The Beginning of The End

When everyone left and it was time to take Micaela home, Chris offered himself for the task. Persephone looked distracted all afternoon and he wanted her to relax, especially now that she was carrying precious cargo.

On the drive to Aunt Micaela's, he took the opportunity to confess to his aunt that he had bought a ring almost a week ago and he had decided to ask Persephone to marry him, which of course, made Aunt Micaela happy given she had wanted him settled down since his mid-twenties. The two brainstormed for a memorable proposal but by the end of the destination, they hadn't been able to figure anything out worthy of his girl.

Chris got out of the vehicle to walk his aunt home and to share the baby news with Uncle George, promptly returning to the Sequoia once the task was complete. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with his girl right now since they had a lot to discuss about their future and he wanted to make sure she was okay as well. As for himself, he had eventually shown an outward happiness but on the inside, yes, he was excited, but he was equally scared shitless.

As soon as he returned home, he found his girl in their bedroom- she was standing by the window looking out toward Puget Sound, and there was a mellow country song playing in the background. The scene was very calming. He placed his hands in his pockets and stared at her, unwilling to disturb her moment of peace.

His heart felt full seeing her.

The song playing caught his attention immediately. It detailed a timeline between a guy and his girl and next thing you know... an entire life happened. From the moment they met, until they had grandchildren playing on the front yard.

That was exactly what he wanted with Persephone.

A lifetime.

He took a step toward her but halted. He looked in the direction if the closet and decided it was now or never. Changing direction, Chris walked into the closet and pulled out a small light blue box from one of his shirt drawers. He clasped the small box in his hand, realizing he was nervous she would reject his promise of forever.

Taking a deep breath and rubbing the back of his head, Chris walked out of the closet and made his way toward Persephone.

She spun just as he had exited the large walk-in closet, giving him a sweet smile. "You're back," she said as she reached a hand toward him.

His mouth had gone completely dry. Chris simply nodded as he grabbed her hand.

"I was thinking," she pulled him toward the large windows overlooking the backyard, "We should add one of those open-air spaces in the backyard or even modify the den. I want those accordion style-doors that open the whole wall."

Chris nodded as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to build up the courage to propose. "Anything you want, babe."

"I also want my name on the deed," she stated. "I'll pay off the remainder of what is owed but, if we're doing this, let's do it right. Together. All in."

He smiled against her temple.

She spun around and wrapped her arms around his neck while his arms encircled her waist.

"Now that we know there is a baby coming, how do you feel about it?" She asked him but didn't give him a chance to reply. "I am so scared, especially when I think about how it's going to come out of me.

Chris smiled, pecking her lips briefly. "We'll be scared together, until we're not scared anymore, babe. I know together we will be great."

She stared at him, sighing. She nodded slowly. "It's probably for the best that it happened this way because I don't know that I would have ever been ready." She continued, "I don't know that I would have ever said yes to inviting a tiny freeloader into our lives that's going to pee, poop and vomit on us, and get so temperamental when it's hangry. It's language for the first year or so is going to be crying hysterically until it gets what it wants." She paused before continuing. "And then there's going to be sleepless nights when it's sick. Theme Park vacations," she groaned. "Mouse House parties. "Who's ever ready to say yes to all of that?"

Smiling at her, he leaned forward to kiss her sweetly as he reached into his pocket. "As long as it's with you, I am," he told her as he got down on one knee.

"No, Chris," Persephone uttered immediately. "A baby is not a reason to get married and it-"

"Just let me do this," he ordered sternly in a gentle tone as he looked into her golden eyes. He opened the tiny box displaying a solitary diamond of a platinum band. He removed it from the box and handed it to her. "Read the inscription," he told her as he handed her the ring.

With one more glance at him, Persephone took the ring from his grasp and looked inside the halo. "The beginning of forever," she read out loud as she spun the ring to continue reading. "What's that date?" She asked as she handed him the ring back.

He stared up at her with a look he felt conveyed all of the love he had in him for her. "That's the day I knew I wanted forever to start for us," he said as he grabbed onto her left hand. He took her gasp as a good sign. "Persephone," he began. "It's always been you. You made me believe in soul mates and twin flames, eternal love- all of that stuff that I thought was nonsense before," he spoke gently. "I want to share kids and grandkids, and great-grandkids with you- see them all grow-up and play in this house. There's no one else I want to live the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?"

Persephone tilted her head, placing her right hand over her chest. Her eyes began to tear. "Are you sure?" She asked him. "I'm a handful."

Chris stood, grabbing her face with his hands, pulling her in for a kiss. "You are," he kissed her briefly before resting his forehead against hers, "but you're my handful, babe." He inhaled her scent and pulled away. "Is that a yes?"

She smiled and nodded.

Chris immediately placed the ring on her finger and kissed her some more.

He couldn't believe that the beautiful woman he met randomly in a coffee shop the year before would be the very woman he would willingly choose as his lifetime partner-in-crime forever.

Her "yes" made his life complete and he looked forward to writing each new chapter alongside of her.

The End