September, 1989

"This is just like our first date," Tracey said as she and Michael walked through the gardens at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, the evening light casting a blue tint on her pale skin.

"Yeah, I thought it would be fun to do it again," he said.

"Yeah, it is. It does feel a little weird to be on a date, though, given the circumstances."

"Why?" he laughed.

"I don't know. I guess it just feels weird for things to be continuing like usual. It's nice, though. You've been really great this last week, thank you."

"Any time," Michael laughed, trying with difficulty to conceal his nerves.

The truth was that he'd taken her here tonight to propose to her. He'd started thinking about it almost immediately after she'd told him she was pregnant a week ago, and that night he'd realized there was really no question. He knew they were young and they hadn't known each other very long, but they were going to be raising a child together anyway, they might as well get married. It would be best for their son or daughter if their parents were married. (It was unsettling but also exciting to be thinking about what would be best for his son or daughter.) And he loved her, he loved her now more than ever. He had no problem committing to her for the rest of his life. He couldn't imagine meeting anyone else he'd rather be with. He knew he was probably being naïve, but the more he thought about having a family with her the more excited he became, and part of him was actually glad this had happened. He'd always known he would get married someday, but in his mind it had always been to some faceless stranger. Now he knew who it was and it was Tracey. If she said yes. He was more than a little afraid that she wouldn't. She'd seemed to view their relationship more casually than he did from the beginning, but she did seem to love him, especially this past week, and it made sense for them to get married under the circumstances.

He hadn't told anyone about his plans or even about Tracey's pregnancy yet besides his mother. She'd chewed him out for not being more careful and hadn't exactly been supportive of his decision to propose to her, but when she'd realized she couldn't talk him out of it she'd offered to help them with money until he graduated and got a job. She'd also supplemented the money he'd earned from selling a bunch of his things to help him buy an engagement ring, which was a little embarrassing but also much appreciated. Tracey wasn't the kind of person who cared about things like that but he still wanted to give her a nice one. When he got a job he would pay his parents back for everything.

They reached the rotunda. It was time, he had to do it now, but he wasn't ready, his heart felt like it was going to beat right out of his chest. He took a deep breath.

"You know, I've been thinking about when I used to see you in the library, before I met you," he said, trying to keep his voice steady while he recited the speech he'd planned. Tracey smiled. "No matter what time I went there you were always there studying. At first I thought it was a crazy coincidence but then I realized you must just study all the time. I knew even then that I wanted to get to know you."

"You're so sweet," she laughed.

"And I was right," Michael continued. "Because the more I get to know you the more I fall in love with you. And I know that's just going to continue. So even though we didn't plan this and it's a little scary right now, I wouldn't change a thing. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Michael, what are you saying?" Tracey said. He dropped down on one knee.

"Marry me," he said breathlessly.

Tracey clapped a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god," she said. "Yes, yes!"

She laughed weakly, her eyes filling with tears. Michael laughed, too, mostly out of relief. He slid the ring onto her finger and stood up and kissed her. She laughed again and wrapped her arms around him.

"I love you," she said through her tears. It was the first time she'd said it.

"I love you, too," he said softly, and kissed her again, and as terrified as he was that they might not be able to pull all this off, in that moment it felt like everything was falling into place.