Always Red

by Isabelle Ronin

  “If you had a brain, you’d haul Levi here instead of me. You know I don’t cook worth a damn,” Cameron complained from behind me.

  We were outside the Superstore, and I noted only five cars—including mine—in the parking lot. It was still too early for people to be shopping, and, like me, Cameron wasn’t a morning person.

  Well, I wasn’t until Red.

  I inserted a dollar coin in the slot and pulled out a cart. “I brought you here for moral support. Now shut the hell up and push the cart,” I said.

  Cameron’s ice-blue eyes narrowed. “Why do I have to push the cart?”

  “I’ll buy you beer.” The door opened automatically, and we stepped inside the store. “Why don’t you grab some?” I suggested.

  “You know they don’t sell beer at Superstore, don’t you?” he said in a dry tone.

  I scowled. “Why wouldn’t they?”

  He just shook his head and walked ahead of me, pushing the cart expertly.

  I pulled out my phone and opened the website where I’d bookmarked the recipe, scanning the ingredients I had to buy.

  “Let’s get your stuff, Mary, and get the hell out of here. Don’t forget your apron while you’re at it,” Cameron drawled, pushing the cart to the meat section.

  “At least I’ll look hot doing it.”

  Last time I was here was with Red. The memory made me smile. She’d hated me back then—didn’t want to hang around me and seemed to enjoy biting my head off. We’d come a long way.

  “So what are you making?” Cameron asked. He stood beside me at the counter, looking at big globs of packaged raw meat. I didn’t know it would be this complicated. They all looked different.

  “Definitely lasagna. It’s her favorite.”

  He snorted. “Sounds dangerous. Call me if you set your apartment on fire.”

  “Oh ye of little faith!”

  “Oh ye of little faith here knows the real score. Why don’t you just order something and say it’s your own?”

  I scowled at him and then at the meat. Maybe I should just make pork chops. It’d be easier. I shook my head. I can do this. “It’s the thought that counts,” I told him, repeating what I’d read in the article.

  He shrugged.

  “What kind of meat should I get?” I asked, scratching my head.

  “How the hell would I know? Grab that one. It’s calling your name.”

  I reached for a solid package of meat as big as my bicep. “This?”

  “Why not?”

  “Maybe I should get two in case I screw this one up.”

  “In that case,” he said, smirking, “grab three.”

  I thought about it for a second. “You’re right.”

  It took an hour and a half to find everything on my list, and Cameron bitched all the way back to my apartment. By the time I found all the pots and pans I needed, Cameron had set out the meat in the sink and was sucking on a beer.

  “Dude, it’s supposed to look like this.” I showed him a picture of the lasagna. “How come the meat looks different in the picture?”

  He leaned against the counter. “Maybe you should put it in a blender.”

  “You think so?” I asked.

  He gestured with his beer. “How else are you going to make it look like that?”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Do you have a blender?”

  “Do I look like I own a blender?”

  “Yeah,” he replied. “Totally.”

  “Let’s go to the store and buy one.”

  “You’re on your own, bud.” He placed the empty beer in the recycling. “Gotta go.” He walked to the door.

  “Pussy.”

  He turned around and gave me the finger before disappearing through the door.

  Maybe I should cut it into small pieces.

  What in the hell was I thinking? I should call in and order.

  But then an image of Red’s lips curving into that beautiful smile pushed me on. I searched for a recipe on the internet and got to work.

  An hour later, I’d lost count of how many times I had cut my fingers. Great clouds of smoke billowed from the oven. I shut it off quickly and turned on the exhaust system. I’d possibly burned my hair, and the damned smoke detector was shrieking. Coughing my lungs out, I ran a towel under cold water, dragged a chair to the smoke detector, and covered the damned thing with the towel until it shut up.

  This was an epic fail. Time for plan B.

  I called Kara.

  * * *

  Today was the last day of Red’s finals. Finally.

  It made me so happy when she called me as soon as she stepped out of her last exam, excitedly telling me how well she did. Then apologizing that she couldn’t see me tonight because she was working. I grinned and kept my mouth shut because she had no idea what was coming.

  It had taken a lot of planning to make sure everything was in order. I needed to make tonight perfect for my girl.

  The Nuit Étoilée Tree House was located outside the city. It was far, but I kept thinking about Red’s dreams of having a bookstore/café someday. I’d love to take her everywhere, show her everything, help her in any way I could. Maybe visiting a few bookstores and cafés would give her ideas for her own. I could even talk to the owner, and maybe Red could apprentice here if she wished.

  Nuit Étoilée Tree House was tucked in the middle of a small forest, surrounded by a circle of ancient trees that were as tall and thick as buildings. Inside the circle were smaller trees that housed in their branches charming huts connected by wooden bridges so that people could walk from one hut to the next.

  There was something magical about the place. Fog covered the ground, and the stone steps that led up to the tree house barely peeked through the fog. In-ground lighting—in the shape of moons and stars—provided a whimsical cast to the path. Strings of ice-blue lights were looped in the trees, on the roofs, and across the wooden bridges. Fairy lights. It clicked. I chuckled.

  In the background, Pachelbel’s Canon in D was softly playing.

  I wondered what Red would think of it. What she would feel. She had no idea I was waiting for her. She thought she was covering for Kara’s work shift tonight at a party. I gave Kara my credit card so she could buy Red a dress and asked her to tell Red it was the uniform she was supposed to wear.

  I knew Red hadn’t been sleeping well this week, staying up all night to study and still going to work at the garage. Her willingness to pick up a shift upset me a little—although it made me admire her more since it was to help a friend. She obviously needed to relax. Tonight, I was hoping I could give her that.

  It was nearing dusk, and she’d be here soon. Anticipation was making me nervous. What if this was too much? The place looked beautiful, but what did I know? It was just a place. It didn’t mean anything until she was here.

  I walked back and forth across the bridge, holding an armful of red roses. Was wearing this tux too much? I ran my hand through my hair. Would she feel uncomfortable here like she had on our first date when I took her to that fancy restaurant?

  I loosened my tie, jiggled the keys in my pocket.

  Blowing out a breath, I leaned my elbows against the railing of the wooden bridge and lowered my head. I had sent a limo to pick her up and told Kara to say it was complimentary from the employer.

  Where is she?

  I was about to phone the limo company when suddenly, my skin prickled. She didn’t make a sound, but I knew it was her.

  Slowly, I turned. And the sight of her knocked the breath out of me as she stood on the other side of the bridge.

  Something tickled my memory.

  My love.

  And then she stepped forward.

  As I watched her approach, I saw our lives flash by. Growing old together, laughing, crying, ma
king love, our kids surrounding us. This was the woman I wanted to be with for the rest of my life. I needed her with a sweet, desperate longing I’d never felt before.

  She glided toward me—a dream in red lace with dark hair, red lips. She stopped just an arm’s length away, looking at me through the dark cat eyes I’d come to remember even in sleep.

  I just looked at her, taking my fill.

  I was afraid to touch her for fear she might disappear. “I’m wondering if you could tell me,” I whispered, my voice hoarse, “what I’ve done in this life to deserve you.”

  She blinked up at me, a small smile softly curving her lips.

  I touched her cheek. “Tell me you’re not a dream, Red.”

  “If I am,” she whispered back, leaning into my touch, “then so are you. Let’s not wake up anytime soon.”

  “That sounds good to me.” I lifted the roses. “For you.”

  Her eyes lit up as she took the flowers and inhaled their scent. “I love them. Thank you.”

  I placed my hands on her lower back, pulling her closer to me. I’d been waiting a long time for the shape of her, the feel of her in my arms. “You’re so beautiful. How can you be real?”

  Her blush was endearing. “You and Kar planned this.” She frowned at me, but her eyes glowed with pleasure.

  I smiled at her sheepishly. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Do you like it?” I asked eagerly.

  “How can I not? It’s beautiful here.” Her dark eyes filled with wonder as she looked around. The glow from the lights reflected in her eyes, and I could see myself in them. I wondered if she could see herself reflected in mine.

  I laced her fingers with mine and led her inside the hut to the pretty round table set in the middle of it. The silverware sparkled, the light soft; the smell of roses and fragrant candles mixed in the air. But all I wanted to see, wanted to steep myself in, was her.

  I pulled out her chair, making sure she was comfortable, and couldn’t resist kissing the top of her head before I took the seat across from her. The waiter appeared, greeting us, filling our glasses with champagne, and whisked away her roses for safekeeping.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” I said. I took a sip, watching her over the rim of my glass. It was hard to keep my eyes off her.

  “Starving.” She looked around the room at the built-in shelves that were brimming with books. “How?” she asked curiously, clearly impressed.

  I knew what she was asking. The tree house was the talk of the town, and it wouldn’t be open to the public for another month. Apart from a handful of staff, the place was empty.

  “I have my ways.” Like having a big brother who had connections to a number of influential circles. “Would you like to look at the books? It’s quite a collection.”

  “Maybe after we eat. I heard the owner used to live here before he transformed it into a library and café. I didn’t know they planned to serve meals here. I thought it was going to be just coffee and pastries.”

  “You’re right, but I hired a chef. She’s prepared a menu just for us. I made sure she knew your favorites.”

  Her eyes warmed; she was clearly taken by surprise. “Caleb…”

  “You might know of her. She’s extremely popular, and she just opened her fifth restaurant.”

  Her eyes widened. She knew who I was talking about. She had excitedly mentioned the chef to me a time or two.

  “This is…”

  “Too much?”

  She shook her head, and a lock of hair fell to the side of her face. I leaned forward and tucked it behind her ear.

  “It’s incredible. Thank you, Caleb. I feel so special.”

  The waiter materialized with our food, and the delight on Red’s face made me decide that I’d do this for her often. She twirled her pasta with her fork, slid it between her lips, and moaned. I felt my insides tighten.

  I cleared my throat. “So now finals are over, got any plans?” I shoveled noodles into my mouth and was pleasantly surprised by the burst of flavor. The food was incredible.

  She put down her fork and dabbed the side of her mouth with her napkin. The way she did it was so feminine, it made me smile. “I’m planning on working a lot this summer, getting a second job so I’ll have more hours. I know I still have a year to go, but I feel like I’m so close to the finish line. My future doesn’t seem unclear anymore. And I’m…I’m really excited for what’s to come.”

  She blushed again. I had no idea she could be even more irresistible than she already was. I’d been so wrong. I bit my lip and tightened the grip on my fork to keep from pulling her to me.

  “What about you?” she continued. “You’re officially done with school. Congratulations, Caleb.” She grinned.

  I grinned back. “Thanks, baby. There’s one thing. You can look for a second job…or if you’d like to apprentice under your favorite chef, just say the word. I told her about you, and she wants to meet you after dinner.”

  I saw the struggle on her face whenever I offered her something. Last time, when I offered to pay for her loans, I thought she was going to slap me. I knew she was thrilled at the idea of meeting her favorite chef, and I also knew she wouldn’t accept my help with an apprenticeship. But I had to try.

  “Or you can come with me to Regina,” I added.

  Her eyes narrowed. “What’s in Regina?”

  “I made a deal with my mother. I agreed to help with our hotels and real estate business as soon as I finished my economics degree. I’ve wanted to help out; I just didn’t want to do it while I was in school.”

  Her eyes flashed with surprise and then distress for a second.

  “My mom manages our hotels abroad, and Ben manages the ones here in Canada. I told her I’d help Ben and learn the ropes, so I need to fly to Regina on Friday to discuss.”

  “In two days?”

  I nodded.

  “Will you…live in Regina then? For a while?”

  I shook my head. “I’m just staying a few days. I’ll try to be home the night before my birthday to see you. Nothing can keep me away from you.”

  When I saw her breathe a sigh of relief, my insides warmed. She hated the idea of being apart too.

  When the chef served the peanut butter caramel cake for dessert, I saw Red fangirl for the first time. It made me laugh, watching her chat with the chef so enthusiastically and with her face shining with pleasure. They clearly liked each other. When the chef left, Red slid out of her seat.

  My heart jumped when her arms wrapped around my neck. “Thank you, Caleb. This is the best night ever.”

  I pulled her onto my lap. “It’s not over yet.” But I could tell the excitement and the sleepless nights had taken a toll on her. She looked beautiful but sleepy. “Are you tired, baby?”

  “Just a little, but I don’t care. I don’t want this night to end. Let’s stay here for a while.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “The stars are so pretty. Will you dance with me?”

  One of Chopin’s nocturnes played softly in the background.

  “You only need to ask.”

  I sat her on the chair, her eyes lighting up in surprise as I knelt in front of her, gently removing her high heels. I didn’t want her feet to hurt. And so we danced. I pulled her close so she could lean against me, her body soft and warm against mine, the side of her face resting on my chest.

  “I love you, Caleb.”

  “I love you more.”

  She rose on her toes and kissed my neck. My breath hitched. God, I wanted her. My hands tightened around her waist, pulling her just a little closer. Her scent was driving me crazy. But I would not have her tonight, no matter how much I wanted her. She was tired, and I planned on pampering her. Making this night all about her was my mission.

  “Remember that house I told you about?”

  “What house?” she asked sleepi
ly.

  “The house that we’re going to get. I’m buying or building you a house, whatever you want. I’ll make it happen.”

  Now she was awake. She pulled back a little, her dark eyes wide.

  Before she could say anything, I plowed on. “I asked Ben to give me a list of prime real estate near the campus so you don’t have to commute far. You can have your dream kitchen, with a big stove that spits out real fire when you turn it on—where you can bake and cook whatever you like. And a big library to store all your books. And I can have my man cave.”

  “Caleb—”

  I knew she was going to protest. I expected it. I framed her face with my hands, looking into her eyes. “You’re still going to nag me when I don’t put the toilet seat down and get mad at me when I eat that last piece of cake you’ve been hiding from me in the fridge, and I’m going to complain when I don’t have enough space in the closet because you have too many clothes—”

  “Caleb, this is too fast—”

  “Let me ask you this,” I continued, stroking her arms. “Do you want to be with me?”

  “That’s not fair—”

  “Do you want to be with me, Red?”

  “You fight dirty.”

  “Answer the question.”

  She didn’t answer right away. I just looked at her patiently. Waiting.

  “Yes, damn it. I do. You know I do.”

  I released the breath I was holding and grinned. “Then let’s get a house. Be with me, Red. I’ll make you happy.”

  To me, it was as simple as that.

  “Let’s make a family, Red.”

  At that, her eyes teared up. “I…”

  “Ah, baby. Don’t cry. Wouldn’t you do everything in your power to take care of the one you love? To give them everything you can offer?” I kissed her cheeks, her lips. “The things I want to give you don’t come with a price. I don’t expect anything in return. That’s what love is. Or haven’t you figured that out yet?”

  She looked down for a moment, struggling with words. And then she glanced up. “Caleb,” she began, her voice shaky. “I’ve never had anything like this before. Never thought I would have it. It seemed like an impossible dream. A dream that was too good to be true. But with you, I know it’s real, and I’ll embrace it with open arms and protect it with everything I have.”