Teacher's Plans Page 20
Amanda took it gratefully. “Here, if you don’t mind sitting close, there should be room for two to be out of those hot sun rays,” she said moving over.
Tracy sat down. “Sounds good to me.”
They both went to lick their cones and Tracy’s arm bumped into Amanda’s elbow. Amanda’s cone hit her chin. “Oomph!”
“Sorry, Amanda.” He grabbed a napkin so she could wipe off the spot of ice cream on her chin. “I’m sitting on the wrong side. I should have thought about that.”
“I guess I’m as much at fault then, too. I didn’t even think about you being left handed.” Amanda could smell his woodsy after-shave as he reached over and finished cleaning off a spot of ice cream she missed. “Thanks.”
Intent on his task, he just mumbled, “Hmm.”
“Did you get it all?”
Tracy sat back satisfied before rising to his feet. “Yes, but we better switch sides.”
After they were settled again, Amanda said, “Looks like sunset will soon be here.”
“That’s good. Then it will start to cool off. Would you like to go see the animals before we take a spin on the Ferris wheel? It should be fairly dark by then.”
“I didn’t mean we had to go on the Ferris wheel,” Amanda quickly said. “Do you even like it?”
“I will tonight,” He replied with a twinkle in his eye.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll be there,” he winked.
Amanda just smiled and said, “Sounds like a good plan to me then. To the animals…”
****
The sky grew dark and the lights of the rides twinkled their greetings. The night’s air seemed still. As if it was holding its breath in anticipation for something special to happen. Meanwhile, Amanda and Tracy entered their car on the Ferris wheel. Amanda felt the heady thrill as they started to rise. It stopped and swayed slightly before it settled to let more people on below. “What can you see?” Amanda asked as she peered out her side.
“I see…” Amanda looked at him as she heard the odd tone in his voice, “A beautiful woman who I’ve come to love over the past eleven months.”
It took all she had not to let her chin drop at the unexpected comment. Amanda could feel their box rise in the night sky to its fullest height and stop. “You love me?” she finally asked.
“With all my heart.”
Amanda bit on her lower lip and was tempted to pinch herself to see if it was all just a dream.
“Amanda, have you come to care for me as well?”
Amanda felt him reach for her hand. She placed her hand in his and softly replied, “I have.”
The Ferris wheel went round full circle. “Amanda, you mean more to me than life itself.”
“Oh Tracy…”
Tracy pulled a small black box from his pocket, opened it up and handed it to Amanda. “I’d get down on my knee if there were room, but there’s not so…I love you, Amanda Manning. Will you marry me?”
Amanda, not taking the box, wrapped her arms around his neck. Tracy pulled back to look at her face. The multi-colored lights in the background grew fuzzy. “I love you too, Tracy.”
Tracy cupped Amanda’s chin in his hand and bent his head down. His lips met hers in a soft endearing kiss. Just then the wheel stopped and made them jump.
Tracy was the first to recover as he laughed, “Whose idea was it to propose on a Ferris wheel anyway?”
“Not mine,” Amanda giggled.
“Yeah, well…I figured it was a safe place.”
“Why’s that?”
“Nowhere for you to run,” he quipped. “Besides, I just noticed these lights do pretty things with this ring, don’t you think?”
For the first time, Amanda really looked at the ring. The beautiful pear-shaped diamond brought tears to her eyes with its simplistic beauty. “It’s exquisite. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll wear it to show our love to the whole world.”
“I’d like that.”
“Do you mean?”
Amanda nodded her head. Just then the wheel moved for the final quarter turn.
Tracy tenderly kissed her again.
“I could get used to this,” Amanda admitted.
“I’m counting on that,” Tracy grinned as he slipped it onto her left ring finger.
Amanda held on to the steel bar and as their box came to the platform. “Let’s go tell Mom and Dad.” Amanda held her hand over her mouth. “Speaking of Dad…”
The ride operator opened their door with the key and Tracy held out his hand to help Amanda out. “It’s all covered. I spoke to him already.”
“You did? What did he say?”
“He said if I could convince you.”
Amanda stopped mid-stride and put her hands on her hips. “He said…well, I guess I should have put up more of a fight then.”
Tracy wrapped his arms around her and said, “Nah, I think you did just fine.”
“Hmm.”
Tracy let his finger slide down the silhouette of her face. “You’re an answer to my prayers, Amanda. I knew I wanted you for my wife almost from the moment I met you.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I did.”
Amanda looked at him a little sheepishly. “I did my best to fight this.”
“I know that, too.”
“Oh yeah? What else do you know?”
“That I’m about to kiss you in front of all these people.”
Playfully she jumped out of his embrace. “Oh, no, you don’t, mister.”
He grabbed her hand and brought her back to him. “Life with you will never be dull.”
Teacher's Plans
Amanda had reached out to shake his hand when his words hit her full force. She withdrew her hand like she’d just touched fire and squeaked, “You’re who?”
“I’m your new assistant. The principal said to meet you here.”
Silence engulfed the room. Tracy shifted his weight to one hip, looking slightly uncomfortable for the first time. “He said you would be expecting me.”
Amanda tried to cover up her shock. “Um, right…it’s just…” You’re a man—not just any man—a drop dead gorgeous man! She felt like she was drowning with no way out; she needed time to gather her wits. “Were you by any chance at an interview in the Board of Education building on June 13th?”
...Tracy laughed. “I think my first impression of you was correct after all.”
Teacher's Plans
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
(NIV)—Jeremiah 29:11
Table of Contents
Teacher's Plans
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen