Chapter 24
The day had arrived much too fast for them all. Bags were packed and waiting at the front door. The guest house seemed to echo of emptiness already. The gang had gone for one last walk around the property. They had started out together and then drifted off on their own courses. Carlos and Gillian had been like newly weds all over again and had vowed to return to the property when they next got the chance. Sebastien and Reba had discussed finding a place like it for themselves, a place were they could be themselves. Whether it was in England, Europe or Australia, they had decided it was right for them.
Urs and Nat’s friendship had bloomed into a romance and love that was deeper than either one of them had known before. For all her extreme ways, Nat had a gentle heart and soul; she had a sweet tender way about her when they were alone that melted Urs’ heart. He never wanted her to leave his side. Nat felt the same way about Urs. This being the case she had arranged to take leave from her position for 12 months to give their relationship the chance to deepen and become what she wanted it to be. This little piece of information she had not told Urs. Not till they were on their own that morning. When she did tell him Urs howled, actually howled like a dingo. Nat thought it was so funny she joined in. Further down the path David and Tracey stopped to listen. They knew who it was, they both smiled at each other and howled back and laughed.
“I think those two are contagious don’t you?” David squeezed Tracey’s hand as they walked.
“I think Urs is just a little bit more out there than we gave him credit for. I think he is ready to take on the world and win this time.”
“With Nat at his side I don’t think he could loose. You have done so much for him, for us.”
Tracey stopped walking and stopped David before he could go any further. “David, I don’t want you to be with me because you feel you owe me a debt or you feel you need to help me. I can’t have that. You know that!”

It was David’s turn to stop her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. “My sweet, sweet princess. I am with you because my heart has found a home. For the first time in my life I know what true love feels like. I only wanted to say thank you for sending that life line to us. If God has angels on earth to help us then you must be one of them. But I would not stay with you just because of that. I stay because I love you. I stay because I want to hear your soft gentle breathing as you lay beside me at night sleeping, I stay so that our love can grow and we become one, I stay not because I have to or need to. I stay because I want to. Tracey, you are the light that shines in my life and I want to be that for you.”
David’s words had settled into her heart, stirring up the love she had for him. He allowed her to find that gentleness in herself once again and she had given herself permission to love again. But as always there was that dark shadow of knowing one day she would have to leave him behind. “And when I am gone David. What then?”
“Then I will cry and I will weep, I will mourn, I will get angry and I will feel alone without you but I will also have the memories of us to hold onto. And I will keep breathing for us both.”
David had figured out from the beginning that it was best to be upfront and honest with Tracey. She seemed to have a sixth sense that could seek out your inner most thoughts and bring them to the surface. This could be painful; it was easier just to speak from your heart. “Tracey, I have no idea what the future will bring when you are not in my life but I want to find out what my life is like with you in it. You said yourself you don’t know how long you have. So let me live it with you. The good, the bad and the ugly. Just like it is supposed to be and as God is my witness I promise not to leave you at the first sign of a bumpy road.”
“That’s a very hard promise to keep David. Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.”
David took his hands off her shoulders and let them travel gently down her arms until they reached her hands. He took hold of them as he knelt down on one knee and looked back up into her face. “Tracey Coleman. I do solemnly swear to stand beside you through every battle you must face, to be your champion, to be the one you will know is always there, to be your lover and to be your husband if you will consent be my wife.”
Everything stood still, time stopped. It was as if someone had hit the pause button. David held his breath.
Tracey ran the words through her head again, consent to be my wife. He had said them.
“David are you asking me to marry you?”
“Tracey Coleman……. Will you marry me?”
David could feel her shaking, he dared not move in case he broke the spell, tears ran down her face and she did something unexpected. Tracey knelt down in front of him.
“Yes David Miller I will marry you.”
“You said yes.”
“I said yes.”
They hugged each other still kneeling and then David took a page out of Urs’ book and howled. Tracey laughed and howled as well. Off in the distance they heard not one but three replies and they howled again.