Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: WOUND (11/26/20)
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TITLE: White Clouds | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Smelker
12/02/20 -
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“Would I ever?” he retorted, but with a twinkle in his eye.
I lightly punched him, “Do I even need to give an answer? But, come on, where are you taking me? We’ve been driving for a while now.”
“Staci, you have to guess.” Ian replied.
I looked at my surroundings. We lived in one of the largest cities in North America and there were still swathes of it that I was unfamiliar with. I knew we were travelling north-west, the setting sun gave me that major clue, but that was all I knew.
“Not your parents’ house, unless they moved.”
“Correct.”
“Come on, give me a hint,” I wheedled.
“It’s a place we’ve never visited before,” he said, as he grabbed my hand and kissed it before replacing his own on the steering wheel.
I peered over at him with narrowed eyes, “You like winding me up, don’t you?”
He laughed, “Me? Nope. Never.” But that telltale twinkle in his startlingly blue eyes belied his words.
“OK. Some place we have never been before. A romantic picnic in the Hill Country?”
“Did you see me pack a picnic basket?”
“Um no,” I drawled slowly. “How about an illegal midnight boxing match?”
“Good guess, but no,” Ian laughed.
I tapped my fingers on my thighs as I pondered, “I’ve got it! You’ve found a long-lost relative of mine and we are meeting him or her.” This was an inside joke because of how messy-in-relationships my family was. I sometimes lost count of the half- and step- siblings I had.
“That would be fun, but no.”
The remaining 20 minutes in the car went by in a flash as I came up with ever-increasing absurd suggestions. I could tell Ian was enjoying himself; one of the touchstones of our relationship was his ability to gently wind me up, without ever being mean or causing me anxiety.
As the last rays of the setting sun brushed the fields and oak trees in bronze and gold, Ian slowed the car. “We’re here,” he announced.
I looked around and saw only a white gate ahead of us, surrounded by metal fencing.
“What’s here?” I asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said.
We bumped along a narrow dirt road and turned a corner to see an enormous French-style farmhouse framed by massive oak trees. “What is this place? Is this like a bed-and-breakfast?”
Ian chuckled, “Do you honestly expect me to pack a suitcase for you and get it right?”
“You’re right,” I conceded as the car came to a stop in front of the farmhouse. The front door opened and a petite raven-haired Hispanic woman approached us. “Hi Ian,” she greeted my husband.
“You know each other?” I asked.
Once again Ian laughed, “Well, it’s our first time meeting in person, but we’ve texted and emailed. Staci, I want you to meet Selina.”
Selina took my hand in hers, “I’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I’ve known you forever. Based on what your husband has told me, I think I’ve picked out the perfect gift for you. Come.”
She grasped my hand again and pulled me towards a barn. I helplessly looked back at Ian, who just waved and ambled on behind us. As we approached the barn I heard barking, lots of barking. “Don’t worry,” Selina reassured me as she opened the door. Immediately a flurry of white clouds on paws came running towards her.
“Puppies,” I breathed.
“Not just any puppies,” Ian said as I knelt down to pet the soft white balls of fluff. “These are …”
“Great Pyrenees,” we finished together.
Selina dove into the pack and pulled out one small puppy who had a slight patch of black on its back. “This one is yours. I called her Leila.”
“Mine?” I could barely breathe as I held onto this little girl.
“That’s my surprise,” Ian said. “You’ve wanted one for so long and I finally found a responsible breeder and put down a deposit six weeks ago. This baby is yours.”
I looked up at him tearfully as I tightly held onto Leila. “You really wound me up about this. But you know what, you can wind me up any time!”
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