Chapter 57 Ring
Maddie's POV
Mariko went to the bathroom to shower and I wanted to make him feel good and relaxed. I know that I can't take away all of his pain but I can just try to do it. I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly through my mouth. I got undressed, pushing my own feelings aside.
I entered the bathroom. Mariko had just gotten into the shower and I opened the shower door, stepped inside and closed the glass door behind me. I gently placed my hands on Mariko's back, the water soaking him. He looked over his shoulder at me, his hair was soaked too. He turned around to face me.
I moved closer to him as we held each other's gaze, water dripped down from his face as the water continued to pour all over him. His lips parted. I took the wash cloth from him and I reached behind him, taking the shower gel from the rack in the corner. He continued to watch me. "What are you doing?" he asked softly.
"I'm washing you." I replied as I squirted the shower gel onto the wash cloth. I reached behind him again and placed it back on the rack. I started to wash him, starting from his chest. "We don't need to have s^x, I just feel like doing this for you, washing away everything that has been going on," I said.
"You are kind. No one has ever done this for me."
"I think that it will help," I took a deep breath as I focused on what I was doing. I washed every inch of his body and I was now soaked too. He turned around as I washed his back and he stood under the water for the soap to be washed off. I leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss onto his back. My hair was now soaked too. I was on my knees, washing the back of his knees and feet. I stood up, he turned around and his hand cupped the side of my face, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes, but in this moment I pulled away and looked down at myself. Remembering that I was bleeding earlier.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Um, nothing is wrong. The bleeding has stopped," I looked up at him.
"I'm glad to hear that," he gave a weak smile. "I was really worried."
"Like I said, we are fine," I smiled. "Now, let's dry up," I reached behind him and turned off the faucet.
I got out of the shower, took a towel and so did Mariko. I dried myself while we remained silent. I wrapped the towel around my body and I went to our bedroom. I went straight to the closet and opened the drawer, looking for my pajama shorts and a tank top. I found my shorts and got a tank top.
I knew that Mariko needed his boxer briefs, so I rummaged in his drawer but I felt something, like a little box. I took it out of the drawer and it was a little black box. I opened it, gasping. It was a diamond ring.
"Do you like it?" I turned around and Mariko stood behind me with a faint smile on his face.
"I do," heat rushed to my cheeks as I smiled, continuing to inspect the ring.
"I know that this may be too soon for you, but will you marry me?" he asked, and I looked up at him.
"You mean..."
"Yes, will you marry me?" he repeated.
I nodded, "Yes, I will marry you," I threw my arms around him and he lifted me up.
I did not expect him to propose to me this soon. I know that he always wanted to and I wasn't keen on getting married so soon, but...this was unexpected and I am ready. I am excited despite the situation that has been going on. He was serious about marrying me, the constant hints about a wedding dress...everything. He planned this from the start and I couldn't have asked for a better man. He treats me well, more than I deserve and to think that I never wanted to date an affluent man...here we are, I will be marrying an affluent man.
I will finally get to live a life that we can both build together and I look forward to our future with our baby. Despite the situation with Amber and Bella, there is a bit of happiness that we can share together. Now we just need Bella to wake up and everything will be fine.
Mariko's POV
I walked in on Maddie standing by the closet with the engagement ring, towel wrapped around her body. I didn't plan on proposing to her this evening, I was waiting for the right moment when everything was okay with Amber and Bella. I guess that this was the right moment, it was so good to hear that she said the word...yes. That put a smile on my face. I love her so much and I won't have anyone else but her.
I pressed my lips against hers, "I love you," I rasped.
"I love you too," she smiled. I put her down and then I took the box from her, removing the ring. I reached out for her hand and I slipped the ring onto her finger. This was it. We are getting married. Something that I have wanted to do since the moment I saw her.
I brought her hand up towards my lips and I placed a kiss on the back of her hand, forgetting about my situation for a moment. I lowered her hand, "I need to get my boxer brief," I smiled. I moved past her to get it.
I got dressed, leaving my chest bare. "I can't believe we are engaged," Maddie said as she sat on the bed. She was now dressed in a shorts and a tank top.
I walked towards the bed. "Well, I did say that I wanted to marry you and I have been serious about it. I keep my word. I bought the ring a while back and I waited for the right time but you kinda beat me to it by finding the ring." I said as I got into bed and then she joined me.
"So did you have anything planned? Not that I wanted there to be anything special," she said, she lay her head on my chest and I stroked her arm. This was definitely taking my mind off things, and I am gladly welcoming the distraction.
"I have had something that I wanted to plan. It was to take you to the movie theater and, thereafter, I was going to take you to the park and propose. We would've bought snacks and had an evening picnic," I said, as if I could see it in my mind.
"We can still do that, but I'm sure that once Bella is better, we will have time to do that," she stated.
"I know. I just want to see my little girl in her room or hugging me. She loves to hug. I miss those tiny arms around my neck and hearing the way she calls me daddy. I do need to go to the hospital where the driver was taken to. I need to see him tomorrow. I need to make him pay," Anger resurfaced as I thought about it.
"I hope that he gets sent to prison. What he did is unforgivable," she said as she moved to look at me.
"Yeah, how is the baby?" I asked, changing the topic.
"The baby is fine," she replied with a smile. "I hope that it's a boy."
"I am fine with any gender as long as the baby is healthy."
"Do you think that Bella will be okay with any gender?" she asked with a grin.
"She wants a little sister, so who knows what she would say if we had a boy," I shrugged.
"I look forward to seeing her reaction when the baby is here. She is very adorable and I do miss her," she said and tears stung the back of eyes.
"Let's not talk about her right now," I replied. I reached out to her and moved a strand away from her face. Her hair was still wet but I didn't care.
"Sorry," she leaned in and placed a chaste kiss against my lips, closing my eyes, I savored the moment.
"My fiance," I whispered against her lips and she smiled.
This was my moment to forget about things again. To focus on our happiness in engagement, and our baby. I need to be strong and if that means having the positivity that I am having right now with Maddie, then so be it. Tomorrow is another day, and I need to believe that things will work out for all of us. Soon we will be a little family and that is my positivity to hold onto in this moment to get me through my feelings. Maddie has been great at supporting me and I am so happy to have her in my life.