Finding Our Course (Finding our Way 3)

I love you, Bryce, and I know you worry about me when you’re away but don’t. Concentrate on being awesome and know I’m okay. Each and every time you walk on and off that ship, I will always be waiting for you.

I love you with all my heart,

Devon

PS- you are NOT buying me a new car!

I watch the waves of falling snow out the window and pray we can leave next Friday morning for Norfolk as planned. It’s been four weeks since the exhibit opening, and because of the weather, we weren’t able to see each other before his ship went underway again.

The one weekend it cleared up, I couldn’t go to Norfolk because it was the weekend Dean proposed. I helped him plan an elaborate proposal with the help of Shana and Professor Grant. We got permission to close the exhibit portion of the Fine Arts Building to visitors for one hour.

Dean’s plan had a critical timing element, so I was responsible for keeping everyone busy while he took care of the details. Mid-afternoon that Saturday, Michelle and Paul and Dean’s parents asked Dean to drive them back to their hotel so they could get ready for dinner and our trip to the exhibit that night. I made up a story about having to meet Crystal for class notes and asked Quinn to ride with me, claiming the weather scared me.

Quinn was clueless as I drove up to the building and we went inside to meet Crystal. She looked around, confused, when we got inside, and the lights were dim everywhere except her wall. Dean walked out from a dark corner and surprised her. He crossed the room with a look of pure determination on his face. When he reached her, he wrapped one arm around her waist and leaned down for a deep kiss. As much as I wanted to get closer, I slunk back into a dark hallway, trying to give him his privacy. He led her in front of her wall and took her face in his hands.

I couldn’t hear what he said, but I knew when Quinn started shaking that he asked her. He dropped to one knee, took her hand, and slipped a ring on her finger.

Of course, she broke the intimacy of the moment by screaming, “Hell, fuck yes!” I cried through laughter at her spontaneous and obscene answer.

The side door flew open, and Michelle and Mrs. Todd came running out followed by the dads. They got to her first and practically tackled her. Poor Dean was actually forced from his perch down to the ground. I couldn’t help but laugh harder. Quinn’s eyes found mine, and she broke away and rushed over, throwing her arms around my shoulders.

Then the back door cracked open, and Shana stuck her head through. Once she saw the celebration, she came in carrying bottles of champagne, Professor Grant following with a smile on his face. For the rest of the hour, we celebrated, until the lights came back on and the doors opened to others.

The next few weeks dragged since the storms were so bad and we were stuck indoors. Most of our classes posted our assignments online.

I shut down my computer and rub my temples, trying to fight a headache. For the last few days, I’ve had a constant throb near my eyes and an uneasy feeling in my gut. I’ve told myself it’s because of all the snow and not hearing from Bryce, but now that I’ve gotten an email, it should go away.

Quinn walks in and plops on the sofa. “I have cabin fever,” she whines. “Has it ever been this bad?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, what should we do tonight? We’ve exhausted our television shows, and wedding planning is getting on my nerves.”

“I think I need to lie down. My head is starting to pound.”

She gives me a sideways glance and squints her eyes. “When did it start?”

“I’ve been a little on edge this week. Nothing I can pinpoint, just a bit jumpy and this aching in my head.”

“Have you talked to your parents? Nate? Bryce? Sheila and Dave?”

“Yes, everyone is fine.”

“I don’t like it when your head hurts. It’s like an omen. Didn’t you have a bad headache before our graduation?”

“I can’t believe you remember that.”

“The night before you went out with Kevin and supposedly had sex?”

“What? Do you keep a calendar of these things?”

“No, but headaches are like your weirdness.” She waves her finger in a circle then points at me. “Did it hurt the night of the game in Nashville?”

“A little, but that’s because we’d been cheering in the twenty degree weather for hours. Everything either hurt or was frozen that night.”

“Come on. Let’s get you some knock out medicine and watch a movie. We’ll stay in my room tonight.”

I roll my eyes but go to change then trudge to her bedroom and crawl into her bed. She hands me an Excedrin PM and starts a chick flick she’s been wanting to see. My eyes close before the intro credits are over.