Nancy Drew: Mystery of Melbourne Manor

Chapter 10

" I thought of this place a couple of, Nanc, are you alright?" asked Ned.

" How did you know about this place?" she asked not looking at him.

Ned gave her a questioning look, but then he saw it in her eyes. How could he have been so dumb?

"Oh Nanc, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." he said.

" You didn't know, it's not your fault. " she said.

"What happened here?" he asked her.

"My parents used to take me here when I was little, but as I got older, the visits became more scarce. Whenever mom left, I was so upset that I biked all the way out here. Sometimes, after her death, I'd come for no reason at all. I eventually stopped coming, I forgot how amazing this place was." she said resting her head on his shoulder.

" It is amazing, isn't it?" he replied.

" Thank you for taking me back," she said.

Ned knew what the had to do. He had to tell her about how he saw her diary entry and what he felt. He sighed.

"I saw your diary entry," he said.

Nancy lifted her head off his shoulder and flashed him a look.

" Why did you read it?" she asked.

" I want you to know that I know how dangerous your work is, and I know you could get hurt. I know you don't want to hurt me, but that's something we have. We have that love where it'll scare us to death, but that's the thing that keeps us together. I love you, so so much. I just wanted you to know I'd be here with you, through it all." he said.

" No, Ned! I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you because of my work. I could never ask you to choose that life!" she argued.

" You don't have to ask me. I'd choose it anyway. Don't you realize how much I love you?" he replied.

"My dad loved my mom, too. I saw how hurt he was after she died. Why would you want that?" she said.

" Nancy, I love you that much. That's why I'd want that. I want to be with you because I'd know you'd feel the same. Wouldn't you?"

" Yes, I'd feel the same. I do feel the same. I love you too, Ned." Nancy said kissing him on the cheek.

"Then there's something I must ask you," he said.

Ned got down on one knee and got out the small box. Nancy's eyes widened in surprise.

"Nancy, I've wanted to ask you this for a long time. I knew that I wanted you to be the first person I proposed to. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Nancy Drew, will you marry me?" he asked.

At some other point, the caution flags would go up in her mind. She'd cry and run away, promising to never love him so as not to hurt him. But right now, there wasn't a single doubt in her mind what she wanted. She'd want him to be with her, sometimes for no reason at all. There were nights she'd call him on the phone just to hear his comforting voice. This is who she was and this was the life she wanted.

"Yes,I will." she said crying tears of joy.

Ned slid the ring onto her petite finger. It fit her perfectly. He then stood up and they kissed. Yes, this was definitely the life they both wanted.