Hatpins and Hot Air Balloons

   Hatpins And Hot Air Balloons 

“I am officially and completely worn out,” Sophie groaned laughingly and collapsed on the couch as the fiddle music played merrily on. “We oughta try this stuff out on the boys sometime…”

“Yeah…” Linnaea grinned half-heartedly for a moment at the mention of the boys… and then she laughed. “That was simply glorious. We should try dancing to movie scenes next… like…”

“The ball in My Fair Lady!” Sophie cried, interrupting.

“Zackly!” Linnaea cried back and they both burst into laughter. Laughter that was abruptly stilled by a knock at the door.

“Ohhh…” Sophie sighed, weary from merriment. “There's someone at the door.”

“I know it…” Linnaea sighed back, from where she sat collapsed inelegantly all over the couch.

“Aren'tcha gonna answer it?” Sophie mumbled.

“I don't wanna move,” came the equally mumbled answer. Both girls lapsed into silence a moment and the knocking grew louder.

“Hey! Anybody home?” 

Sophie jumped to her feet instantly at the sound of that voice, as if a switch had been flipped. 

“It's Judah…” and she was across the room in less than two seconds, already turning the doorknob as Linnaea hurried up to peer over her shoulder. They opened the door, looked, saw not one but two faces, and the door was abruptly slammed shut. The girls exchanged glances and Sophie laughed awkwardly.

“I'm sorry, Linnie.”

“Aw, phooey,” Linnaea turned up her nose. “He's got a lot of nerve. But I ain't about to let you snub Judah because of Eric, let him in.”

The door was opened again, to reveal the same faces although considerably altered in expression. Both looked dreadfully confused and disappointed. Judah was thankfully the nearest to the door. His arm was grabbed and he was consequently pulled inside, and the door slammed shut again.

He stood in silence a moment, just staring at the girls with one eyebrow raised.

“He came to apologize, y’know,” he finally said, matter-of-factly and Linnaea turned scarlet and white at the same time, if that were even possible. Sophie sighed and shook her head.

“Alright, this has gone on long enough. Linnie…?” She gestured questioningly towards the door.

Linnaea shrugged and nodded, slowly. Sophie opened the door a third time. Eric stood there, hat in hand, staring eagerly and tragically back at her. He didn't say anything… hardly even had a chance.

She stepped out and closed the door behind herself.

“Alright, listen here,” Sophie said quietly, hoping those inside wouldn't hear just what she was trying to get across. “I know it doesn't seem like a big deal to you guys, but you seriously hurt my best friend's feelings and she has been eating her heart out over it for days. I think you have more than a simple apology here… you had better be awfully sincere. And no more funny business, okay? At least not of the kind you pulled on Linnie. Y’hear me??’

“And what do you think I've been doing every minute since she left?” Eric sighed ruefully. “I’ve kicked myself so many times for all that, I’m black and blue all over…”

Sophie laughed in spite of herself.

“Well, you had a lot of nerve. I don't mind so much the kidnapping, I’m not mad about that, but you pushing and pulling Linnie around and talking down to her and… and house arrest?!! Haven't you got any respect for her?”

“Y’know what,” Eric answered quietly. “You're right. I was a jerk and I wish I could undo it. I don't expect she’ll want to see me…” he took a step back as if preparing to go. “But tell her I’m sorry, okay? I'm sorrier than I can ever say. Sorry I hurt her.”

He really was going to go. He took another step back and then shoved his hat back on. He turned to go, and at that moment, Linnaea appeared in the doorway behind Julie.

“Eric…”

He turned back, quickly, and his eyes lit up. Sophie glanced back at her friend, but didn't move, as if standing protectively in between them. 

“Judah's been saying you wanted to talk to me,” she continued. Her voice was quiet and barely betrayed her emotion. He stepped forward again. 

“I have a lot to say,” he grinned sheepishly. “Will you hear me out?”

Sophie, noticing that Linnaea was nodding, finally stepped out of the way. She vanished back in the door and closed it behind her, leaning against it with a murmured prayer…

                                 

“I said I had a lot to say,” Eric repeated, laughing nervously. He had taken his hat off again and was twisting it wildly. If he kept on much longer, he’d shred the thing. Again. “But now I dunno how to say it…” he paused. Linnaea was looking at him expectantly. He was half-shaking in his boots. How could he? What had gotten into him? Here he had upset her so much she had vanished, and for days. To avoid HIM.

He cringed, just remembering that night, and wished he could take it back. All of it. Well, except about it not being so bad stuck together, he’d meant that. But that…. Was not the problem here. He had hurt her… and it hurt him… if only he could put these feelings into words. But he couldn't. Words failed him, everything failed him, even his knees were threatening to give out on him, under the steady gaze of those gray-green eyes.

“Linn…” he stretched his hands out to her as if begging for mercy. “What can I say? I'm sorry… so sorry…”

She hadn't moved. She still stood there, just looking at him, her hands clasped tightly. He couldn't tell that they were trembling. But he did notice the tears quivering in her eyes and for some reason, they gave him courage.

“I was rude, and domineering, and a jerk,” he grimaced. “And I’d do anything to take it back. I honestly… didn't realize it would hurt you so bad… but oh, Linn, I’d rather die than hurt you like that again.” His face was dead-white. 

“Really?” Her tone was icy. “How am I supposed to believe you now? Anything you say? I can't—I trusted you, you know I did. I can’t believe you honestly thought you could take advantage of it like that without making me upset. You… you are crazy.” 

Before he could get another word in, she moved forward rapidly and slapped him again. Slapped him so hard he reeled. And then they both fell silent. She jerked back, and froze in her tracks. For a long, long moment, they stood in silence, just looking at each other. He grinned crookedly, and then the grin fell. Somehow this felt like coming full circle. Guess he shouldn’t be surprised that wild roses had thorns. He wasn’t sure how to get her to listen to him… but he made another desperate attempt.

“I'm sorry, Linn, I’m sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you, I’m sorry I… Took you over. I’m sorry I didn't listen…”

She was staring at him, her face covered with an odd combination of shock, sorrow, amusement, and amazement. And he kept going.

“I'm sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

Who knows how long he would have gone on? Probably forever, if she hadn't interrupted. He was taking no more chances… he had to figure something out, and fast.

“Eric!” She sounded almost like she was laughing. And yet there were tears in her eyes. One slipped loose, and then another followed it. “Stop saying that, okay?”

She WAS laughing. He didn’t know what on earth to make of that. He stopped abruptly and awaited his sentence, making up his mind to take whatever she doled out. Although he sincerely hoped it didn’t take the form of red-hot cookies.  

“Okay,” she grinned feebly. “I forgive you.”

He wasn't sure if he had heard right or not. He just stood there like he had turned to stone. And yet you could have knocked him over with a feather. 

“You… do??” His voice came out as no more than a whisper. When he dared to look at her, she had her head down and her face turned away. She nodded in answer to his question, and then he heard a tiny sob. Aching with remorse, he acted without thinking again… Just moved toward her, and scooped her off her feet as if she was a child. She didn't resist and he couldn't believe she didn't. So he gathered her close in his arms, rocking back and forth… and she began to cry in earnest. 

“I'm sorry…” he began again and she laughed through her tears.

“Okay, Eric, I get it,” she whispered. “You’ve said sorry enough, now it's my turn. I'm sorry for losing my temper, for disappearing…. and I’m sorry for staying mad so long. That was way too many suns. And for the cookies. Especially the cookies. Now, can you forgive me? That is the real question here…”

He laughed softly in answer. He had no words anymore, what could he even say to that? Besides, now he was under the spell of her beautiful eyes and he couldn't wait any more. And he wasn’t going to.

And so he kissed her. Just one swift, gentle kiss, pressed softly on her lips. He felt a thrill go through him, and knew suddenly that he loved her more than anything in the world. If she could forgive him his stubbornness and impetuosity, then he was the happiest guy in the world and what's more, he was never going to give her up. Never. Not even if she made fire cookies once a week for the rest of his life.

By way of sealing the silent promise, he bent his head and kissed her again. And this time, wonder of wonders… she kissed him back.