Elizabeth woke up the next morning after her perfect evening with Lucas and headed downstairs to make coffee. She secretly hoped he would join her so before going downstairs, she made herself look presentable.
She did not, however, expect to see Helen downstairs in her robe, making coffee. She contemplated going back upstairs but Helen heard her.
"Would you like some coffee, Elizabeth?"
"If its not too much trouble, yes."
"I was hoping you might join me."
"You were?" She tried not to show her shock in her voice, but it just popped out.
"Yes. Will you take a seat?" Helen gestured to the opulent dining table just off the kitchen.
"I suppose. Thank you."
Helen went through the trouble of organizing a tray that carried, a tiny pitcher of cream, sugar and coffee along with two cups.
"It smells wonderful. Thank you, Helen."
"I should be thanking you, Elizabeth."
"For what?"
"For coming into my son and granddaughter's life."
"I'm sorry, Helen, but I'm confused. You made it clear…"
Helen put her hand over Elizabeth's and patted. "I was completely wrong and unkind. Grief over losing someone is different for everyone and losing Clara…well, it put a crack in my heart that I'm not sure will ever be completely healed."
"Its hard to lose someone we love. We've both lost our husbands, Helen. I know what it feels like to be lost and grieving. I also know that I wouldn't have been able to move forward without my family and friends."
"I'm sure this won't surprise you but I don't have many close friends to rely on. Clara and I were very close."
"If you'll allow it, I'd like to be your friend. I'm sure one day, we will be family so I think that starting a friendship will be a great starting point."
"Elizabeth, I'm so very sorry for the way I treated you."
"I accept your apology, Helen."
Elizabeth stood and held her arms out. It took a moment but Helen got up and allowed the embrace.
"Friends?" Helen asked with tears in her eyes.
"Friends."
……
That evening…
Lucas held onto Elizabeth tightly, not wanting to let her go.
"I can't believe you are still leaving."
"Hon, its time. You'll be home next week and I'll call you every night." She pulled back and kissed him twice. "I love you."
"And me?" Aria asked from right next to them.
"Of course, bugs. I love you so much. You have so much fun with your dad and Nana, okay?"
"I wish we could come home with you."
"I'll see you soon."
The Uber driver showed up then so she had to go. They watched her walk out the door and get in and then she was gone.
"Well, Aria May, lets go pick out Elizabeth's engagement ring. What do you say?"
"YES!"
…..
The next week
"Oh my goodness, Daddy! I'm so excited! How long before we land?"
"About thirty minutes, honey."
"That's sooooo long!"
"I know it feels that way. I feel it too."
They were going to pick up some food, flowers and a blanket and then head over to Elizabeth's to pick her up. Then they were going to the beach where Lucas and Elizabeth had their first date and first kiss. Lucas knew that the romance of a proposal there might be slightly hampered by having Aria with them, but he also knew that Elizabeth wouldn't mind having her there.
At the store, Aria had the brilliant idea of getting the ingredients for s'mores because Elizabeth loved chocolate. They were going to build a fire to keep warm so s'mores made sense.
He also grabbed a bottle of sparkling cider, three plastic champagne glasses and then headed to the deli.
As they waited in line to checkout, he texted her.
"Hi, babe. We will be there soon. Dress warm. Love u."
"Dress warm? Why don't we just stay in? I can make dinner and we can watch a movie."
"I thought a picnic would be fun."
"A picnic in November?"
"Trust me, Beth. We will have fun."
"I trust u."
"Daddy."
"Hm?"
"Its our turn."
"Thanks, hon."
About fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to Elizabeth's and Aria bolted out of the car. She had missed Elizabeth almost as much as he had, if he had to guess.
Elizabeth opened the door and her arms, hugging Aria with all the love of a mother. His heart filled with her, needing her to be his wife very soon.
"Hey," she said, reaching for him once Aria went inside.
"Its been a long week," he mumbled against her warm, insistent mouth. "I missed you."
"Mm. I missed you too, honey. It's freezing. Let's get warm."
"We should really get going. Wanna catch the sunset."
She tilted her head at him, trying to read his face. He wasn't giving anything away.
"Aria May, let's go."
"Okay, Daddy! This is going to be so much fun!"
Lucas laid out the blanket that he had brought and had the girls sit on it and then he started a fire to keep them warm.
"Do you want me to get the food out?" Elizabeth offered, feeling weird having him do everything.
"That's okay, babe. I'll do it."
He knelt down and opened the basket of food. Instead of her favorite foods like he had done on their first date, he went with things that would keep them warm.
"We have ham and potato soup with lots of crackers," he began, handing the container to Elizabeth.
"Yum. That sounds great."
"We also have meatloaf and mashed potatoes."
"Yum! Daddy, I would like that please."
"Then for later, I have a thermos of coffee."
"And s'mores! Don't forget those," Aria told him.
"Right. S'mores for dessert."
Elizabeth ate her soup and watched him plate Aria's food and then grab some food for himself. He seemed relaxed and yet nervous at the same time.
His eyes traveled to hers. "What is it?"
"Just curious what the occasion is."
"I missed you and Aria missed you." He shrugged, the tips of his ears turning a bit red.
"Okay." She smiled and sipped her soup, covering with a second blanket and staring into the fire.
He leaned back next to her and took a bite of meatloaf, dipping it in his mashed potatoes.
"You're up to something," she told him, kissing his cheek. "Which is fine, but I think its more than that you both missed me. This is where we first kissed. Its not just any beach."
"True," he said, nodding and kissing her cheek too.
"How is your mom doing?" she asked, changing the subject.
"She's doing well. She will be flying here for Christmas. She said to tell you she'd love to make Christmas dinner with you."
"Really? That would be great."
"Good."
After they ate their food, he started looking nervous again, bouncing his leg and not making eye contact. Rather than ask him what was going on again, she kept her mouth shut and just snuggled under the blanket with Aria.
"Elizabeth?" he said quietly.
"Hm?"
"I love you so much." She looked at him. He was kneeling in front of her, reaching for her hand.
"I love you too, Luke."
"I feel so blessed to have you in our lives. The last week was torture being away from you. I don't want to be apart ever again."
"Will you be my Mommy?" Aria asked, almost as if they had rehearsed it.
"Wait, what did you say, sweetie?"
"Will you be my Mommy?"
"Yes, honey, but your Dad needs to… wait…Lucas?"
He held out his hand and she gasped. The most gorgeous marquis cut diamond she had ever seen.
"Beth, will you be Aria's mommy and my wife?"
"Yes! Of course I will. To both of you!"
"Yay!" Aria cheered.
Lucas slipped the ring on her finger and pressed his lips to hers briefly. He would give her a proper kiss later.
"I knew you were up to something!" she laughed. She looked down at her ring and smiled. "This is so beautiful."
"That's not the one I wanted him to buy," Aria told her.
"No?"
"No. You could land a plane on the one she wanted me to buy. It was like six carats."
"It was so pretty though," Aria told her, leaning her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. "I guess this one is fine."
"This one is perfect. Thank you for helping your dad pick it out, sweetheart."
"You're welcome. It was fun. Can we go play on the playground?" Aria asked. "I want to swing."
"Sure, lets go."
After swinging for a while and watching the sunset, they got the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers out. All was now quiet except for the crackling of the fire.
Elizabeth watched her marshmallow turning slightly brown, not quite done enough for herself.
Aria giggled. "Mommy! Look, my marshmallow is on fire!"
Elizabeth's heart filled with love hearing those words. "I see, bugs. Blow it out."
Elizabeth's eyes caught Lucas' and he smiled, his eyes shining. He winked at her and pulled his marshmallow back and quickly slid it onto his chocolate and Graham cracker.
"Mmm," Aria said, eating her charred, sweet sandwich. "Yummy."
Aria finished her treat and came back to sit on Elizabeth's lap. She leaned back and put her small hands in Elizabeth's bigger ones.
"How long?" she asked, turning and looking at Elizabeth.
"How long what?"
"Before you're my Mommy for real and you live with us and can tuck me in every night?"
"Soon, sweetie."
"Promise?"
"Of course."
….
Later
All three lay on a blanket, staring up at the stars. Aria wanted to see a shooting star. Lucas just wanted to be with Elizabeth. Wanted to enjoy their engagement night.
Lucas got up on his elbow and looked at Elizabeth who was way over on the other side of Aria. She looked at him and smiled.
"Hi."
"Hi."
He looked down at Aria and realized she was asleep.
"I miss you," he told her.
She got up and came over to his other side and snuggled with him. "Better?"
"Yeah."
His eyes held her captive for a long moment. He raised her hand to his lips, placing a kiss softly on her palm.
"I want to marry you very soon, Lucas."
He nodded, kissing the sensitive skin on the inside of her wrist. She shivered, feeling goosebumps pop up all over.
"Cold?"
"No." She placed her hand on his beard and then moved closer, needing a proper kiss after the night they'd had. "Kiss me," she whispered. He didn't have to be asked again.
His mouth covered hers within a second, quickly deepening their connection and making her hot and cold all at the same time.
She wrapped her arms around him and he did the same, pulling her as close as he could.
"Mm," she moaned, pulling back to breathe. His lips kissed a trail along her jaw and then behind her ear and down the soft skin of her neck.
He loved her soft, powdery scent, the way she fit perfectly in his arms, the taste of her lips. God had made her for him and he was beyond grateful.
"Let's get married around Christmas. Maybe the day after?" he suggested. "Mom will already be here."
"So about a month," she said, agreeing. "That's perfect."
"Small? With Carson and Faith and your parents and sisters?"
"Yeah." Then she remembered. She didn't know how it would work with her mom now dating someone and her dad not. It would be super awkward to say the least.
"You're worried about your mom dating?" he guessed.
"Yeah. I just know how awkward it will be and I don't want our wedding to be awkward."
"I would suggest eloping but I can wager a guess none of our family will want us to do that."
She sighed and snuggled closer. "You're right. Just hold me a little longer and then we can go home."
He was more than happy to do just that.
