“I love you, too, Rain,” he said.

Holy cow.

I turned to face him, opened my mouth, and was unable to speak. Slowly filling with emotion from his unsolicited expression of love, I realized he was the first person in as long as I could remember who had made such a statement. The best part about it all was that I knew he meant what he said with all of his heart. My mouthy still agape, I knew speaking was out of the question.

Instead, I raised my hand to my face and blew him a kiss.

I love you too.

CADE

The day was filled with promise. The sun hung high in the sky as I drove home from the shops at Bradley Fair. An early release from my office was always well received, and today I felt it was not only deserved, but timed perfectly.

I glared at the strangely threatening old man in the Volvo station wagon beside me at the stop light as if there was something I could do to intimidate him. His face, covered in sun spots and a few days growth of gray beard may have seemed harmless to most observers, but to me something about him seemed evil. I wiggled in my seat nervously as I waited for the light to change, hoping he didn’t get out of his car and make a scene. I grinned and pressed the gas pedal to the floor as the light switched to green, knowing his two decade old Volvo was no match for my new BMW.

Haha, asshole, I win.

My level of excitement was elevated and my heart was full of love. Rain had quickly not only become the object of my desire, but my only desire. Nothing at this point mattered more. I felt as if I could be happy with her anywhere. If I were to become jobless and homeless I would be happy if I had her in my arms and against my chest. She provided me a sense of accomplishment and feelings of worth I had never felt, and I knew in her absence I would return to the insecure sissy I had lived my life as before I met her.

I had rehearsed what I wanted to say for days, and even doing it in front of the mirror made me feel uneasy. After an evening prayer and a morning hug when I went to work, I gained confidence, and felt all would eventually be okay. As a result, my day proceeded to be splendid. As I pulled into the covered parking, I was unable to contain my grin for what I suspected would possibly be the best day of my life.

I grasped the bags and walked to the elevator, singing Don’t You Want Me by The Human League under my breath as I proudly took each step. My mood brightened even more as the elevator door opened and I realized I was able to ride up alone. Not much at all bothered me much more than uninvited guests in my elevator.

I timed my arrival the best I could to escape Rain and Ethan. In time, they would both find out my day’s adventure and my plan, but until it was time, I found it best to keep everything a secret. Surprises are always more fun when they’re a surprise.

Nervously, I quickly glanced around the hallway as the elevator door opened, making certain the coast was clear. As the comfort of solitude filled me, I skipped down the corridor and to the doorway of our loft. A quick key in the lock and a twist of the handle, and I was at my final destination, safe and secure.

Full of passion, I ran to my room and released the bags onto my bed. After separating the items carefully into piles, I grinned at the thought of it all. My overbearing mother and her OCD sister would be proud of me when the time came, and it was coming like a speeding freight train.

I rolled up my sleeves and collapsed onto the bed on my back, second guessing exactly what I was going to say and how I was going to say it. As the door opened and I heard Rain walk in, my face immediately went red, and I felt flush. I sat up and peered through the door.

There she is, Miss America…

“Hi.”

“Oh, wow. I didn’t expect you to be home.”

“I got off early. We won the proposal.”

“That’s exciting. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you. I got a huge bonus.”

“That’s exciting too. Well, you earned it.”

“I like to think so.”

I turned into the room and excitedly gathered the boxes. As I walked into the living room, Rain’s eyes expressed the surprise I had hoped for. She knew the items were for her, and seeing her face alone was worth it all. One of the boxes was wrapped, and the others were nothing more than ornate gift boxes.

“I don’t want to hear complaints, well unless something’s not suitable or the right size. I think I did well. I’m going to sit here and watch, and you stay there until you’re done, okay?”

“You didn’t…”

“I did.”

“Do we agree?”

“Okay, I guess so.”

I placed the boxes in front of her and sat down on the opposite couch and crossed my legs in wait.

“Here, just open them one at a time.”

“They’re all for me?”

“Yes they are. Open them.”

Boxes stacked six high in front of her, she stared down at them, covered her mouth, and after a long pause, pulled the top from the first box in the stack.

“Oh my God. A dress.”

“It’s orange. Your favorite color.”

“I love it. It’s beautiful.”

She stood, holding the dress in front of her. Her eyes glistened as she grinned from ear to ear. After setting the box aside and laying the dress beside her on the couch, she opened the lid to the second box.

“A pair of summer shorts with holes already in them. They’re so cute.”

“Do you like them?”

“No, I love them.”

She lifted the third box. As she did, wonder washed over her face. Her eyes narrowed as she studied me for a moment. After lifting the lid from the box, she rifled through the paper and removed the certificate. As she lifted the paper and began to read, I eagerly rubbed my sweaty hands against the thighs of my jeans.

“A complete make-over? Are you serious? Cade, it says a haircut, color, nails, massage, and a facial. Oh my God.”

As she stood from the couch, she began to cry.

“No. No. Please. Don’t cry…”

“I just…I can’t…Cade, this is too much…”

“There’s nothing I can give you that will ever be enough. Please, continue.”

I stood from my seat and approached her with open arms. As I held her in my arms, the soft crying finally withered into a few short unscheduled breaths. After a few moments, she kissed me, released me, and sat down. I returned to my seat and waited for what little remained. After carefully folding the certificate and placing it beside her on the couch, she reached for the fourth box. After shaking it and grinning like a child at Christmas, she tore through the paper and lifted the lid.

“A new pair of shoes! I knew it from the size and the way it rattled.”

“Just like your others. But no holes or stains.”

“Holy cow. This is crazy. I need these so bad. Oh wow.”

She quickly removed her shoes and slipped the new shoes onto her feet. After standing, bouncing in place, and taking a lap around the couch, she sat and stared down at the shoes.

“I’m in shoe heaven. This is perfection.”

“Two more. Keep going…”

She opened the fifth box and stared inside. After reaching inside and moving things around, she lifted a pair of the panties and shook her head.

“Much needed underwear and bras. Thank you.”

“I took the liberty of checking the size of your bra while it was hanging to dry, sorry.”

So far, things had gone extremely well. She did nothing to hide her excitement, and seeing it as she opened the boxes was one of the greatest gifts she could ever give me. Rain wasn’t only a special and very unique woman, she had quickly become the most important person in my life, giving me hope for the future, and allowing me to see life well beyond today.  With her in my life, I had only one concern.