Page 44 of Ember’s Heart

Ember

T he next morning, I woke to the warm sunlight filtering through my curtains. Stretching, I reached for my phone, then paused when my hand brushed against something. My eyes scanned my bedside table. There, propped against my lamp, was a small, elegantly folded cream colored piece of paper.

Quickly grabbing it, I picked it up, my fingers rushing to unfold it. My eyes scanning the words. It was a note in Colton’s handwriting.

Hey Firefly,

Your journey begins where our new dreams brew. Seek the place where mornings start with a fresh cup of coffee.

My breath hitched with excitement. A scavenger hunt! He was doing a scavenger hunt. Oh my god! This was going to be so much fun.

Dressing quickly, my mind was already racing, and I practically flew out the door, pulling on my warmest boots and coat. The first clue led me, without a doubt, to Rose’s Bean and Brew.

When I walked in, Marge was already behind the counter, wiping it down. She looked up, a knowing look in her eye. “Well, good morning, Ember. You’re up bright and early.” She slid a small, sealed envelope across the counter. “Someone left this for you.”

My hands trembled as I opened it.

Clue 2:

Where tales untold fill every shelf, and she holds a key to stories where dreams take flight.

The library. And the “she” can only be Paula. My excitement bubbled. I thanked Marge, and quickly headed straight for the library.

Just as I knew she’d be, Paula was there, sitting at one of the reading tables, pretending to be engrossed in a book. She looked up with a smile spreading across her face. “Ember! What a lovely surprise. Looking for anything in particular?” She winked, then subtly pushed a bookmark towards me.

Flipping the bookmark over, I read the next clue.

Clue 3:

Where a child’s laughter echoes, and swings reach for the sky, a comforting presence awaits you.

Hmm. I had to think for a moment. This clue had me stumped, then it hit me. Child’s laughter, swings… it had to be the park! Even in winter, the playground was a hub of activity for bundled-up kids. I hugged Paula quickly and hurried out.

As soon as I entered the park, there was my mom.

She was sitting on a bench near the playground, bundled in a thick coat, watching a group of kids.

She smiled, a little too innocently, as I approached.

“Morning, sweetie. Beautiful day, isn’t it?

” She held out a small, intricately carved wooden bird.

Tucked beneath its wing was the next clue.

Clue 4:

Your next journey will take you to a place where the past resides, with treasures old, and stories hide. On Main Street, where time itself seems to slow its pace, you’ll find your next piece.

Where the past resides, treasures old- the old antique store on Main Street. My heart pounded with anticipation. This was so much fun.

The antique store was dim and dusty, filled with old treasures and some interesting finds.

I wandered through the aisles, my eyes scanning every nook and cranny, until I spotted it – a small, tarnished silver locket hanging from a display of vintage jewelry.

It wasn’t the locket itself, but the tiny, rolled-up piece of paper tucked inside.

Mr. Smithy, the owner, came out from the back, retrieving the locket for me and handed me the note.

Clue 5:

Your next journey will take you to a place where our summer days were cool and bright. A place where the water was pure and deep, a refreshing dip, where our memories keep.

This one was easy! The old swimming hole, now frozen over in places. A place where Colton and I had spent endless summer days.

The partially frozen creek was quiet, the ice a smooth, grey surface under the winter sky.

I walked along the bank, my eyes searching, and there it was- a small, smooth skipping stone, placed carefully on a flat rock near the water’s edge, half-covered by a dusting of fresh snow. Tucked beneath it was the next clue.

Clue 6:

Next, seek the place where hoagies reign supreme, and Agnes’s sass is a vibrant, daily gleam. Behind the counter is a sweet little message waiting just for you.

Smiling to myself, I knew where I was heading next- Rose Valley General Store.

Agnes was behind the counter, humming a cheerful tune.

“Well, hello, Ember! You look like you’re on a mission today.

” When I went to pick up the jar of rock candy, she stopped me, gesturing towards the other end of the counter.

Following her down, she pulled a small box and said, “This is a special piece just for you.”

Quickly opening the box, there was a pretty piece of pink rock candy with a small rolled-up scroll.

Clue 7:

Where two sides meet, and paths entwine. Beneath its cover, a clue is hidden, A step forward, by love given .

The covered bridge! The old, red wooden structure that spanned the creek, a landmark of our town, now covered with snow.

I drove to the covered bridge, my excitement growing with each passing mile. I walked slowly under the old bridge, my fingers tracing along the railing’s carvings. Looking down, I saw it – a small, hand-carved heart, tucked into a hole, it was attached to one of the beams. Inside, the next clue.

Clue 8:

High above, you’ll get a better view, where the horizon stretches, and dreams feel new. A place so quiet is where your next clue awaits you.

The old lookout point. It’s where Colton and I went when we were teenagers and I told him about my dreams of college and afterwards.

The view from the lookout point was breathtaking, the entire snow-covered valley spread out below. It didn’t take me long to spot it– a small, smooth stone, placed on the picnic table, its surface dusted with snow. Etched into its surface was a single word: Firefly. And beneath it, the final clue.

Clue 9 :

Alright, Firefly, this is it. Your final clue? Are you ready?

Return to where our second chance truly began, beneath the stars, where a certain movie played and our hearts found their way. A promise that you’re forever waits for you there.

My knees nearly gave out on me. It couldn’t be, I thought with shaky fingers still holding the clue.

The island. Our first real date when Colton came back.

The place where he’d set up the outdoor movie theater, where we’d reconnected, where we’d rediscovered each other.

My heart hammered, a frantic, joyous drum. This was it.

I practically ran back to my car, jumping in and racing to Colton’s house. Once I parked outside his house, I ran the rest of the way down the snow covered road that led to the island. As I rounded the bend and looked out towards the creek, my breath hitched.

The clearing was bathed in the soft, romantic glow of fairy lights, just like that night, but now they twinkled against a backdrop of snow covered trees. A thick, plush blanket was spread on the ground, scattered with rose petals. And in the center, on one knee, was Colton.

He looked up as I approached, his eyes, those beautiful, intense brown eyes, filled with so much raw emotion that mirrored my own. A single tear tracked down his cheek, and my own vision blurred.

“Firefly,” he began, his voice thick with emotion, but steady.

“Ember. “I’ve watched you, since you were a little girl with pigtails and dirt stains on your knees, always trying to keep up with your brothers. I watched you grow into this incredible, strong, beautiful woman, with a heart so big it could heal the world. And through it all, even when I was an idiot and ran, my heart always belonged to you.” He paused to take a deep breath before continuing.

“From the moment I saw you again, after all those years, I knew. I knew you were still the only one. The one I loved, the one I’d always loved.

” He took a shaky breath, his gaze never leaving mine.

“I messed up. I ran. I hurt you. And I’m still working on myself, I always will be.

I’ll always work to be the man you deserve, Ember. ”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, blue velvet box. My hand flew to my mouth, a choked sob escaping me.

“Ember Rose Carter,” he began, his voice cracking slightly, tears now openly streaming down his face, mirroring mine. “You are my past, my present, and my entire future. You are my home. You are my everything. Will you please marry me?”

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but I didn’t care. The answer was easy, it was an unequivocal yes . I nodded, unable to speak, my heart overflowing.

“I kinda need an answer here, Firefly,” he said looking at me.

“Yes,” I finally managed.

He slid the ring onto my finger, a perfect fit, and then he was on his feet, pulling me into his arms, crushing me against him.

“A thousand times, yes, Colton.” I whispered against his shoulder.

We stood there for a long time, everything around us faded away. When we finally pulled apart, our eyes, red-rimmed from happy tears, met. The unspoken desire was palpable.

“I love you so much, Ember. So fucking much.” There was so much conviction in his words.

“I know you do, Colton. I love you too, always,” I told him, looking into his eyes.

He kissed me deeply, a promise in the press of his lips. “Come on, sweetheart,” he murmured against my mouth, his voice husky. “Let’s take this up to my house.”

I nodded, my heart pounding with a new kind of anticipation. He took my hand, and we walked back up the snowy path, leaving the fairy lights and rose petals behind.

He released my hand only to take our coats and boots off, then without saying a word he led me through the living room, and down the hallway to his bedroom. I hadn’t been in Colton’s room since we were kids. Looking around I could see nothing had changed.

The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the bedside lamp. It was a simple space, masculine and uncluttered. A thick comforter was pulled back on his bed, inviting and soft.