A Wife for Stephen

by Valcine Brown

  They got off the phone right after that, but it had taken Celeste almost an hour to fall asleep for she couldn’t help wondering what the surprise could be.

  Celeste is glad that Stephen had forewarned her about the snowy conditions when she watches out the window as her plane swoops in low for the landing. She prays silently that God will not allow her plane to go careening off the runway into a snowy bank.

  God grants her petition and the plane is brought to a smooth landing and pulls up slowing to the disembarking ramp.

  Lord , Stephen prays as he sees the plane he knows Celeste is arriving on coming in for a landing, please, by Your mighty hand, let that plane land safely. He thanks the Lord and smile as his request is granted.

  Knowing that it will be a little while longer until Celeste makes it from the traveler designated area into the public area of the airport, Stephen contends himself to welcome her by text message sending, “I’ll be waiting just inside the public area before baggage claim.”

  While he was thankful when her plane touched down and came safely to a stop, he is even more thankful when he lays eyes on her as she steps over the threshold separating travelers from the general public.

  After greeting his lady and collecting her baggage, he bundles her in her coat and ushers her as quickly as possible to the awaiting limousine that has been waiting in the designated cell phone waiting area. Celeste is surprised. She had been expecting to be heading to his car.

  Although Celeste doesn’t say anything, Stephen offers an explanation, “I don’t like driving in the snow.”

  The inside of the limo is warm and cozy, not that Celeste ever stood a chance of getting even faintly chilled as bundled as Stephen has made her. Her jacket had been zipped to her chin, her gloves were put on her hands, and her scarf had been wrapped twice around her neck. And as if that hadn’t been enough, Stephen had kept a protective arm placed around her shoulders.

  Normally, not being use to allowing someone to take care of her, Celeste would have felt she were being bossed around and would have gotten upset. His actions had been enough to make her feel that he was treating her like a child. Celeste, being highly independent, is use to doing things and making decisions for herself. However, Celeste has come to know Stephen well enough to not become angry with him. She knows that his actions are done with nothing other than love and a need to protect her.

  On the drive to Stephen’s parents’ home, they talk in the back of the limo with the ease of a close friendship, which is surprising even to Stephen. After his first meeting with Celeste, Stephen thought it would take a lot longer for Celeste to take him into her confidence. He had admitted as much to her last week when they were speaking on the phone.

  “Well, from my perspective you must admit, it was hard to take you at your word considering the circumstances.”

  “And what circumstances are those?” he had asked.

  “You told me that night that you wanted to marry me. I thought you were trying to put one over on me.”

  “Why? Because I admitted that I wanted to marry you?”

  “No. Because...”

  “Because what?”

  It had taken Celeste a bit to gather her thoughts before speaking. “I’ve known too many people to fall for pick-up lines and were left with nothing more than a broken heart and empty promises. I never want to be a statistic.”

  “Well, I can definitely understand that, but in order for you to be a statistic then that would mean that both I as well as this relationship would have to be statistical. And I’m not into statistics, not when it comes to how I live my life.”

  “You have a point,” Celeste admits.

  “Fair enough.”

  When they arrive at the Haule residence, Celeste can smell the beginnings of a Thanksgiving feast. Although it had been over a month since meeting this clan for the first time, Celeste quickly falls into the rhythm of things as she begins to help in the preparation of the meal.

  After showing Celeste to the guest room where she will be staying, Stephen helps Celeste to remove her coat, scarf, gloves, and hat. Celeste is grateful for if she wore them too much longer she’d be liable to pass out from being over heated.

  Stephen sees to Celeste’s bags being placed in the guest room before allowing himself to truly revel and soak in the sight of Celeste before him. While it has only been a short while since his trip to LA where he last saw her, the weight of missing being near her has grown to be heavier than he had anticipated.

  Ever since seeing her at the baggage claim area a short while earlier, Stephen had been waiting for the opportunity to take her in his arms and kiss her thoroughly. He couldn’t wait any longer. Approaching her slowly and enveloping Celeste in his arms, Stephen kisses her with all the longing and tenderness that swells his heart.

  Celeste gives in to their shared moment of intimacy, enjoying the feel of being wrapped in the arms of the man she loves, savoring the sweet taste of his kiss.

  From the doorway, Stephen and Celeste hear the foggy sound of a feminine voice clearing her throat, “Hmm.” Since Stephen has been standing with his back to the door, he turns to peer over his shoulder, looking in the direction the sound has come from. Feeling modest and embarrassed, Celeste goes up on her tiptoes to sneak a peek over Stephen’s shoulder.

  Celeste’s feelings of discomfort begin to diminish with the relief that it is not Mrs. Haule.

  “Stephen, stop being selfish and hogging Celeste. Mom and Dad are waiting for her in the kitchen, and I haven’t even been introduced yet.” Crossing the threshold and entering the guest room, the woman comes forward and all but pushes Stephen out of the way to grab Celeste into a tight hug. “It’s so great to finally meet you, Celeste! Please forgive my brother; he’s never been good at sharing. I’m Jolene.”

  The good-natured rubbing between Jolene and Stephen indicate how close these two really are. Having succeeded in taking Celeste from Stephen’s embrace and into her own, Jolene then turns towards the door with one arm still draped over Celeste’s shoulder and urges Celeste forward. She calls over her shoulder to Stephen, “We’ll meet you in the kitchen. Dad will want your help setting up the fryer for the turkey tomorrow.”

  And just like that, Stephen is left standing near the center of the bedroom, arms empty, but with a full heart because his family has so quickly and willingly accepted the woman to whom he has given his heart. But he knew he’d have to pay Jolene back for interrupting his short time with Celeste. Heck, he hadn’t even finished getting his welcome to Philly kiss.

  As Stephen makes his way into the kitchen, he emerges to see his father releasing Celeste form a hug only to be immediately enveloped into the arms of his mother.

  The evening passes with the entire family laughing, joking and making preparations for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving feast. In the presence of such congenial company, time just seems to fly by, and before Celeste knows it, it’s nearly 1 AM, and she’s working to stifle a yawn.

  The first things Celeste does upon waking up Thanksgiving morning is thank God for the people who she knew without having to tread downstairs, were scattered over every nook of the family home. As blankets had been brought out the evening before, she was told that it was a tradition for all the family members to sleep over the night before Thanksgiving so that they would have the whole day together.

  Celeste feels truly blessed to have met each and every one of them as her eyes begin to sting with the welling up of happy tears at her fortune. Although she is not related to any of them by blood, she knows that they are all related through the spirit of God and the blood of Jesus, the Christ.

  Deciding to skip her shower, Celeste dresses quickly and then goes to the window to draw back the curtains. What she sees just on the other side of the glass pane causes her breath to catch. “It’s snowing,” she says.

  The soft falling of the wintry flakes is silent. She looks down at the ground beneath her window to see that it has covered every inch of the lawn that las
t month had been a beautiful lush green. Never had Celeste seen true snow fall before. Television had been the only snow she’s seen, until now. Reflecting, Celeste begins to think what a shame it’s been to live just a couple of hours drive from Big Bear and Idyllwild, CA, yet she’s never bothered to visit.

  She puts on the galoshes that Stephen had insisted on sending her and heads out her bedroom door. Upon throwing the door open, she bumps right into Stephen’s chest. “It’s snowing!” she all but yells in excitement.

  As Stephen looks down into the eyes that he feels deep in his gut that he wants to wake up to every day for the rest of his life, his heart is full and flowing over with love for this woman. His woman. His gift from God.

  “Get your jacket on . I’ll meet you down stairs in five minutes,” he says.

  She had never brushed her teeth and washed her face so fast. In three minutes, Celeste is standing in the entryway pulling on her coat, hat and gloves. Stephen appears just after her and does the same. With the opening of the front door, Celeste is met by a cold unlike any she has ever before felt.

  Like a kid in a candy store, she flies down the front steps and goes to the area that use to be the front lawn and scoops up a handful of snow. Having been oblivious to Stephen’s activities, she does not see what is quickly heading her way.

  With a thump, she is pelted in the back by a snowball. She stands to her feet and turns quickly to look a boyishly grinning Stephen in the face. He is laughing so hard that it is taking all his effort to remain upright. “What’s the big idea?” Celeste asks.

  “You can’t play in the snow and not have a snow fight, Celeste. It just isn’t done.”

  “Well if it’s a snow ball fight you want, then it’s a snow ball fight you’ll get.” Crouching down she picks up two handfuls of snow and tries to fashion them into the resemblance of a ball. It takes her so long that she is hit with another ball from Stephen before she even finishes making her first.

  Having done her best, she fires it at him only to have him dodge it by stepping quickly to the side. The snowball that was intended to pelt him in the chest hits against the front of the house. Celeste’s jaw drops open, and she covers her open mouth with her hand.

  “If you intend to hit me you’ll have to be faster than that, Baby,” Stephen teases Celeste.

  “I’ll get you yet.”

  They play outside in the snow for so long making snowballs and snow angels that they lose all track of time. Stephen is attempting to teach Celeste how to make a snowman when Stephen’s dad, who is curious to know what all the laughing is about, opens the front door.

  “I’m trying to show Celeste all she has missed by living her entire life in sunny California.”

  “Well don’t stay out too long or you’ll get frost bit,” Jimmy says before closing the door.

  “Don’t worry, Celeste,” Stephen says, “I won’t let you get frost bit.” He takes her in his arms and squeezes her before ushering Celeste to the door. “We’ll finish our snow man later.”

  Celeste had become accustomed to the icy cold breeze that fanned her cheeks as well as the fluttering of snow as it slowly drifted down. She liked playing in the snow and determined that she would have more of it during the winter. Big Bear and Idyllwild, California isn’t too far from her home in LA, so she could easily visit some weekends during the winter.

  As Stephen and Celeste divest themselves of their outerwear, Celeste concentrates on the sensational smells that are coming from the kitchen. Bacon, eggs, and coffee. “Are you guys hungry?” asks Yvonne, Stephen’s sister, as she eyes them standing next to the closed front door.

  “Starved,” they answer in unison and then look at each other.

  The morning passes by as they delight themselves in food, conversation, and familial warmth. Celeste is in the process of thinking just how much she could get use to this life as she is helping clear away dishes and load the dishwasher. Almost done with her task, Stephen comes up behind her and whispers in her ear, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  Celeste turns to get a better look at his face since she has never heard him sound so serious before. Upon looking at him she realizes that she has also never seen him look so serious. Celeste frowns thinking to herself that something must be incredibly wrong. “Sure,” she manages to say before drying her hands on a towel and following him as he leads the way to the living room.

  As he hands Celeste her hat and scarf he calls out, “Celeste and I are going out for a bit, but we’ll be back well before dinner.”

  Celeste is barely aware that anyone has responded to his statement until Carla comes and asks Stephen to pick up some ice cream on his way home. “It seemed to have disappeared last night,” she gives him a quirky look before retreating to the den.

  A million thoughts run through Celeste’s mind as she is seated silently next to Stephen in the car. But she only gives voice to the most inconsequential one, “I thought you couldn’t drive in the snow.”

  “Are you kidding,” he says sliding her a sideways smirk before turning his attention back to the road. After navigating a turn he continues, “I don’t like to drive in the snow, but growing up in Philly where it snows quite a bit, mom and dad would not allow any of us to get a license until we proved that we could handle driving in the snow.”

  Stephen’s words hit home in her heart and snuggled in deeply. She finds herself wondering if as a mother she would have thought to make such a wise stipulation.

  Celeste takes her mind off her thoughts as the car is pulled to a stop alongside what looks to be a snow-covered children’s park. As she gazes out her window she sees swings, slides, merry go-rounds, and various climbing apparatus standing tall above snow banks.

  Stephen helps Celeste from the car and ushers her over to the park swing. After inviting her to sit, he begins to push her gently in a smooth rhythm until finding the courage to ask the question that has been his desire to ask for a long time, the reason why he brought her out here where they could be alone. Just the two of them.

  Pulling her swing gracefully to a stop he, goes down on one knee in front of her. All nervousness is pushed aside as she lays her glove clad hand gently on his cheek and looks warmly and lovingly in to his eyes.

  “Celeste, I love you very much. The past few months that I have come to get to know you have made me only want to get to know and be around you more. I want to spend and share my life with you.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a black velvet box before continuing, “What I’m trying to say, Celeste is...” He pauses to take a breath, “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Stephen opens the box and turns it for Celeste to see a beautiful diamond solitaire nestled within velvet folds.

  For what seems like minutes, Stephen waits holding his breath. Will he be gifted with Celeste’s love for a lifetime or will he be forced to put his heart back together from the shattering that is she sure to occur if she says, ‘No?’

  “Yes,” is all Celeste says before throwin g her arms around him and rushing him so quickly that they fall back into the snow. Never in a million years would Celeste have imagined that Stephen was going to propose to her. Quite the opposite, in fact, was her fear. Her surprise finds its voice when she says, “I didn’t know what you were bringing me out here for. I even thought for a brief second that you were going to dump me. Although, for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how you could be cruel enough to do that to me on Thanksgiving Day after inviting me to spend it with you and your family.”

  “Celeste, I am never getting rid of you just as you ar e never getting rid of me. Now that you’ve said ‘Yes’,” he says rising from the snow and pulling an ecstatic Celeste to her feet. Stephen takes Celeste’s left hand in his own and after removing her glove, places on her ring finger the ring that he wishes her to wear for the rest of their lives.

  Once the ring is in place, he raises her hand to his lips and kisses her hand just below where the ring rests, “This is forever, Baby. I promi
se,” he says before taking her into his arms and kissing her breathless.

  The two of them get back into the car to head to the market to pick up the ice cream that Carla had requested. The sales clerk at the checkout counter notices the ring on Celeste’s finger and practically gushes over how fabulous they look together and wishes them well in their life together.

  The drive back to Stephen’s parent’s house is made in joyful silence. Stephen overjoyed that he will get to spend the rest of his life with the woman he loves, and Celeste in complete bliss that for the first time, she knows that she has met a mortal person who loves her and wants to look out for her and her best interest.

  Celeste quickly learns that nothing goes on in the Haule family that can be kept a secret. For just as quickly as she has hung up her coat and scarf and is removing her gloves, Carla greets them at the door, “Did you remember to pick up the ice...” she pauses. Her eyes had been searching for evidence of their trip to the market but falls immediately upon the ring that wasn’t on Celeste’s hand earlier. “You’re getting married!” she squeals with delight and then quickly covers her mouth with both of her hands, realizing that she has just let the cat out of the bag.

  “Man, Sis, you sure got a big mouth,” Stephen teases his sister.

  Stephen and Celeste walk through to the den hand in hand to make an official announcement before anyone else deprives him of such. The men are seated at the table and are anxiously watching the lavish spread being placed on the table for the holiday feast.

  He clears his throat rather loudly to gain everyone’s attention. “Celeste and I have an announcement to make.” He looks down first into Celeste’s eyes then to where their hands are joined together. He brings her hand up to his lips for a kiss before continuing, “Celeste has made me the happiest man by agreeing to become my wife.”

  Hoots and hollers go up, and people rush to congratulate the happy couple. Celeste is enveloped in a warm sense of security as the women take her from Stephen’s side and set her at the table while ideas spring forth from them about wedding plans and arrangements.