Chapter Text
Fingers still bathed in the car's air conditioning, radiating heat in the chilly breeze, the key in his grip stopped going round and round with a click in the lock hole. Jubal stepped into the foyer, through the embroidered carpeted corridor, and past the warm yellow light of the living room, where he expertly turned to his left and placed two boxes of strawberries he had just purchased on the island table.
It wasn't the first time he'd been in her home, but he was still struck for a moment by how organized the kitchen was even being in use: unmolded chocolates in the shapes of roses, flowers, and stars and a delicate little heart chocolate lay neatly on a tray, the mellow aroma of cocoa climbed up the white oak cabinet from the rim of the pot along with the steam, and the hair of the woman stirring the chocolates with a wooden spoon in her hand shone with a slight golden glow under the natural light. He couldn't bear to break the beauty of the scene.
"You're here." The woman looked back and Isobel's smile caused a blush to flash across his face.
"And here're the strawberries you asked for."
"Just in time. Come join me."
The washed and dried strawberries were embraced by the hot chocolate, a warm heart hidden under a warm shell, like a reflection of the two of them.
Though he had raved about the chocolates she'd made more times than he could count after tasting them, this was the first chocolate day they'd ever spent together, and she hoped this one would be a special memory for both of them.
The sun rose and set, and it was time to reap the fruits of the day's labor. He carried the tray with the chocolates to the coffee table in the living room. Jubal noticed her fingers unconsciously squeezing her bracelet, a classic Isobel nervous gesture. He grinned to ease her nerves, "Even if you put salt in the sugar, it will still be ten times better than the chocolates I make." His words managed to make her giggle, "Time to choose which one to taste. No peeking."
Isobel covered his eyes and let him pick the first chocolate they would taste tonight.
A delicate rose.
The fresh scent of the rose blended perfectly into the richness of the chocolate and Jubal nodded his head back and forth.
The next one was a pentagram.
It was Abby's favorite peach flavor, and Isobel loved preparing these to be able to take the kids from the excitement of seeing the chocolate to the surprise of tasting it.
Jubal joked that there was no way he could go through the winter with Isobel's chocolates in tow without gaining a good five pounds, which would be a huge block of his reshaping plan, but he couldn't help but shove another piece of rosette chocolate in his mouth after he said that.
Seeds of curiosity had begun to germinate long ago when he'd seen the delicate heart chocolate earlier, and when his fingertips touched the intricate pattern, he knew the time had finally come to reveal the answer.
"That is the special gift for you. Please open your eyes."
It was a heart with a delicate feather texture, roughly the same size as the other chocolates, but with a slit in the side that seemed to contain something when gently shaken.
"It's a box?"
She glanced at him gently, "Check it yourself."
His heart raced as he marveled at the box's delicacy and had a nagging feeling that what was inside was extraordinary. Excited, he followed the seam and opened the box.
It was a slip of paper.
With an excited heart, he pinched out the note; opened it with a trembling hand.
Will you marry me?
Isobel's eyes shone with an ethereal light, his amber eyes reflecting Jubal, who was moist at the corners of his eyes.
"Yes, of course."
She allowed her lips to be kissed by him. Their flames melted their coating, fusing them together.