Out of the Wreckage

by CeeCee James

  “Way to give a girl in a face mask and her pajama’s some warning. Make it fifteen, for crying out loud. I’m not a miracle worker here. And I like General Tsao’s,” she threw in before hanging up.

  * * *

  Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the house.

  “I come bearing gifts,” he announced, carrying the bags to the counter. She came around the corner fresh faced and in yoga pants.

  Jason reached for Miranda and tilted her head back for a kiss. She breathed in the woody scent of his cologne and wrapped her arms around his neck. Jason picked her up and set her on the counter, running his hands up her back. His hands traced the lines of her body until they rested at the curve of her neck. Stroking his thumb at the side of her cheek, he pressed against her, his mouth pushing her lips open, gentle, then firm. She shivered, so overwhelmed by his love, so taken away by the force of him, she felt she would surely come apart. “Where’s Cassie?” he murmured against her lips.

  “Studying upstairs,” she whispered back.

  “Good.” He pulled away still holding onto her waist. She gently brushed his hair off his forehead. His face grew serious, and he grabbed her hand and laid it over his chest. His heart beat wildly under her palm. Jason closed his eyes and swallowed hard.

  Miranda held her breath as she looked at him, her face losing color. “Is everything okay?” she gasped.

  His green eyes darkened as he stared intently at her. “I’ve got something to show you. I don’t want you to freak out.”

  Miranda swallowed and her spine stiffened. “Usually whatever follows, ‘don’t freak out,’ is never a good thing.”

  Jason licked the corner of his lip. “I’m not saying it’s good or bad. It’s special. That makes it good. At least to me. But you don’t have to think it’s special. You don’t have to think anything about it at all.”

  “Wow, what a build-up, Jason.” Miranda slid off the counter and wrapped her arms around herself. “At this point I don’t know if I should run screaming, jump for joy, or be nonchalant. Way to give me a clue.”

  Jason gave a ghost of his half-smile. “Sorry. I’ve been thinking about this moment for a long, long time.” His hand caught hers and brought it to the hem of his shirt. Releasing it, he slowly drew his t-shirt up.

  Her eyes traveled up his toned abdomen, stopping on his chest. Over his heart was a tattoo of a curving “S” scroll, entwined with its mirrored twin. She traced it gingerly with her finger. He stared down at her, watching for her reaction.

  “It’s beautiful. What does it represent?” she asked.

  “They represent swans.” His eyes softened. “Maybe if you squint.”

  Her palm flattened over the tattoo and she squeezed her eyes tight. Don’t cry, don’t cry, she told herself, but there was no stopping her tears from spilling down her cheeks. “Jason.…”

  “Hey,” he tipped her chin up. “You know why I chose swans, right? From when we were kids.”

  She nodded her head, unable to answer over the lump in her throat.

  “Open your eyes. You’re worrying me.”

  Miranda opened them and stared up at him. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

  A loud sigh escaped him and he crushed her to him. “Oh, thank God. I’ve been stressing you wouldn’t like it.”

  “Why wouldn’t I like it?”

  “Because they represent us.”

  His words caused her to suck in her breath and she surrendered to the tears. “You’re breaking me here, Jason.”

  “In a good way?”

  “Always. Always. Always.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  May

  The day couldn’t have been more beautiful. Birds chirped outside. Fat, pink blossoms on the trees swayed in the gentle spring breeze.

  The dog barked nonstop.

  Miranda held her hands over her ears for a second. “Archer! Cool it! What is your problem?” He barked again and scratched at the window. Waddling up the lawn were the two summer swans. They’d left briefly only to return two months later. Archer was excited to see them, probably craving a feathery snack.

  She rolled her eyes. “Dude, not now. I have enough troubles.”

  Jason’s surprise birthday party was supposed to be in one hour. Cassie was with Jason, taking him on a rabbit trail of errands. Miranda smirked at the memory of the horror on his face when Cassie told him her plans. “Why do I have to go?” he’d complained.

  “How am I supposed to know what kind of spark plugs my car needs? This is your department, big brother. And while we’re out.…” her voice rambled on going over the list in her hand. He’d shot Miranda a look of pure misery as he trailed after Cassie to the car.

  From the rear of the house came a large, mechanical growl. Miranda jerked, her eyes wide, and immediately cringed. The noise erupted from the washing machine, sounding as though it was walking across the house towards her. A violent metal-on-metal squeal cut off the growl. Heart in her throat, she sprinted to the laundry room.

  Her feet sloshed in water as she neared the laundry room. “Oh no, no, no. Not today!” she cried and threw open the door. Water gushed through the opening, a dustbin escaping on a sudsy tidal wake. “Mother of—” A sorrowful laugh escaped her. She clung to the doorframe, staring at the disaster. “I don’t think I have enough towels to soak this up…” she whispered. “I don’t think there are enough towels.”

  The washing machine gurgled again, and another gush of bubbly water exploded from beneath it. Her eye caught the electric vacuum still plugged in, it’s front end fully submerged, and traced the ripples back to her own feet. “Oh… this isn’t good.”

  Miranda ran downstairs for the fuse box in the back entry way. She stepped over rows of Jason’s old boots and sidled next to the water heater where the box was located in the wall. Flipping open the silver door, she studied the breakers. The identifying words had long worn off of the labels, leaving greasy smears. She gritted her teeth in frustration and finally hit the full house breaker.

  The house fell into silence as the hum of the refrigerator ceased. Miranda jetted back through the living room and glanced at the clock. Her eyes widened. “I’m supposed to be there in twenty minutes!” she yelled, taking the stairs two at a time. Halfway up she slipped on the wooden step and crashed on her shin.

  Collapsing into a ball, she cursed silently, holding her leg. When the pain finally subsided she moved her hand to look. A long strip of skin rolled up like a parchment along the shinbone. Miranda closed her eyes. “Wow. Just freaking wow.”

  Archer padded up the stairs and sniffed at her injury. “Yeah, now you want to help,” she muttered. Pulling herself up with the banister, she limped back to the laundry room.

  It was dark in the room with the power off. She sloshed toward the machine. Running her hand along the wall behind it, she located the shut off valve and quickly turned it off.

  Splashing back, she raced to the linen closet and emerged with armfuls of towels. Not even close to being enough. On the second trip to the linen closet she raked out the sheets, pillowcases, hand towels and even wash cloths. “Swimming in the river; sun on my head.” The lyrics to the song popped in her head and she instantly sang them. Girl, you are cracking up. Miranda threw the linens down on the water. How lovely that everything we own is now gross and dirty. She narrowed her eyes at the broken washing machine. And no way to clean them.

  As she soaked up the last of the water, she glanced at the clock and saw it was already fifteen minutes past the hour.

  Her leg throbbing, she hurried down the hall to her bedroom. Miranda yanked open a drawer to reveal a pair of jeans—paint-splotched from a house project—and two t-shirts. “Might have been a pinch behind in the laundry this week,” she muttered, pulling out the sock drawer. “Maybe this month,” she amended, throwing a thin-lipped smile to Archer. “Well. It won’t be hard to find something to wear.”

  Miranda tugged the
clean shirt on and eased the pants over her injured leg. She brushed her hair back and secured it with a ponytail holder, a few short pieces falling around her face. “No time for make-up today, Archer. I’m going out looking like the walking dead. Happy. Birthday. Boyfriend.” Pinching her cheeks, she grimaced at the mirror. “Hopefully all eyes are on him.”

  She shoved her feet into a pair of sandals and scampered down the stairs. “Now where’s my purse?” The living room was gloomy and dark with the power off. The clock chimed the half-hour, and another colorful word flew out of her mouth. Calm down. Cassie isn’t going to bring him until she hears from you.

  Racing out to the Jeep, she heard her phone buzz. She juggled it out, nearly dropping it as she unlocked the Jeep door.

  Jason’s friend, Doug, wrote—Where are you?

  “For crying out loud!” she yelled, knuckles turning white as she gripped the phone in a shaking hand. She jumped into the car. Flipping down the sun visor yielded a shower of hiking maps. “Not now one-hundred top list!” she shouted, and shoved them to the floor. As she backed up the Jeep, she attempted the voice to text application. “I’m so sorry I’m late! Disaster here, but I’m on my way.” She read the screen. “Sorry I’m late, Dinosaur here in my way.”

  “Thanks Siri.” Miranda rolled her eyes and hit Send. Doug was just going to have to figure it out. She didn’t have time to fix it.

  Miranda whipped the Jeep onto the highway. Fifteen minutes later, her exit came up. Finally, with a gasp of relief, she pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.

  Lovely! The lot was already filled with cars she recognized. Don’t freak out, just suck it up. She tucked the stray hairs back around her ears and opened the door. Her purse fell face down on the parking lot tarmac. Miranda stared at it for a second. Kill-me-now. Biting off a scream, she chased after Chapstick, pens, and wallet, shoving them back into the purse. She snapped it shut and slammed the jeep door.

  The maître d’ held the door for her as she sprinted for the entrance.

  “Hi!” she smiled. “I’m here for a party. I know I’m so late.”

  “Don’t worry.” He nodded. “You didn’t miss the guest of honor.”

  Oh thank you, Cassie! Miranda grinned, pulling out her phone as she followed the maître d’ into the banquet room. She quickly texted—Bring Jason, I’m here!

  The maître d’ opened the doors and, with a flourish of his arm, ushered her in.

  The room was quieter than it should have been, so filled with people. “Hi guys!” she squealed, spying her friends. “You freaking can’t believe the day I’ve had. I’m sorry I’m late, but we did it! He’s going to be so surprised.” Her eyes caught the displays on the tables, and icy fear rushed through her veins. What are all these red roses here for? She whirled around to the maître d’, her hand on her forehead. “Something’s the matter. Do you have us in the wrong room? We’re supposed to have a bunch of Over-the-Hill balloons!”

  He nodded at her words but made no reply. Confused she spun back to the group. “You guys! This is all wrong!” She waved her hands at the flowers. I shouldn’t have trusted Jason’s friends to decorate. I freaking knew this would happen if I wasn’t here. “Quick! Hide them before he gets here!”

  Jason’s work buddies, Doug, even Claudia stared at her with blank faces.

  Slowly, the crowd parted, and Jason came forward, his mouth curled into a half-grin.

  Miranda stopped, open mouth and speechless. “What the—?”

  “Hi, my love,” he said, his voice low and husky.

  Miranda’s gaze flashed around at the crowd. “What’s going on?”

  Cassie waved, her face split by a huge smile. Got you! she mouthed. Several people clapped. Some chuckled softly. Her blue eyes fastened back on Jason.

  Suddenly she felt silly.

  He walked up to her, and she raised her hand to his cheek. “What are you doing here, Jason?”

  “You’re so beautiful.”

  Miranda raised her hand self-consciously to her frowsy hair. “Oh, crap! I forgot! I look like a werewolf!”

  He laughed and cupped the back of her head, resting his forehead against hers. Slowly, he drew her closer in for a long kiss. A few whistles rose around them.

  Jason pulled away and whispered again. “You’re gorgeous.”

  Miranda smiled. “You make me feel beautiful.”

  He took a twist of her hair and wound it lightly around one of his fingers. Gently he tickled the wisp across her nose. “What we have is real. More real than anything else in my life. I want it to last forever. You are my best friend, my rock, and the love of my life. My Bonnie. I’m never letting you go again.” He bent down to one knee and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Miranda—”

  She gasped and covered her mouth. Jason reached out his hand to her and Miranda grasped it and fell to her knees next to him.

  He gave his half smile, showing his crooked tooth. “You’re suppose to remain standing, hun.”

  “Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be,” she whispered, squeezing his hand tightly.

  He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You are my heart. I don’t know what life has in store for us, but I do know we will always climb those mountains together. Sometimes you’ll be pulling me, and sometimes I’ll be pushing you.”

  A few quiet laughs filled the air around them.

  “One thing I know for sure is, I can’t live my life without you. Will you marry me?”

  She nodded without speaking, her eyes locked on his. He snapped open the box to reveal a simple white gold ring with a diamond solitaire. On each side of the setting, the slender necks of two swans, in the shape of an S, reached up to support the diamond. Miranda drew in her breath, her eyes glistening. He slipped it on her finger and pulled her to him. Slowly they kissed, his arms wrapping tightly around her. “I love you, Miranda.”

  “I love you so much, Jason. Partners in crime forever.”

  “And ever, and ever,” he murmured back.

  The End

  Thank you for reading! For Book One, free through kindle unlimited, click here- Wrecked and Yours

  For my list of other books, including true stories of my own homelessness, click here- CeeCee James Author Page

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  Copyright © 2015 by CeeCee James

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