Always….even though he hadn’t spoken those final words, something lifted from his chest and the rest was clear and simple. The feeling of her hand in his was too perfect for words, and he leaned into her palm, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment, enjoying the sensation. Enjoying such peace.
“Marie, I tell you all of this because I know it is a lot. And because you deserve the absolute truth. I know I am not as young as you deserve. The children can get out of hand, and be wild and alive and wonderful and loud.
“I work long days and long nights that exhaust me to my core that I’m not able to do much else other than to say goodnight to the children before I go to sleep.”
He lifted his hand to brush a tendril off hair that had fallen into her eyes. The pointing in his chest had ceased as he looked down at her, and a grin tugged at his lips. “And I know the days at the hospital must tax you just as much.” Because of course they did. He knew how hard she worked and how much she must have sacrificed. The words she murmured to him from the Christmas party came back to him suddenly: and yet this feels right. And I know that it is so very selfish of me.
He remembered the blush that splashed itself across her cheeks when she’d said it. So lovely, so selfless and yet she’d thought it was an act of sacrifice to put herself before others. Faustus took another breath, though his voice remains quiet; for her ears and hers alone. “I would never expect you to give up your way of life. But I ask, in the event that you might want to share your life with us. With me.
I know these flowers and this country remind you of what you have lost. But I do so to provide you with a future glimpse into what you might gain.”
His hand came down from her cheek to take her hand in his again, and he stepped backwards. “Marie. Miss Skovgaard.” He relished the feeling of her name on his lips, smiling as he said them. “I wish to be your home, where you might wish to find yourself at the end of your darkest days and brightest nights. I wish to be the one you might seek out in times of distress and times of your greatest successes.”
Another breath, his eyes fluttered closed before his vow slipped through his lips: “My heart is yours. I am yours. Unreservedly.“
He lowered himself down on one knee to take the bouquet and present it in front of her. The flowers were what they had always been, a vibrant purple, with the speckle of baby’s breath scattered amongst them. And yet now there was something else that had appeared in the center, placed so gently as if it had taken just a whisper to summon it. A ring, purple and gold, dusted with blue sapphires winked up at her as it nestled amongst the petals. “Marie Skovgaard,” he murmured, smiling up at her. “Would you do me the highest honor of becoming my wife?”
“Marie, I tell you all of this because I know it is a lot. And because you deserve the absolute truth. I know I am not as young as you deserve. The children can get out of hand, and be wild and alive and wonderful and loud.
“I work long days and long nights that exhaust me to my core that I’m not able to do much else other than to say goodnight to the children before I go to sleep.”
He lifted his hand to brush a tendril off hair that had fallen into her eyes. The pointing in his chest had ceased as he looked down at her, and a grin tugged at his lips. “And I know the days at the hospital must tax you just as much.” Because of course they did. He knew how hard she worked and how much she must have sacrificed. The words she murmured to him from the Christmas party came back to him suddenly: and yet this feels right. And I know that it is so very selfish of me.
He remembered the blush that splashed itself across her cheeks when she’d said it. So lovely, so selfless and yet she’d thought it was an act of sacrifice to put herself before others. Faustus took another breath, though his voice remains quiet; for her ears and hers alone. “I would never expect you to give up your way of life. But I ask, in the event that you might want to share your life with us. With me.
I know these flowers and this country remind you of what you have lost. But I do so to provide you with a future glimpse into what you might gain.”
His hand came down from her cheek to take her hand in his again, and he stepped backwards. “Marie. Miss Skovgaard.” He relished the feeling of her name on his lips, smiling as he said them. “I wish to be your home, where you might wish to find yourself at the end of your darkest days and brightest nights. I wish to be the one you might seek out in times of distress and times of your greatest successes.”
Another breath, his eyes fluttered closed before his vow slipped through his lips: “My heart is yours. I am yours. Unreservedly.“
He lowered himself down on one knee to take the bouquet and present it in front of her. The flowers were what they had always been, a vibrant purple, with the speckle of baby’s breath scattered amongst them. And yet now there was something else that had appeared in the center, placed so gently as if it had taken just a whisper to summon it. A ring, purple and gold, dusted with blue sapphires winked up at her as it nestled amongst the petals. “Marie Skovgaard,” he murmured, smiling up at her. “Would you do me the highest honor of becoming my wife?”