The Proposal Problems: Pinevale Valley, #7

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PROLOGUE – BASH

When I decided to go on this vacation, my idea was to get away from the city, a secluded place for just Thea and me to get away together. Our last vacation got a little hectic when we had to restore St. Thomas island’s protection by recovering Blackbeard’s coin. This vacation I’m hoping will be different. Not only because it’s Valentine’s Day but also because I plan on proposing. I know it’s cheesy and cliché, but that’s why I think she’ll never see it coming. I never thought that I would ever find someone to love and even if I did, I never thought I’d be marriage material. Now, I just want to be a part of her life, mind, body, and soul. Hell, we already have the soul part down. When I almost died right when I first started having feelings for her, all I could think about was, it wasn’t enough time together. Then out of nowhere she showed up for me, told me to trust her, and I did, no questions asked. She gave up a part of herself to save me and now we are connected like no normal person can be connected. That’s understandable since she isn’t normal. The daughter of the Devil. Lucifer’s child. She did what her father couldn’t by saving me. He’s not a bad guy. Bad angel? All he did was ask questions and was punished for it. I don’t see what’s wrong with that, but that’s his cross to bear, not mine.

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DAY 1 – BASH

I have my left wrist draped over the steering wheel of my black F150 and my right hand entwined with Thea’s left on the seat between us as I drive down I79, nearing Weston, West Virginia, heading to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. I’m surprising her with this unique tourist attraction.

Thea squeezes my hand. Hey, you okay? You look lost in thought.

I don’t take my eyes off the road to glance at her. I’m all about keeping her as safe as possible. Yeah. Just excited about our vacation in Pinevale Valley, North Carolina.

I’m sorry, what? She throws me a puzzled look.

I shrug. What? Am I not allowed to be excited to go on vacation with my girlfriend? Hopefully soon to be fiancé.

You? No. She gives me this look of confusion. Since when are you excited about vacations or having to travel anywhere?

Maybe you’re rubbing off on me. I try to keep my facial expressions natural to not give anything away.

Bullshit. I’m not buying it. What’s going on?

I really just want to take you on a vacation. The one we took to St. Thomas island was a little interrupted and I know how much you were looking forward to just relaxing. Plus, I want to get out of this cold twenty, thirty-degree weather. It currently says the high today will be sixty-seven degrees. I’m ready to thaw out.

Thea eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t question it. I can’t wait to see Samuel and Grace again. I’m glad we stayed in touch after our trip to Philadelphia. Thea looks at me with a smile.

I grin. It’s just like us to make friends with a ghost during your assignment to Philadelphia.

She glances out of the side window, scanning the scenery. Thank you for coming with me to Philly. You don’t need to follow me around when I work.

Are you kidding me? You really thought I was going to be okay with you being on the other side of the state without me, doing God knows what dangerous thing?

She laughs. Bash, do you have separation anxiety?

Yes, get over it. I tease, smiling at her. You and I are connected for life. You are my life, and I never want anything bad to happen to you. What is so wrong with that?

Nothing is wrong with that, Bash. I know you are only doing it because you worry about me. She kisses my knuckles as I drive. I would never deny you the right to peace of mind.

We left Pittsburgh after rush hour at eleven in the morning. The trip straight through can be anywhere from seven to ten hours, but I want this trip to be a relaxing vacation. I don’t want either of us to feel rushed, so I have a fun little plan for her.

Are you really not going to tell me anything about what is going on? Thea looks at me with her pleading eyes.

Nope. You’ll find out when we get there. I roll my shoulders,

I could have helped with the driving to Pinevale Valley.

I clench my jaw.

She rubs her thumb on my hand. You have to let go, control freak. I am an excellent driver. You should have seen some of the terrain and conditions I had to drive in with the Special Forces.

I exit the highway and pick up 119 to Weston. While I know you are a great driver, I just want you to relax this trip and unwind.

Sounds like an excuse to be a control freak again. Thea rolls her eyes at me.

I don’t see it, because my eyes are on the road, but I know she’s doing it.

I nod. I’m being serious. After everything we have been through. Our vacation to St. Thomas was fun, but we didn’t get a chance to relax. I don’t want us to rush this vacation. No schedules, no planning, just going to a new place to visit friends we met in Philadelphia.

Grace did say it was a cute little town. Hopefully, we don’t have any supernatural issues this trip, knowing one of our friends used to be a ghost.

We enter the town and cross over the West Fork River. I keep the conversation going so she doesn’t pay attention to the signs. It was pretty cool walking through Philly with them looking at the city through Samuel’s eyes. Finding out which buildings are original and hearing stories about his printing work with Benjamin Franklin. I pull into a parking lot.

You are definitely an old soul, my love. Thea looks through the windshield up at the building that looks like a palace. What is this place? Are we staying in a castle?

I laugh. I hope we aren’t staying here. This is the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

She turns her head to look at me like I’m crazy. And what are we doing here?

I thought it would be a fun place to check out. We can take the tour, check out all the spooky places, marvel at the structure. I smile at her only to be met with a ‘who the fuck are you?’ look.

Are you dying? What is going on here?

I laugh again. What?

Who are you and what have you done with my boyfriend? You want to go into an old insane asylum to look at the architecture and find tortured souls.

My face falls. Well, when you put it like that, no. I thought it would be different. I was trying to find something along the way to stop at and do, something we’ve never done before. I thought it would be interesting.

I mean, we did tour the Eastern State Penitentiary. Thea winks at me. Oh Bash, I’m sorry. I was only teasing you. This place looks cool. It really does look like a palace. It probably has a horrible history, though, like all institutions from the past.

"If you don’t want to check it out, we don’t have to. I can just get back on the road and drive to Pinevale