It's love

by K. C. Harper

  That’s all I had, nothing else seemed like it would work so I just accepted that I would have to wait. But I wasn’t going to wait patiently.

  As we pulled into the Biltmore it was even more beautiful than the first time. Christmas at the Biltmore was like a winter wonderland. There were lights and beautifully decorated Christmas trees everywhere, the statue of the lions at the front were decorated with wreaths and a big red bow.

  The inside was like a Christmas story book come to life. It was perfect. There were decorations everywhere, and the staircases were lined with garlands, hanging perfectly. The Christmas trees were trimmed elegantly, beautiful wreaths hung from high above with twinkling lights. I was in Christmas Heaven. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. We checked in and TJ told me to go ahead to our room. He had to finish some stuff up at the front desk and he wouldn’t be long. He said I should go lie down for a little while since we were in the car for quite some time.

  As I walked to our room, it brought back memories of our first time here together. I couldn’t help but smile and feel my heart race a little faster. He had even made sure we had the same room. It was still breathtaking walking in and seeing everything. This time was even more special, because this would forever be the place that I knew TJ Porter was the one for me and the love of my life.

  “Wake up, Danielle! Come on, it’s almost eight! Wake up!” TJ was lying next to me kissing my cheek as he tried to wake me up. I remembered lying down after I came into the room, I just didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. It had been two hours. I stretched, felt relaxed, but was still a little sleepy.

  “What time is it? Why are you waking me up?” He was kissing my neck, as his hand rubbed my belly.

  “I’m hungry. It’s been almost six hours since we ate. I want to go have dinner.”

  I thought I was the only one with food on the mind all the time. I did feel a little hungry and dinner sounded good. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked around the room wondering where I had left my shoes. I looked in the mirror fixing my hair so I didn’t have horrible bed head. I thought I looked tired as I saw my reflection in the mirror. The doctor said that was normal from the morning sickness, but that it would pass in a few weeks as I started my second trimester. I was looking forward to feeling better again and having more energy.

  “You look beautiful, stop worrying. Come on, let’s go eat.” TJ must have been starving, because he was practically dragging me out of the room.

  “TJ, slowdown...” He passed the restaurant and headed right into the gardens. “I thought we were going to eat, TJ. Where are we going?”

  We were walking up a hill now. I was glad I kept my comfortable shoes on because in heels, this would have been a problem. It was amazing being outside, everything was so green and beautiful. It was a fairy tale.

  “We are almost there, come on.”

  We walked a little further, finally getting to the top of the hill. It seemed like a long way from the Biltmore. I looked up to the most beautiful statue I’ve ever seen. The statue was of Diana, Goddess of the Hunt.

  I turned around looking behind me at the amazing view of the Biltmore House, taking everything in and enjoying such an incredible view from every side. In front of me was this statue under a gazebo almost hidden away from the house, with a majestic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. It was lit up from the stars twinkling in the dark of night. I was so moved by the incredible view that I didn’t see the candles or the blanket under the gazebo.

  “What is this, TJ?” I said, walking under the gazebo.

  “It’s dinner. I know it’s not a five star restaurant, but you have wanted pizza the last two weeks for dinner and we haven’t had time. I brought the pizza to you. Sit down.”

  This was the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. I had been nagging TJ for weeks to take me out for pizza, but with our busy schedules, we never made it home at the same time. I didn’t want to eat pizza alone.

  “I know you like wine with your pizza, but drinking right now isn’t allowed. I went for the next best thing, Grape juice.”

  “Grape juice is fine, TJ. Thank you for all of this. It’s perfect. I love you.” I couldn’t help but smile and feel so loved by this man who took the time to plan it all. I didn’t realize I was hungry until I was about four slices of pizza in.

  “Maybe I should have got you your own large pizza.” TJ was still in shock with how much I could eat. Most days I could out eat him.

  “Very funny, but no. I don’t need a whole large pizza to myself… yet.”

  We finished dinner and TJ threw away the boxes. I sat on the blanket enjoying the view around us. It was so quiet, no one was around. It was just the two of us, with this incredible statue and the trees. The only light was from the stars, the few candles TJ had set out, and the light coming from the house.

  “Are you cold, Danielle? Do you want to go back?”

  It was chilly, but I wasn’t ready to go back yet. Being out here with TJ was nice. “

  “No, it’s not too bad. Let’s just sit for a few more minutes and then we can go back.” TJ was still standing up with his hands in his pockets. He seemed a little nervous. He wasn’t nervous during dinner, so I wasn’t sure if he was ok or if he was ready to go back to the inn.

  “We can go back if you want to.”

  I was getting up when he walked over to help me. I was on my feet now. He was standing in front of me, holding my hands rubbing them in his to warm them up.

  “Your hands are cold.” His voice was a little quiet and seemed a little too nervous to me.

  “Are you alright, TJ?” I wasn’t sure why he was so nervous all of the sudden. It was starting to bother me not knowing what was wrong with him. He let go of my hands and let out a long breath before looking back into my eyes.

  “What is wrong, TJ? Just tell me already. You have gone from being happy to looking like you are about to throw up. Are you feeling sick? Do you need to go back to the room?”

  He let out another long breath as he reached for my hand and dropped down to one knee.

  My entire world stopped. I even think I stopped breathing. Everything around me faded to a blur. All I could see was TJ in front of me on his knee, pulling a little black ring box out of his pocket. I could feel the tears in my eyes.

  “Danielle Samantha Bryan. The first day I met you I fell in love with you. When we were nine I gave you a rock from my mom’s garden and asked you to marry me. I let you think I didn’t love you anymore in high school. I left you when what I really wanted to do was tell you how much I loved you and never let you go. I’m not that stupid kid anymore, Danielle. I am not afraid to tell you how I feel about you. I love you, Danielle. I always have and I always will. You have my heart forever. It’s yours if you want it. So I’m asking you again for the second time in our lives, Danielle. Will you marry me and spend the rest of your life being my best friend, the love of my life, and all of my dreams come true?”

  The tears were flowing now. I couldn’t believe it. TJ actually asked me to marry him. I didn’t see it coming. I was the happiest girl in the whole world. TJ loved me and I loved him and couldn’t wait to be Mrs. Porter. I got down on my knees in front of TJ so I could look into his eyes and give him the answer he was waiting for.

  “Yes… Yes, I will marry you, TJ.”

  It was like a dream, as he slipped the ring on my finger and kissed me. I could feel my world falling into place. I was right where I was supposed to be with the person who had my heart since I was a little girl.

  “I have something else for you, Danielle.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out another box and handed it to me. I took the box and looked up at him.

  He wiped a tear off my cheek with his thumb and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Open it.” He was smiling. He must know I would love whatever was in the box. I opened it, and couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

  “Oh, my god… TJ. How did you get this? It’s so beautiful
.” It was a silver necklace with the rock he gave me when we were little. He had it made into a pendant and then I realized something. “You told my mom about this, didn’t you? She knew you were going to ask me to marry you, because she kept this rock.”

  He nodded as I looked down at the rock.

  It made it even more special that he went to my mom first and planned this with her.

  “I asked her and she thought it was a great idea to turn it into a necklace. She even went with me to the jewelry store and helped me pick out the ring.”

  It was the most beautiful necklace ever, and it meant so much. “Thank you TJ. I love it. I love everything. I love the ring, the necklace, but most of all I love you.” We kissed again for a few more minutes until I started to shiver from the cold.

  “Let’s get back, you are getting cold. I don’t want you to get sick, Danielle.”

  I looked down at my ring. It was a big princess cut diamond with little diamonds all around the band. Simple, elegant and everything I wanted in a ring, and the necklace was just as perfect. I picked it up and glanced down at it. It was shiny and glittery, but he had it engraved on the back with the most beautiful words ever….

  “It’s love”.

  Epilouge

  One year later…

  TJ and I got married just four months before the baby was due. He wanted it to be a special day and we planned the wedding at the Biltmore. It was the perfect place. It’s where we fell in love with each other all over again. The place he proposed and the baby’s due date made it the place where we made our beautiful miracle.

  ***

  Thanksgiving…

  “Mom, I think it’s great that you are bringing someone to Thanksgiving dinner. Of course I’m happy for you. You deserve to be happy again. You deserve to be as happy as I am with TJ.” This was going to be my first year preparing Thanksgiving dinner and it was a big deal. Everyone was coming over. My mom was bringing her new boyfriend she met on the singles cruise last year and Stephanie and Tyler were coming over. Stephanie said she would bring the ‘almost as good as sex’ chocolate tray. I was looking forward to it. TJ and I ended up buying the house down the street from Stephanie and Tyler.

  It was a great house with a lot of room for a growing family and a porch to sit on to enjoy summer nights. There was also a huge backyard for kids to run around and play in. It was my dream home and I couldn’t be happier. Our daughter, Autumn Love Porter, was born in July, and she was the cutest baby ever. Maybe that was just because she was mine and all parents think their babies are the cutest things. She looks just like TJ. She has his eyes, his smile, even his toes. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger.

  “Here is your ‘almost better than sex’ chocolate tray, Danni. Now hand over that baby and let me hold her. She is just to die for.” Stephanie was so great with Autumn. She and Tyler was going to be her Godparents. They said she was going to be so spoiled, because they would buy her whatever TJ and I wouldn’t.

  “I just love this little bundle to pieces, her cheeks are so kissable.” Stephanie was doing kissy noises on Autumn’s cheeks. “You know, Danni she is going to have to learn to share soon.”

  “She is only five months old, so I don’t think sharing comes until later when she has other baby friends or siblings.”

  Stephanie raised an eyebrow at me, giving me a grin. “Well, she might have to learn sooner than later because I’m pregnant!”

  This was great news. Stephanie and Tyler had been trying for years to have a baby and it was finally happening.

  “Stephanie! This is great! Congratulations! How far along are you?”

  We were hugging and jumping up and down in the middle of the kitchen like two teenagers.

  “Just about four months. I wanted to wait until I started my second trimester to be sure. It was so hard not to tell you. I almost did a few times, but kept my mouth shut. You know this is actually the first time I did keep my big mouth shut. Tyler must be so proud.”

  This news called for almost as good as sex chocolate. We both helped ourselves to about three brownies at once. My first Thanksgiving dinner was a success. Everyone was happy and full of turkey.

  “I thought they would never leave,” TJ said, as he finished throwing out the last of the trash bags.

  “I know. I love them all, but I am so tired. Cooking really wore me out. I think our bed is calling my name. I really hope Autumn sleeps through the night.”

  TJ and I stopped at her bedroom to check on her before we went to sleep. She was snuggled in her crib sleeping peacefully. Just looking at her made my heart melt. I love her more than anything in the whole world. I love TJ with all of my heart, but this love for Autumn was different.

  “I love you, Danielle. You really have made me the happiest man in the world. I wake up every day and think I’m dreaming when I see you next to me. I am never going to stop loving you.” TJ was kissing me and it was like a little piece of heaven.

  TJ Porter was my dream come true, my fairy tale, and my happily ever after.

  It’s love…

  Coming soon by K.C. Harper

  Sweet Series Novels

  Sweet something

  Sweet nothing

  Sweet ending

  More in the Horror genre

  Aljan

  The Dollhouse

  Check out K.C. Harpers published books

  The Lakeshore Evil and Lakeshore Sanitarium

  Visit K.C. Harper on social media

  www.facebook.com/thelakeshoreevil

  Twitter @AuthorKC_Harper

  www.kcharper.com