My Hometown Love

Chapter 43 – Lavender Fields

Lexie’s P.O.V

I parked the car by the curb in front of the hospital before pulling out my phone to text Kevin.

Lexie: Hey, I’m parked out front by the curb.

Kevin: Ok cool. We just arrived. I’ll need to go grab my stuff from my locker first though.

Lexie: Sure no problem. Take your time.

Within a few minutes, I heard a knock on my window as Kevin signaled me to unlock the door.

“Hi!”, he said cheerfully as soon as he sat down in the passenger seat.

“You’re in a good mood. The exam went well I see?”, I replied as I pulled out of the curb.

“It was great. I could answer most of the questions confidently while some questions took some time for me to produce a diagnosis.”, he replied as he sighed deeply, looking contended.

“So, when do you get the results?”, I asked curiously.

“Tonight supposedly. I’m supposed to keep checking till they post it up.”, he replied as he wiggled his phone.

“So, what then?”, I ask as I make a turn.

“If I pass, then starting next month, I’ll be an attending fellow of the hospital.”, he replies proudly.

“Ouhhhh…. Dr. Hotshot.”, I say jokingly.

“That’s still if I pass. Who knows, every answer I said may be wrong.”, he suddenly blurts out, as he starts nervously plays with his fingernails.

“Oh shush you. What’s done is done. I’m certain you did great.”, I said as I reached my hand over to him and patted his arm comfortingly.

Kevin squeezed out a small smile and turn to look out of the window silently.

************

Kevin’s P.O.V

A couple of hours later, I paced up and down in my living room as I waited for the results to be posted. I bit my fingernails while I kept refreshing the page on my phone with my other hand.

Come on, come on, come on!

Finally, the page refreshed with my results as my eyes glued to the screen. I quickly minimized the app and opened up my dial pad to call Lexie. I put the phone to my ear as I waited impatiently for her to pick up the call.

Lexie: “Oh my god. Did you get your results back?!”

Kevin: “Yeah.”

Lexie: “Why do you sound so glum? Oh no. Did you not pass? This can’t be right.”

Kevin: “I know! I thought the same when I looked at my results. This can’t be right, it said I passed.”

Lexie: “Oh you poor thing…WAIT! What? Oh My God, you passed?!”

Kevin: “I passed Lex! I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Lexie: “No way mister. This was all you. By the way, have you told your family?”

Kevin: “Not yet. I was going to after telling you.”

Lexie: “Go tell them already. Congratulations Kevin. We’ll celebrate soon, okay?”

Kevin: “Definitely, it’ll be my treat though. See ya, Lex!”

I hung up the phone and immediately called my mom as well as my sister. They were over the moon and so proud of me. After an emotional conversation, I hung up the phone and headed to bed, happy and peaceful.

*******

It’s been a week since I’ve seen Lexie. I’ve been busy as I just started work again and she said that she was busy with her blog. I have slowly got back to my previous schedule with the tremendous help of my colleagues and supervisor.

I was just finishing my regular shift when I heard my phone message alert.

DING!

I finished my charts and handed them back to the nurse before clocking out. I took out my phone the minute I reached the lounge to see a message from Lexie.

Lexie: Hey Dr. Walker. Are you busy?

Kevin: Just finished my shift. What’s up?

Lexie: Just wanted to check in and see how are you doing?

Kevin: I’m doing good, but why do I feel that you’re about to ask something else as well.

Lexie: How did you get that through just a text on the phone? I was wondering if you’re free this Saturday for another blogging adventure.

Kevin: Yeah. I’m off that day. Sure. Where are we going?

Lexie: That is a surprise. You know I love to keep you in suspense till the last minute.

Kevin: Fine. What time do you want me to be ready?

Lexie: Is 10 in the morning okay? We’ll be having brunch.

Kevin: Yeah no problem. What are you up to?

Lexie: Nothing. It’s for the blog.

Kevin: Okay. See you on Saturday.

Lexie: See ya!

As much as I wished I could sleep in, looks like I have brunch plans on Saturday.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V.

I pulled up in front of Kevin’s house and watched as he walked up to my car. He was wearing a white polo t-shirt and wore his favorite denim jacket over it.

“Hey! How are you?”, he said as soon as he entered the car.

“I’m great. But, first things first.”, I say as I hold up a blindfold cloth in my hand.

“No. No. I’m not wearing that.”, Kevin protested.

“Pretty please. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”, I said with my puppy dog eyes and a sad pout.

Kevin stared at my face as I watch his frustration slowly fade.

“Fine. Put it on.”, he replied clearly annoyed.

“Thank you! I promise it will be worth it.”, I said as I covered his eyes with the blindfold.

“It better be.”, he mumbled under his breath as he put on his seat belt.

I shifted gears and soon we were on our way to our destination. I keep talking to Kevin all the way so that he won’t feel uncomfortable. Forty minutes later, I parked the car in the parking lot.

“Okay. Just give me 5 minutes. I’ll be right back.”, I say to Kevin before I quickly make my way to the administrative building.

I grabbed some stuff from the trunk and headed to open Kevin’s door.

“Okay, you can get down now. No peeking.”, I say as I hold his arm and lead him out.

I locked the car and continue leading him away from the car and towards the destination slowly.

“We’re almost there. Just give me 2 minutes.”, I say reassuringly.

“You’re not k********g me, are you?”, he blurts out jokingly.

“Maybe?”, I replied slyly.

“Wait, what?”, he replies in shock.

“I’m kidding!”, I say as I whack his arm.

I lead him to the spot before letting go of his hand and putting all the other stuff on the ground.

“Wait, why did you let go of my hand? Lex? Don’t leave me like this.”, Kevin starts saying.

“I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.”, I said as I took a deep breath.

“You can open your blindfold now.”, I said.

**********

Kevin’s P.O.V.

I quickly opened the blindfold, eager to see where I was. As my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight, I slowly recognized my surroundings.

Lexie stood in front of me in a pale pink dress with her hair adorned with a side-braid flowing down to her shoulders. Behind her, was a vast sea of lavender flowers. I was stood there speechless and mind-blown.

“This place is amazing Lex! You look amazing too. Why are you all dressed up? Is that a picnic basket?”, I asked confusingly as I point at the picnic basket lying on the grass.

“Relax. All will be revealed. First, open this box.”, she says as she places a box in my hand.

I open the small box to find a small locket necklace neatly placed on top of some colorful tissue paper. I look up to Lexie, confused about what was this and what I should do next.

“Open it.”, she said softly as he motioned to the necklace.

I place the box on the ground as I place the locket in my palm and opened it. I took a step back in surprise as I looked at the picture inside.

“Wait? What?”, I said as I held up the necklace towards her.

“Will you help me put it on?”, she asked calmly as she turned around for me to help her put the necklace on.

I felt my body obey the command without question while my brain and heart desperately tried to understand the situation. After I help her put it on, Lexie turns to face me as the necklace glimmered on her neck. The locket was still open and in it was a picture. My picture.

My mouth moved to say something but nothing came out. Lexie quickly took my hands in her hands and took a deep breath before looking directly at me.

“Kevin Walker, we’ve had our ups and downs. But, once we cleared out misunderstandings, I saw you for who you really are. A great guy that I am so proud of. At first, I didn’t know what I was feeling but soon I found myself falling for you. I wanted to tell you there and then when you confessed your feelings for me but I didn’t want to distract you from your work. But, when you got hurt in Salem, I was crushed and I didn’t want to let you slip from my fingers without telling you how I feel. So, here I am, in front of you, in this gorgeous field, telling you that I am in love with you.”, she explained extensively.

I looked down at her, with a loss for words. I felt my heart glow with happiness as I tried to move my body to do something, anything. I pulled her close to me and planted a long kiss on her forehead as I tried to hold back my tears. I pulled back and looked down at her sparkling eyes.

“I love you too, Lexie.”, I said before moving my face close to her, waiting for her to respond.

She smiled as she closed the distance between us, kissing me softly on the lips as she threw her arms around my neck. I put my arms around her waist and carried her as I spun her around. I dropped her down back to her feet as I gazed deeply into the pools of her eyes, my heart filling with love and affection for this amazing woman in front of me.

“You have no idea how long I wanted to do that to you.”, I said as I lifted her chin towards me.

“Oh really?”, she asked sarcastically as she stood on her tiptoes, kissing me again.

“I can’t believe you planned all of this!”, I said as I sat on the ground next to Lexie.

“I told you, it would be worth it.”, she replied as she handed me a glass of juice.

“Remind me never to doubt you again.”, I said as I clinked my glass against hers.

“Gladly.”, she replied as she spread out various brunch dishes across the picnic blanket.

Lexie crawled towards me and leaned her head on my shoulder as we watched the lavender stalks sway in the wind in front of us.

“I can’t believe how far we have come since that night in high school.”, she said.

“True. But if this was going to be the outcome, I wouldn’t change a thing.”, I replied as I kissed the top of her head softly.

DING!

The sound of Lexie’s phone made her jolt up from my shoulder. She digs in her bag and pulls out her phone as she reads the message.

“Oh My God!”, she screams.

“What happened?!”, I ask, startled by her scream.

“My New York friends are coming to visit!”