Love In Between
Chapter 57

I don’t think the situation inside my parents’ house was too much longer. I’ve gone out with the excuse of exercising, and I don’t know since when I’ve been interested in running, but here I am in my sports clothes running along the shore of the beach.

I haven’t even run 500 metres when I feel someone grab me from behind and pull me against his body. I’m scared and I try to scream, but before I can do it, his hand makes me turn to look at him and I look at him as if killing him with my eyes when I realise it’s Gael. -What are you doing here?” I ask trying to calm down from the scare he has given me.

-I saw you were very tense and I thought it would be better if I came. My mother-in-law helped me by giving me the keys to her car so I could follow you. – She says with a mischievous smile and I bite my lips trying not to laugh at the innocent look on her face.

-What an ally you’ve made for yourself,” I say with a chuckle and he shrugs his shoulders.

-I’m sorry if you were bothered by my romantic scene earlier. I didn’t think you’d mind your mother seeing us like this,” he says, remembering the words I said to him when we went to change in the bedroom.

I sigh and try to find the right words to say to him, “Gael, it’s not that it bothers me that you’re romantic; much less that you talk to me the way you do,” I say.

-So?” He interrupts me.

-It’s just that I’m not used to my family witnessing that kind of scene, you know? I ask and he nods.

-Okay, I’m sorry… it’s just that I heard everything you were talking about with your mother and I got really scared that you thought you were just another one of the list. Serena, I know that our relationship started in a very peculiar way. I know that my past condemns me and that what I’ve told you about children doesn’t help me much, but you’re not a game to me,” she says and that trace of desperation in her voice hurts me.

-Hey,” I say and, unable to help myself, I place each of my hands on either side of his face, “I’m sorry love, it’s just that I’m the one who feels insecure all the time. You must think I’m an idiot and that you don’t have time to deal with a woman like me; it’s just that I’ve suffered too much when it comes to love and I don’t want to go through it again. I’m not asking you to sign a contract, or ask me to marry you, or anything like that, it’s me who has the problem and I have to learn to deal with my own insecurities. I say and his look changes drastically.

-Mmm… I understand all that, but not so much about marriage. – He says in a strange way and wraps his arms around my waist. -You know, after you and I parted ways that night in July, nothing was ever the same for me again. I’ve told you before, but what I haven’t told you is that every night I dreamed of waking up with you by my side. I know you’ve accepted that we should live together, but I want to go a little further,” he says to me in a strange way, and I don’t understand what he’s talking about.

-More than that? I think that living together is already a big step, don’t you think? I ask him and he smiles broadly.

-Maybe so, but maybe it’s time you and I made a commitment,” he says and I don’t understand a word he’s saying.

-Ah? An engagement?” I ask and narrow my eyes.

He breaks away from me and smiles broadly, “Serena, you’re a businesswoman. You understand perfectly well what a contract is and how they work. I have an offer to make you and it’s a kind of contract I want to offer you,” he says and suddenly he kneels down on the sand, “This can’t be true. This can’t be true. He removes a small box from his trouser pocket, and opens it to reveal an incredible diamond ring -I’ve had it in my pocket for days. I wanted to give it to you in Malaga when we were there for Christmas, but I didn’t dare…” He explains, “This ring belonged to my grandmother, and before she passed away she left it to me and told me that one day I would find the woman I dreamed of being with forever. Serena Hausser, that woman is you. I want to propose to you, but don’t be afraid,” he says and laughs, “I’m not asking you to marry me tomorrow. I’m asking you to live this year together and if you see that you also want to spend the rest of your life with me, then let’s set a date for the wedding. In the meantime, I want to let you know that you’re not just one more on the list, what do you say, would you agree to commit yourself to me?

Is this true? I ask myself again and again.