35. Ambrose
Ambrose
When Zeth and I came to the ribbon tree, we saw Annabelle and Millie walking in the distance, hand in hand.
They noticed us too and waved, so we waved back.
They both looked much different now. Annabelle’s golden hair flowed to her waist, a rare sight, and Millie wore trousers instead of her usual split skirt.
Together, they made a delightful couple.
The red ribbons around their wrists fluttered as they swung their hands between each other.
It was reviving knowing Annabelle had found someone she truly wanted to be with, and that Millie found her happiness as well.
Who would have thought? Millie Washer and Annabelle Winters.
I glanced up at the clouds, noticing how dark they were, and when I inhaled, I smelled fresh rain in the air. A breeze picked up, ruffling the leaves and colorful ribbons surrounding us. I closed my eyes for a moment to enjoy the cool sensation on my face.
This was perfect.
When I opened my eyes to see Zeth admiring me, I blushed and placed one of my hands upon the tree’s enormous trunk.
“The legend of the Everdeen Oak says that the woman who founded Everdeen saw the strength of the tree and knew there must be value in the land. The roots of the tree are said to spread so far, it carries blessings to the crops and all the people who live here.” I eyed Zeth, wondering if he thought it was silly, but he only watched me with a gleam in his eye. He knew this legend as well as I did.
I gazed at the ribbons as they swayed in the breeze on the low, sturdy limbs, then continued.
“The spirit of the tree is said to bless the ribbons, and is humbled by those who share them beneath its canopy. In this way, the tree flourishes more each year, and Everdeen continues to grow.” I touched a ribbon.
“I think… it’s all a metaphor for love, really. ”
When Zeth smiled crookedly at me, I tilted my head. “What? Was all that silly?”
He shook his head as he pulled me close. “No. I was enjoying your adorable enthusiasm. Feel free to say more.”
I laughed softly. “Well, you know how this legend continues on. You have to give a ribbon to someone you care deeply about. Different colors for what you wish them to have most in the coming year.”
“Mm, then I know just the one I want to give you,” Zeth answered with fondness.
He turned to the tree and reached up to pluck a red ribbon from one of the branches.
As he smoothed his long, graceful fingers along the length of it, his purple pinky ring shone with passion.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, Rosie, but I’m glad my life fell apart in Port Winchester.
I was never happy in the City, not really.
No matter how much I achieved, my life was empty. I was meant to return to you.”
I looked at him in awe, surprised by his confession, but also happy to hear it.
He’d gone through so much since leaving Everdeen.
Really, he’d gone through so much when we were younger too.
We’d lent our shoulders to each other then.
Now, we were exchanging our hearts. The feeling of tying all the loose ends together enraptured me so deeply, a lump rose in my throat.
Zeth was a different man now, one I cherished even more for how much he’d changed.
As Zeth moved closer to me to tie the red ribbon around my wrist, I held my breath.
He tied it off into a lopsided bow, then held my hands.
“My dearest Rosie,” he began. “Here’s my promise to make you the happiest person in Everdeen from this day forward, and I ask you to promise me the same.
Your strength makes me strong, and your adorable cuteness makes me weak in all the right ways.
Your ideas inspire me to challenge us both to achieve our dreams.” He shrugged bashfully.
“It’s not a haiku, but I hope you like it. ”
A delightful shiver ran through me as I said, “I do.”
His eyes widened upon my confession of accepting his promise, and I bit my lip from the hidden meaning of my words. I hoped we would talk about marriage soon, but for now, a red ribbon was all I needed. “Thank you, Zeth, this means so much to me.”
I held his hand and took in all the surrounding colors around us.
There were so many meanings to each of them, from the loyalty of blue to the growth of green, to the friendship of purple, and so on.
I eyed the pink one and pulled it off. Then I took one of the red ones and twirled the colors together before tying it around Zeth’s wrist.
“Pink for your caring affection, and red for your love.” My heart pounded nervously as I glanced up at him.
“I know it’s been difficult for us both, but I…
” It was hard keeping my emotions in check, and I turned my face to the side to keep those stubborn tears in.
Zeth’s firm hand captured my chin and tilted my head up just as a tear rolled down my cheek.
His eyes gleamed with moisture too, shining so magnificently gold and brown.
Those eyes held such tenderness for me. Love, acceptance. A kindred spirit .
“I’m so glad you came back,” I said, choking on my simple words, but they said everything as my passion for him surrounded me.
Zeth’s strong arms found me, and I embraced him fully, wrapping myself tightly around his middle and laying my head against his shoulder as fresh tears of happiness flowed.
I inhaled deeply, realizing how lost I would be without him.
The sounds of people taking ribbons from the tree faded into the distance as we stood under the branches. I closed my eyes as I listened to the leaves rustle against the wind.
After a long while, a chill made me shiver against Zeth, and I finally pulled away to look at him, sniffing as I wiped one of my cheeks with the back of my hand.
“Amby, you’re beautiful, inside and out,” he whispered as he pulled a handkerchief out of his jacket and wiped the rest of my tears away. “Thank you for making my ribbon uniquely you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said with mirth, my heart and soul so full.
Zeth handed me his damp cloth to blow my nose with, and I saw it was my handkerchief. The crisp, white fabric smelled of lye, and my threaded, gold initials gleamed even in the cloudy light. He’d taken such care of it, just as he took care of me. It tickled me that Zeth adored such a thing.
When the wind ruffled Zeth’s hair, I looked up at the sky beyond him to see darker clouds moving in. A storm was just the thing to top off this lovely day. But I was worried about our tent. “We should return to close up the tent before it rains.”
Zeth nodded and took my hand, but we didn’t get five steps away before two familiar men stepped into our path, blocking us. One of them draped an arm around Zeth’s shoulders like a drinking buddy would, and the other man wound his arm around Zeth’s back before pulling him away from me.
Jonathan and Ezekiel were up to no good, as they were part of Damien’s little gang. Them touching my man bothered me, so I hurried forward, but a firm hand fell on my shoulder and pulled me back roughly. When I turned around to see who it was, Damien Cooligan stared down at me. My stomach dropped.
“What are you doing?” I started, tearing myself away from him, but Damien grabbed my wrist.
“Wait,” he said sharply. His eyes cut over to his partners in crime and nodded.
The two men pushed Zeth roughly away from us.
When I tried to break away, Damien held me in place with a forceful grip on my wrist that made me hiss from the sharp pain.
“They’re just taking him for a walk. To talk over some business, since he enjoys doing that. ”
“You piece of shit,” I seethed.
“Look, I need your little boyfriend away for one minute so I can talk to you. Is that too much to ask?” Damien shook his head as he reached up to yank a red ribbon from the tree.
I narrowed my eyes on him. As soon as Damien tried to tie the ribbon around my arm, I jerked away and stepped back. I shook my head, stunned by the nerve he had to do such a thing.
“Are you deluded?” I half-laughed at him, sure he’d gone mad. “I don’t want anything to do with you.” I turned to get Zeth, but Damien snatched the edge of my jacket and turned me around.
“Washer doesn’t belong here.” His face flashed with anger. “Let the boys chat about him leaving town for good. We’re willing to pay good money to keep him out. I saw him talking with your father at the salon. I’m willing to bet he’ll ditch you as soon as he worms his way into your father’s bank.”
“You’re even more deluded than I thought. So fuck off.”
Damien frowned and cracked his neck. “Alright, suppose I’ll use threats, then.” He nodded at his goons. “See who’s outnumbered now.”
Behind me, the ruffians were already leading Zeth away to beat him. Zeth struggled with each step to break out of their grasp.
My fists curled with fury. “You try so hard to be Everdeen’s group of thugs, acting as if you own this town and its people. Well, not me, and certainly not him . Now back off.”
Damien chuckled. “Maybe I will, if you let me tie a pretty ribbon around that gorgeous neck of yours. Let me show you who wishes to own you.”
“Fucking asshole,” Zeth growled, only steps behind me. Ezekiel and Jonathan followed behind him, making sure Zeth didn’t get away.
Damien’s fiery eyes widened as he stared Zeth down. They were both tall and lean but Zeth had more muscle on him. That didn’t stop Damien from pushing me out of the way and stepping closer to him. “Want to say that to me again, you piece of shit?”
“I think my fist has some choice words for you,” Zeth replied smoothly, unbuttoning his jacket with a furious glare.