The Romantic Winter Woods

James Dauson padded his breast pocket for what felt like the hundredth time. The ring was still there, the ring did not grow legs and crawl out of the velvet box and out of his coat in fifteen seconds. James took a deep breath, it was uneven she would know something was up. He breathed again timing it with his pheonix Garmin watch.

“It's just another weekend away,” he told himself in the reflection of the rearview mirror. “Just another weekend...where I propose...sure. I propose every weekend,” he joked to himself.

James could feel the sweat trickling down his neck and down his spine. He wiped the sweat off his hands on his jeans.

“Okay James, you got this,” he told himself. “She loves you.”

Then, there was a tap on the window and James yelped and nearly shot out of his seat. It was a stranger.

“I got to drive to work, can you move your car buddy?” asked the man holding a briefcase.

“Oh yea sure. Sorry about that,” James replied and he shifted his gear to move the car forward.

The man waved at James and the man pulled out of his driveway. He decided he was being ridiculous. He got out of the car and walked up to his girlfriend’s door. Another deep breath and he rang the doorbell. The door opened and Angelina stood in front of him wearing her white Christmas sweater. Her honey blonde hair poured from underneath her toque.

“Hey honey!” She said smiling. “I’m almost ready, can you help me with my bags?” She asked gesturing towards her Eddie Bauer purple backpack and purple puma duffel bag.

“Ya, sure!” He said and then he grabbed them both and loaded the bags into the truck of his car barely fitting them in.

Angelina came from the house carrying her pink Kate Spade purse and wearing her white puffy jacket.

“Okay I think I have everything. Wallet. Keys. Underwear,” she said to herself out loud.

“Great! Let’s go!” Said James and he slammed the trunk of the car louder than he intended. He ran over to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her.

“I can open the door myself,” she said laughing.

“I know, I just wanted to open the door for you. It was frozen shut earlier,” he lied and he had no idea why he just said that.

“You’re being weird,” Angelina said.

James didn’t say anything and made his way to the driver’s seat of his steel blue Subaru. He kissed her hello and started the engine. He engaged the clutch and moved forward with the gear shift. The car lurched forward and they were on the road.

Angelina was talking but James could not retain a word she was saying. The whole time he felt jittery and almost sick, he tried to keep his hands from shaking on the steering wheel. Angelina reached for his hand and he hesitated.

“Why are you so jumpy?” She questioned him.

“I had too much coffee,” he said and he turned to smile at her. She smiled back.

“Should we listen to the podcast I was talking about?” She asked.

“Sure,” he agreed, even though he had no idea what she was talking about.

“Really? I thought you’d think it lame since it’s two guys talking about Gilmore Girls,” said Angelina.

“Well, I will give it a chance,” said James immediately regretting the fact that he did not listen to his girlfriend.

James concentrated on the road for the most part and once in a while would tune into his girlfriend’s favorite podcast. After about two hours of listening they finally came to the cabin in the woods. The cabin belonged to his older sister Martha, she let him use it from time to time, in fact she had given him an extra key. He pulled up his Subaru to the driveway and parked in front of the log cabin.

“I’m so glad to have a weekend away,” said James as he unbuckled his seat belt and leaned across to kiss her, she kissed him back.

“Oh me too, I have been working so hard, I really need this,” agreed Angelina.

‘You deserve it!” said James and he got out of the car. Angleina got out and she stood by the trunk as James fumbled with it, she was noticing he was being weird. He got it open and he picked up her bags and he took the remaining ones and together they carried them to the porch. James dropped one of the bags, so he could open the door, he unlocked it with a click and they dropped off the rest of their belongings.

“I'm gonna go and turn on the heat,” he said and he went down to the basement and he switched the heat on. He checked his pocket for the engagement ring again. It was still there. Good. He went back upstairs and the familiar scent of burning hair and warm metal came into the air. The filter should be changed, he noted as he jogged upstairs.

“It’s so cold in here,” Angelina commented as she rubbed her hands together trying to keep warm.

“It’ll warm up soon enough,” he reassured her. ‘Can you carry the bags into the room I will get the fire started,” said James. Angelina picked up her bags and carried them into the bedroom. He started to build the fireplace and crinkled up papers, he lit a match and threw it in, the fire started and Angelina finished carrying the bags into the bedroom. They sat together cuddled on the couch, he pulled all the blankets out and wrapped themselves up waiting for the heat to turn on.

“Hey, I've got an idea,” said James.

‘Oh yeah? What’s that?” she asked.

“I think it is time to go to a hot tub,” said James and he watched as Angelina’s eyes lit up. They turned on the water and changed into their swimsuits. Together, they went in. The snow had begun to fall making it even more romantic. Maybe, I should just propose now, James thought. The atmosphere was perfect. But, he did have a whole thing planned…maybe simpler was better? But this was Angelina, she deserved the best. He pushed the thought aside and joined her in the hot tub. Angelina’s freckled skin was exposed and her red bathing suit made her hair appear more strawberry red than it was blonde. She wore no make-up today and she was perfect. They sat together enjoying the winter snowflakes falling around them. The tree tops were frosted with snow. They could see the mountains from the James held her body close to his and she wrapped her legs around his body. They kissed for a while, until both their fingertips were wrinkled from the water. They got out and changed into comfy clothing. They sat by the fire, James offered to make her hot chocolate and he dropped the ring into her hot mug, when she was not looking.

“This is good, babe thanks!” she said and she slurped her hot chocolate and heard the clink of the ring hitting the sides of the mug. ‘What’s in here?” she asked.

“You should drink it and see,” he said. Which was too much of a giveaway, because Angelina chugged her hot chocolate down.

“Ow! I burned my tongue!” she squealed. That’s when she looked down and noticed the ring, it was a beautiful white gold ring, with three diamonds shining. She pulled it out.

“Is this real?” she asked.

“Yes, Angelina Gretal Parkinson, will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?” said James as he wiped off the ring and went down on one knee.

“A thousand times yes!” she exclaimed nearly suffocating James. She kissed him and James placed the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit.