PRESENT

“You look stunning,” Sarah stated while giving her friend the once over. Kate wore a midnight blue pleated strapless jersey dress. Fitting her feet, which were fresh from a pedicure, were flat white sandals with clear beads adorning the straps. Her hair was pulled up into a French twist with a few fly away strands framing her face.

“Thank you Sarah. I hope tonight is wonderful.”

“Oh it will be,” Sarah replied while cleaning up Kate’s vanity. “Just relax, have fun and let him shower you with goodies.”

They laughed while rushing out of Kate’s bedroom, heading towards the staircase.

“You know, I was thinking guys don’t usually benefit from the anniversary so much.”

Bewildered Sarah said, “How so? Did you not get him a gift?”

“Well of course I got him a gift. I just mean that they go through a lot of trouble just to please women. I’m sure Pogue did something for our anniversary that he didn’t want to but he thought it would make me happy.”

“Um, I guess I can see your point.” Sarah walked towards the front door, she was getting ready to leave. “Well have a blast and give me a detailed, play-by-play re-enactment of the whole thing tomorrow.”

Kate smiled and waved as Sarah strolled towards her car. “You bet.”

“Hey,” Sarah called out once she reached her car causing Kate to spin around quickly. “You gonna let him seal the deal tonight,” she whispered loudly.

Kate blushed and hovered her index finger directly in front of her lips, then whispered back, “Maybe.” She laughed, “You’re a naughty one Sarah Wenham.”

Sarah placed herself in her car and sped off. Kate thought to herself, Pogue probably would appreciate a little more than second base play tonight.

“We’ll see,” she spoke to herself as she fastened the front door shut.

--

“So why do you need us there? I need some clarification,” Reid spoke with irritation.

Caleb replied, “Pogue just said he wanted us to make sure things were clear and that no one was around to disrupt them.”

“So Pogue gets to use and the rest of us don’t?”

“Reid you don’t have to if you don’t want. But don’t expect me to do shit for you ever,” Pogue replied angrily.

“Just calm down. Both of you. We’ll be there, right Reid,” Tyler stated firmly, which was quite unusual for him. They were on a four way call.

“Fine. I’ll be there,” Reid hesitated, “You better be getting some for all the trouble you’re putting us through.”

Click.

“Hello,” Caleb called into his cell phone.

“He hung up. I’m gonna go pick him up. See ya in a few Caleb,” Tyler said prior to hanging up.

Pogue sighed, “I only need you guys there for like a half hour.”

“I know,” Caleb agreed but really wasn’t feeling the task either. “Reid is right though. You guys have been together for a year and nothing?”

“Second base.”

“Doesn’t count. You’re a good man to hold out that long. She better give something up. A show or something.”

“Yeah I know,” Pogue laughed, “We’ll see. I sure hope so.”

“See ya in a few.”

The guys hung up and Pogue left his apartment and situated himself into the limo that was waiting outside. He couldn’t wait to see Kate. Along the way to her house, thoughts of revealing his true self, crossed his mind. She needed to know and he would rather she hear it from him than to witness some supernatural event or have the truth come from someone else. He decided that there would be a change of plans tonight. He would tell Kate. Now he just needed to figure out how to effectively get that across.

The limo pulled in front of Kate’s house. The chauffeur claimed Kate from the front porch and escorted her to the limo. Pogue let himself out to greet her. He was quite eye-catching. He had on a nice pair of charcoal tailored slacks and a slate blue button up dress shirt, neatly tucked into his slacks. He stood, rooted to the ground, next to the limo with a jacket, the same color as his slacks, perched over his right shoulder; His finger hooked through the tag. Newly shined black oxfords covered his feet. Kate’s mother waited at the front door while Kate waltzed away, carrying Pogue‘s gift in a large box. Pogue gave her his captivating smile and said, “Hi Mrs. Tunney.”

“Hello Pogue, dear. You guys have fun and take care of my baby.”

“Will do ma’am,” Pogue spoke just as Kate approached him. He leaned over and kissed her forehead just before Kate turned to wave goodbye to her mother.

Kate’s mom spoke under her breath to herself, “What a charming young man. My baby doesn’t stand a chance of celibacy with him.” She turned around and closed the door.

“Pogue, this is really unexpected. A limo?”

“It’s all for you. My baby needs to roll in style.”

“I would have settled for your dad’s BMW but this will definitely do,” she stated while touching the posh leather seats inside the spacious limousine.

“So, I’ve been a good girl and I haven’t nagged about a thing.”

“You sure haven‘t.”

“So, you don’t wanna give me a clue as to what we’re doing tonight,” she pleaded.

“Nope. It’s a surprise. As a matter of fact,” Pogue spoke while reaching in his pants pockets, “You need to wear this.”

He pulled out a purple bandana.

“Uh, you want to blindfold me?”

“Yeah,” he said frankly.

She laughed thinking about what she and Sarah had discussed just as Sarah left. The blindfold did have a naughty appeal.

“What are you laughing at,” he asked inquisitively.

“Nothing,” she giggled. “I’ll wear it.”

She turned her back to him, sat on his lap and allowed him to place the blindfold over her eyes. She took in his masculine smell and nearly melted in his lap as he finished tying the knot. She could lay in his arms forever. Deciding not to get so worked up, just yet, she shifted in his lap, attempting to move herself in a spot next to him but his arms tightened around her waist holding her captive.

“Stay. I don’t mind.”

“I know you don’t,” she answered with a sigh, placing her head on his shoulder.

“How much longer till we get there,” she asked.

“We’ll be there in about ten more minutes.”

“Okay. I can’t wait.”

“Me either. So what’s in the box,” he asked knowing it was his gift.

“You know it’s your gift and you better not peek. I have been cooperative. You can wait a few more minutes for your gift.”

He laughed, “I know baby. You have been patient throughout all of this.” He kissed her forehead again and she became putty in his embrace. The rest of the ride was silent. They both sat there, serene and calm. Pogue gently rubbed Kate’s shoulders and tapped her hip with his other hand. The limo suddenly came to a stop and the chauffeur came around and opened the door. Pogue slightly picked Kate up and placed her on the seat and whispered, “We’re here.”

He got out first, grabbed the gift box and then her hand, helping her out so she wouldn’t fall. She couldn’t see a thing but she heard the sound of locust humming.

“Pogue,” she voiced, “Where on earth are we?”

“You’ll see.”

They started towards the meadow and the large Muskogee tree and Kate could feel the grass get taller the further they walked. Pogue carefully guided her along a path with the least amount of bumps and obstructions.

“We’re almost there baby.”

She smiled all giddy and child-like.

“Alright, let’s take this off.”

Pogue reached his arm behind Kate’s head and untied the knot. When Kate’s eyes were unveiled they grew wide and she was smiling from ear to ear.

“Oh my goodness. Pogue, how did you pull all of this off?”

She stared at an assembled tent under the Muskogee tree that was draped in lavender and dark purple taffeta and tons of strung white lights. A round table with beautiful ivory colored linens, purple orchids and irises in a round vase as the centerpiece and a formal table setting sat in the center. There were two white chairs, each with huge lavender bows tied around the backs and an ivory colored cushion attached to the seat. A food cart with deserts was off to the side. The smooth sounds of a mixed CD she made Pogue, after he officially asked her to date him, played in the background. Pogue lead her to her seat and got down on one knee. Kate gasped.

“Pogue,” she questioned.

“It’s not what you think,” he laughed. “I’m not proposing but this,” he pulled a small pouch out of his pocket and pulled out a silver ring with a single brilliant cut diamond, “is a promise ring.”

She was speechless. He stood up and began to speak.

“Kate, I’ve been at a loss for words for many years. You have been a part of me since the first day I saw you in seventh grade. I was the first guy to see you at our school,” he laughed. “You make me nervous and happy at the same time. I feel honored and blessed to know you and be in your presence.”

She softly spoke aloud, with a slight smile, “You memorized the letter.”

Pogue continued, “I can’t believe that I waited this long to tell you this because even at this point in our short relationship I can’t imagine my life without you. I think I may be in love… with you and I would love it if you told me you felt the same. You don’t have to answer me right away but I would appreciate some kind of response.”

“I can’t believe you committed that to memory,” Kate said reaching for Pogue’s hands.

“I knew when I wrote that, it was something I wanted to embed in my mind forever. I wanted, no I needed those words to really mean something.”

He pulled her from her seat and wrapped his arms around her narrow waist, pulling her as close as he possibly could towards his body. She placed her arms around his neck and soothingly pulled the nape of his hair. He loved when she did that. His squeeze got tighter around her body and he leaned in for a soft ,yet sensuous kiss. Their lips parted and Kate gazed into his eyes, thinking to herself, he is so getting some tonight.