There’s something … different about Beatrice today.
The frustrating thing is that Camila can’t quite pin down what is different about her. At first, she thinks it’s the fact Beatrice was smiling - not one of her polite ones, the kind of smile Beatrice usually saves for the presence of a certain golden-retriever-made-human-halo-bearer, who is notably absent from Cat’s Cradle at the moment. (‘Notably’ because Camila has actually been able to get some work done; not that she doesn’t like when Ava’s around - Camila delights in it, really - but sadly there’s only so long paperwork can be put off.)
But the smile isn’t something new. Camila’s seen it before, even without Ava in their immediate vicinity, has seen it more often as of late. No, Camila thinks, the smile is merely a symptom. It’s something else. Something she can’t immediately pin down. Her eyes narrow, committed to finding the cause. (Paperwork has waited this long; it can wait a few more hours.)
She keeps a surreptitious eye on Beatrice as she moves through the grounds. There’s an ease to her stride that’s markedly different from just the day before - a “pep in her step” she’d go so far to say. Perhaps she’d gotten some time in at their new gym today? Beatrice always did enjoy a good workout (in her mind, Camila can already see Ava’s waggling eyebrows and the blush on Beatrice’s cheeks). But Camila’s brow furrows, remembering that Beatrice had spent most of the morning at the library, researching (Camila isn’t the only one getting some work done).
Perhaps it was just the weather in general. The past few days had been damp and cloudy, causing old aches in even Camila’s body to flare up. But today there is not one cloud in sight, and the sun filters warm and golden through the windows lining the hallway that Camila follows Beatrice down. She takes a moment to admire Beatrice’s posture, her stride. There’s that confident set in Beatrice’s shoulders that Camila’s always admired, a touch of something regal in her spine, a relaxed reassurance that has come with time.
She looks closer. There’s a radiance to Beatrice today, something from within, a gleam, a glow, a glimmer -
Camila gasps when she finally sees it. Small, unassuming but absolutely there. She sprints down the hall, the sound of her mad dash coupled with her wild laughter startling Beatrice and she turns just in time to catch Camila by the forearms.
But it’s Beatrice’s hand that Camila captures and there it is: a ring.
“Did she -?” Camila’s vibrating too much to even finish her question but Beatrice is already grinning and blushing and nodding and Camila’s laugh bubbles out once more. She squeals and gathers Beatrice into her arms, feels Beatrice’s laughter rising to match her own.
“I was wondering if anyone would notice,” Beatrice says shyly when they part.
“Of course I’d notice.” Camila shakes her gently, marks the mystery solved and sealed as she takes Beatrice in: her smile, her glow, the love no longer hidden, freely given, freely shown. “Happiness looks wonderful on you.”
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