Marriage Proposal from a Princess

Chapter 10

As we make our way to the door, Grayson takes my hand. Before we can ring the doorbell, the door swings open.

"Lacey!"

"Hi, Kaylie."

She takes my other hand. "Come on. Let's go bake cookies."

"Kaylie, let the poor girl come in the house."

"Sorry, Grandma. Sorry, Lacey."

"It's okay, Kaylie."

She finally lets go of my hand and we walk towards the couch. As soon as we sit, Jeremy walks into the room. He doesn't look too happy. He glares at Grayson and then at me.

"Jeremy, aren't you going to congratulate them? They just got officially engaged."

I see him roll his eyes and hear him groan. "Congratulations."

Could his tone have been any more flat?

"Thank you." Grayson nods.

"Can we bake cookies now, Grandma?"

"If Lacey and Grayson are ready."

"I'm ready. Sweet pea?"

"Let's do it."

We make our way to the kitchen. Cynthia and Kaylie begin to gather the ingredients. "Need any help gathering the ingredients?"

"No. We got it."

"Are you sure, Cynthia?"

"Lacey Michelle, I'll tell you when I need your help. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

After what seemed like forever of just sitting there, they had all the ingredients we needed.

"Lacey, you can help now."

"Okay."

We begin mixing all the ingredients in the bowl. While we're making the cookie dough, Grayson is spraying the cookie sheets so that the cookies won't stick.

When we're done mixing, Cynthia begins to put spoonfuls of the dough on the pans. She places them in the oven. Kaylie grabs my hand again. "Let's go play soccer."

"Okay."

"Grayson, come on. Come play with us."

"I'm coming."

Grayson and I go outside while we wait for Kaylie to get her soccer ball. While we're waiting, Grayson decides to give me a kiss. I swear I could spend forever like this.

"Ew. Gross." I spoke too soon.

"Ready to play?"

"Yeah."

She takes off, placing her soccer ball on the ground. The kiss she just saw gone from her mind. After a few minutes of playing soccer, she decides she wants to play tag instead.

"Tag. You're it, Grayson."

She takes off running again. I see the look he's giving me. So I decide to take off running as well. I don't run fast enough because not even a minute later, he has arms around me. He turns me around to face him. He leans in closer. He's going to kiss me again. Right before his lips land on mine, he stops leaning in. "Tag. You're it."

He lets me go and takes off running. "You jerk. I'm going to get you back for that."

"I'd like to see you try."

Oh, I'll get him back. It'll just be when be when he least expects it.

After about another ten minutes of running around the yard chasing each other, we decide to go in to take a break. As soon as I walk in through the kitchen, I smell the cookies. I see them sitting on the counter. I guess Cynthia got them out while we were outside playing.

"Help yourselves to some cookies." I hadn't even noticed that she walked into the kitchen. "Just don't over do it. We still have to eat supper."

After we eat a couple of cookies, we go into the living room. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. Cynthia gets up to answer it. Cynthia walks in with Janie and Daniel behind her.

"Look who I found."

"Janie!"

"Hey, Kaylie."

"Sorry I didn't say hi to you earlier."

"That's okay."

She points to Daniel. "Who's that?"

"I'm Daniel. I'm dating Janie."

"That's nice."

"It sure is."

They take a seat on the same couch as Grayson and myself. Jeremy immediately starts up a conversation with Daniel.  He really bugs me at times.

"Well, since you two are celebrating, what would you like for supper?"

"Whatever you're making is fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We're sure. We'll even help you cook."

"Nonsense. This night is just for you. I will not have either of you cooking."

"Fine."

"Now, I was thinking chicken Alfredo would do. Does that sound good?"

"Sounds wonderful."

Cynthia heads off towards the kitchen. Kaylie comes bouncing up to me. "Wanna see my room?"

"Sure."

She takes my hand and grabs Grayson's hand with her other one. We walk up the stairs to the second floor. When we go inside her bedroom, I'm momentarily stunned. It looks just like mine did when I was younger.

The walls are a shade of purple mixed with blue. Her bedspread is purple.

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah. When I was younger, my room looked exactly like this."

"That's what Grandma said."

She then shows us her all of her stuffed animals and other toys. Once we've seen all of her stuff, we head back downstairs. Janie and Daniel walk up to us. Kaylie takes off to find her grandparents. "I can't believe her dad didn't want her anymore."

"I know. It's really sad. She looks so much like Bailey, though. I guess it was too much for him to handle."

"But that's his daughter. He should want to raise her."

"I know, Daniel. He's just never been the kind of person to take care of anyone on his own."

"Well, she needs actual parents. Cynthia and Jeremy are in their seventies. They don't need to be taking care of a seven year old little girl."

"I agree, but Cynthia would never let some random people just adopt her."

"Who said they had to be random people?"

"Daniel, what are you talking about?"

"Lacey, you should adopt her. You two have a bond like no other. Ever since you've been here, she's been by your side."

"I don't know. What do I know about raising a kid?"

"Come on, sweet pea. It's a great idea. You're the only besides Cynthia that Kaylie drags everywhere she goes."

Janie nods her agreement. "Fine. I'll do it. I just have to find a way to tell Cynthia and Jeremy without Kaylie hearing."

"It's simple. Daniel and I can take her out back to the tree house while you two talk to them."

"Okay. Let's do this."

We walk into the kitchen.

"Hey, Kaylie. How about you show me and Daniel the tree house your grandpa had built for you."

"Sure. Lacey you wanna come?"

"I'll be out there in a minute."

"Okay."

She takes Janie's and Daniel's hands and leads them outside.

Here goes.