Adam found it impossible to stand. His head went spinning whenever he tried. His body ached with every movement he made. He could feel the warmth of his eye as it started to swell. He spit more blood leaving a metallic taste behind. At last, he got up on his feet slowly. He flinched as a piercing pain made his way down his back. He had no idea Mr. Willis was so aggressive, he had heard a rifle being shot but he presumed there were men hunting birds, until he saw Sophia, breathless and scared as she appeared on the door way. He walked towards a mirror wanting to know if it was too noticeable that he had just been beaten. It was. His left eye was turning purple and his cheek was swollen. A few scrapes appeared on his forehead, not knowing how they had occurred. His shirt was stained with the blood from his slashed lip.
He walked slowly towards the house. As he walked through the dirt road between the house and the shop, he could hear people murmuring and repeating the ordeal. He knew rumors would probably reach his parents before they even arrived. He walked inside towards the living room. He laid down as his head started to pounce. He had to clear things up. He had to tell him the whole truth. But he didn't know if he could present himself at the Willis' residence. Mr. Willis sounded very serious about his unspoken threat.
"Adam?" He heard Martha desperate tone. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything," he replied as he shielded his eyes from the sunlight.
"Why, then, was Mr. Willis furiously holding his rifle dragging his poor daughter through town? Is it true that you hurt Miss Willis?"
"No, I didn't. It was just a misunderstanding." He stood slowly not wanting to feel the intolerable pain. "Can you get water ready for me? I need a cold bath."
"I heard that you forced Miss Sophia Willis. And that if it wasn't for Miss Willis, her father would have killed you."
"I didn't force anybody, I haven't done a thing to Miss Willis! Don't believe everything you hear Martha!"
She watched him not believing a single word, and Adam really needed that bath.
"Martha," he started calmly. "Trust me, there has been a misunderstanding. In fact, I'll go to Mr. Willis' first thing in the morning to clarify it all."
"You are planning to see him? Look what he did to you."
Adam shook his head. "I owe Mr. Willis an explanation."
Ò Ò Ò
On his way to see Mr. Willis, he felt all the town's stares, either accusatory or alarmed. He tried ignoring the gossiping as he made his way to the front gate, but the whispers were too much. It seemed that the whole town witnessed the unfortunate event.
He wore his best clothes at the attempt to appear as presentable as possible. He exhaled sharply and knocked on the door twice. One of the servants responded, her eyes widened at the sight of him. The skin surrounding his eye became almost black, his cheek was as swollen as it could get and a dark scab covered half his lips, hurting him every time he spoke. He asked for Mr. Willis and as if ordered, she didn't ask him inside. But he didn't mind.
He stepped down and stood firmly on the ground. As he waited, his legs started to weaken. He hadn't been so nervous in his life. He looked around him. A group of spectators was starting to form, as if they were hungry for more. Women held their children tightly beside them, men watched curiously. They were probably wondering what Adam was thinking as he waited outside the Willis' house.
After what seemed hours, the door was opened, an angry Mr. Willis walked out firmly. The crowd hurriedly went back to their business, after seeing Mr. Willis with such rage, they didn't want to aggravate him. Adam didn't allow Mr. Willis' stance to intimidate him.
"I need to speak to you concerning Miss Willis."
He crossed his arms as he gazed down at him. "Are you going to deny it all?" he replied coldly.
Adam shook his head. "I am not." Mr. Willis straightened at his reply. "Five years ago, Miss Lucia Willis and I were involved at one time, but I swear that it wasn't against her will."
"What are you trying to say?"
Adam sighed deeply, he was entering dangerous ground. "What Miss Willis and I did, we did it with mutual consent."
"Are you trying to say that Lucia would give herself just like that?"
"I know it's difficult to hear but it's true. I wouldn't dare to hurt a woman, and less any of your daughters. They are respectable women and I treat them as such. What happened with your daughter was in a time of weakness from both of our parts. Please accept my apologies," he finished.
Adam could see Mr. Willis' shoulders sag. And something told him, that Mr. Willis wasn't surprised. He uncrossed his arms and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Very well then. I apologize for the incident yesterday," he said ashamedly.
It took Adam by surprise. "I would've done the same thing."
Adam could see a smile but he wasn't sure. "You want to come in? I'll have Sophia come down."
Adam shook his head, he was still frightened of Mr. Willis. "If it's not too much to ask, I prefer to see her out here and perhaps take a short walk."
Mr. Willis did smile this time, Adam knew he had done the right thing. "Sure, it's a nice day today. Please wait as I go seek for her." He disappeared behind the door.
Ò Ò Ò
Adam stands where Mr. Willis left him. He hadn't dared to move, as if with one movement, things would start to go awry. Adam was prepared to beg and swear on his mother that he was telling the truth, but he didn't have to. Mr. Willis was being very understanding. Perhaps he felt guilty once he saw how beat up Adam was, or he really believed him, whatever it was, he thanked God for his good fortune.
Adam sees the door open and Sophia appears from behind it. She closes the door gently, not wanting to be noisy. She walks down the few steps and slows down as she sees him. Her eyes fixed on him, and he felt embarrassed. He looks down like wanting to hide his grotesque face.
"Mr. Lancaster," she says as she curtsies. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm alright. They're just bruises. How are you?" he asks, and when he looks up to see her, he sees one side of her face, slightly inflamed. Could it be that her father was so angry that he took it out on Sophia? Adam shudders at the thought.
"I'm well, thank you." She manages a smile.
"Shall we take a walk?"
She nods and they leave the Willis property. Adam sees individuals gazing on like they were some kind of a show.
"I prefer that we don't walk through town," she said holding back and Adam agrees immediately.
"Shall we go around then?"
"Yes, please," she says lowly.
They shift towards the dirt road surrounding Lakewood. It's between the forests where they admired the simplicity of nature. They walk peacefully, taking slow calming steps.
"I wasn't expecting you would come," Sophia says thoughtfully.
"I would be mad if I didn't."
"A sane person would've stayed as far away as possible from my father."
Adam nods. "Granted, but a mad man would not come back wasting the opportunity to marry such a woman."
She smiles and reaches out for a leaf as they walked under a tree. "What did you tell my father?"
"The truth," he replies as he watches her from the corner of his eye.
"And he wasn't angry?"
"Not that he showed it, I believe he appreciated the honesty more than anything."
Sophia turns to look at him then turns away shyly. "I feel terrible for the unfortunate affair."
"Don't blame yourself, your father acted like any father would."
"I suppose so, but look at you. You look terrible."
Adam chuckles. "Thank you, I suppose I deserved it."
"You did not!" she replies passionately. "No one deserves to be hurt in such a way, we are not animals."
Adam stops and turns her around gently so she's facing him. "I did a sinful act. There had to be some consequence at some point. Though I did fear the cancellation of the wedding would be it."
Sophia looks surprised. "You did?"
"Of course," he says as they start again with their walk. "I gave you that ring as a promise, and I plan to keep my promise."
Sophia looks down at her ring as if suddenly realizing she still had it.
They walk quietly as Adam could see a smile on her lips, the smile that made him realize her beauty.
"When do your parents arrive from their journey?" she asks as she twists the leaf she grabbed earlier in her fingers.
"Tonight. I do fear how they will react once they're here."
"They probably already heard the slander going around town. Why can't people mind their own business?" She asks mainly to herself.
He hears frustration in her voice, which makes him smile.
"So, considering the wedding is still on, it is quite near, isn't it?" he realizes.
Sophia smiles forgetting about her annoyance. "I do believe that it is."
"I now realize I've had no involvement in its planning."
She laughs. "Honestly, neither have I. I think my mother prefers it this way."
"Aren't brides supposed to be involved though?"
Sophia nods. "Usually they are, but I would only be a nuisance. The party is more for the public than for us."
"All we have to do is say I do."
"And our vows."
"You mean, say whatever pastor Walker tells us to say."
Sophia laughs again, making him smile. It seems like making her laugh is the highlight of his days.
He looks around him and he notices they are close to their future home, and he had a sudden urge to show her. He wants to show her how their future is going to be like, and how he had been looking forward to it.
"Actually, I have a surprise for you."
She turns stunned. "A surprise? For me?"
He nods. "Yes. It's in progress but it's nearly finished, would you like to see it?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
He offers her his arm and she accepts it. They are a few meters away when he sees the house, fully constructed. He grabs her by the shoulders and turns her around before she can even see it. "Stay like this and I'll let you know when you can turn."
"What if I trip over something?" she asks rapidly.
Adam laughs. "I am right here, I won't let you fall."
He walks right in front of her, guiding her slowly as she's walking backward holding on to his arms.
"Can I turn around now?" she says desperately.
"No, we're almost there."
She smiles excitedly like a child expecting a Christmas present.
They arrive at the perfect spot where she can see the entirety of the house. He stops her and starts. "Do you remember the dowry?"
Sophia laughs. "Of course I do! My father has been collecting it since I was twelve years old."
"Alright, this is what I have done with it." He turns her around and he hears her gasp. There it was, their future home, the house they will live and raise their children in.
She gazes at it as he holds her hand gently. "It's beautiful," she gasps.
As they make their way inside, they find the wooden floor nicely furnished, the windows adorned with curtains. She stands in the middle of what will be the living room, in complete astonishment.
"All that is needed is for the furniture to be put in place," he explains.
She looks at him puzzled. "There's going to be furniture as well?"
He walks slowly towards her. "I was going to wait to show it to you until our wedding night but I couldn't wait to see your reaction."
She smiles greatly. "Show me everything."
He gives her a small tour. He walks her through the wide kitchen and the guest room. Adam can tell that she is enjoying it, whenever she awed in excitement, it made his heart skip a beat.
"Now, this is the most important room," he says as he stood before a closed door.
"How come?"
He looks at her intently then says gently as he pushes the door open, "It's the room we will save for our first born."
She seems shocked as she steps inside, hypnotized by the window that faces the backyard. She walks towards it and sighs thoughtfully. Adam stands behind her watching her closely, tears started forming in her eyes.
She laughs timidly. "This is my favorite room."
He smiles as he sees her deep desire of having children. Then as she turns slowly to see him, he takes her hand and lifts it up to his lips, holding her gaze.
Adam feels a sudden overwhelming feeling he can't quite explain. He wants to reach for her and pull her into an embrace. He wants to run his fingers through her long silky hair, he wants to brush his fingertips down her light, perfumed skin. He steps forward as a trace of bravery takes over him.
"Miss Willis, I must confess something."
She looks at him worriedly. "What is it?"
He takes a deep breath, that bravery threatening to vanish as her green eyes watches him intently. He urges on. "I must confess that I deeply admire you and adore you. The thought of marrying you excites me. You are beautiful inside and out, and I want you to know that I love you more than you'll ever know, every second with you fills me with happiness. I do hope I'm not being too forward."
She turns away from him timidly and looks down at the floor. "Mr. Lancaster, I..."
"I know your feelings are directed towards someone else, and I know it won't be easy to forget him." He interrupts as he sees her struggle with a reply. She walks towards the window slowly. He follows close behind her as he continues, "But that doesn't change the way I feel about you in the slightest." He reaches to touch her arm but he hesitates for a second. He doesn't want to ruin things by making her uncomfortable, but having her so close drives him insane. He needs to feel her skin. As he runs his fingers down her arm softly, he feels her tremble weakly and that just makes his feeling stronger, he turns her gently but she refuses to look at him, he searches for her face. "And I promise that I will treat with the outmost respect. I promise that I will do my best to make you happy. I promise I won't hurt you."
At last, her eyes meet his. "I... I can't tell you that I feel the same way. But with time, with just a little bit of time, that could change."
Adam nods. "And I will give you that time. As much time as you need."
"You will hate me."
Adam can't believe she would think this way. He places one hand on her tender swollen cheek. "I would never hate you. You met a man that promised you the world, and he disappointed you. If I must hate anyone, it is him."
"I ruined your friendship with him, didn't I?" she replies gloomily.
Adam shakes his head. "No. You did not, he ruined it himself. He ruined it by tricking a beautiful girl into thinking that he loved her. He knew exactly what he was doing, and I lost complete respect for him. It is not you to blame, it is him."
She becomes quiet as he traces her injured cheek softly, slowly. She closes her eyes gently. He realizes, surprising himself, that he wants her more than he ever wanted a woman before. She opens them slowly and as they lock eyes, this overwhelming wish to kiss her beautiful lips takes a hold of his thoughts.
"Thank you," she whispers as if his stating the fact that she wasn't guilty of Daniel's lies, made her breathe a little easier. Tears start forming in her eyes and that is when he realizes that the guilt of her sprees with Daniel is very heavy in her heart. He can't imagine how much pain it was causing her the lies from a deceitful man. He can't imagine how she must be feeling knowing that she was a married man's affair.
Without thinking twice about it, he pulls her in an embrace. He wraps his arms around her wanting to erase all that pain. He hears her take a painful sigh and tightens her grip around him. If he could take all that pain away, he would. He definitely would.
Ò Ò Ò
When he walks her back to her house, Sophia turns to look at him tenderly.
"Again, I am terribly sorry for what happened," she says.
Adam smiles, but doesn't reply. He is dreading the moment she will walk back inside her house. She surprises him by reaching out tracing the injuries on his face.
"I hope they heal soon," she says as she pulls her hand away. "Before our wedding day," she adds and gives him a teasing smile as she walks towards the door. Adam stands where she left him tacitly. He slowly turns down the street pondering his next great adventure, earning Sophia's love.