Chapter 19 - Life Starts Here

I waited nervously, wringing my hands as I mulled over the enormity of what I was about to do. What if she said no? What if she liked someone else? What if she wasn't the 'marriage type'? It was a spur of the moment decision to propose, but it just felt so right. Becca is the love of my life and I just couldn't imagine growing old with anyone but her.

'Hey, Loner!' I heard a yell and turned to see my girlfriend jogging towards me.
'Hey, Lovely.' I smiled.

She came over and pecked me on the cheek. 'You're not going to try and jump off this cliff are you?'
I chuckled. 'No. I, uh, got you these.' I thrust a crumpled bouquet of white roses into her hands.
'Oh, thanks! They're lovely.'

She stroked my cheek and I took her waist in my arms. She looked so beautiful standing there, her hazel eyes expectantly gazing into mine. I was getting choked up at the thought of getting to spend the rest of my life with this woman. Tears began to well up in the corners of my eyes.

'Honey, what's the matter?' She looked concerned as she wiped away a tear with a slender finger. Her fingernails were painted a pleasant dusty rose.
'I just... I'm fine.' I tried to remember the words to my hastily prepared speech, drawing a deep breath and pulling away from her. No turning back now.

'Rebecca, when I first saw you in the lunch queue at school, I thought you were the coolest person ever. Your crazy yellow jumper and bobble hat said it all, and before long we were inseparable.' She looked at me quizzically, trying to suss out where I was going.
'I can't remember the exact moment when it hit me that you were the one, but I know now that I have someone seriously special in my life. Your patience and kindness to others inspires me every day. I love and respect your spontaneity, it makes me want to try harder to be that way myself. Your sense of adventure is unlike anything else I've encountered, so, uh, let's go on an adventure together.'
Her eyes widened as it dawned on her what I was trying to say.

I fumbled in my pocket for the ring. It was my grandmother's - gold with a gleaming emerald in the centre. I finally got a hold of the box and held it up to Becca triumphantly, nearly falling over as I tried to get down on one knee.
'I love you beyond compare, so... um... do you fancy getting marri-'
I couldn't get the last word out. Rebecca had launched herself at me and was peppering my face with kisses. She yelled between each kiss.
'ARE... YOU... FREAKING... KIDDING... ME... OF... COURSE... I'LL... MARRY... YOU...!'
I chuckled, then broke into full-blown, uncontrollable laughter. She'd said yes!
'YOU SAID YES, YOU SAID YES, YOU SAID YES!' I shouted at the top of my lungs, falling back so I was lying down with her on top of me. She pinned me down with her arms either side of my shoulders and beamed down at me before leaning in for a kiss. I gasped for breath, worn out from laughter.
'Do you want your ring then?' I grinned.

I helped her to her feet, returned to one knee, and slipped the ring onto her finger. She collapsed into a fit of giggles again and I let her fall into my arms as I stood up.
'Just so you know, I think you're pretty great too.' She mumbled into my chest. By this time we were both crying tears of happiness. I caressed her hair with one hand and rested my chin on her head.

'I know. I think I'm pretty great too.' I joked.
She looked up at me with a mock-irritated look.
'Kidding, sorry. Perhaps we should check in to a hotel?'

So we called a taxi and set off for a dishevelled motel across town. We didn't care that it was grimy. We had each other. That was all we needed.

Although it was a little unconventional, I decided the first person to know of our engagement should be my little sister Hazel. We were pretty close and I knew she would be delighted. She was.
'So I'm gonna be a bridesmaid!?' She squealed.
'I don't see why not! You'll have to ask Becca really nicely though, and promise you'll study hard at school.'
'I will, I will!' She chattered before running to her room to plan out the whole wedding.

We asked Mum and Dad to join us in the dining room. Becca was trembling with nerves but I couldn't see why. My parents adored her; they'd known her for longer than four of my siblings had been around. Still, I squeezed my fiancée's hand reassuringly under the table. 

'So, Rebecca and I have some news for you guys.' They looked at me encouragingly. 'Um, I don't really know how to do this, so I'm just going to come out and say it. We're engaged!'

A gasp came from both parents.
'Oh, my darlings, I'm so happy for you!' Mum cried, reaching across the table and clutching Becca's hands. 'Tell me ALL about the proposal. Did he do it right? Did he get down on one knee?' Rebecca was grinning as my mum gushed at her.
'Yeah, he did. He's a proper gentleman.'

Later on, whilst Mum insisted I help her make celebratory pizza for everyone, I saw Dad talking to Rebecca.
'Welcome to the family, Becca. We're so pleased to have you.' He smiled as he patted her shoulder.
She was obviously overjoyed about hearing this. 'Oh, thank you, Mr. Bird, sir.'
He laughed. 'Please, call me Dayvid, Dear.'
At that she threw her arms around him in an affectionate bear hug. He looked perplexed, then smiled and hugged her back.

This was it. This was where my life began.