Chapter Ten

Gifts

Chris and I sat and watched the stars for a little bit.

He looked at his watch.

12:37.

We decided that it was late and was probably time for us to go home.

I jumped up from my spot on the ground and Chris held his hands up for me to help him up.

I grabbed his hands, threw my head back and put all of my weight back attempting to help him up.

"My you need to hit the gym!!" I laughed.

"I wouldn't be talking spaghetti arms" he chuckled as he jumped from his spot.

"Touché" I laughed.

He put his hand on the small of my back and guided me back toward the reception area to try and find mum.

After about twenty minutes of looking, we found mum and told her that we should get going.

"Alright" she sighed "just come and say goodbye to your family with me. You can come too Chris. They may as well get to know you"

He laughed and we followed her around saying goodbye to various aunts and uncles and introducing them to Chris.

After we had talked to pretty much everyone at the wedding, I saw that Sam wasn't doing anything so I took Chris and we went to go and talk to her.

"Hey!!!" she squealed "how are you?!!"

She pulled me in for a tight hug.

"I'm doing great!!! And congratulations!!!!" I said "you look amazing"

"Oh thanks! And who is this??" she asked eyeing Chris.

"Christopher Garrett" he said as he stuck out his hand for her to shake.

"Nice to meet you Chris" she wiggled her eyebrows at me.

"Alright we gotta get going but it was nice seeing you!!" I called and gave her a hug.

"I'm going to call you later!!" she said looking from me to Chris.

"Alright Sammy!!"

Chris, mum and I drove back to the house in silence, Chris had his hand on my leg, and I had my hand resting on his.

As soon as we pulled up into the driveway, mum quickly walked into the house; giving Chris and I some time alone.

"That was the most fun I've had in a while" Chris laughed "your family is a hoot"

"They are pretty fun aren't they?" I laughed.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow baby doll" he said. He gave me a peck on the lips. I stayed in the seat and held his tie in my hand as I gradually pulled him closer. I kissed him passionately and lovingly. He pulled away and kissed me again before I got out of the car to leave.

"Night darlin" Chris smirked "I love you"

"I love youuuu tooo" I laughed.

I was woken up the next morning by Chris knocking on my bedroom door.

"Can I come in baby doll?" I heard Chris say.

"Yeah" I said sleepily rubbing my eyes.

He opened the door and I saw his beautiful face enter the room.

He had something in his hands that was wrapped up really pretty.

"Whatcha got there?" I asked.

"A gift for my girl" he winked.

"Why?"

"Because I'm leavin in three days"

"Oh yeah" I sighed, a tear falling down my cheek.

"No honey, don't cry please. You're gonna make me cry" he said pulling me in for a hug.

I quietly let the tears fall down my face and I felt my hair becoming damp as well.

He was crying.

I looked up at him and it made my heart swell. I wiped the tears from his face and let one last one fall down my cheeks.

I stood on my toes and kissed his forehead.

"What if you don't come back?" I asked choking back the tears.

"Nope. You need to stop thinking that way" he said. The expression in his voice told me he was holding back from yelling.

"But Chris, what if it happens? Then what?"

"It's not going to happen ok? I'm going to do everything I can to come back for you alright?" he almost yelled.

"Now, I have here, a gift for my lady" he smirked.

"Ok" I muttered wiping my eyes.

He handed it to me and I began unwrapping the gift.

It was a stack of papers along with 273 signed and addressed envelopes. The papers had a gorgeous light peach border.

"Now, while I'm gone, you are gonna write me everyday and I will write back. "We aren't going to let the distance get to us because it's only 273 days and then I'm home. For good. Alright?"

"Yeah" I said another tear rolling down my cheek "I'm gonna miss you"

"I know baby doll" he kissed my forehead and pulled me in for a tight hug "I'm gonna miss you too"

"Alright. Now get dressed we're going horseback ridin"

"You horseback ride?"

"Honey, I'm from Texas. Of course I horseback ride"

I laughed and walked into my closet.

"What should I wear today hun?" I asked scanning through my clothes.

Chris walked into my closet and looked at my clothes.

"Hmm" he grabbed a red plaid shirt and a pair of worn boot cut jeans.

"Of course" I muttered.

He laughed and exited the room so I could change. He was such a gentleman.

I was about to put on my shirt when Chris walked into the room. I quickly turned around and threw the shirt on my back.

"I'm sorry darlin" he started "I thought you were finished"

"No its fine" I smiled "really no different than a bikini"

He chuckled. "True"

Chris walked me out to the jeep and we were off to the horse farm.

When we arrived, we pulled into a beautiful dirt driveway that was lined with big leafy trees.

We pulled up to a big, old and pretty farmhouse. It seemed Chris knew the owners.

A woman wearing a black apron covered in flour and flour spotted on her face walked over toward Chris.

"Chris!" she exclaimed "it's been too long"

"Agreed Mrs. Chase. Now where's that husband of yours" he asked.

"He's in the barn" she rolled her eyes "as usual"

Chris laughed "thanks. This is Nicole. Nicole this is Mrs. Chase. She and her husband own this beautiful farm"

I stuck my hand out for her to shake which she took gladly.

"Nice to meet you honey. And please, call me Victoria"

"The pleasure is all mine Victoria" I smiled.

"Well it was nice seeing y'all. I've got to get back inside and attend to my apple pie" she laughed and waved us off.

Chris took my hand and led us toward the barn.

When we reached the barn, there was a man, whom I assumed to be Mr. Chase, carrying a large hay bale out of the large barn door.

"Hey there Chris!" he said excitedly, setting the hay bale down.

Chris stuck his hand out, which Mr. Chase gladly shook.

"Hey Mr. Chase. It's been a long time" Chris said.

"Yes it has been. And for the thousandth time, please call me Arthur. You got yourself a pretty looking girl here" he said holding his hand out to me.

"Yes I do. This is Nicole. Nicole this is Arthur Chase. Victoria's husband" Chris said as I shook Arthur's hand.

"Alright. Chris, you know what to do and also where everything is so you kids be careful out there" Arthur said picking up the hay bale once again and walking away from the barn.

"Okay baby doll. Let's go get you a horse"

We walked into the barn and there were five stables lined up on either side of the barn.

I layed eyes on a gorgeous white Fresian that had tan spots all over its body.

Chris saw me eyeing the horse.

"That there is Tacoma. He's a real sweetheart"

"Can I ride him?"

"Absolutely"

Chris walked up to another stable and said hi to his horse that he'd been keeping there.

She was a beautiful bronze Arabian named Gypsy. He grabbed a saddle and some reins out and set them in front of Tacoma's stable before unlocking the gate. He guided him out of the stable and brought him towards me.

Tacoma nuzzled his big head on one of my hands and I pet his head.

"He likes you" Chris smiled "but I'm not so sure I want another boy liking you"

I rolled my eyes at him and laughed.

Chris saddled Tacoma and put the reins on him. He then helped me climb onto the big horse before saddling up himself.

He and Gypsy led Tacoma and I out of the barn and onto a dirt path through some trees.

Our ride was extremely scenic. Like it belonged in a movie.

When we returned to the barn, Chris dismounted Gypsy and helped me down from Tacoma. He put Tacoma back into his stall and walked over to Gypsy. He gave her a kiss on the nose and walked her back to her stall.

He took my hand and went to find Mr and Mrs. Chase. We said our thank you's and goodbye's and we headed back home.

"You weren't bad out there honey" Chris said as he patted my knee with his hand.

"Why thank you" I laughed.

He took my hand in his, brought it to his mouth and kissed it.

"I had fun with you today" he said.

"I did too" I smiled my eyes glassy at the thought of 'this might not happen again'.

"Promise me you'll be careful?" I pleaded Chris.

"I promise with all of my might that I will do whatever I can to come back" he said kissing my hand once again.

"Good" I smiled "now" I stuck out my pinkie finger "pinkie promise"

"What you don't believe me?" he smirked.

"Of course I believe you. But you can't break a pinkie promise" I smiled childishly.

He wrapped his large pinkie around mine and shook it.

"There. Happy?" he laughed.

"Extremely" I smiled. I kissed his hand this time.

Then my phone started ringing.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hello is this Nicole Collins?"

"Yes it is who is this?"

"This is Beckton Regional Hospital calling"

"What's wrong?" I asked concerned.

"It's your mother. Rebecca"

"What happened? Is she alright??"

"At the moment, she is in critical condition. I'm going to need you to come down to the emergency room immediately"

"ok thanks. Bye"

I looked at Chris tears filling my eyes.

"What happened??" he asked filled with worry.

"It's mum"

And with that, Chris and I sped off to the hospital.

----------------------------------

Hey readers!

What do you think happened to Nicole's mum? This story is always so much fun to write and I love that you guys are liking the story!

Keep commenting and voting!

Happy reading!

Eagle_Eye_13 xx