This is
from America and Aspen meeting up just after King Clarkson and Maxon leave for
New Asia. The earliest drafts of the book contained a lot of wedding talk
between the two of them. Almost all of it ended up being cut, but this little moment
as they say goodnight is kind of precious to me.
He set me on
my feet and handed me my cane. “I’m going to wait a few minutes in here, but
you need to go. I’ll write soon.”
“I’ll be
waiting.” I leaned into him for one last kiss, which he happily gave me, and
then went to leave. Just before I opened the door, he called to me.
“Mer?” I
turned. “Start thinking about what you want, okay? For when we get home, I
mean.”
I shook my
head. “What if I said something ludicrous? Like I wanted you to build me my own
palace, something better than this dump?”
He put his
hands on his hips, smiling at my request.
“I get to
pick the carpets. These are too squishy.”
I giggled
quietly. “Fine.”
“So . . . is
that a yes, then?”
The whole
world seemed to grow still.
“Can we wait
until I’m legally allowed to say yes? It would feel better if it actually felt official,” I said apologetically.
With some
work he held the smile on his face. “Absolutely.”
“I’m sorry,”
I said, feeling terrible. My chest heaved and the urge to cry over what I’d
just said was overwhelming.
“No, Mer.”
Aspen walked over to me and put a gentle hand to my face. “You’re right. When
you’re home, and I’m really allowed to ask you, I will. I’ll send you the
gushiest, most ridiculous love letter you could possibly imagine,” he promised
in playful tones, making me laugh. “And I’ll be here, waiting for a letter from
you. One word. That’s all I’ll need.”
“I’d like
that,” I said. “It would be nice to have it written down.” Part of me needed to
have a promise in writing. I’d been able to depend on so little lately.
“Then you’ll
have it. Any anything else you want,” he promised. “Even a palace with carpets
that are too deep.”
He smiled.
That face, that beautiful face, was so honest and forgiving, that I found
myself astonished again that I’d almost given it away. He gave me a quiet kiss.
“Love you,
Mer.”
“Love you, too.” I turned the handle
and dashed away.
