Valentine's Day

Proposal

They're watching, but I don't care. I leap to my feet, my legs almost buckling under me from stiffness. I launch myself into his arms, sobbing into his shoulder, hugging him as hard as I can.

"You came back. You said you wouldn't be back and you came. You're here. You came back," I cry into his shirt while everyone looks on.

"I know. I'm here. I came back to you," he whispers, stroking my hair, trying to calm me.

Eventually I'm calmer, but I still hug him, cling to him, refusing to let go. He gently presses something into my hand and I step back just an inch to look at it. It's a beautiful silver ring, with small emeralds and a larger ruby set into it.

Will takes my hands and looks me in the eye. "I'm here. And... I want to be here for you.... forever."

He takes a knee, still holding my hand.

"Clair, will you marry me?"

A smile splits my face in half as more tears spill down my cheek.

"Duh!" I hug him again, even tighter.

Behind us, Dad shakes his head as everyone else either hugs each other or smiles broadly, some crying silently, some almost jumping for joy.

"I didn't sign up for this," Dad mutters.

But he's smiling, too.