Page 84 of Play of Love
I looked past the girl next to me, who’d designed a nineteen-twenties-style Gatsby dress, and over to the presenter who was beaming at me. I shook as he put his hand out and beckoned me to move across and stand with the other two designers who had been selected.
Had I seriously just been selected?
“Come on, Amy .” His smile widened, showing off perfect white teeth that dazzled under the bright lights. The crowd in the audience started cheering and I realized that people liked me. They liked me and I’d just been chosen. My hands flew up to my mouth as I squealed with delight. “Come and take your spot, sweetheart.”
I moved, gliding across the runway, trying my best not to trip over my own excitement.
To my absolute amazement people started to stand and cheer. I never expected that. I could hardly believe this was happening. I’d dreamt of it several times over and believed in my talent, but this wasn’t a dream anymore. It was real.
I couldn’t wait to see Josh and tell him the news.
Hilda and Gabriella shared in my excitement on the way back home. They were really happy for me. I’d sent Teddy a message, along with my mother, brother, and all my friends from New York and Atlanta.
When I got back home I ran straight inside and into Josh’s arms.
“I got it!” I cried.
He picked me up and whirled me around. “Of course you did.”
It was only when he set me down that I saw the soft trail of rose petals on the floor, and noticed the ambient romantic setting of the place. He’d dimmed the lights, had classical music playing in the background, and opened the French doors displaying the candle-lit table on the terrace.
That, too, had rose petals dashed about the top. It looked like something from a dream. Just like everything else about tonight.
“Josh,” I breathed, looking back at him.
He held my hand out and gazed down at me with complete adoration. His next words then stole my heart and captured my entire being. “Be near me when my light is low, when the blood creeps, and the nerves prick. And tingle; and the heart is sick. And all the wheels of being slow.”
In Memoriam.
I smiled up at him.
When I’d first heard him recite it I’d been shocked to no end that he liked poetry. Now I was experiencing something different because he was speaking those words to me.
I’d heard that poem being read many times. Heard it being read with ardent fervor, and love and respect. Everything that meant something. I just never expected that someone would ever recite it to me, with me in mind.
He smiled at me , gazing deep into my eyes as he held onto both my hands before continuing, “Be near me when the sensuous frame is rack'd with pangs that conquer trust. And time, a maniac scattering dust. And life, a fury slinging flame.”
He paused so I could continue. It held so much meaning now. For us.
“Be near me when my faith is dry. And men the flies of latter spring. That lay their eggs, and sting and sing and weave their petty cells and die. Be near me when I fade away. To point the term of human strife. And on the low dark verge of life the twilight of eternal day.”
He stared at me for a few seconds with his beautiful eyes. There was something about his look that stood out to me, holding my attention. It spoke to my soul.
“You’ll not fade away, Amy Rose. Thanks for not letting me fade away too.”
I welcomed the soft kiss he gave me and became lost within the warmth of emotion that surged through my body.
I almost didn’t hear my phone ring.
“Get that, baby,” he whispered against my lips.
I messaged a lot of people and they were most likely calling to say congratulations.
“I’ll call back tomorrow.”
The phone stopped ringing, and started again almost with insistence.
Josh gave me a lopsided grin. “I’ll bet it’s your adoring fans. Get it and I’ll chill the elderflower juice,” he laughed.
I shook my head at him and answered my phone.
“Hello?” I said into the receiver with a bright voice.
“Amy, its Dr. Carson.”
Instantly my brain jumped at the recognition of him and what it could mean if he was calling me at this time of night.
“Dr. Carson. Is my mom okay?”
“Amy, your mother’s had another heart attack and has been taken into intensive care.”
