"Julianna, I love my sister and wouldn't do anything to hurt her. I'm not suggesting we get married tomorrow or next week, but maybe in a few months. As much as I hate the thought, Adele only has a few weeks at the most. Are you worried what you're father will say?" AJ asked.
"No, I'm not, I just don't think that we should talk about getting married and having children in front of them. That doesn't mean that I don't want to talk to you about those things," she admitted with a shy smile.
"Will you marry me?" he asked seriously.
"Oh, AJ! Are you sure? It's so soon!" she looked worried and confused.
"Will you at least think about it?" he asked.
"I will only think of one other thing besides that!" she promised him.
"What is that?" he asked concerned.
"The gift that I still want to give you tonight, or had you forgotten?" she asked shyly.
"Then you had better get ready for bed while I make a trip to the local drugstore and pick up some condoms. If you're not sure you're going to marry me, then I don't want you to get pregnant. Kiss me, woman, so I can hurry and leave. The faster I leave, the faster I'll get back. Sweetheart, when I do get back, be ready for some sweet loving."
"AJ, I never said I wasn't sure about marrying you!" she stomped off down the hall to her room.
Hurrying down the hallway he caught up with Julianna. "Sweetheart, please forgive me, I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I love you so much it hurts. I can't live without you and the thought of you not returning my love the same way scares me," said AJ. "Please say you forgive me, my sweet Julianna."
"Who said I didn't return your love?" she snapped at him with a frown.
"No one, sweetheart, I'm a cad, please forgive me," AJ begged, taking her hand in his and kissing each fingertip and then the palm of her hand. "I was a fool, my love please say you'll forgive me."
"Nope, not till you promise to listen to me better! I am a speech teacher; I say what I mean clearly and correctly. If you are ever in doubt ask me!" she pouted.
"I promise to do that from now on, my love. Now may I be allowed to stay?" he asked.
"No trip to the drugstore?" she questioned.
"If you will allow me to stay I promise to make a quick trip to the drugstore," he promised.
"If you must go, then there is one close. Go out of the front door and turn left, it is fifteen steps to the corner, then turn right and twenty seven steps to Cooper's Drug Store. ACK! Your legs are longer than mine, it won't be as many steps for you!" she looked vexed trying to figure out how many steps his height would take off of the trip.
"Julianna, I get the feeling you don't want me to leave. Don't you want me to use protection?" he asked, confused she would not want to be married before she became pregnant.
She dropped her head again, blushing at his not understanding and making her spell it out. "AJ, I want to marry you and have your child! I love you! I just thought that we should know each other better before talking about such life changing things. I might have nasty habits that you can't stand, then you would be stuck with me!"
"I snore, would that bother you?" he teased. "I have also been called stubborn and bossy of all things."
"You? Never!" she giggled.
"No really it's all true," he declared. "I have even been known to be a neat freak do you think you could live with such a disgusting person?"
"Well, the neat freak is fine because things left on the floor are a hazard to me, but the snoring...I just don't know about that..." she sighed and shook her head sadly.
To be continued…