Excerpt: Leading On

Aaron was obviously surprised to find Laura at his door. As had been the plan he was supposed to meet her in an hour at her house. Things had changed, now, because she was quite desperate and had it not been for that desperation, she would have gladly waited in anxiety for his arrival, hoping he hadn’t disappeared off the face of the earth. Laura knew, her imagination could sometimes get the best of her, but she did try to be realistic. She didn’t want to set her hopes up too high only to be disappointed, and yet, that optimistic was needed to keep going. Laura simply struggled trying to find that balance.

“Is everything alright? You look…pale.”

Yes, Laura had to admit she lost a bit of color in her cheeks since last night. So many things were wrong right now and Laura wasn’t exactly sure where to begin. That she was moving? What about her parents’ coldness toward him now? What about their future? Laura wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to allow Aaron the freedom to “move on”. Call it jealousy, but an overwhelming flood of emotions were unleashed as she saw his look of genuine concern. She was truly lucky to have him, and now that would all be taken away. Oh, how she had taken advantage of it all! It was true that no one new in depth what they had until it is gone…on the verge of Losing Aaron, Laura found her vision a bit blurred thanks to the tears that began to form. But she wouldn’t cry. Not now.

“No…Nothing is right…Just M…My parents,” Laura replied taking a step and letting her weight lean against him. Aaron, obviously confused, merely accepted and returned the gesture by placing his arms around her in a comforting matter. “What’s wrong, Laura?” he asked.

She refused to answer for a while, making Aaron’s brows furrow even more with confusion. “Do…you want to come in?” he finally asked.

After having held in for so long, Laura took a breath and spoke. “No…I won’t be staying long, I’m afraid,” she answered, shaking her head. “And…and I don’t think we’ll be meeting up again today since Ma’s got the whole day planned apparently…”

Aaron took the few steps to go outside, his steps taken ever so slowly and deliberately. “What’s happened?” He asked simply. Biting her lip, she then stepped back, “Can you promise to love me despite what I tell you?”

It obviously seemed like a stupid question, but he tried not to let that show, instead nodding. “Of course.”

“Well,” Laura then began as she took in a deep breath. This was going to be harder than she thought…so bitter this good-bye, especially when she knew it wouldn’t last for long. “My parents have planned Walter’s wedding much sooner than anticipated…and…we’re going West with him when they’re married.” It sounded like someone else had said the words, and Laura tried to search for some kind of reaction in Aaron. Would he be sad, angry, full of regret? Perhaps a little bit of all of them? Yes, it seemed he was going through a mixture of emotions…just as she had.

“You’re moving?” There was a sense of disbelief in his voice, and Laura found herself looking away. She couldn’t bear seeing him like this, but she did respond with a small, barely audible “yes”. It was as if something was caught in her throat and she was unable to get it out.

Pulling Laura a bit closer, Laura could sense his disappointment. No tears. She wouldn’t cry, because she was stronger than that. Finally, she heard Aaron speak again after a bout of silence. “When?”

“The Wedding’s next week, and the day after we’re leaving with the Caravan headed West…I just…” Laura sighed. “I simply don’t understand why my parents have to do this to me—to us!” He voice was strained now simply from her desperation. If he decided to leave and forget her, Laura supposed he was more than fair in doing so. She would have merely assumed she had gotten too swept up with romantic notions.

Aaron looked sternly at Laura, gently lifting up her chin. “Listen to me, okay? They may have some control over your life by virtue of being your parents, but they can’t stop us. It’s weird—Ma and Pa have been telling me that I should wait to get married, but It’s not up to them when. I have the right to decide that for myself. And so do you. If our parents want to keep us apart, well, we’ll prove that they can’t.”

“W…What do you mean? What are you going to do?” Laura asked, still slightly confused, but a bit encouraged. She felt lame for asking such questions, but lately, nothing seemed to make sense, not even her love for Aaron. True, it was no fiery or passionate love read about it books, but she felt it was love just the same. The way she felt when he held her brought a sense of comfort and warmth no other person could possibly achieve or even understand.

Aaron smiled. “Well you know Mr. Henderson?”

Yes, Laura had indeed heard of the man, but in response, she could nod.

“Well, he offered me a job at the Mill not too long ago. I’ll take it and work as many days and hours as I can to raise money. Once I have enough, I can buy us a house and who’s to say we can’t get married?”

Laura’s eyes widened in shock. Married? She had never thought of that before because it was always suppose to happen in the future. Not now. Of course, they were old enough, so the idea wasn’t too odd. Really, what was stopping them from them from that If they so desired to take that step? Yes…it could work, but as Aaron had said, it would take time and he would have to raise money.

“You…really think it’ll work?”

“I’m positive. You’ll see. Besides, what’s stopping us?”

“The distance, for one,” Laura curly replied after a short pause. That very truth had only just occurred to her, bringing a bit of doubt to the spontaneous plan Aaron proposed. Why, he seemed more determined that she was! This brought a small smile to her face, as it did Aaron’s too. “That’s minor,” he answered. “We’ll right letters until I save enough money, which won’t be long I assure you.”

Letters? For some reason, they always were so impersonal, but there seemed to be no room for complaining about them when it was bound to be their only form of communication for quite some time. Even if he said it would be long, Laura was obvious convinced it would be. If anything, it would feel like years when in fact it was months. Slowly, Laura then nodded. “Alright, we’ll right letters….as often as we can, and when you have enough money we’ll marry.” Laura gave a light laugh, albeit forced, though. “I’ll be Mrs. Aaron Wright.”

“It’ll all work out. I’m sure,” Aaron said.

“You promise?”

Aaron nodded.“I promise.”

This in itself brought a smile of relief to Laura as she leaned into him once more and warped her arms around his neck. She then looked straight up at Aaron before asking the last thing she had in mind.

“Can you make me one last promise?”

Aaron gave a sympathetic smile as he held her tight and planted a light kiss on Laura’s lips. “Yes…anything…”

“Promise me you won’t come to say goodbye to me next week.” Laura’s question was odd, but in truth, she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to handle saying goodbye twice. It was much too painful that way. So long as Aaron would stick to his promise, there was a still hope for them to be together. She was going to be Mrs. Aaron Wright and nothing was going to tear them apart.