The Surrogate

Archie and Esther walked along in the cold down the quiet downtown street after walking Grace back to campus and her residence hall. There wasn’t much to this town, and they could be at their boutique hotel in the near distance after a few minutes. Esther held Archie’s hand tightly as they strolled. She could not believe how happy she felt. She felt like a brilliant star even though there were none to be seen in the sky. The night was shrouded by heavy clouds that hung with the smell of ice.

“It smells like snow,” Esther told Archie, looking up to the sky before turning to meet his gaze.

Archie’s eyes were stunning the street lights. A single car passed them, illuminating them both in their finery. Esther could not forget that every inch of Archibald was debonair in that suit. It was perfectly fitted to his body, clinging to the muscles in his arms and chest. Even through his overcoat, Archie looked like a fashion magazine come to life. He seemed beyond handsome, but still the sparkle in his eyes caught Esther in their magic. As the slowly continued, Esther remained mesmerized by him.

“How can it smell like snow?” he asked.

“The dampness. The ice,” Esther said, shrugging.

Archie smiled, deciding to be cheeky and frustrating to Esther as he retorted, “It did not call for snow.”

“Well, I can tell you it will!” she announced like a petulant child. “Do you not believe me?”

“I do.” Archie grinned. “There’s snow in your hair.”

Esther looked away from Archie. Sure enough, a fine powder floated down from the sky. It was not much, but it was there in her palm as she reached out her free hand.

“I was right,” Esther whispered, even more delighted than she was before.

“Yes, you were. I guess it is just another reason I should marry you.”

Esther looked back at Archie, forgetting the winter weather for a moment as she noticed that he had pulled out a blue velvet box. Inside was a stunning pear-shaped diamond ring set in a platinum band. Underneath the rounded bottom was a companion band with tiny diamonds accenting the engagement ring. The platinum band of the main ring had ornate filigree decorating it. Esther was left speechless as she stared at the amazing piece of jewelry.

“I got Grace’s blessing when you went to the bathroom, and I thought I would wait until we got back to New York. She loved the idea, and part of me thought it might be a good gift for you to open Christmas Day. Obviously, I was too excited to wait. This was the other thing I had to do in London. I had it at my flat there in Kensington, and I had the wedding band made to match. However, the engagement ring was-”

“Your mother’s,” Esther interrupted.

“Yes, but first it was my grandmother’s ring. She was flapper who spent most of her time in France, but when she was in London for the debutante season she met a young son of an Earl. He was supposed to be courting another girl, but they fell in love and eloped to America. He got her this ring as soon as they got off the boat.”

“That’s amazing, Archie.”

“She was a fearless woman, but I think you are the one woman who could ever compete with her. It’s seems fitting that you would have her ring. Would you like me to get on one knee?”

“Um, no, please don’t. Do you not want to date first? Get to know each other again?”

“I’ve known you for so long, Esther. I have been wanting to marry you since we were teenagers, and the feeling never changed. I love you so much, Esther Boudreaux, will you please be my wife?”

“James Archibald Macarthur, you have devoted your life to me, even when weren’t together. You gave me everything in my wildest dreams. You’ve always been my friend. We are having another child together. It’s seems there is only thing left to say.” Esther faked a frown until she beamed brightly and held out her left hand. “Of course, Archie!”

He took out the engagement ring and slid it on her finger. As Esther admired it there, the ring seemed that it had always been hers. It looked so right on her finger, and she swelled with joy as she looked at her new fiance. His face was shining brighter than street lights around them. Grinning from ear to ear, Esther kissed him without reservation or decorum in mind. She did not care who could see them on that tiny downtown street.

It was as if they were standing in a snow globe and frozen in time because every part of the moment was picture perfect. Esther did not feel the cold. She did not sense the ice melting on her skin. She could only feel her heart racing and Archibald’s touch against the back of her neck as they took each other in kissing there on the empty street. Standing there embracing the love of her life as the snow began to collect around them, Esther felt that her life was as perfect as life could ever be.