Chapter 14 - THE SECOND PROPOSAL
I didn't kneel immediately.
That surprised Clara.
Instead, I closed the ring box.
"Not here."
She blinked.
"What?"
"The first time I proposed, I planned everything around what would impress you."
I smiled.
"Fancy restaurant."
"Champagne."
"Photographer."
"You hated the photographer."
"I did."
She laughed.
"This time, I want to do it somewhere that actually belongs to us."
Two days later, I took Clara to the small park where we used to walk when we were broke newlyweds.
Grace came too.
She ran ahead chasing pigeons.
The afternoon was cool.
Ordinary.
Perfect.
I stopped beside the old wooden bench where Clara once told me she was pregnant.
Then I knelt.
Clara covered her mouth.
"Clara Bennett."
Her eyes filled.
"I once promised you forever without understanding what forever required."
I opened the box.
"I thought love was something I deserved because I provided money, said the right things, and came home eventually."
My voice shook.
"I was wrong."
"Love is truth when lying would be easier."
"Love is showing up when nobody applauds."
"Love is respecting someone's freedom even when you're terrified they might use that freedom to leave."
Clara was crying now.
"So I'm not asking you to forget."
"I'm not asking you to become the woman who trusted me blindly."
"I love the woman standing here now."
"Strong."
"Independent."
"Careful."
"And completely free to say no."
I held up the ring.
"Will you marry me again?"
Clara laughed through her tears.
Then Grace ran back.
"Mommy, say yes!"
We both laughed.
Clara looked at our daughter.
"Did Daddy coach you?"
"No!"
Grace immediately pointed at me.
"He gave me ice cream."
"Traitor," I muttered.
Clara laughed harder.
Then she looked at me.
"Yes."
My breath disappeared.
"Yes?"
"Yes, Daniel."
I slipped the ring onto her finger.
This time it fit.
Grace threw herself between us.
"Family hug!"
We wrapped our arms around her.
There were no photographers.
No champagne.
No audience.
Only three people in a small park.
And it was the happiest moment of my life.
We married six months later.
Small ceremony.
Thirty guests.
Rachel stood beside Clara.
Marcus stood beside me.
Grace carried the rings and almost dropped them into a fountain.
My mother cried from beginning to end.
When Clara reached me, I whispered, "You sure?"
She smiled.
"Ask me again and I'll leave."
I laughed.
During our vows, I didn't promise never to make mistakes.
That would have been another beautiful lie.
Instead, I promised never to hide them.
Clara promised the same.
When we kissed, Grace shouted, "Finally!"
May you like
Everyone laughed.
But our story still had one final circle to close.
