Famish: Tragedy

Chapter 5

It has been 3 years since the kids decided to 'help' me. Joanna and I have been doing well and I decided to ask Lord Cunningham if I might have her hand in marriage, both of us are 19 soon to be 20. I sat in the lounge waiting for Lord Cunningham to arrive. Joanna was in the village helping the children with work as well as helping Father look after Nico during my visit to her father.
"Good morning Clyde, how are you dear boy?" I stood hearing the sudden voice of my, hopefully, soon to be father in law. "Good morning sir, I'm doing good." I held my hand out to shake his, and we sat across from each other. "Now, what do you wish to discuss?" he asked, I could tell he was intrigued by my visit. "Well, there is no easy way to explain" I paused, I ran through what I was to say and now, my mind is going blank. "I wish to have your permission to have Joanna's hand in marriage." I said after a moment.
"I see. I don't have any choice." He replied, my heart sank and I suddenly lost all hope. "You are to have her hand in marriage, but you must promise to love and care for her for all of your days together." He smiled. "I will sir, thank you!" I shook his hand excitedly and we began to talk about how I could propose to her in which he saw the ring I had for her. It was my mother's wedding ring, though it had only a small diamond in the center, no carvings, no alterations, just simply silver, Lord Cunningham understood mine and my father's situation to an amount I had no knowledge of.
She eventually came home as we heard her call to her father and she thought I was out on an errand run for my father so I shoved the ring in my pocket as I waited for instruction by Lord Cunningham on what to do, "Quickly boy, behind the counter!" he whispered.
She walked in smiling, she hugged her father before sitting down to tell him something. "Daddy, do you think Clyde wants to stay with me?" she asked, "I'm not sure I understand the question darling," she sighed "I mean do you think he might want to marry me? I know it's an odd thought but it's been three years." "Joanna, I think he will, just give him time." He stood up to hug her and motioned his hand for me to move quickly so as to get by without her noticing.
About a week later, our fathers planned out on what to do for the proposal with me. We all agreed that she loved the scenery of the sunset and to have dinner with the four of us, I would then say something and guide her to the roof where we could watch the sunset and I could propose. It was all set up ready to go. We all sat down to eat, everything was normal and my nerves began to kick in. As soon as we had finished I told Joanna I wanted to show her something. We asked to be excused and I took her hand. We ran up the stairs, well, I walked fast and she was running behind me. I opened the door to the roof and let her outside first. She did, and I then turned and climbed up the ladder waving her up, she climbed up seeing a blanket on the roof of the storage room. I gently took her hand and sat her down to watch the sun set.
"It's so pretty!" she smiled "agreed." I took a breath before feeling for the ring with my opposite hand in my pocket. "I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." "I disagree with you on that." she looked at me confused, "I disagree, because I've been lucky enough to see the most beautiful creation every day." she kept her confused look as i explained, "ever since i saw you, I was head over heels for you and, now, I can't imagine what I'd do without you. I know it sounds a bit cliche but it's true." I took both of her hands and stood her up before reaching in my pocket and kneeling down to reveal the ring. She quickly moved her hands to her mouth with a shocked expression and her eyes began to water. "I'm not the best at expressing how I feel or the best man in the world but you're the most amazing woman in the world, Joanna, Will you marry me?" There was a pause, and though it was only a few seconds it felt like hours, my heart was racing, my eyes began to water and she finally closed her eyes and smiled. Then, at last, she nodded her head. I sighed before standing up and placing the ring on her finger, and hugged her. We continued to watch the sunset in the warmth of each other's arms until all we could see was the moon and stars.