15. Stella

15

STELLA

W ind whips my hair as the road speeds underneath me. In front, Will takes a turn to the left following a sign to a local lake.

It's been a long time since I went for a ride just for fun, and it feels good to be on the open road again. As we speed away from the city, I feel lighter. It was a shock to see Will and also a relief.

I've missed him, and I thought I was doing the right thing by not contacting him. But now that he's here, I'm not so sure.

Instead of recoiling at the prospect of being a father, he seems at least curious about it. But could we be a happy family? It seems too good to be true.

We come to the lake and park the bikes in the parking lot.

There's a boardwalk that skirts the lake, and we set off along it. Tall reeds are on either side, and nesting birds call to each other and scurry away as we come near .

A family of swans glides past, the mother at the front followed by three cygnets, and the daddy swan bringing up the rear.

Will takes my hand, and for a while we don't talk about the situation. I ask about his work and the mountain, and I tell him about my job at the nursing home.

It's not until we've circled the lake and are back near the little parking lot that he goes quiet. There's a park bench overlooking the lake, and we take a seat.

Will wipes his hands on his jeans and takes a long breath, suddenly nervous. I wonder what he's going to say, and I brace myself.

This is where he tells me he's going back to the mountain and leaving me to be a single mom. That he's not ready for a kid and he hopes I understand, but it's for the best. He'll probably send money, because he's a guy that does the right thing.

I clutch my arms to my chest, bracing myself for the blow even though I know it's for the best.

But he doesn't say that. Instead, Will takes a small box out of his pocket and sinks to his knees.

"Stella…"

I gasp when I realize what he's doing, the shock of it making my mouth drop open.

"I've searched all over for you, and I can't believe I finally found you. I don't run away from my responsibilities, and I will care for you and the baby as best I can. Will you marry me?"

He opens the box, and a diamond ring sparkles in the sun. It's a simple gold band with a cluster of small diamonds at the center. It's beautiful.

I reach for the ring, then hesitate.

He must have run out and bought this while I was getting changed. He doesn't want me for me. He just wants to do the right thing.

"You don't have to marry me because I'm knocked up."

Will frowns. "It's not like that."

"I know this isn't what you expected to find, and it's good of you to offer. But I don't want to marry someone just because they're doing the right thing, Will. I'd rather do this on my own from the start than have a man who decides to leave in a few years because he can't handle a baby and a woman he doesn't love."

"Is that what you think?"

He looks hurt, and a pang of doubt hits my stomach. "Isn't it?"

Will shifts on his knee but doesn't get up. "Stella, I've thought about nothing but you since the day you left me in Grantstown. I drove across the country and spent a week hanging out with the damned Underground Crows hoping you'd come back, hoping you'd send word to Cleo about where you are. I've bothered her every week since you left, and when she told me the name of the facility you called her from, I came straight to you.

"I love you Stella, I want to be with you. I want to take you back to Wild Heart Mountain with me to show you what family looks like.

"I bought this ring the week I drove to the coast to find you. I've been wanting to marry you since the morning we made love in the hotel, and I finally realized this was more than a fling. It's love. It's a big love. I'm empty without you, Stella. I'm lost.

"We're two orphans, and we can start our own family. Sure, this baby is a little ahead of schedule, but that doesn't matter. I love you, Stella."

Tears sting my eyes at his words. It's more than I ever dreamed of. The love of a good man and the chance to be a family.

"So I'm going to ask you again. Will you marry me?"

I look into his eyes and see nothing but love. There's still so much Will doesn't know about me.

He may not want to marry me when he learns the truth. I should tell him right now. But months of loneliness and longing makes my heart ache.

I want him. I've denied it for so long. I'll tell him tomorrow, and I have to believe that he'll understand. But right now, I just want to follow my heart and believe everything will be all right.

"Yes. Yes, I will."

He slides the ring on my finger, and it glints in the afternoon sun.

Will gets off his knees and pulls me into a hug. He's laughing, and I'm crying tears of happiness. He kisses me hard, and it feels so good to have his arms around me again.

But there's a niggle in my gut about what will happen when he learns the truth.