Proposal

Once inside The Sands Bunker, Harriet was greeted by a warm, dimly lit interior that exuded a sense of rugged elegance. The rich aroma of aged wood mingled with the tantalising scents of hearty meals and well-aged spirits. The main bar, an imposing structure hewn from dark oak, stretched along the length of the room, offering patrons a place to lean, to linger, and to trade war stories. The atmosphere was alive with camaraderie, and her eyes swept over the small group of cadets huddled together. Heads turned in her direction. Harriet was glad she wore civilian clothes, since most soldiers shied away once they realised who she was. One of them, a young man with sandy hair and a nervous smile, cleared his throat and offered her a seat. ‘Hey, welcome! You’re new around here?’ Harriet’s lips curved into a confident grin, her voice light as she played along. ‘Just passing through, thought I’d join in on the fun.’ ‘Let me buy you a drink. What’s your poison?’ *** While Harriet was drinking bourbon, Callie was drinking in the view. She stood beneath the boughs of a truly majestic maple tree. Her chin was almost parallel with her neck, yet she still could not see the treetop. ‘If I ever wanted to live in a treehouse, I’d want to build it here, on this tree,’ she declared. Elias stood behind Callie. He examined the tree, admired its grandeur, and decided that this would be the perfect spot. With a soft smile, he reached for Callie’s hand. ‘Bunny,’ he murmured, his voice a caress as warm as the sun’s embrace, ‘there’s something I want to ask you.’ Callie’s heart quickened. She turned back to face him. Elias led her to a small clearing beneath the tree, a sacred space bathed in dappled sunlight. Then he took out a small velvet box. Callie’s breath caught when Elias got down on one knee. He opened the box, a diamond ring glinting inside. He gazed up at her, his face tender. ‘Callie Hawthorne, will you marry me?’ It took her a long while to find her voice. ‘But you already gave me a ring.’ Her eyes flickered to the delicate wedding band on her finger, their names etched into its inside. ‘Still, I owe you a proper proposal.’ He added with a chuckle, ‘This one’s bigger and suits the occasion.’ Callie said nothing, overwhelmed with emotion. ‘Still thinking this is a dream?’ Elias watched her face. ‘Do you need me to pinch you again?’ Callie laughed and blinked away her tears. Her voice shook. ‘Yes, I’ll marry you. I mean, I’m already married to you, but if you ask me, I’d marry you all over again. If we ever get divorced, I think I’d still want to marry—’ ‘Okay, that’s enough.’ Elias rose and put the ring on her finger. She admired the sparkling diamond. ‘You are right. It is bigger.’ ‘I’m glad you like it.’ In the embrace of the maple forest, surrounded by leaves that blazed with fiery hues and the soothing sound of flowing water, they were a picture of unity. *** After another enchanting day exploring the surroundings of Wingston, Callie reluctantly bade the town goodbye. Elias drove back to the academy. Callie rested her arm on the car window ledge, watching the town disappear in the rearview mirror. ‘We can come back every year, when we have the time.’ Elias squeezed her hand. She nodded. The guards at the front gate saluted when they recognised Elias and waved the jeep through. He pulled up outside her dormitory. ‘Magical holiday’s over, back to real life,’ Callie said with a wistful sigh. She leaned over to kiss Elias’s cheek. ‘Thank you for a wonderful honeymoon.’ Elias turned his head and tapped a finger on his other cheek. Callie rolled her eyes, then loudly pecked his other cheek, plus one more on the forehead. ‘There, happy?’ ‘Not really.’ He turned towards her. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to stay with me?’ Callie’s eyes sparkled with amusement. ‘Oh, Elias, it would be pure torture for you to sleep next to me when you can’t do anything about it.’ Elias huffed. As retribution, he pulled her in for a long, wet kiss. ‘When is your Aunt Flo leaving?’ Callie shrugged. ‘Depends. Sometimes she stays for a couple of days, sometimes she lingers for a week.’ ‘Fine.’ Elias sighed. He jumped out of the jeep and unloaded her luggage. ‘Need me to carry it upstairs?’ ‘It’s fine. I can handle it.’ Wendy and Angelia were probably in the dorm. Callie could stand the teasing from the former but refused to be mocked by the latter. Elias leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. ‘Goodnight, Bunny.’ ‘Goodnight, Elias.’ Elias drove off, resigned to the prospect of a lonely night. But as he approached his dorm, his gaze fell upon a figure in front of the building. Leaning casually against a car, her olive green army fatigues a stark contrast against the fading light, was Harriet. Tall and graceful, her svelte form exuded a captivating allure that was impossible to ignore. Elias couldn’t deny that she was a woman who commanded attention effortlessly. Elias stopped the car and got out. Harriet’s greeting came in the form of a light punch to his arm. ‘Hey there, fiancé.’ Elias’s response was swift, his tone firm yet gentle. ‘Harriet, we’ve been through this. We’re not engaged.’ She shrugged. ‘Try telling Uncle Hershel that.’ ‘What are you doing here, Harriet?’ A knowing smile tugged at the corner of her lips. ‘Uncle Hershel thought I could use a short refresher course. Gave me a week at Valour Ridge.’ Elias’s suspicions stirred beneath the surface. Hershel’s actions were never without a motive. ‘I see. Settled in, then?’ Harriet stretched. ‘Already taken care of. Just swung by to say hi.’ Elias’s thoughts turned to the possible implications of Harriet’s presence. Since that tense conversation on his birthday, Elias had not communicated with General Hershel outside of work. He’d put in considerable effort to prevent the news of his marriage from reaching Hershel’s ears, considering the general’s strong disapproval of Callie. Was that why Hershel had sent Harriet here? To fix her up with Elias once more? A knot of worry began to tighten in Elias’s chest. He wasn’t worried about Harriet; they were both aware their affection for each other was purely siblinglike. But General Hershel might unleash his fury on both him and Callie once he realised Elias had gone against his express wish.