Page 31 of Loving Lizzy

“Something tells me Samantha’s got a secret. Let’s get lunch, ladies and she can share the latest gossip with us. You know Kassie’s in on it by the way her nose scrunches up and she’s grinning like a loon,” Victoria directed the ladies into the kitchen.

Kassie brought Lizzy a plate filled with a portion of each item and a cup of tea with Bear’s honey. “Eat what you like, we brought plenty.”

Lizzy smiled. Her head and body started to ache and the food in front of her didn’t appeal anymore. “Can I get ibuprofen? I’ve got a bit of a headache coming on,” she asked softly trying not to draw attention to herself.

Kassie scanned her face. “Your cheeks appear a bit flushed.” She felt her head. “No fever, I’ll grab some from the medicine cabinet.”

She watched as all the ladies got settled into the room and started munching on the food. Kassie discreetly handed her two pills, her pink water bottle, and checked her phone for the time, then recorded it.

Samantha sat in the comfortable wing chair on the other side of the fireplace while the older women sat on the couch. Kassie joined Bryanna on the loveseat.

“What do you have up your sleeve?” Victoria eyed Samantha then Kassie. “I’ve plotted enough to smell one a mile away.”

Kassie leaned back on the loveseat and glanced at her friend expectantly. “I don’t have any news to share, do you?”

Samantha stopped eating and wiped her mouth. “As I mentioned I went camping last night.”

Victoria nodded her head. “Yes, yes, we get it. You got a bee in your nose to go camping in winter.”

Kassie shook her head, “It’s a bee in her bonnet.”

Victoria turned her cool blue eyes toward Kassie. “Where do you come up with these stupid sayings? She doesn’t even wear a bonnet. She may live near a mountain, but I don’t see her running down a hillside wearing braids like the little girl on the mountain.”

Samantha and Kassie giggled. Lizzy let out a little chuckle. Bryanna hid her grin behind her teacup.

“Whiskey called Kassie yesterday and asked her to keep LJ. Then he took me to Chase and Kassie’s spot. When we arrived, a tent stood in the spot with dinner and a cooler. We watched the sun set and he told me how Kassie brought him up to their spot on the mountain when he felt low.” She gazed at her best friend as tears filled her eyes. “Thank you by the way,” she choked out. “Anyway, we stayed up all night, snuggled in the tent, discussing how he felt, and he asked what I thought about his progress. PTSD sucks. He’s doing great and has even joined a larger support group and has taken a young soldier under his wing at the hospital. I’m incredibly proud of him.” Her voice showed her pride. “He woke me up before sunrise. He put out a piece of plastic on the ground and a blanket and we cuddled and watched the sun rise over the mountains. Just as it started to rise over the tallest peak, Whiskey stood up and tugged me to stand next to him. I got concerned when I noticed the tear running down his face.

The women leaned in as Samantha told the story and shared concerned glances when she stopped.

“He didn’t have a setback, did he?” Maddie asked. Victoria eyed Samantha with a shrewd gaze.

“No, he’s fine. In fact, he bent on one knee and said Samantha O’Neil, my world rises and sets with you, and I want you to always shine bright because my heart will always carry a flame for you, will you marry me?” She cried as she pulled out her left hand to show the ring. It resembled a stone on fire.

“Where on earth did he get the stone? I’ve never seen anything like that.” Carol exclaimed.

“It’s called fire agate. It’s a sign of passion and transformation. The Chinese believe fire represents the heart. Whiskey will always be my flame and he calls me his sunshine. He said as soon as he saw it, he knew it was meant for us.”

The women hugged and congratulated her. Samantha walked to Lizzy and leaned down to get a gentle squeeze from her.

“I thought you two had decided to take one day at a time,” Carol stated. “I’m happy for you both, but I’m surprised.”

“We lost the time when he went missing and then all the confusion when he returned. He didn’t want to waste another minute apart. His exact words were, ‘Samantha, the dumbest thing I ever did was letting you go and believing you deserved a better man. If we survived all my screw-ups after my return, we could handle anything that comes our way.’”

The women awed at the same time.

“I can’t imagine how happy you must feel. Your story of his proposal melts my heart,” Lizzy dabbed at the tears in her eyes. “Oh my gosh, how wonderful. What a perfect beginning after everything you two went through. Did you know, Kassie?”

“Yes, I felt like bursting if I had to hold it in any longer,” she laughed. “Whiskey asked us about proposing at our special place. Of course, we don’t mind sharing it.”

“We’re happy for you, truly.” Carol sniffed.

“What’s wrong, Carol? Don’t say nothing. Something has you all riled up,” Victoria admonished as she poured her a cup of tea and handed a napkin to wipe her eyes.

Carol gazed around at the women in the room. “We’re here for Lizzy, I feel stupid bringing up my problems while Lizzy recuperates.”

“As you can see, you all have tended to my well-being, and I can’t lift a finger without them scolding me. Please tell us what’s bothering you. Maybe we can put our heads together and figure out a solution.” Lizzy sat her cup down on the tray beside her and waited for Carol to begin.

“As all of you know, I’ve taken care of Jake while he healed from getting shot. The stubborn man refused to move to Chase and Kassie’s and I volunteered to help them out because they didn’t want strangers to care for the man. Over the last few months, we’ve gotten along famously. When my Catherine and Kassie got themselves kidnapped, Jake tried stopping it. When the team went after them, Jake tended my wound and he kissed me.” Carol sniffled into the tissue.

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