Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Bold (emotionally) (08/30/07)
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TITLE: Taking a Chance | Previous Challenge Entry
By Leanna Roe
09/06/07 -
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She awoke with a start. Today was the day. She had carefully thought it out and knew what she must do. Emboldened by urgency, she was about to put into motion a plan so daring it bordered on the ridiculous. She had wrestled with herself, knowing if her plan failed she would look like a fool. Still, she had to do something or wonder about it for the rest of her life. Whatever the outcome, her life would be forever changed.
Hadley had returned from college last week, only to be hit in the face with a reality that had rocked her world! Unable to eat or sleep, she was consumed by it. She prayed, she cried, she analyzed. She plotted, planned, and agonized. Finally exhausted, she quit struggling and set her mind.
As Hadley drove through the town that had been her home since birth, she thought about the events that had inspired this outrageous plan. She had been hired to teach English at the local high school and was excited for school to begin. That is, until her mother “dropped the bomb”. “Rick is getting married! I ran into Sandy Thornton and she said to make sure you knew she and Rick were tying the knot.”
“What?” her voice cracked. Her vision blurred and she saw her life pass before her eyes. She was sure Sandy had taken great delight in making that particular announcement.
“That vicious, conniving little, flirt with your boyfriend behind your back……”
“Now, Hadley,” her mother interrupted her tirade, “that is no way to talk. If Rick loves her, honey, you’re going to have to accept that.”
“Mama,” Hadley wailed, “I always thought it would be me. I have dreamed of Rick asking me to marry him my entire life.”
“Darling, I’m so sorry, I know how you feel about Rick, but it just isn’t to be.”
Jerked back to the present by a blaring horn, Hadley’s heart began to pound. “This is the most idiotic thing I have ever done. Mom would kill me if she knew what I was up to right now!” Still she was compelled to finish what she had started.
“Father, please let him be home alone,” she implored as she pulled into the driveway of Rick’s parent’s home.
She got out of the car and began the seemingly endless trek to the house. Her knees were so wobbly she thought she would just crumble to the ground. That would certainly be the ultimate humiliation.
“Hadley, is that you?” He had come from the side of the house and oh, did he look good!
“Yep, it’s me.” she tried to keep her voice light.
He grabbed her around the waist and hugged her so tight she thought her ribs would break.
“You are still as beautiful as ever.” Ok, this might not be so hard after all. “Come, sit down and tell me what’s been going on with you,” Rick said as he led her to the porch swing.
“I got a job teaching English at Willow High”
“Wonderful!” Was he staring at her?
“I guess you could say that.” How in the world was she going to get to the reason for her visit? “Uh, well,” she stammered, unable to formulate how to begin.
“What is it?” he questioned.
He was staring.
“I hear you’re getting married.” There she had said it.
He just looked at her. Rick was like that. He clammed up at the most inopportune times. What was she going to say now?
“Well, I ……” suddenly she was struck with anger so fierce she could barely contain it and then she was crying uncontrollably.
It was his undoing. He took her in his arms, unsure exactly what was expected of him. Men were clueless sometimes.
“Rick, I love you, I’ve always loved you and I know you love me, too, even though you may have forgotten,” she cried into his chest.
“What did you say?’ His voice was incredulous.
“I love you.”
Gently he said, “I am getting married.”
She thought she might throw up.
“That is, if you’ll have me.” His voice was almost a whisper.
“What?” she croaked, barely able to breathe.
“I said, I love you, too, and you’re the only person I intend to spend the rest of my life with. Are you going to marry me?”
“Yes, I believe I am.”
Three months later she did just that.
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