Everything That Glitters Ain't Gold - Danielle Martin (the snowy day read aloud .txt) 📗

on me like a light bulb….” Her head dropped and her eyes grew watery once again. Her heart was weak. Broken. She brushed away the tears before continuing. “I don’t want to see that with you, Blake… I don’t want to see the bad side of you… I want to remember you just how you are… If you know you’re going to hurt me in the long run, just let me go…. Please…” she begged. Pleaded.

Blake did not say another word. He stared at her seriously, pondering over everything she just said. He silently reached forward and wiped her tears away. His touch sent chills down her spine. She closed her eyes, secretly despising the fact that she could not get over the warm feeling he placed in her heart. Blake had wrapped her in yet another spell.

Suddenly, he dropped down to a bended knee. Ava gasped, his sudden movement staggering her. “Blake what are you doing???” she quickly asked as he kneeled before her. He smiled and grabbed her hand. Ava’s wide eyes grew even larger.

“Babe, I can still remember the day I met you… 11 years and 4 months ago. I will never ever forget the day I met the woman of my dreams…” Ava swayed, her knees weakened. She did her best to hold it together as he continued. “You seemed so peaceful sitting at the library table all by yourself. I didn’t want to disturb you... But I had to take that chance… You were the first woman I met that was interested in Japanese anime like I was. Tokyo Godfathers and Grave of the fireflies were my favorites. Out of all the Japanese anime in the world, surprisingly, they were your favorites too….”

Ava remembered that day precisely. She remembered the instant bond. Little did he know, Tokyo Godfathers and Grave of the fireflies were not her favorites. She only said that to impress him. “How could I forget?” Ava whispered, suddenly feeling guilty all over again for not realizing back then Blake had a problem.

He smiled at her. “On that day, Ava…. I knew you were the one for me… Even though you didn’t realize it at the time, I did… I realized it all along. You are the woman I was meant to be with. It was fate that put us together inside the library that day…” he slipped his hand in his right pocket, instantly boosting her extreme apprehension. Ava kept her eyes glued on his pocket the entire time. Seconds later, his hand resurfaced and pulled out a small red velvet box. Ava gulped, feeling the lump in her throat protruding out of her skin.

Blake smiled at her. The dreadful look on her face did not stop him from proceeding. “I don’t know any other way to say this other than to just say it, Ava…. I want to spend the rest of my life with you… I want to go to sleep and wake up next to you every day….” All of a sudden, Blake opened the red box revealing what was inside.

“Oh my goodness!” Ava shrieked out then covered her mouth in astonishment.  “No way! No way! No way!” she shouted in a muffled tone with her mouth covered. Ava gazed at the red box stunned.

Blake continued “I know this is a big shock to you and it may seem like I’m moving fast, but we aren’t getting any younger Ava… I need you in my life…. I can’t wait another 11 years …”

Positioning her hand in front of him, he reached inside the red box and pulled out the most beautiful, stunning, 14 carat cushion cut halo engagement ring that Ava had ever laid eyes on. She still goggled at the ring, completely blinded by the shine of the large diamond.  She had never seen a platinum ring so large and breath taking. At least not in person. Only in magazines and television shows. Blake removed the ring from the box and placed it onto the tip of her ring finger. “Ava Hazel Sweeney… You are the one. I know for sure… This is it for me… I want to spend the rest of my life with you… I want to go to sleep and wake up next to you every day… Baby??? Ava??? Would you make me the happiest man alive??? By becoming my wife???”

Time suddenly stood still. She weakly placed a hand on her forehead, feeling lightheaded. “Wha--- Whattttt?” she stammered.

Blake held her hand even tighter. He asked her the question a second time. “Ava Hazel… will you marry me????”

Even the second time, she didn’t comprehend. Ava stood numbly, attempting to say something. “I…. I….” she still stuttered, still at a loss for words. “Blake… I…. I don’t know what to say…. Can you stand up please???? I can’t talk to you when you’re down there…”

Blake frowned. Her response was not the one he hoped for. Blake stood up. “You don’t think I’m serious do you?” he asked.

Ava nervously bit her lip and refrained from answering immediately. He did look serious. So serious to the point it scared her to death.

 “Blake, we are in the beginning stages of our relationship. Why would we get married now??? Especially with all the problems we’re having? That’s a recipe for disaster!”

His expression did not change. He stared at her sensually as if he were staring at the woman of his dreams. “I love you. You love me. That’s all that matters and that’s all the explanation I need…”

Ava fell silent with a shocked look on her face. She didn’t have an immediate comeback. Blake was so firm and clearly standing by his decision to marry her. Ava on the other hand had never been so terrified in her life.

Blake stared back at her intensely. She stared back, her eyes dropping down to the ring again then back to his beautiful brown eyes. For a moment, she had a feeling of déjà vu. Desean had given her a ring similar to the one inside Blake’s hand. Just smaller with a much smaller diamond. Something about this moment felt different than the last time. This moment felt like a scene from a dream. The man that she dreamed of spending her life with wanted to spend his life with her in return. She sighed, secretly wandering why something so right still felt so wrong on the inside. Blake patiently awaited an answer. He was so calm spirited. So humble. Dammit, here comes the tears again…

"Blake... I love you... I have always loved you from the beginning...” Ava’s voice was shaky, but she continued.  “I was in denial then, but not anymore.  I'm too involved. I can't just walk away now. I feel like I have to be here to make sure you will be alright." She reached up and placed her hand on the side of his cheek. Silent tears ran down her face but she didn’t try to stop them.  "I love you with all my heart and I will be here to help you get clean… But… But… But I can't marry you baby....” she blurted it out. Immediately, Ava turned hysterical, bursting into dangerously erratic tears. She buried her face into her hands and cried loudly. “Not right now... I can't do it Blake... I love you so much! But I can’t be your wife!" Finally. She had sadly given him the answer he was waiting for. Ava had never felt to broken hearted and inconsolable in her life. She cried helplessly, feeling as if everything she hoped and dreamed for was falling apart. Deep down inside, Ava was infatuated by Blake undying love. Deep down inside a huge part of her wanted to say yes. She looked up at him with red poofy eyes. To her surprise, he did not look upset at all. Blake politely closed the box and stuck it back inside his right pocket. "It's okay baby..." Blake stroked her hair comforting her. "Not right now. I understand. Someday...." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in. Ava did not resist. She continued to cry and fell longingly into his arms, hugging his big broad shoulders. His embrace was the exact thing she needed.
She cried as he held her. Not right now… Someday… For some reason, his words gave her so much relief. She had hope. Blake was going to get clean. He was going to repair the damage he had caused in their relationship. There was still a chance. Still a chance at happiness.

 She pulled apart and looked him in the eyes. "You promise you will go see Susan??? Right???" Ava narrowed her eyes and asked one last time for reassurance. She needed to know that he was serious. She was no longer satisfied by promises with no action. Those days were long gone now.

Blake smiled warmly and nodded his head. “Baby, If you finally let me inside the house, we can go call Susan right now... I promise"
Ava lips curved into a smile for the first time all day. She breathed a sigh of relief. His answer was the exact thing she wanted to hear. Drying her tears, Ava reached for his hand. "Come on." she nodded her head directing for him to follow. "It’s getting dark out. Let's go inside..."
Of course he did not resist. Blake fell in step behind her as Ava led them up the pathway to the porch and back inside their home.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 23.

Chapter 23.

 

“I told you babe! I told you the Patriots were going to win! The NFL is rigged! Did you see all of those flags the referee threw???” Ava was on the edge of her seat as she irately pointed her finger at the large flat screen television shouting at the top of her lungs as if she were shouting at a real person. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead as she rocked back and forth. She was extremely anxious. “Fuckkk!” she cussed out loud watching the referee throw another flag. It was the 4th quarter in the AFC Championship game with only 1 minute and 22 seconds left to play. The Dallas Cowboys were down by 3 and extremely dependent on a field goal in order to win the game. But from the looks of things, Ava’s favorite football team was heading towards another loss. She balled up her fist and forcefully slammed it on the table. “Fuck this game! Fuck everything!” She was angry. Her nerves were officially shot. Ava could hear the sound of laughter behind her which made her even more agitated. She whipped her body around and glared.

“What’s funny???” she asked in a serious tone while narrowing her eyes. In return, the voice laughed at her again.

“You are…” he answered while shaking his head.

Ava smacked her lips and stood to her feet. She couldn’t take sitting still any longer. “Did you see that??? Did you see it??? The patriots cheated!!! How could you be so blind???” she was practically breathing fumes. She stood over a laughing Blake who was wearing a New England Patriots Jersey that she desperately wanted to snatch off his body. Obviously he found humor in her annoyance.

“Baby calm down…. It’s just a game…” he spoke calmly. Easy for