“Ouch.”
“I also wish I’d reached to you tell you to stay away from them until I got there. I didn’t plan on your phone not working in those trees. I’m sorry about that.”
“No problem. I’m fine.” I didn’t want him to feel bad about what happened, but I knew he would for a while. “Hey, look, it’s snowing again.”
It was snowing lightly. With Hobbit at our feet, we sat comfortably on Sam’s couch. He’d lit a fire in the fireplace, covered my legs with a quilt, and served me all the bacon, eggs, and hot chocolate I could consume. And the poinsettia was beautiful. We looked out the large picture window next to the plant and watched the snow fall on the neighborhood and the orange truck parked out front.
“I’ve got something for you,” he said as he reached to a drawer in the coffee table.
“I thought we weren’t going to exchange gifts until we went to my parents’ house.”
“This is just a little something.”
He pulled a small box out of the drawer. It was wrapped with a simple bow, and it scared me speechless.
Sam laughed. “Becca, what’s in here will hopefully show you how much I care about you, but I’m not buying you a ring until you’re good and ready. Just open it.”
I tried not to show my relief. I wasn’t quite good and ready. Yet. Soon maybe, but not quite yet.
I untied the bow and pulled off the lid.
“It’s a key,” I said.
“It is. Not long ago, you claimed I’d only let you drive my cruiser when I cared enough about you. I’m pretty serious about the department’s cruisers. . . .”
But he couldn’t talk anymore. It’s difficult to talk and kiss at the same time.
“Well, I guess you like it then,” he said when I finally pulled away.
“It’s the most wonderful gift I’ve ever been given,” I said.
“It’s only the beginning, Becca, that I promise,” Sam replied.
I liked that idea.