“Of course,” she answered.
Taking her hand, Max led her out of the kitchen, through the dining room and to a door at the back of the house. When he opened it, he allowed her to step outside first, his arms wrapping around her when he finally stepped up behind where she was standing.
Alice looked around the large lot, her eyes skimming over the yard that hadn’t been cared for in years. Patches of grass were hidden within weeds as tall as her thighs, but there was potential in the space for any person who cared to take the time to nurture it.
Shaded in part by stately live oaks, their moss swaying in a breeze, the yard had a remote and faraway feel. Alice was delighted to see several areas that had the perfect amount of sunlight for flowers.
“Do you like it?”
She chuckled, “I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking at.”
His fist closed over the braid in her hair and he pulled back gently until her neck was arched as far as it would go. Placing a kiss on her forehead, he released her hair so she could look back out over the grounds.
“It could be your new garden, Alice. In fact, because neither you nor I have family or many friends to speak of, we could get married here, and then you can plant whatever you like. You could make it your own.”
His suggestion was a surprise to her weary heart, one that washed away all the negativity she was feeling and replaced it with the splendor of hope.
“Mine?”
His shoulders shook with silent laughter. “Yours.”
Searching the space more carefully now that she understood what he planned for her to do with it, Alice noticed how the ground in certain places had been disturbed, as if an animal had been digging for roots, or creating burrows for its home. Making a mental note that they’d have to hire an exterminator before she planted anything in the ground, she scanned out farther, spotting a black, wrought iron fence that ran the length of the back portion of the yard.
Taking a few steps forward to discover what was on the other side of that fence, Alice stopped when Max’ hands tightened over her shoulders. Turning to glance at him, she asked, “What’s behind the fence?”
A shadow fell over Max’ eyes, the normally sparkling blue darkening with memories. “My brothers and sisters. And my parents, although they don’t have headstones.” His voice dropped to a whisper, something grim causing his lips to pull into a thin line. “I’d prefer you not go there, Alice. That’s a place I try to forget even exists.”
Spinning her in place, he locked his eyes with hers, his hands still tight over her shoulders. “Promise me you’ll never go past that gate.”
Not understanding why he wouldn’t want her in the small family cemetery, she studied his expression and thought it wise not to pry too deeply into a situation that obviously brought him so much pain. “I promise,” she answered.
He nodded his head once and led her back into the house. “Then let’s get to work planning this wedding.”
Laughter bubbled from her lungs. “There’s not much to plan, if it’s only going to be us.”
“That’s all there needs to be. Just you and me, and whoever I choose to officiate.”
Stopping in place, he looked at her, long and hard, a sticky web of emotions alight behind his eyes that trapped her in that icy gaze.
“We’ll have the ceremony tomorrow.”
Her breath caught in her lungs. “So soon?”
She felt wobbly suddenly, panicked because it felt like she was caught up in a wind that kept shoving her forward without allowing her to take the time to think anything through. Max was that wind, a man who knew what he wanted, who would have it regardless of the obstacles that stood in his way.
“I think I should sit down,” Alice muttered.
After settling her in a wooden chair, Max knelt down in front of her, his hands reaching up to tuck errant strands of hair behind her ear.
His voice was assured when he spoke again. "You have no reason to panic. You should be happy with what I have planned for you. There will be no struggle, no worries or concerns. Life will become magic as it should."
His knuckles barely rubbed against her cheek before he reached up towards her ear. Light flashed against a coin held in his palm, her eyes widening as a slight grin pulled at his lips.
"You had something behind your ear," he teased. "A simple trick, but only the beginning of all you can discover."
Her laughter knocked the tension from her shoulders, sadness settling over her because she knew he’d learned that trick from the books his nanny had given him…and he paid for those tricks for the rest of his young life.
“It’s just all happening so fast,” she explained. “But I trust you, Max. And I can’t wait to be your wife.”