Flames within the image

Chapter 20

Everything has changed so much in the last year. Even though Christina forgave Gavin for leaving she still couldn’t take the chance with her heart and get involved with him.

Meadow was a perfectly healthy girl and her birthday was today. Chris woke up with a huge smile on her face as she went to Meadow’s room. “Hi birthday girl.” She said to the sleeping child. “You have a big day today. Your aunt and uncle are going to spoil you more then they already have. Your father should be here soon, he wants to spend the whole day with you.” She softly said before leaving the room so Meadow could continue to sleep.

“How do you keep getting in?” Chris asked once she bumped into Gavin.

“My secret ways. How’s Meadow?”

“Sleeping so let’s talk downstairs.” Chris answered as she led him to the living room. “How’s things with you?” she wanted to know since in the last two days they hadn’t really seen each other.

“Fine, could be better.” Gavin answered never taking his eyes off of her. He knew how she felt but that didn’t stop him from falling in love with her more and more every passing day.

“Better?”

“Life can always be better right?” Gavin asked once he sat down on the sofa. “How’s everything with you?”

Chris knew there was something on his mind he wanted to say. When he jumped subjects it’s because he changed his mind, chickened out. “Perfect. Today is Meadow’s birthday and a year ago doctors weren’t sure she’d live. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“That’s great.”

Chris smiled and shook her head. “Why are we acting like this? We’ve been friends for so long and lately we went back to that and now you’re acting all weird.” She said. She saw how Gavin was looking at her and how he was acting, something was going on and she needed to know what.

“It’s nothing Chris. I’ve just been doing some thinking and I realized something, that’s all.” Gavin promised as he rose from the sofa. “Since Meadow is asleep and I don’t want to wake her I’ll check out how things are going at the park for the party.”

“Wait.” Chris said as she stopped him for walking past her. As she looked into his deep green eyes she wondered what he was thinking out so hard. “You’ve never been good at hiding stuff from me.”

Gavin leaned down close to her face but forced himself not to kiss her. “You have no idea.” He said before walking past her and leaving the apartment.

Chris couldn’t believe she was smiling at his flirting but she was. She also touched her lips and wondered what it would’ve felt like if he kissed her now. Meadow’s cry caused the thoughts to fade away.

“You’re hungry aren’t you?” Chris asked once in the room, as soon as looked at Meadow she stopped crying. “You just missed your father. I know you like him a little more then me, you never cry for him.” She always talked to Meadow even though she didn’t talk back, just some mumbles as if she wanted to carry out the conversation.

Chris carried Meadow downstairs and sat her down on the floor. “You walk around a little but while I get your bottle.” Everything except the sofa was cleared out so Meadow could walk without getting hurt. She was still stumbling but she was getting good at taking her first steps.

Even though she was in the kitchen Chris still kept her eye on Meadow. Everyone told her she was too protective over Meadow but Chris couldn’t help it, she never wanted anything bad to happen to her daughter.

Once Meadow was fed about half hour later Chris bathed and dressed her. “I know you hate dresses I don’t like them either but it’s a special day. You were this dress and be the beautiful girl you are and I’ll wear a dress to, deal? Good.” Chris kissed her cheek then headed downstairs.

“Oh she is so cute!” Meagan screamed as she entered the door.

“We need better locks huh?” Chris whispered to meadow causing her to laugh. “Where’s Thomas?” she asked her sister.

“He went to check out things at the park.” Megan answered. “What?” she saw Chris’ face change.

“Gavin was going to the park.” Gavin and Thomas knew of each other but they didn’t like each other one bit because of all that’s happened. They stayed clear of each other most of the time. And Chris knew even if Thomas wasn’t the man Megan cheated with, he and Gavin still wouldn’t get along, they were too different.

“Oh.” Meagan said with a cringed look. “They’re big boys, let them handle it.”

Just as Megan said that Gavin walked in. “I guess they don’t have to handle it.” Chris pointed out as she finished coming off the steps.

“Handle what?” Gavin questioned as he walked up to the pair.

“Seeing Thomas at the park. Here.” Chris handed Meadow over to Gavin. “She’s been fed bathed dressed everything. Now it’s my turn.” She headed back upstairs to get dressed and out of the pajamas she was still wearing.

Gavin carried Meadow over to the sofa and sat down. Megan looked up the staircase to make sure she was fully gone. “You didn’t tell her anything did you?” she asked Gavin.

“No you were right I should wait.” Gavin said but that wasn’t his intention, he was just waiting for a better time.

“Good.” Megan contently said. She and Gavin talked a little more about nothing really until Chris came back downstairs.

“We should go now before others show up.” Chris said as she walked into the living room. Both Gavin and Megan were looking at her strangely. “What?”

“A dress? You?” Megan questioned.

“Meadow and I made a deal.” Chris simply answered with a shrug.

Gavin kept staring at her, he saw her in a dress one other time and she was still a kid. Now in the sky blue sundress she filled out perfectly she looked very grown up. The dress set off her dark blue eyes perfectly, Gavin was sure he never saw anything more beautiful in his life.

No more words were said as the foursome left the apartment and headed to the park. Meadow always had so much fun at the park so Chris decided to have her party there. The trees held a sign that read ‘Happy first birthday Meadow’ there were balloons and stemmer everywhere, in all sorts of colors.

Other mothers and children Chris met through the park and other children events were at the party with their little daughters and sons. The sun was nice and bright and there was a slight breeze so no one was hot. The day couldn’t have been more perfect in Chris’ eyes.

“Present time!” Megan announced, she was as giddy as the playing children.

Chris held Meadow on her lap as the presents were opened. The children unwrapped everything they brought so they could have the fun of unwrapping too as the parents helped. Every few minutes Meadow would laugh, it was music to Chris’s ears to hear her so happy.

“Can I talk to you alone?” Gavin whispered behind Chris.

“Um yeah.” Chris placed Meadow in the sandbox and asked Megan to watch after her while she and Gavin talked.

Gavin lead Chris away from the party until they were alone. “Here.”

“What is it?” Chris asked as she took the small wrapped box.

“Your own present.” Gavin answered. His eyes again never left her, he decided now was the time and the last time, now would either change his life for better or worse.

Chris opened the box and started at the ring. “Gavin….”

“The last time I asked wasn’t the best time. It seemed like the best thing to do for the baby but now is different. It’s the best thing for us. I swear after this I’ll never bring it or us up again. But take a chance with us Chris, marry me.” Gavin said as he stood so close when the breeze sweat through Chris’ hair touched him.

Chris had been so scared of him breaking her heart again but she found living without him as more then friends when she knew it was a possibility now was breaking her heart more. She looked up and met his green eyes, with her heart racing and all types of thoughts running through her head she kissed him.

With the box in one hand Chris placed her other hand around the nape of his neck and pulled him closer. “Ok.” She told him in-between kisses. “I’ll marry you.”

-

AN: Yes this is the last chapter and I’m sadder then I thought I would be to see this story go. It was one of the first stories I wrote that wasn’t about death and cop action. Thank you so much to everyone that read this story and saw it through. I truly hope you’re satisfied with it, please review and let me know what you thought of it all.

Again thank you so much, and goodbye to ‘Flames within the image’

-Isabelle A.