Starting Tonight

Chapter 24

It's been a good week since everything happened with Andy and Cory. Things have calmed down, but something just isn't right with Andy. I can't seem to put my finger on what it is and she won't tell me. I'll have to deal with her later. I have more important things to do today. She's spent the past two days helping me plan my proposal to Kelly and the day is here. The day I propose to my future wife. We were walking through the park down the road from my house. One Kelly visited every time she was here. It was a rather warm day for winter, but it made everything perfect.

"Why did you decide to walk with me this afternoon?" Kelly questioned me.

"I just wanted to spend more time with you. I'm going to be heading out here soon and you'll leave to go home tomorrow. I don't know when I'll be able to see you again," I explained to her.

"Well, there's something I wanted to talk to you about since we are alone," Kelly said softly as the sun glistened in her eyes.

"I wanted to talk to you about something too," I told her with a smile on my face.

"You first," Kelly told me.

"Well," I paused as we stopped, "Since we first met there was a connection between us. But here lately it's changed. I've noticed it and I think you have too. When Alex and Cally were born I realized something. I realized that I wanted. A wife, a family, and everything that comes with it. I have to do whatever it takes to get it too. We started off as friends, but we have developed into so much more. I can't imagine what life would be without you. I want you to be by my side for the rest of my life. I love you so much. When I was thinking about it all there's only one person I want all of that with. It's you. Kelly, will you marry me?"

"Chris, this is not what I expected," Kelly began as I knelt in front of her with an engagement ring in my hand and a knot in my stomach, "I love you so please don't think I don't. I just can't say yes. I've been doing some thinking of my own here lately. I really thought I could make this all work. That I could look past the feelings I have and love you the way you deserve to be loved. The truth is that I can't. I see you as more a friend or brother than someone I can spend the rest of my life with. I've seen how you are with Andy and I've seen how you are with me. You don't love me like you think you do, just as I think you love her and you're just using me as a replacement."

"You're saying no? You think I love Andy?" I questioned her as I stood up, "How? She's just my best friend. Nothing more."

"Chris, be honest. I should be your best friend. Not Andy. Just as Cory should be hers. Both of you are hiding feelings for one another. I'm sorry," Kelly said as she turned and walked away.

I just stood there. I didn't know what to do. I had an engagement ring in my hand that was useless. The woman I thought was going to be my wife basically told me I was in love with my best friend. I sat on the nearby bench and twirled the ring around on my finger as I lost myself in thought.

"Sir," an elderly man said interrupting my thoughts as I shoved the ring into my pocket, "Is anyone sitting here?"

"No sir," I replied with a half-smile as he sat down.

"My name is Phillip Raymond, but you can call me Phil," he said as he held his hand out to me.

"Chris Lane," I said as I firmly shook his hand.

"Are you new here? I've never seen you here before," Phil asked kindly.

"No. I've lived in the area for years. I just don't come down here very often," I replied.