel nostalgic, "Are we going where I think we are?" She asked.

"Yes, the last time we were there, things didn't end so well. So, I was thinking how about we change that?" He smiled as they walked along the trail, through the now over grown bushes and shrubs, the moonlight offered a clear view along the way as they walked in silence.

"The place hasn't changed much, look..." she pointed to the trampled bushes ahead of them, "it looks like some ones been walking through here recently..." Bell paused, she was beginning to feel a little nervous, "do you think the lake house still exists?" she whispered, gripping Dean's hand tighter.

"I'm sure it does, it's only been six years..." Dean suddenly stopped, Bell bumped  into him, she looked up and he smiled, "...I've a surprise for you."

"What is it?" Her curiosity peaked.

"Now Bell haven't we gone through this already?" He said sarcastically with a wicked smile, "if I tell you it's not a surprise..." she punched him on the shoulder. "Just show me you idiot! Cute isn't your thing..."

"As long as you promise me, we'll always be honest with each other..." he held her gaze under the moonlight, "you are my wife and the mother of my child, I will never abandon you..."

"Okay... I promise, now show me!" She tiptoed up to him and kissed him lightly on the lips, Dean smiled, "hurry..." she cried impatiently.

"You know sometimes it's hard to believe you're the mother of a six-year-old child..." Dean shakes his head, laughing, "you behave so much like a baby..."

Bell frown, "I'm not a baby Dean..." she pouted, "...you just bring out all these emotions in me and I feel so carefree when we're together. It's like nothing has changed, I'm still that little girl that fell in love with you."

"You don't have to explain sweetheart, I feel the same..." he kissed her on the head, "...now come let me show you, your surprise." she sighed holding onto him as he continued to walk forward.

They walked through the bushy trail and over the wooden bridge until she saw the lights on in the back porch. They were brightly lit shining like a beacon after a long dark tunnel, Bell stopped, Dean turned around to look at her. "What's the matter?"

 She whispered, "Someone's  there..."

"Let's go see." He nudged her along,  Bell hesitated for a second but chose to trust the man she loved. They walked up the stairs to the back porch and Bell gasped. Releasing Dean's hand Bell wandered up to the porch in wonderment. The porch had been recently renovated, oil lamps lit along the freshly vanished railing. The hammock they had hung-up was replaced with a new one, something caught the corner of her eyes, something else was new. She walked up to the old wooden door that led to the interior of the house, hanging on the knob was a framed picture of herself, Dean and Jamie, she took the picture off the doorknob, stunned, her hands trembled, held the frame closer. There was an envelope attached to the back of it, she held the envelope, turning to Dean. He was still standing at the entrance of the porch, watching her in silence with a broad grin across his handsome face.

"Well don't just look at me... open it up." He urged her. Bell didn't wait for anymore encouragement, she quickly opened the envelope up. Inside was a formal looking document and she went through it. Dean had purchased the lake house and it was in her name. She was so engrossed in her reading she didn't hear his footsteps as he came up behind her. Dean placed his arms around her waist. Resting his chin on her shoulder, "How do you like your surprise Mrs. Andrews?"