“It’s so isolated out here. Imagine a wanderer, lost and alone, smelling chimney smoke. It must have seemed a mirage. Salvation.”
As the silence lengthened, she popped her eyes open. He stared at her, his expression an enigma, but the firelight made his eyes dance.
“Salvation,” he murmured.
Whimsy inherited from her mother bubbled up, nurtured through the multitude of books she’d read. It was a trait she’d squashed her entire life and thought dead and buried since Noah had been killed. She’d needed to be practical for Ben’s sake. But in the middle of nowhere, cozy in a cabin with Bennett Caldwell, a sense of magic stripped away reality.
“This cabin gave people hope and life. Can’t you feel it?”
Chapter 8
Past
Noah,
I can’t believe you can come! You’re probably going to regret it, though. I’ve heard the commencement speaker this year is bo-ring. Although I should warn you … I’ve shaved my head and gotten a nose ring and neck tattoo. Corporate America will appreciate that, right? Actually, my mom bought me a pantsuit for interviews and it must have worked, because I have two amazing job offers! We can discuss later. Can’t wait to see you …
Harper
Harper adjusted her graduation cap, tilting it jauntily to the side. Whoever had invented the flat-topped hats obviously didn’t have long hair in mind. The tassel swung in front of her eyes, the color designating her honors status.
Her mom pushed into Harper’s dorm room holding two coffees and a paper bag. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted a bagel or donut, so I got one of each.” She met Harper’s eyes in the mirror.
“On a scale of one to ten, how dorky do I look?” Harper smiled and flapped the sleeves of her black graduation gown like a bat.
Her mom’s smile was watery and her voice choked. “I’m so proud of you, Harper Lee.”
Answering tears sprang to Harper’s eyes. She hugged her mom, hiding her face in her mom’s shoulder. “I love you, but please don’t call me that in front of my friends.”
Her mom’s body shook with laughter. “Oops. I forgot.”
Harper pulled back and took one of the coffees, sipping the strong brew. She would need it to get through the marathon ceremony. Once it was over, she would be free and let loose on the world. Trouble was she was standing at a crossroads with no clear vision of what lay ahead.
“Have you heard from Noah?”
“Not since last night. I hope he made his connecting flight.” She checked the time. “Ten more minutes and we’ll have to leave or I’ll be late lining up and you won’t get a seat.”
They ate, Harper taking the donut and her mom eating the bagel. Finally, Harper brushed her hands together. “We’ll have to go without him.”
On the walk from her dorm to the arena where she’d be recognized as part of the graduating class of the University of North Carolina, she worried over Noah. She’d never been the kind of girl who dreamed of a Prince Charming. In fact, family history taught her that men were not to be depended on.
Her father hadn’t even sent a card after she’d written to tell him she was graduating with dual degrees. Silence was standard operating procedure when it came to him.
But Noah was shattering her expectations. She’d been shocked to hear from him after their week together. It had been fun and lighthearted and she’d liked him—a lot—but the practical side of her hadn’t expected anything but the kiss he’d given her the last evening before he’d headed back to Virginia Beach.
Except it hadn’t ended there. He’d emailed and called, and during a break in BUD/S training he’d flown across country to see her. At first, she’d been scared and panicked to get serious with a man in the military and, even worse, a man who put himself in constant danger.
But keeping herself from falling for him had been like stopping flowers from blooming. One day the ground was barren and the next buttercups were unfurling in the chilly February sun.
She and her mom joined the current of people headed into the arena. They exchanged a hug and parted ways for the ceremony. Harper might not be able to pick her mother out of the crowd, but she would be there, supporting Harper and cheering her on. Like always.
The ceremony passed with less pomp and circumstance than the theme song would imply, with only one injection of heart-stopping adrenaline when her name was read, along with those of the other honors students in the business department.
It was over both faster and slower than she anticipated. Not just the ceremony, but her four years of college. She was officially an adult. Unfortunately, a lightning bolt of wisdom didn’t accompany her degrees, and a decision loomed.
She pushed through the crowd to the side of the floor and scanned the stadium seats for her mom. White flashed in her periphery, and she turned. Noah walked toward her in his dress uniform, his hat tucked under his arm, his swagger undeniable. The crowd parted for him like he was a celebrity, the ladies, young and old, taking surreptitious second glances.
Harper didn’t blame them a bit. Since she’d met Noah at eighteen, he’d matured into a Man with a capital M. The body-jammed too-warm arena had her needing a fan like some antebellum debutante greeting her returning solider.
When he got within earshot, like a toddler in possession of only a handful of words, she said, “Hi.”
His response was to sweep her into a hug that was at once fierce and tender. Her cap fell to the floor. It had been three months since she’d seen him, but the awkwardness slipped like sand through her fingers and she wrapped her arms around him.
“I didn’t think you’d make it,” she said into his neck.
“Almost didn’t. I got here halfway in. Heard your name. Dual degrees with honors. I’m proud of you.”
She tightened her hold. His pride in her meant a lot. He’d accomplished great things since they’d been together, and now it was her turn. Together they’d be unstoppable.
As soon as the thought popped into her head, her path was chosen. Maybe subconsciously she’d decided ages ago.
“Yes,” she whispered in his ear.
He pulled away and stroked a hand over her hair. “Yes what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
In slow motion, his smile morphed into gaping shock. “Are you serious?”
Even though nerves fluttered like a swarm of bees in her stomach, she nodded. “Completely and totally.”
He picked her up and spun her around. Giggling, she hit his shoulder to put her down. People around them smiled and gave them wide berth. He caught the eye of a salt-and-peppered father and pointed to Harper. “She agreed to marry me.”
“Congratulations, son,” he said with a smile, and moved along with the flow.
“Stop, Noah! You’re embarrassing me.” The heat her body was putting out made her feel like a foil-wrapped potato being roasted over coals. She flapped the front of her gown.
Noah never hid his emotions. His joy radiated to her and she tried to match him but couldn’t. Not that she wasn’t over-the-moon happy with him and her decision to accept his proposal. She was, but the gene to be able to express her emotions—both good and bad—had passed her by.
Her mom found them, and Noah relayed the news. She had no problem with public emotional outbursts and promptly started crying while trying to hug both of them.
Over her mom’s shoulder, Harper stared at the floor. His hat had fallen next to hers. Black and white. What was the symbolism? Good versus evil? Opposites attract? Or was it only the vagaries of gravity?
The three of them went to dinner. Still in his dress whites, Noah had gotten them preferential seating and a free bottle of wine from the manager whose son was serving overseas. Afterward, they gathered on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. Her mom shuffled through her oversized purse for her keys.