Page 99 of Until We Weren't

Faith began to sing “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King. The look on Destiny’s face told Faith she loved the song and agreed with its sentiment.

“Here comes the good part,” Faith said and sang along. “Ooh, darling, when you’re near me and you tenderly call my name. I know that my emotions are something I just can’t tame. I just got to have you baby.”

Destiny joined in and sang to the end of the song.

“Thanks, babe,” Faith said. “That was fun.”

“Look at us doing new things,” Destiny said.

Faith chuckled as Destiny exited the highway onto the road that led to the resort. “On the way back we’ll do current songs.”

“I have a few,” Destiny said. “How long has it been since you’ve been out here?”

“Since we left Landscape Artists over three years ago,” Faith replied.

“I’m sure it’s changed.”

“You did get us permission, right?” Faith asked.

“Yes, it’s Sunday, so most of the guests are checking out,” Destiny said. “They said it was fine to go through the sanctuary and we can walk down to the river if you’d like.”

“I knew this was going to be the best birthday.”

The Lost Pines resort was a place people could go to get away from city life. It was an oasis of sorts that offered a large pool with a lazy river winding around it, a golf course, tennis courts, spa, and several restaurants. It was built next to the Brazos River that offered trails down by the water.

The butterfly sanctuary was a garden constructed between two wings of the hotel. It featured a canopy of trees with tall native vines that made natural arches along the path made of pea gravel and wood chips. Flowering plants were all along the path that attracted butterflies passing through the region or native to the area. It felt like walking into a fairy land.

“Wow,” Faith exclaimed as they walked up to the entrance. “I knew how we constructed it and hoped it would turn out, but I never dreamed it would grow and bloom…”

“Into this,” Destiny finished.

Faith nodded and slipped her hand into Destiny’s. “It’s better than I imagined.”

They walked along the path and immersed themselves, letting the garden tantalize their senses. There were beautiful and unusual plants to see and their noses were treated to exotic and sweet scents. As they walked deeper into the garden the world fell away and they were just two people, in love, experiencing something they had created together.

“Let’s sit,” Destiny said when they came to a bench.

“The bench even blends in with the foliage,” Faith said. “I wasn’t too sure when we first put it here.”

“Things had to grow around it, but it fits,” Destiny said.

“Maybe that’s what we did,” Faith said, turning to Destiny. “We had to grow, but we fit now. We’re not perfect, but?—”

“We’re perfect together,” Destiny said. She reached into the bag slung across her shoulder and pulled out a small box with a bow on it.

Faith’s eyes widened and she looked from the box to Destiny’s eyes. “Uh, babe...”

Destiny grinned. “It’s not that kind of ring, but…open it.”

Faith chuckled. “What have you done?” She untied the bow and opened the box to reveal a silver band. “Oh, babe, it’s beautiful.”

“I wanted to get you something you could wear that would remind you of us, but wouldn’t get in the way of your work,” Destiny explained. “Do you see how the band widens then raises into a little orb?”

Faith nodded.

“It’s a droplet,” Destiny said. “It can be a little droplet of joy you felt that day or a little droplet of our love, whatever you want it to be.”

“When I look down at it or feel it, I’ll think of our love wrapped around me,” Faith said. “Put it on me.”

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