Page 34 of Christmas Chimera
The paintings would fade much more quickly out there where they were exposed to the elements than they would inside the caves, but Jo felt like that was as it should be. After all, she'd started with chalk drawings that had almost entirely disappeared before she repainted them with ocher, and even those had been done eight or ten years ago and were greatly faded. She liked the idea of paintings that highlighted the moment but ultimately passed into time; it was the prehistoric art of the ancient peoples that had lasted, and should last, while everything else moved through. The project was cleared—secretly, without Colton's knowledge—by various heritage and preservation teams, and it was nearly September when Jo finally brought him down to the site to show him their story, rendered in red and yellow paint against the rough butte walls.
Mountains, and a plane; an X to mark the spot, and an absolutely hysterical painting of a human figure falling into a hole, arms up, eyes wide, mouth round in distress. Jo giggled every time she saw that one, even after weeks of seeing it in progress. Then, in an image representing the caves themselves, a large creature, heavily stylized, spread its wings around copies of the paintings in the caves below, while the human who'd fallen gazed in astonishment at the paintings. Jo bit her lip, watching Colton 'read' the story, and then watching his gaze go back to the winged creature in the painting.
It didn't look like a chimera, honestly. It was, Jo thought, closer to a thunderbird, or even to an abstract creator spirit, protecting the paintings. But Colton could see it for what it also was, and he turned to her with shining eyes. "You put me into the paintings," he whispered hoarsely. "You made me part of the story. You made my chimera part of the story. Jo, this is astonishing. How did you explain it…?"
Somehow she was nearly crying, too, though her smile was so wide it hurt her cheeks. "I told the truth. I said that for our wholejourney we were protected by a magical presence that helped us survive. I said that it felt like we were enfolded in its wings, and I said that without it, we never would have found the caves. I asked if we could honor that magical being, because it had kept us safe, and shown us how to bring these paintings back to the world. I believe that, Colton," she said raspily. "I believe it with all my heart."
"You're the most astonishing woman I've ever met," he said, sounding dazed. "Thank you, Jo. I can't repay you for this. I don't even know what to say."
"Well." Jo smiled nervously, and knelt as she put her hand into her jeans pocket to take out a simple gold band with a single diamond embedded in it. "You could say yes when I ask you to marry me. Will you?"
Colton Drew's mouth fell open and for a few seconds he just gaped at Jo and the ring. Then he said, "Oh my God. Yes!" and laughed incredulously as Jo, her hands shaking, slid the ring on his finger before standing up so he could crush her in a hug. "Jo! How long have you beenplanningthis?"
She mumbled, "Months," into his chest. "Definitely since the day you won your case and I had a timeline on getting you back to me. I love you, Colton. I love my world with you in it. I want to start forever with you as soon as possible."
"Me too. I want that too. Even if we already have."
"Officially," Jo said, amused. "I want to start itofficiallyas soon as possible. By the way, your entire family will be here this weekend."
"What!"
"Labor Day weekend." Jo tilted her head back, eyes sparkling as she looked up at Colton. "I invited them all. In case you wanted to just go ahead and get married then."
"There are twenty-six of them, Jo! No, twenty-seven, Elsie and Jack had a baby in June. You organized twenty-seven people without any of them leaking it to me?"
"And your office, and my family," Jo said happily. "Although most of your coworkers are going to be attending online. If that's okay."
"Of course it's okay, you incredible woman! My God! Come on! Let's go back to the house and tell everybody the wedding is on! But what am I going to wear? I don't have a tux."
"Yes, you do."
"Yes, I do," Colton echoed, then laughed aloud pulled Jo in for a kiss.
They made it back to the house eventually, for first their wedding, and then for their happily ever after.
