In Ethan, Aoife experienced a love like she had never known before. It was like a small fireplace in the bitter winter wind – once you got close, you never wanted to leave.
Meeting Ethan was truly a blessing earned from the past life.
After browsing through a maternity and infant store, Aoife found herself overwhelmed with choices, unsure of what to pick, as she carried bags of items in her hands.
Ethan, too, was unsure, gravitating towards the more expensive options. He believed that when it came to items for pregnant women and children, it was better to choose quality over price.
Aoife bought a few books and some yarn. During her time at home nurturing her pregnancy, she avoided using her phone or going online, occasionally watching TV to pass the time but mainly reading books and knitting.
Aoife was exceptionally good at knitting, able to create various patterns. Back in the countryside, a knit sweater cost quite a bit, while the yarn only cost a few dollars. When the winter was too cold and she had no new clothes to wear, she would save money to buy yarn and knit herself a new sweater.
Aoife knitted several sweaters for Ethan, along with scarves and gloves. He spent the winter wearing these knitted items.
At first, when he wore the first sweater, Ethan was reluctant to take it off. Eventually, Aoife knitted two more sweaters, so he had three to rotate between. To this day, he still wears the sweaters she knitted.
Observing the genuine happiness on a man’s face that could not be concealed, Aoife felt fulfilled in her heart. This time, she chose a dark blue fine yarn, planning to knit a thinner sweater for Ethan.
Ethan carried the filled bags of maternity and infant items back to the car and placed them in the trunk. After finishing their shopping trip, Ethan checked the time. It was 11:20, a strange time for lunch.
“Eat slowly?” Ethan asked.
“Your call,” Aoife replied.
The county town was quite large, with a central square that resembled the ones she had seen on TV before. In the middle stood a large sculpture fountain, with a pool filled with coins tossed by wishers.
There were plenty of white doves in the square and along the streets. Pedestrians sat on roadside benches, feeding the doves with bread. These doves symbolized peace, unafraid of humans, freely perching and even landing on people’s shoulders.
Adjacent to the wall in the square was a street piano, somewhat old and worn, producing slightly dissonant notes.
At that moment, an elderly man sat at the piano, playing a tune. Aoife couldn’t help but stop to listen to the music.
Not wanting to interrupt her, Ethan watched her attentively until the old man finished playing. Turning to Aoife, he asked, “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” she replied.
“Wait here for me,” Ethan let go of Aoife’s hand and hurried over to the old man. After a brief conversation, the old man glanced at Aoife and then patted Ethan’s shoulder before giving up his seat to Ethan.
As Ethan sat down with his back straight, he raised his hand, his slender fingers gently pressing the keys, and the piano filled the air with music.
Aoife was captivated by the sight of Ethan playing the piano for the first time. The scene was indescribable, unyielding to any distraction.
With his head bent low, a serious and gentle expression on his face, his lustrous hair covering his smooth forehead, and his refined facial features, Ethan was a spectacle to behold. Bathed in the noontime sunlight, his fingertips seemed to radiate a glow.
Ethan appeared as if he were emitting light, his mere presence attracting everyone’s gaze without the need for words.
Suddenly, Aoife felt her heart race uncontrollably, as though a deer was leaping in her chest. It seemed as if her soul was about to fly away.
The piano piece Ethan played, titled “Dream Wedding,” was melodious and enchanting. Passersby stopped in their tracks upon hearing the music, even the doves in the sky, fluttering their wings while perched on the piano keys, reveling in the beauty.
Aoife had witnessed countless scenes in her life, but never had she seen anything as mesmerizing as this one. It was an unforgettable moment, etched deeply in her soul for eternity.
As Ethan played the final note, the surrounding crowd erupted into applause. Ethan finally snapped out of his trance, noticing the onlookers, yet his gaze remained fixed on Aoife.
Approaching her directly, Ethan knelt before her, holding out a meticulously prepared red box containing a ring.
“Aoife, will you marry me?” he asked, his voice trembling with nerves and an underlying fear of possibly pushing Aoife further away.
Tears welled up in Ethan’s eyes as he held the box with the ring, shimmering in the sunlight. He explained, “I’ve saved up for this ring for a long time.”
“Will you please?” Ethan’s voice was shaky with emotion. “Aoife, I want to give you and our child a home. I want to be a loving father and a caring husband to you.”
The spectators, caught up in the proposal, egged Aoife on, urging her to say yes.
“I do,” Aoife extended her hand, and as Ethan slid the ring onto her finger, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
He loved Aoife. Since when did he fall in love with her? Once you’ve savored the sweetness of love, every breath you take becomes a plea for a shared future.
Aoife had never been surrounded by so many people watching her. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she embraced Ethan and buried her face in his chest.
Within the thunderous applause, they embraced each other.
With trembling hands, Ethan held Aoife close to him, overwhelmed with emotion. Had Aoife truly accepted his proposal? Was this not a dream?
He lowered his head, burying his nose in the curve of Aoife’s neck, seeking comfort in her warmth. This was not a dream, he realized, clutching Aoife in his arms, holding onto a future together.
As someone in the crowd tried to capture the beautiful scene on their phone, Ethan adjusted Aoife’s scarf to partially cover her face and gestured to the crowd not to share the photos online, respecting their privacy.
The friendly foreign onlookers nodded in agreement, promising not to misuse the photos.
With his happiness kept in check, Ethan remained vigilant, always remembering that he and Aoife were in hiding, trying to evade Finn’s watchful eye. To avoid detection, he needed to keep a low profile.
Thankfully, the internet connection in this area was poor, and they had never ventured out of this remote location. With their faces always disguised, they had managed to navigate the past five months unnoticed.