The Time Traveler's Wife

The Proposals

April 2017

"Has it occurred to you that the only reason you're doing this might be because Past Laura told you you're married at some point in your future?" Mattie demands from her library branch manager office.

As much as Mattie was kicking up a fuss, Carmilla knew she was on board. And as long as she had Mattie's blessing, she would let her grumble near and far to her heart's content.

That doesn't stop Carmilla from rolling her eyes.

"I heard that," Mattie snaps.

"Didn't say anything, sis," Carmilla says, overly sweetly.

A book comes flying through the office door and lands by Carmilla's feet at the circulation desk.

"Go shelf yourself," Mattie yells.

Carmilla laughs and picks up the book.

It felt good to laugh. It'd been a few months since she'd traveled back in time to receive that letter from her future self. In order to try and keep any proposal plans a surprise from Laura, Carmilla had returned and lied about when she went.

She didn't like lying to Laura, but she figured it was for a good cause. And she'd make up for it later.

The book her future self had told her to get wasn't even released until March, and trying to be patient for that long was difficult. But Laura was worth it.

Except the nerves were settling in, and then she'd traveled again last night—this time to the future. And that visit was giving her even more anxiety than the letter did.

She hears footsteps approach. "Budget cuts got you sweeping the floor with books, huh?"

Carmilla sits back up and narrows her eyes playfully at Laura. "At this point they should just fire the branch manager to save money."

"You're lucky I don't have another book in here to throw at you," Mattie growls from inside her office.

"Probably better coz you might hit me instead," Laura points out.

Mattie cackles. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Carmilla shoots Laura a wink. "I'd dive in front of a thrown book for you any day."

"My hero," Laura says, leaning in for a kiss.

Mattie finally pokes her head out of the door. "No, no, no-no, no," she snaps. "Not while Carm is still working."

Laura and Carmilla both roll their eyes, and Laura sneaks a quick peck before giggling at Mattie's scathing look as she sits down at a patron table.

After about an hour, Carmilla is putting on her coat as Laura wraps up work on her latest article.

Mattie waves goodbye from her office and gives Carmilla a thumbs up and a genuine smile.

"So, I know you said you wanted to visit the book store from our first date," Laura says after a couple blocks of walking in comfortable silence, "but LaF was wondering if they could draw some blood from you for testing for a thing they're working on for grad school."

Carmilla tries to remain calm. "Can't we do this tomorrow?"

"They only have the lab booked for another hour this week."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Carmilla says through gritted teeth.

Laura frowns. "I just got the text as we were walking."