Page 27 of Treasured

The festive mood must be affecting me too because I lean down and kiss Maxine on the cheek. "Thank you, Aunt Max," I say.

Startled, she glances up at me. "I'm not your aunt. Yet."

"Now," she goes on, "there's been a slight change in plans. Tracy left about an hour ago, before I had the picnic all done. She said she wants to drive herself and meet you two up at Cheever’s Ridge. I think she's got a surprise for you." She gives us both a wink.

She hands over the picnic basket. "Good luck," she says.

* * *

Jake

We tuck the picnic basket away in the truck and head off for Cheever’s Ridge.

Creed is looking serious again. "I don't like this," he says. "Reminds me of..."

"Don't say it, Creed. I'm tired of your doom and gloom. Tracy's got a surprise for us, that's all."

"Yeah, well she had a surprise for us six years ago too. And that was awful. Nearly disastrous for all of us."

"She loves us, have some faith," I say.

We pull into the parking lot at Cheever’s Ridge. It's a short hike from there to the top of the ridge where we'll have our picnic.

There's a smattering of cars and trucks in the parking lot.

"Her car's not here," Creed says.

I glance around and confirm. "That's strange," I say. "Maxine said she left an hour ago."

"Maybe this is her big surprise," Creed says, with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

"She'll be here. She must have gotten waylaid. That's all. Ran into one of her friends and got caught up in talking."

Creed pulls out his phone and dials her number. He's got it on speaker and the ringing sounds echo in the cab of the truck. Five, six. No answer. It doesn't go to voicemail, either. We exchange a glance.

"Send her a text," I suggest and he taps out a message.

We sit and wait, staring at his phone, but nothing happens.

CHAPTER16

Tracy

Crap,crap, crappity crap.

I glance at the clock on the dash of my car and will it to slow down. I'm going to be late and I hate that, especially because this is so important.

It all started a couple days ago, when Creed, Jake and I made the plans for this picnic. I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to propose. Maybe I'm too cocky, but it seems that now that the three of us are together and the arrow of love is operating in full force, I can almost read their thoughts. Or at least sense what is going on with them. I haven't actually mentioned it to them, but I've noticed that there are plenty of times when I'm about to say something and one of them says the same thing first.

I laugh. For someone who didn't believe, or didn't want to believe, in the legends of Eagle Canyon, I've jumped in with both feet.

So when I got the idea that they were going to propose, I decided to do something a little different. Despite their kind and loving words of forgiveness and assurances that though it was painful, this time apart was good for all of us, I want to do something for them too. To show my commitment to them.

Two days ago I snuck off to Hound Dog, the nearest large town, where I found a jeweler and bought necklaces for each of them. I got the idea because I figured that once they gave me the ring, Jake wouldn't have anything hanging around his neck and I have to admit, whenever I see that ring dangling on his chest, it makes my heart clench up with love for him. His devotion to me over all these years, when I most certainly did not deserve it. That's precious.

I might almost be sorry to have the ring and not leave it around his neck. Almost.

I found the perfect design too. It's a dreamcatcher in a manly black onyx on a platinum chain. Yes, more irony considering my reaction to Aunt Max putting a dreamcatcher in my room. I've changed. A lot.

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