A Bend in the Road Chapter 12

 Chapter Twelve

More Than A Friend

The Christmas holidays flew on by in a wild mixture of bows and wrapping paper, carols, plum puddings, and sleigh bells. Katherine found herself the bewildered owner of a velvety little puppy with the most darling round brown eyes and tiny nose. She also found herself quite the favorite with Dora and Davy who insisted on following her around like two faithful little shadows, although equally dividing their time between her and Anne. There were mornings walking through the frosty, icy wonderland of Lover's Lane and along the Lake of Shining Waters; afternoons in Diana's homey little kitchen with baby Fred and an abundance of baked goods; and evenings at the Gillis's, the Pye's, the Sloane's… all over Avonlea… singing around the fire and roasting no end of chestnuts and popcorn. Katherine found herself nearly sick on both roasted chestnuts and popcorn, which fact hardly lessened the amount she ate.

"It's hard to believe we only have two days more," Katherine sighed regretfully as she tossed a new hatbox onto the already cluttered bed in the east gable room. Ruby and Diana had persuaded both Katherine and Anne into a shopping trip in Carmody and the hatbox was one of the results of said trip.

"Just the skating party tomorrow and then one quiet day at home before it's back to Summerside and school," Anne grimaced. "As much as I adore Windy Poplars and all the delightful kindred spirits and lovely places I've discovered in Summerside, I can barely stomach the thought of leaving here again. One quiet day at home I must have, before we go, and I'm afraid the day after tomorrow is my only chance at it. Oh well… It's only five months more and then a delightfully long summer vacation."

"I wonder…" Katherine mused quietly, "Just how much might possibly happen in five months…"

oOo

The New Year's skating party was the last great event of the Christmas season… and the last gathering of all the old crowd before their journeys to their respective places. It was held, as always, on the Lake of Shining Waters, although most referred to it by its most unsentimental and unromantic title of Barry's Pond.

Katherine hadn't set a foot on ice in the better part of ten years, for she hadn't been invited to a skating party since she was eighteen… and who would even bother skating alone? Anne had dug up a spare pair of skates for her but Katherine felt uncertain and wobbly. She had never been a good skater in the first place, and she remembered this ruefully as she ventured out slowly, clinging to David's arm.

"You'll be fine," he assured her. "Just stand up straighter, so… and push off with your right foot. You'll get the hang of it," he grinned. "There's just one thing to keep in mind."

"What's that?" barely had Katherine gotten the words out of her mouth when a snowball whizzed past her head, narrowly missing her.

"Duck often!" he laughed, spinning her out of the way as another icy missile flew by.

"What on earth?" Katherine cried, laughing as yet another snowball hit David squarely in the stomach. "Who is doing that?"

But he never had a chance to answer. One snowball only led to more as the skating party quickly transformed into something resembling a primitive battle. Although the lake had been swept clean in anticipation of the skaters, there was plenty of deep drifts along the shoreline and Katherine found herself stooping to gather snow, surprising herself as she retaliated against the attack.

"Maybe we should retreat?" David called out above the noise of laughter and shouting.

"I agree," Katherine took the hand he offered and they moved out of range of the still-flying snowballs.

"Whew! That was getting a little rough," he laughed, brushing snow from his coat and shaking off his hat. "I'm not as fast at making snowballs as I used to be…"

"I think I can safely say I haven't thrown a snowball in maybe fifteen years," Katherine grinned. "I just don't know what's the matter with me. Strange how much one can change in just a few months."

"Change? You seem the same to me!"

"But you didn't know me before I came to Avonlea," Katherine smiled ruefully. "I was quite the grouch. The perfect model of a spinsterly old schoolmarm, I guess I'd say. Still am… just less… pessimistic. Though sometimes I feel the "old me" resurfacing. Oh… how beautiful!" she broke off suddenly as they stopped beneath the sweeping branches of a weeping willow. Iced over and frosted with snow, the overhanging branches created a cobwebby pattern of sparkling lace.

"Isn't it?" David smiled. "You should see it in the summer… all covered in green leaves and filled with birds. It's the grandest old tree on the lakefront."

"I like it like this…" Katherine said softly. "All pure and white and sparkling in the snow…" She fell silent, soaking in the beauty around her.

"Katherine?" He said her name so quietly but something in his voice made her turn to him, startled.

"Is… is something wrong?" she faltered, frowning. He looked down at her… his eyes suddenly so deep… so intense…

"Yes… no. No. I mean…" he laughed softly. "I'm not sure I can do this right."

"Do what right?" Katherine felt genuinely confused.

"You've changed me, Katherine." he said suddenly. She looked up at him, eyes wide, as he continued. "I… I've been so alone for so many years. You've been a friend… more than a friend. I haven't known you for long but… I feel as if I've known you forever. That… doesn't make sense, does it?"

Katherine only made an attempt at a laugh, but it sounded more like a nervous whimper. Her heart was beating so furiously it was hurting her.

"This may sound foolish to you… but I feel that I have to say it." Reaching out, he took both of her hands in his. "I… don't want you to leave again, Katherine. I don't want to lose you. You... you're the only one I want to share the rest of my life with."

"What are you saying?" Katherine gasped, growing pale.

"I… I'm asking you to marry me."