Chapter 147 The Rapids
Emily woke up to find the hotel room empty. It was probably a good thing, she figured, if Byron was out for a walk to clear his head and get those silly ideas out of there.
She started to get dressed and was brushing her teeth when she heard him come in. She turned to see him carrying a bouquet of freesias. The beautiful flowers competed with the beautiful man carrying them. Byron looked adorably penitent, and she was already tempted to hug and kiss him despite their argument the previous night.
“I let my imagination run away with me. I’m sorry,” he said. “Sometimes I worry that marriage is not what you were looking for when you met me, and it might not make you happy.”
“Of course it’ll make me happy.” Emily realized she was spitting toothpaste everywhere. She returned to the sink to rinse out her mouth and then accepted the bouquet of delicious smelling flowers. “I know that when we first met I wanted to have fun and not get into anything too serious, but that changed once I got to know you.”
“I know you’re not someone who would cheat in a relationship,” Byron said, his expression so vulnerable and touching that she felt her heart pounding desperately in her ribcage. “And you were talking about a totally different couple anyway.”
“Thank you,” Emily said. She gave him a kiss to reassure him that she was no longer angry. “I was pretty upset last night because I thought you didn’t believe in me.”
“I do,” he said, stroking her back as he held her, “I’m sorry I sounded like a jerk. I guess it’s pre-wedding jitters.”
Emily easily forgave him. She knew how much his parents’ divorce affected him as a child, and he was anxious about the stability of his marriage. She loved him with all his flaws, even if he was sometimes too susceptible to his doubts.
“Since we’re here, we might as well do something fun before heading home,” Byron suggested.
Of course, she also loved him because he was always up for an adventure.
They decided to go kayaking on Hiwassee River, and it turned into a beautiful day. The splashing of the water with its deceptively swift currents felt calming after the noise of the city. A couple of herons flew overhead, close enough to display their grey plumage in detail.
The vegetation grew low and dense on both sides of the river. This landscape was new and refreshing for both of them, far different from the pines and cedars of Canada.
They spent a few hours on the water, floating with the current, then racing each other and navigating a few short rapids. Much like a long-term relationship or a marriage, the river had its beauty and its dangers.
When they got out on dry land again, Byron looked down at his phone, frowning in concentration. “Looks like I have a message…”
He listened to the voice message intently while Emily walked back to their rental car in search of dry clothes. She had rummaged halfway through her suitcase when Byron caught up with her.
“Guess who called?” Byron seemed excited.
“I have no idea!” she said, but she was eager to know since it seemed like good news.
“Quinn Faines! He wants to be at our wedding. He said he’s made up with his wife, all thanks to you. He called her just like you suggested, and they talked it out.”
“I don’t believe it!” Emily cried and rushed forward to hug him. They were both dripping with sweat and muddy water and extremely happy. Emily was ecstatic about the news, not only because it meant she could have the wedding of her dreams but also because she was happy for Quinn.
Maybe she had tried so hard to help fix Quinn’s marriage because she couldn’t stand the thought of her favorite country star who sang the most inspiring love songs being unhappy in love. She felt extremely lucky to be able to restore his marital bliss.
“I don’t entirely believe in signs,” Byron said, “but this could be a good sign for our marriage. If you can help fix someone else’s marriage in such short order, imagine what you could do with your own.”
