"Willow Lake - Brooke chooses Edmund"
by Angie
Brooke lunged into Edmund's arms. "How can I let you go?" she cried. Edmund untangled himself from her tight embrace, looking down into her tear-stained face. Unwilling to release her completely, he clasped her hands in his. Squeezing her hands, Edmund vowed, "I will make you so happy, Brooke. If only you'll let me. Give me that chance. TAKE that chance with me. Please."
Penetrating her eyes with his own, he willed her to believe in him, to overcome her fears and join him in the life they were destined to lead... together.
"I don't know what to do," Brooke gasped, "I want to do the right thing. For Jamie. For Tad. And you......"
"What about you, Brooke? What is right for YOU?" Edmund interceded.
"Oh God, Edmund, you are everything right in the world! So right it scares me....." Brooke exclaimed.
Edmund held his breath, ever mindful that Brooke's next word - one word - could crash his world or spin him into paradise. Even though she was standing still, holding tightly to Edmund's hands, Brooke felt as if she were spinning out of control. Her entire body urged her to fling herself into Edmund's arms and hold on for dear life. And yet her mind battled valiantly. She had to think of Jamie. No. It was not about Jamie. It was about fear. She wanted Edmund more than she had ever wanted anyone. But was she really brave enough to take the plunge? Edmund released one of Brooke's hands and lightly led her with the other to the door. A few feet short of the doorway, he reluctantly let go of her hand. "I wish I could hold onto you so tight and never let you go," he admitted. "But this has to be your choice. Whether we walk out that door together, or alone, we can never look back. This is forever."
Backing out the doorway, he held both his hands out to her. His heart was beating furiously, as he stared at Brooke, who stood transfixed in the spot he had left her. The door closed behind him. Edmund leaned against it for support, his emotions reeling. He could barely believe this was happening. "I know I said that I wanted to hold onto you so tight and never let you go," Edmund grimaced, "But maybe a little less tight?"
A sly smile on her face, Brooke loosened her grip on his hands and through chattering teeth asked, "Edmund, do you think we could possibly do this never looking back inside in front of a warm fire?"
Leading Brooke back inside, Edmund retraced the steps he had so recently taken. While his heart had been filled with dread as he walked away from her, now his heart expanded with joy. He had everything he had ever wanted in this room. In his hands. It was a surreal feeling, and he prayed that it was real. And not just some very vivid, very wonderful dream. Pulling Edmund down beside her, the fire in her eyes burning even more brightly than the fire before them, Brooke soon showed him that it was real indeed.