Aftermath

34

John pulled Cal into a bear hug after hugging Matthew goodbye.

"Thanks for taking care of the place for us," he said as he pulled back. Cal nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh, of course, thanks for letting us host here while you're gone." He shot her a smile that reminded her so much of Matthew is tugged her heart.

"Anytime." They headed out a few minutes later with Cal and Matthew waving them off.

"Are you ready to go to the store?" She looked up at Matthew as she spoke. He looked down and kissed her before shaking his head.

"Not yet I have to run inside first." He jogged away from her and she stood watching the birds at the bird feeder while she waited for him to come back.

"Callie!" Matthew called to her from the front porch, she turned around and he waved her over. She jogged as best she could over to see what was wrong.

"Everything okay?"

"Oh yeah," he said kissing her on the cheek when she made it up the last step. "I just forgot something."

"I think I want to grab my jacket too before we leave," she said ducking in the door to grab it off the tree hook. When she turned back around Matthew was holding something out to her. "What is it?" she asked squinting and stepping forward, struggling to get her second arm through the hole and pull it on. When Cal was close enough to see what it was she froze.

Held between his pointer finger and his thumb was a beautiful ring. It was thin, with scrolled flowers, and a small green stone sat flush with the band. She looked to him, and back at the ring, then back at him before settling on the ring again, trying to make sense of it.

"I don't want to think about ever doing anything without you. Not a Memorial Day party, not visiting my parents, nothing. If you're not a part of it, I want no part of it." He paused when she met his eyes and smiled so wide. "Please say that you will marry me." Cal felt a tear slip down her cheek and brushed it away quickly. She didn't trust her voice enough to speak so she nodded her head and he rushed to pull her into him. He kissed her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, and her lips. Every inch of her face. "I love you, Callie."

"I love you, Matthew." She whispered and kissed his lips again. She had never felt so giddy. It was bubbling inside her, she had more energy than she could ever remember having before. She wanted to jump around and yell and laugh and just exclaim. She was so happy, the happiest she'd ever been.

"I didn't want to do it in front of everyone, but they know. That's why we are having them over for the whole weekend, to celebrate." Cal couldn't move she was still so in shock, so she stayed wrapped around him listening to everything he was saying. "My parents didn't know I was going to do it tonight, but this ring belonged to my grandmother and they wanted you to have it. So they knew it was happening at some point." She looked down at the ring on her finger, it was so beautiful and simple. Finally, she pulled back and looked him in the eyes.

"I'm so happy I feel everything and nothing at the same time." Her words tumbled out and she held his forearms. He chuckled and kissed her forehead again. "I get to marry you." It almost sounded like a question.

"I get to marry you," he whispered back.

They couldn't keep their hands to themselves while they shopped. If Matthew wasn't holding her hand, they were hooked arm and arm. But they got what they needed and headed back to the house to figure out something to eat for dinner and unpack the groceries. They settled for pizza and Matthew called to place a delivery while Cal finished putting away the last of the items left on the counter.

It was late by the time they were getting ready for bed but as they laid down Cal said something that shocked her.

"I'm going to have a mom and dad." Her voice broke halfway through the sentence and she started crying. Cal was stunned by the sudden onslaught of emotions.

"Cal, they've always loved you like you were their own." Matthew pulled her face into the crook of his neck. She nodded against him seeking solace in their proximity. When she could speak again she whispered against his skin.

"But they're going to be mine, for real." Calpurnia kissed him gently before moving to kiss his mouth. "Do you think it's too late to call them?"

Matthew got up to text them and check if they could call, the reply came within minutes saying they were still up and they could. So they set up his laptop on the bed and video-called them. When Cal could see both of their faces on the screen, she started crying again, only a few tears this time.

"You're going to be my parents!" she whisper yelled, wiping her tears away quickly and showing them her hand. Abbey started crying, and John smiled bigger than she thought possible.

They took a minute to talk about the proposal and gush before saying their goodbyes.

"We love you," Cal said looking at Matthew with a smile.

"We love you too, baby girl," John said and Cal's heart swelled.

They'd been settled in the quiet room for nearly an hour before she gave up on sleeping for the moment. She rolled over to look at Matthew and found him already looking at her, her brow lifted quizically.

"I'm so riled up I can't sleep." He whispered they were close enough that she could feel the warmth of him beside her, but not even their noses touched and they lay facing each other.

"Me too, I have a funny feeling in my stomach." Beside her, he laughed heartily. "Hey!" she exclaimed shoving his shoulder. "It's not too late to take it off!" Matthew feigned offense and dramatically pretended to yank a knife out of his heart.

When they had stopped giggling and silence had spanned again, Cal let her mind wander to wedding planning and everything that it would entail. They had nothing planned, they hadn't even discussed engagement.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked tapping his finger against the side of her head. She shrugged her shoulders and hid her face in her pillow so he couldn't see that she was lying.

"You're not nearly as sly as you think you are," he murmured and pulled her into his chest caging her in. Matthew's fingers tangled the hair at the base of her neck and gently massaged her scalp.

"I was just thinking how we have a wedding to plan now." The words left her mouth with a smile she couldn't contain. "I feel so bubbly, I don't know what to do with myself." His fingers spread across her scalp gently scratching. "I almost feel shy to be around you."

"Shy?" She felt like she was saying things all wrong.

"Just, I mean. It feels big..." she trailed momentarily, grateful for the privacy from his eyes. "It's a big change, and I think I'm just feeling the pressure of meeting the expectations that come with an engagement, and I don't want you to think I'm not excited, because I am. I just want to be everything you expect and I'm embarrassed that I might fall short."

"I don't expect you to be anything but you." He slid his hands from her hair down her back. "I didn't propose to you hoping you would transform into someone you aren't, I proposed to you because I don't want to ever be without the person you are right now." Matthew shifted slightly so he could pull her torso flush with his and drew her in tightly. "Quirks and all."