Chapter 692: A Different Time Part 6
Oren woke at sundown, but didn't feel rested. He must have looked it, because Etsuko offered him extra blood for breakfast. He took it without comment, then mumbled an excuse about shopping and hurried out the door. He could at least buy the flowers. That much he could handle.
Except there weren't any.
He stood in front of the display case in the grocery store, gaping. All that remained were fallen petals and a few spots of water.
"Waited until the last minute?" a young employee joked. "Have you tried the store across the street? They had some."
Had was the keyword. Their displays were also empty, but they were kind enough to send him to a gas station that was also out. After several stops he found a scraggily bouquet of carnations for three times what it was worth.
"They're better than nothing, though if you'd brought them to me I'd have sent you back to the greenhouse," imaginary Jesslynn said.
If only he still had his greenhouse.
On the way home he tried to figure out where he was going to propose at. There was no time left, and nowhere romantic, anyway. He'd have to do as Katelina had said and just take her for a walk, maybe across the fields and into the trees. That would at least be private. With the dead underbrush, there wouldn't be a lot of space to maneuver, but since dancing was out, it should be all right.
I just hope it's enough.
Katelina's article had said to store flowers in the refrigerator, so he left them in the front seat. The temperature seemed about the same. Now he just needed to lure Etsuko outside. Which was easier said than done. As if she was completely unaware of the day, she was business as usual; folding laundry, wiping down counters. When she gathered supplies to clean the bathtub he put his foot down.
"Etsuko, we need to talk."
She hesitated, a bottle of bleach in her hand. Finally, she bobbed her head. "Of course, Oren-sama. This can wait."
Too distracted to correct her, he led her to the living room where he pulled her new coat from the rack and held it out. She studied it. "We are leaving?"
"I-Er-I thought we'd go for a walk."
"I am sorry, but we should not leave the children alone."
He cursed silently. He hadn't thought of that. "Xandria is upstairs, isn't she?"
"Yes. Getting ready to go out."
"Then they won't be alone. I'll be right back."
He was up the stairs before she could object. He knocked on Xandria's door. When she didn't answer immediately, he stuck his head inside, eyes closed in case she was in a state of undress. "Watch the children for a few minutes."
"Uh, I was getting ready to go."
"I'm aware. However you can delay departure for a few minutes. You do very little around here, yet live for free. Look at it as earning a small portion of your keep."
He slammed the door on her indignant reply and jogged back to the stairs, slowing only as he came into Etsuko's view. "Xandria is happy to help."
Etsuko cocked an eyebrow. "If Oren-sama says so."
"I do." He retrieved her coat and held it up again. Silently, she slid into it, and he wrapped it around her, even tugging the faux fur lined hood into place. "Shall we?"
"You do not wish a coat?"
Though it made no difference, he hastily pulled on the long gray garment, then tugged her out the door. The heavy night sky had opened up, dropping tiny snowflakes. They lay scattered on the mud, like fallen stars.
"At least it looks better than the dead grass," Jesslynn said. "Though not much."
He led Etsuko around the house, then through the backyard to the fields. He glanced at her several times, waiting for a question or comment, but her perfectly composed face was silent and unreadable. Was she already disappointed? Was that why she'd been so insistent to clean today? Had she expected something extravagant first thing in the morning?
"Of course she did. I would have," imaginary Jesslynn said. "You were a fool not to do something right away. You could have given her the flowers at least."
The flowers! The flowers that were still in the car.
Etsuko frowned at his troubled expression. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing." He'd have to give them to her when they got back to the house. So much for a "softening up" gift. How important was that, anyway?
"Important. Women expect a Saint Valentine's Day gift."
Oren patted his pockets in what he hoped was an inconspicuous manner. There was his wallet, and the ring. And a receipt for the flowers. He could give her the receipt and say that the flowers were in the car?
"Don't be a fool. Of course you can't."
There was money in his wallet, but that seemed wrong. He had nothing else on, him, nothing else to give her.
"Except her freedom."
Yes. Perhaps he could do as Jorick suggested and end Etsuko's blood debt. For such a debt to last only two years was certainly something, since a decent one lasted fifty years minimum. His own had gone much longer, not that Jorick had forced the issue. Neither had he officially released him, not until-well, shortly before he'd met Etsuko. So to gift her a debt of only two years-yes, that might be something.
He helped her through the trees, waiting as she lifted her skirt to step over fallen branches, all the while scanning for the best backdrop. When they reached a little clearing, he stopped. This was the best they were going to find.
He turned to her and tried to force himself calm. He'd meant to take her hand, but a tremor forced him to go for his pockets. If she saw his fear-
"Women don't respect a weak, timid man. Be strong."
He nodded to himself and readied to plunge in. Though he hadn't settled on a proposal, he'd rehearsed at least a hundred. All of them deserted him now, leaving his tongue heavy and wordless. He fought panic. He just-he needed to say- to say-what?
"Oren?"
