Friends & Paradise 2: Forever Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter 15: Please Accept (Christine's POV)

Just a month after the dinner where my kids met Richard, he took me to one of my favorite places in the city; the Woodland Park Zoo.

Ever since I was little, I've always liked to see the zoo here in the city. It definitely isn't like all the other zoos in the U.S. This one, actually, consists of a whole park area, about one-third in size of Central Park in New York City. Not only do the animals are in a healthy and green environment, but there's entertainment for anybody in the family. There are a couple of games, like the merry-go-'round. There is also a rose garden, one of my personal favorites, where the flora is diverse and there are also a couple small gazebos where people can stand and in the middle of the garden, there is a small  fountain in the middle that is basically one of the huge attractions to the park, because it brings it to life with the sounds of water.

At about six in the afternoon, Richard came to pick me up from my job on a Friday, to take me to a place that I used to love very much. I went down in the elevator of the building where my office was located inside, and just outside the front door I already saw a man dressed in a black suit leaning against the door of a black convertible BMW. When he saw me, he walked towards me and smiled and kissed me on the lips quickly.

"Hello." He said.

"Hello to you too." I said smiling.

"How was work?" He asked while walking over to my door and opening it for me. I got inside, and he closed the door after me, and walked over to his side.

"It was fine, a little rough but I could handle it. What about you?"

"The hospital was actually pretty relaxed today, which is weird, but it was fine."

"Do you usually have a lot of work?" I asked while he started the car and drove out of the street where my office is located and drove towards our destination.

"Well, most days I stay there until nine or ten at night."

"Wow. That's pretty late."

"I know, but my patients mean a lot to me; I mean, it's their life on my hands. But work today was a little slower than usual, and that was an advantage because I could get out earlier to be with you." He said as he grabbed my hand while driving.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"We're going to a place that you used to love as a child." He said.

I turned to him. "Where exactly?"

"Are there many places you used to like?"

"Well, I've been living here since I was born, so I certainly do have many spots here in the city that I really like."

"Which do you really like?"

"Well, I love the aquarium, the needle is a classic and we've been there a couple times, the Woodland Park Zoo is another one of my favorites; I used to love the garden especially. Instead of walking around admiring the animals, I'd go straight to the rose garden."

"Well, in that case, you'll love where we're going."

"Is that so?" I asked, while looking at him with a raised eyebrow. He nodded while smiling. "And where are we going?"

"You'll find out when I open your door." He said while turning the car off. "We're here."

He got out of the car and closed the door behind him. He walked over to my side and opened my door, and held my hand as I stepped out of the car. He locked it after my door was closed.

I looked around my surroundings. I was back to the place where I was the happiest as a child. I was in my rose garden, the place that was so magical, it actually looked as if it came out of a story book. Richard took my hand and led me towards the middle of the park. He was holding both of my hands, while standing in-front of the fountain, looking very serious.

"Richard, is everything okay?" I asked him worried.

"You have nothing to worry." He assured me. He took a deep breath and then continued. "These past few weeks have been, without a doubt, the very best of my life. I have never met such a wonderful and funny and amazing woman like you, Christine. I've been thinking about this, and decided to go forth with it. In case you're wondering, I've already asked your kids if they agree with me, and Natasha herself said made me promise to treat you well, something that I was already planning to do ever since we started going more serious than before."

"Richard, what do you mean?" I asked him confused.

He looked me deep in the eye, and said. "Before I say anything, can you please look around?"

"Look around?"

"Yes, please. Look around." He motioned for me to turn my head from side to side, while looking at the scene around us. I did so, and while looking to all the rose bushes around us, I saw small twinkling lights wrapped around the roses, making the whole scene become a scene from a novel. The roses were glowing with the lighst placed in-between the leaves, the water on the fountain glowed with the candles floating above the water. I turned to face Richard once more.

"When did you have time for this?" I asked him while surprised.

"That doesn't matter, what matters now are my next words." He looked me in the eye once more. "Christine, we have been going strong for a while, and I want to make this," he motioned between the two of us, "official. And the only way to do that, is by asking you to go on a steady relationship with me. I feel like a little boy asking this, but, would you be my girlfriend?" He looked hopefully at my eyes.

I smiled and threw myself in his arms. I whispered, "Yes." He wrapped me tightly in an embrace. Then, I looked up at him, just in time to catch his lips while kissing me.

I was now in a steady relationship with a man who has been so special and nice to me, and has a great relationship with my children. What else could I ask for?