Back Together?- A Different Time Means Different Circumstances

Chapter 41- Almost Ready

Callies POV

"So wants the plan?" April asked, a little panicked. I couldn't help but smile just thinking about it.

"Well, you're going to take her to the movie theater with Sofia and Thea, and I'm going to get the back yard ready. That's where I want to propose. Then, I'll meet you at the coffee shop and you'll take the kids and drive them back to my house. Michelle, one of our friends with a daughter Sofia's age, will be waiting at the front door and she will take Sofia. After that, Arizona and I will come home. I'll get her to change into a dress that she has wanted for years and tell her that we are going out for a quick dinner with friends. When we walk down the stairs, you have to come running from the backyard and tell her that Sofia really wants to show her something before we leave. When she goes to the backyard, give Thea her pacifier just to make sure she stays quiet. There will be a camera from on the table next to the fridge, so I was hoping you wouldn't mind taking some pictures before you leave. I booked you a hotel in the city to take Thea to with you. It's nice. Anything you'll need for Thea is in this bag." I finished, and she took the bag with a smile, a little taken back by how much I had said.

"How long do you need me to look after her for?"  She asked me.

"Well, I was hoping you could keep her the night and then watch her again for the honeymoon, but Arizona's parents might be able to do that, assuming that they know about Thea." I responded.

"Yeah, that's fine, and hopefully she told them. You know how Colonel Robbins is.... If she didn't tell him I think she's in for a smack down..." April remarked. I couldn't help but chuckle at her accuracy before walking to the nurses station to sign Arizona's discharge papers.

Going into Arizona's room to tell her about her day, and kiss her goodbye, all I could think about what I was going to say to her father.  Walking to my car, I found his number. It rang three times, and then...

"Hello?" It was him.

"Hi colonel, it's Callie, I was wondering if I could ask you a question." I asked. He sighed.

"Yes, but if you're calling to ask me to talk to my daughter about anything having to do with Sofia's parenting plan than I suggest you hang up now" He seethed.

I couldn't manage anything but "Oh my God."

"Huh?" He asked, clearly annoyed that I was keeping him on the phone.

Calmly, I continued, " Colonel, has Arizona told you anything that has happened in the past year?" I inquired, worriedly.

"What you are talking about?" He asked, still irritated but now intrigued.

"Colonel, Arizona and I got back together very soon after she came to New York, did she ever tell you that?" I asked.

"Uhm no.." he said. It sounded like a million things were running through his head.

"Okay, well then I guess I should fill you in. Around the same time, she went out for a drink and didn't come home that night. The next morning, she called me to pick her up from somewhere random and later that day I found her sitting in the bathroom with a positive pregnancy test. She had a unmediated and barely assisted home birth because she was too scared to let anybody see her indisposed since her rape, She named our daughter Thea, after Timothy. About a week later, I found her almost dead on the floor and rushed her to the hospital because she had gotten postpartum sepsis but kept telling me she was fine. She's finally in the clear now, and getting discharged today, but we almost lost her." I finished, knowing that I should let him soak in what I had just said before I continued.

"Wait.... My daughter had a baby?" He asked in a confused and shocked tone. In the background I heard Arizona's mother shriek "what?!" The colonel didn't respond.

I continued, "I'm sorry to pry, but the real reason why I called you is because I plan to propose and wanted to make sure I have your blessing, even though I already got the fancy ring and have a plan. I know that I have hurt your daughter just as much as she has hurt me, so I feel like I should check with you." I rambled. I took a deep breath and sighed. That was a lot.

He stayed silent for a moment and then somberly asked "were you there for her that entire time?"

"Yes sir" I responded in the same tone.

"She would be wrong not to say yes, of course you have my blessing Callie." He said.

"Thank you sir" I responded shakily.

"And tell Arizona that her mother and I will be there next week to meet our granddaughter" he commented more sternly.

"Will do, sir" I replied, again matching his tone.

"Alright, goodbye now" he said. I could hear Arizona's mother asking him questions in the background.

"Bye, sir" I responded before hanging up.

I took a deep breath. That didn't go as bad as I expected.

With my relief, I took a little box out of my pocket and opened it. It was Arizona's old ring, just with some adjustments. I had changed the center stone to opal because it signifies good luck. I also changed the surrounding area of the ring to pave diamonds. The quality of the stones? They are all the nicest that money can buy.