The Future – Part VI

Elise counted the days until Saturday. She couldn't wait to go ring shopping with her father. She was sure that this was the most exciting thing that she had ever done. Until now she thought that flying to Phoenix all by herself to see her grandparents was exciting, but this blew a one hour flight to Phoenix right out of the water.

Silently, Bill was counting the days, too. He had talked to each of Karen's children and the results were much as he expected going into it. Bill had met all three of them several weeks earlier when they all came to LA to visit Karen for Easter. He had gotten along well with both of her sons, but Danielle had been a little more distant and harder to warm up to. When he spoke to each of them on the phone, Jake and Nathan were both quick to give their blessings to the relationship. Danielle was less enthusiastic, but she made it clear that she would not stand in their way.

Bill explained to her that he and Elise were going ring shopping the next Saturday and he hoped to get her input since she knew her mother's taste better than either of them did. They would narrow down the selection to four or five rings and then call her. Bill would send her pictures over the phone and she could let him know which ring she thought her mother would like best. His suggestion worked like a charm. Danielle immediately perked up and seemed happy to be included. She told him that she would be waiting for his call on Saturday and ended the conversation by saying that she was happy that her mother had found someone who was so caring. She still wasn't jumping up and down excited, but in Bill's mind, at least it was a start.

Saturday finally arrived and ring shopping proved to be every bit as much fun as Elise had hoped. For her father, however, it was confusing and overwhelming. Elise had no trouble picking out her four favorite rings while Bill debated the color and shape and caret weight. They finally agreed on five rings and called Danielle to get her opinion. A sales woman modeled each ring as Bill took pictures and sent them to her. Danielle's response was the same for each of the first three rings: "That's pretty. Let's see the next one." It was the fourth ring that got her attention. It was an emerald cut diamond just under a caret in weight and set with a smaller, triangular cut diamond on either side. "Bill, that's it!" she squealed. "Mom will love that one. The emerald cut is her favorite. You have to get that one."

"Are you sure?" he asked tentatively.

"Absolutely. She'll love that one. My only problem with it is that it's set in yellow gold. Can you get it set in white gold? She'd like that better."

Bill asked the woman behind the counter who currently had the beautiful ring on her finger. She checked the computer and came back to him.

"We don't have that ring in stock in white gold, but I can order it. It'll take about two weeks to come in."

"Dani, are you sure that your mother would prefer the white gold?" Bill asked not really wanting to drag this out another two weeks.

"I'm sorry, Bill, but I know she would like it better in white."

"That settles it then, I'll order it in white gold and wait for it," Bill told her before they said their good byes.

The ring ordered, Bill and Elise exited the jewelry store and headed for home. Elise was practically distraught.

"Dad," she said in a tone just whiny enough to annoy her father, "you aren't really going to wait until the ring gets here to ask her, are you?

Bill's response was monosyllabic: "Yes."

"But, Dad, why do you have to wait. You can ask her and tell her the ring is coming."

"Where's your sense of romance? If a man ever proposes to you and he doesn't have a ring to go with it, I'll make sure that I have something to say about it! Ellie, I absolutely will not ask Karen to marry me until I have the ring in my hand. This discussion is over."

Elise knew better than to continue after her father had used his famous "This discussion is over" line, but she did anyway. "Dad! When the ring gets here in two weeks I'll be in Phoenix with Grandma and Grandpa. I won't even be here in LA."

"Sweetheart, I hate to break this to you, but you're not going to be present when I ask Karen to marry me. That's not a moment that warrants an audience."

"I'm not stupid, Dad! I know I'm not going to be right there with you. I just don't want to be so far away. I guess that kind of sounds stupid, but it's just how I feel."

Bill softened, "I'll call you as soon as I think it's appropriate. Okay?"

"I guess," Elise conceded with a sigh.

For Elise, the next two weeks were so busy that they seemed to whiz past in some kind of flash. The school year was ending and Elise immersed herself in studying for finals. She would easily get A's in English, Spanish and social studies as long as she got B's on the finals. Science was another story; she couldn't possibly pull off anything better than a B in that, so there was no point in even trying. Algebra would require an A+ on the final to get an A in the class, consequently, that was where she focused her time and energy. It didn't leave her much time to ponder her father's upcoming engagement.

Bill, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. While his daughter spent quiet hours studying, he had hours and hours of free time to think. He couldn't remember why they had discussed it, but during a conversation months earlier, Karen had laughed about the fact that getting engaged to Brian hadn't been a very romantic event. While all of her college girlfriends were getting engaged over romantic dinners or at picnics on the beach, Brian had taken her to a jewelry store, pointed to the ring he wanted to buy and said that if she wanted to get married that he would buy the ring. She had said yes, of course, but had barely been able to hide her disappointment.

Bill refused to let history repeat itself. He fully intended to make this the most romantic night of Karen's life. He searched the internet for the perfect restaurant and after reading reviews on thirty or forty different places, decided on "Surfside". It had received numerous five star ratings and sat just off the beach. The beach seemed the perfect place to propose. Now he had to decide just what he wanted to say. That might prove to be the hardest part of all. Bill spent hours pacing his study trying to come up with the perfect speech. It had to be romantic and heartfelt. He considered kneeling but wondered if that was corny. This wasn't coming together the way he wanted it to and he had the feeling that the two of them were going to be standing on the beach, he was going to mumble something incoherent and hand her the ring, thus ruining all of his plans for a the most romantic night of her life. This is why I've never been married, he told himself. I'm just no good at romance!

Now, with the two weeks behind him, Bill found himself on Friday afternoon at the airport taking Elise to catch her flight to Phoenix.

"After you drop me off, are you going to pick up the ring?" she asked him as they walked along the concourse toward the security check point.

"That's right. Once I know your plane is in the air, I'll go to the jewelry store." Bill tried hard to sound normal, but he was so nervous that he doubted that he was hiding it well.

"Are you two going out tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. After I pick up the ring, I'm going into the office. I have a lot of work on my desk, so I'll be there until late this evening. I'll probably just head home then."

"And you already have your reservation for dinner tomorrow night at 'Surfside'?"

"Yes."

"Which suit are you wearing? Don't wear blue pinstripes. You look like a lawyer on his way to court in that. Oh, and don't wear that black one. That one makes you look like an undertaker. I think you should go more casual. The black tweed, double-breasted jacket with black pants and a red tie would look great. I'd go with that."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Bill said feeling vaguely annoyed that his daughter was giving him fashion advice.

"Are you going to ask her before dinner or after? Or you could do it during. So when are you going to ask?"

"Elise, stop! I'm nervous enough without you wanting a play by play before the fact. I'll give you all of the details when I call you Sunday morning."

"Can you call Saturday night if it's not too late? I could wait up."

"No! Dinner isn't until 8:30, so we won't get back until late," Bill said trying to keep his voice down and not attract attention as his temper boiled over. "Don't expect me to call Saturday night. I've already told you that I'll call Sunday morning. And if I get the impression at any point that your grandparents know anything about this, Elise, I won't forgive you. Do you understand me?" he said each word distinctly as if to emphasize its importance. "I'll tell them on Sunday morning when I talk to you."

"Sorry, Dad. I'm just really excited. I'll stop bugging you and I promise not to say a word to Grandma and Grandpa."

They stopped at the security check point. Bill readjusted Elise's backpack. "You've got your ticket and your identification, right?"

"Got it," she said holding them out to him.

"And you know which gate you're going to, right?"

"A-11. All I have to do is go down the A corridor and count to 11. I can handle that, Dad. I've flown alone before, you know."

"Yes, I know, but you've always had an escort from the airline before because you were under 12. Now you have to do it on your own. I want you to call me when you get to the gate."

"I know. I'll call you."

"When you get to Phoenix, call Grandma and Grandpa so you know where they're waiting. Get off the plane and go straight toward the terminal. No stops in between. Try and follow a family that's getting off the plane. That way you'll look like you belong to them and no one will bother you. Don't talk to anyone. If anyone bothers you, you know what to do, just start screaming so you attract attention."

"Geez, Dad! Relax. You've been dealing with terrorists way too long! I'll be fine.

"I know. I just can't help worrying about you. I'm a dad. It goes with the territory."

Elise looked at her watch. "I've got to go, Dad."

"Okay. Give me a kiss. I love you. Have a good time at Grandma and Grandpa's," Bill said as he hugged her.

"I love you, too. Good luck tomorrow night. I'll have my fingers crossed."

Bill stood and waited until Elise passed through security. Once on the other side, she turned and waved at her father and blew him a kiss. Bill waved back and watched as Elise turned and walked toward gate A-11. He waited until she was fully out of site and then walked toward the terminal to get a cup of coffee while he waited for the plane to depart.

About two minutes later Elise called to let Bill know that she had arrived safely at the gate. "Good," he said as if he were talking to a field unit. "Are you all checked in?"

"I'm in line to check in now," Elise told him.

"Okay, after you check in," he started.

"I know, Dad! I'll sit near the check station so that if anyone bothers me, the airline employees would see it. Dad, we've been through this ten times. I'll call you right before I board."

"Okay, I'll talk to you then." Bill shook his head as he hung up. He knew he wouldn't relax until his father called and said that Elise had arrived safely. He waited pretty patiently for the next half hour until Elise called again and said she was boarding the plane.

Fifteen minutes later the fight arrival and departure board told Bill that Elise's plane was in the air. Air time was about an hour and fifteen minutes. Bill checked his watch as he left the airport. By the time he picked up the ring and drove to CTU, Elise should be landing.

The rest of the day went according to plan. Bill picked up the ring and then drove to CTU. Karen called while he was on his way.

"Hi," she said as Bill answered. "Did Ellie get off okay?"

"The flight was on time. I expect to hear from her in about fifteen or twenty minutes," Bill told her.

"Great. I'm sure she'll have a wonderful time with your parents. I know she was looking forward to it. Are you on your way into work?"

"I'm just a couple of blocks away."

"How late do you plan on working?"

Bill looked at his watch. "Well, it's almost two o'clock now. I guess I'll probably be here until about eight or nine."

"You're just going home after then, right?"

"I think so."

"Okay, well I'll see you tomorrow evening then. What time are you picking me up?"

"I should be there around a quarter of eight. That'll give us time to get to the restaurant for an 8:30 reservation."

"So, where are we going anyway?"

"Sorry, honey. It's a surprise. You'll find out when we get there. Just be dressed up."

"If I wear a black cocktail dress, is that dressed up enough?"

"That sounds perfect. Is it low cut? I could find myself looking forward to that."

Karen laughed. "Then I guess that's what I'll be wearing. I'm sure we'll talk before then. Don't work too late. Call me when you get home."

"I will. I love you, honey."

"I love you, too."

Bill parked his car and was entering CTU just as his phone rang. It was his father letting him know that Elise had arrived safely. Bill found himself heaving a quiet sigh of relief and wondering if he was going to be a basket case a few years in the future when she went off to college.

He settled in at his desk behind a mound of files that all needed his attention. Unfortunately, not even a foot thick stack of paperwork could interest him in work at that moment. All he could think about was the ring in his pocket. He took it out more than once to look at it. It sparkled in the light as Bill tilted it from angle to angle to examine it more closely.

"What have you got there?" Chloe asked as she entered his office.

Bill closed the hinged box with a snap and returned it to his pocket. "Chloe, don't you knock?"

"I did, but you didn't answer."

"Maybe that meant that you weren't invited in," Bill said testily.

"Sorry, I just thought you'd want these reports. As a department head I'm obliged to provide you with weekly reports and it's Friday in case you haven't noticed."

"You're correct on all counts, Chloe, but the reports can be left with my secretary. You don't have to hand deliver them."

"It seems counterproductive to carry them to your secretary and then have her carry them to you. I'm just eliminating the middle man," she snapped.

"Chloe, give me the reports! This discussion is over. I feel like I'm arguing with a twelve year old!"

"Yeah, right," Chloe said sarcastically. "As if a single guy like you would know anything about that!" she huffed as she walked away.

Bill smiled despite his anger. Oh, Chloe, he thought. You have no idea!

It was close to seven o'clock when Karen arrived home from work. She looked around her empty condo and tried to decide how she would spend the quiet evening alone. She wasn't used to being alone on a Friday evening any more since most Fridays were spent with Bill. Elise usually had some sort of school activity or party on Friday evenings and after they dropped her off, she and Bill would spend the time together. Oh well, she thought, quiet is not necessarily bad. She finally decided to take a long soak in her Jacuzzi tub and then she would do her nails for dinner the next night.

The bath proved relaxing. Karen soaked for a long time, finally deciding to get out before she turned into a prune. She walked into the bedroom wrapped in a towel and pawed through her dresser drawers looking for her favorite lounge clothes: a pair of pale lime colored satin pants and a matching print cotton camisole. She slipped into the clothes, grabbed a bottle of red nail polish and headed for the den. On the way she picked up an open bottle of wine and a glass from the kitchen.

Now with wine in one hand and the television remote in the other, Karen set about looking for something worthwhile to watch on television. She stopped after just a few channel changes at one of the old movie channels. Karen loved old movies and one of her favorites, Singing in the Rain, was about three quarters over. She stopped to watch the rest and checked to see what movie was on next.

"Yes!" Karen said to the empty air. Singing in the Rain would be followed by her all time favorite movie: Casablanca.

A bottle of wine and Humphrey Bogart. A single girl couldn't do any better than that when spending a Friday night alone, Karen mused. She polished her nails quickly to make sure that she could give Casablanca her undivided attention. Karen was blowing on her nails trying to speed up the drying process and the closing credits of Singing in the Rain were just starting when her phone rang.

"Damn it!" she said again to the empty air. "I don't want to talk right now. I want to watch my movie!"

Her attitude changed entirely when she glanced at the caller ID and saw that the call was from Bill.

"Hi," she said warmly into the phone. "Are you home yet?"

"No, not yet. I was on my way home and I started thinking about how lonely and quiet the place was going to be without Elise. I was passing Sweet Stuff bakery and I decided to pick up a couple of pieces of the chocolate bourbon cake and two cups of coffee. Are you interested in a little dessert?"

"Sure, if you're interested in watching Casablanca."

"I'd love to."

"Good, how long will it take you to get here?"

"Well let's see. It takes about six seconds from the elevator to your door. I'm about half way. Which means you can open the door right now."

"Are you kidding me?" Karen laughed and stood up to go to the door.

She opened it and there stood Bill, still holding his cell phone to his ear. In his other hand he held the coffee carrier with two cups and a small cardboard bakery box precariously balanced on it.

"You're so sweet," Karen gushed as she reached out to unburden him of the coffee and cake. She leaned in for a quick kiss and carried the items into the kitchen. She could hear Bill taking off his jacket and hanging it over the back of a dining room chair. "If you'll put the cake on plates," she called from the kitchen, "I'll go put some more clothes on." As soon as Bill came in she realized that she was wearing an awfully skimpy camisole and immediately felt self conscious.

Bill caught her by the arm as she exited the kitchen. "Now why would you do that," he whispered as he kissed her cheek and ran his hands up and down her bare arms. "I like you this way."

Karen tensed and stepped back a bit. "We should drink the coffee before it gets cold," she suggested.

Bill was able to take a hint as well as the next guy, so he quickly backed off. "I'll put the cake on plates. If you want to change clothes, go ahead."

"No, that's okay," Karen said not quite meeting his eye. "If you like this I won't change."

They carried the cake and coffee into the den and sat down just as the movie was starting. They both seemed a little tense at first, but by the middle of the movie, Bill had removed his tie and opened his shirt. He kicked off his shoes and propped his feet on the coffee table. Karen curled up with her feet tucked under her as she leaned against Bill, her head resting on his shoulder.

Karen wished that she could concentrate on the movie but she really wasn't able to. The sensation of Bill's hands on her bare arms earlier had been like an electrical charge through her body. Now his arm was around her nearly bare shoulders and he was absently tracing circles on her upper arm and she liked the feeling. She couldn't help but think how nice it would be to feel his hands on the rest of her body. But in point of fact, she was terrified. Her sexual experience amounted to over twenty-five years with one man who, as it happened, was gay. She suddenly felt like the kid who had failed math repeatedly but had been passed on to the next grade year after year by sympathetic, well meaning teachers. Now, that same student was in high school and having to admit that he couldn't add two and two together and get four. In short, Karen saw herself as a middle aged woman with three kids and no real sexual experience. How different was sex with Brian than it would be with Bill? What did Bill expect of her?

Bill spoke interrupting her train of thought.

"What a great movie," he said as Casablanca came to a close. He stretched and took his feet off of the coffee table and his arm from around Karen's shoulders. He looked at his watch. "Wow, it's after midnight. I need to head home," he said as he stood.

Karen stood and reached for his hand. "Why do you need to go? You already said that it's just going to be quiet and lonely without Elise." She blurted it out without really thinking about what she was saying, but as soon as she said it, she knew that she meant it.

Bill raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Are you suggesting that I stay here?"

"I'm not just suggesting it. I'm asking you to stay," Karen said confidently.

Bill shook his head slightly remembering how Karen had pulled away just a few hours earlier when he was caressing her arms. Now she was asking him to stay. He wasn't sure what to do with the mixed message. "Are you sure that's what you want."

Karen nodded and looked down as she put her arms around his waist. "I'm very sure." I sure hope he doesn't notice that I'm shaking! she thought.

Bill put his hands on either side of her face and turned it up so that he could look at her. "Are you sure you're ready for this? You seemed so uncomfortable with me touching you earlier."

"Yes, I'm sure. I've wanted you for a long time, but we never had the opportunity. I'm not going to tell you that the thought doesn't scare me a little."

"I don't want it to scare you, honey. I want it to excite you."

"Oh, believe me, it excites me, too, but it still scares me," she smiled a soft, embarrassed smile. "I love you and this is the natural next step, but you have to understand that I've only ever had one other lover and he was gay. I'm almost 50 and I don't know what to expect from a heterosexual man. Not to mention that the thought of undressing in front of a man at my age and after having three kids, is pretty intimidating."

Bill understood and pulled Karen close. "The first time with a new lover is always a journey into the unknown regardless of your previous experience. As much as I want you right now, I'm a little nervous, too."

"You shouldn't be. Anything you do is going to excite me," she told him as she stared into his crystal blue eyes.

"I feel the same way about you. And by the way, do you think that I look like I did when I was eighteen?" he asked with a smile.

"No, but it's different for a woman."

"Not in my mind. Honey, you turn me on. Believe me, I'm dying to undress you and feel what its like not to have anything between us, but it's your mind and your heart and your soul that really turn me on. I didn't fall in love with your body. I fell in love with you.

Karen didn't need to hear any more; Bill had eliminated all of her fears. She leaned her face into his and began to kiss him. Bill let out a soft groan that excited her even further.

"Did I ever tell you," she started in a husky whisper while Bill was kissing her neck and her knees were threatening to give way, "that I have a little two person Jacuzzi in my master bathroom?"

Bill groaned a little louder this time. "And you've felt the need to keep it a secret from me all this time?"

"There never seemed to be a good time to bring it up. Every time I considered it, it seemed like I was trying to seduce you."

"Did you think I'd have a problem with being seduced?"

Karen laughed and Bill launched into another flurry of kisses. Now it was Karen's turn to groan.

Somehow between kisses they found their way to the bedroom. And somewhere along the way they had managed to remove most of their clothing.

"I'll go start the water in the Jacuzzi," Karen whispered as they entered the bedroom.

"I don't think we're going to make it that far," Bill panted in response.

"That's fine with me," Karen hissed into his ear. She turned and pulled back the covers on the bed. They stripped each other of their remaining clothes and collapsed on the bed.

What followed was hours of breathless lovemaking. Their conversation reduced to one and two word phrases: More! Again! Don't stop! Oh, God! It was far more intense than either had expected or even thought possible and finally they fell into an exhausted sleep.

It was ten o'clock the next morning when a ringing phone brought them out of their reverie. Bill recognized the ring as coming from his cell phone and dragged himself out of bed to find the phone among his carelessly discarded clothing. He found his pants near the bedroom door and pulled the phone from the pocket. As he answered it he stepped into the hallway to try and avoid waking Karen.

"Hello," he said without looking to see who the call was from.

"Hi, Dad," Elise said happily. "I wanted to call and say good morning."

"Well, good morning," Bill said in return. He glanced into the bedroom and saw that Karen was awake. He put a finger to his lips to silence her and then mouthed "Elise" to her so she knew who he was talking to. Karen nodded her understanding, got up and went into the bathroom, silently closing the door. Bill could hear her running the water in the Jacuzzi and he fully intended to get back to her as soon as possible.

"Did you just get out of bed? You sound sleepy."

"I worked late and got home pretty late," he lied. "So I decided to sleep in. It's a little later than I realized."

Elise accepted the excuse unquestioningly. "Did you pick up the ring?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes, I did. Are your grandparents within listening distance?" Bill asked sure that his secret was doomed to be revealed before he ever asked Karen.

"No, Dad, I'm smarter than that. I took the dog for her walk and I brought my phone."

"That was good thinking."

"I get it from you. That's why Aunt Jane calls me 'Junior G-Man'."

"Your Aunt Jane is just a laugh a minute," Bill said sarcastically. "So, did you just call to make sure that I picked up the ring?"

"Yeah, and to make sure that you're not getting cold feet."

"Cold feet? Where did you hear that expression? I don't have cold feet and I'm going to ask her tonight. Are you satisfied?"

"I guess so, but I'll feel better when you call me first thing tomorrow morning," Elise reminded him.

"I'll call. Don't worry. Is that everything? Are you finished arranging my personal life?"

Elise knew he was joking and she loved it but she needed for the conversation to take a more serious tone. "There's just one more thing."

"Okay, what's that?"

"It's a favor, really. I need you to ask Karen for a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"After you get married, I want her to adopt me."

"Adopt you?"

"Yes. Legally. I want her to legally adopt me so that she's really my mother, not just my stepmother. Do you think she'd do that?"

"I think she'd be honored that you asked and I'm sure she'll agree." Bill could feel tears filling his eyes. Since before Elise was born, he had wanted her to have a mother who loved her. It had taken twelve years, but it had finally happened. She finally had the mother she had longed for, the mother she so desperately needed. He thought for a second of Ava, at what she had missed, and momentarily felt sorry for her. To love a child was fulfilling and somehow simply satisfying to the soul, but to have a child return that love was something entirely different. Being loved by a child carried its own depth and breadth of emotion that defied explanation. That was what Ava had missed out on and what Karen had known enough to enjoy.

"Thanks, Dad. I love you both and I can't wait until we can all be together all of the time."

"We love you, too, Ellie, and we miss you. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Okay?"

"Okay. Talk to you then. Good luck tonight."

Bill swallowed hard as he hung up the phone. Elise's request had taken him fully by surprise, but it was a good surprise and it made him incredibly happy. It also conjured up a huge batch of butterflies in his stomach. He still hadn't decided exactly how he was going to propose to Karen. He continued walking down the hall and into the dining room where he had left his jacket hanging on the back of a chair the night before. He removed the ring box from the inside pocket and looked at it again. That was it. He couldn't wait. The hell with dinner, he was going to ask her this morning. They could go out to dinner to celebrate, but after his discussion with Elise, he decided that he simply couldn't wait another ten hours to propose.

Bill went into the kitchen remembering that Karen had a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator. Karen had told him that the day her divorce was final she bought two bottles of champagne. Since it only took one to fully drown her sorrow (and she had the hangover the next day to prove it), she was saving the second bottle for a happier occasion.

Bill put the champagne on a tray along with orange juice, two glasses and the ring box. The box sat well below the lip of the tray so that he knew Karen wouldn't be able to see it from her vantage point in the hot tub. He practically shook with excitement as he carried the tray back to Karen's bedroom.

"Come in," Karen called when she heard Bill knock. She had just slipped into the bath and was eagerly awaiting his arrival.

"Look what I found," Bill said nodding toward the tray. "If it's a little too early for you to drink champagne, we can mix it with orange juice."

"That sounds great," Karen agreed.

Bill opened the champagne poured the two drinks and handed one to Karen before slipping into the water with her. They toasted by saying nothing but touching their glasses together and then kissing.

"Bill, last night…" Karen began after taking a long drink. "I don't know what to say. It was amazing. I've never felt that way before."

"Good," he said quietly as he kissed her cheek. "I always want it to be that way for you. You were pretty incredible yourself. If you noticed, I was enjoying myself as much as you were."

"Yeah, I noticed," she laughed. "There was one particular moment…"

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," Bill said looking away and trying not to laugh. "I don't know what you were doing with your tongue, but you can feel free to do that anytime! I'll try to be a little quieter next time."

"Don't you dare! I loved it. My neighbors probably loved it, too. I'm not sure I'll be able to look at Mr. or Mrs. Appleby for a while," Karen grimaced just thinking of the dour couple who lived next door to her.

They settled into each other's arms and sipped their drinks.

"What did Elise want?" Karen asked.

"She just called to say hello." Bill hoped that Karen couldn't tell that he was lying through his teeth. "She said to tell you that she loves you and she misses you." That part wasn't a lie, so it came out much easier.

"That's sweet. I hope you told her that I love her and I miss her, too."

"I did," he assured her. "Would you like another drink?" he asked as he got out of the hot tub to mix a second one.

"Sure," Karen said as she handed her glass to him. "It seems a little strange to be sitting in a bathtub together naked and talking about your daughter. I'm sorry, Bill. I know I complicated things last night when I asked you to stay."

"Don't apologize. I could have said no. I wanted this as much as you did," he replied as he poured the drinks. He leaned toward Karen and handed one of them to her.

"So, what happens now? When Elise gets home next week, do we go back to living the way we were and sleeping alone every night? I'm not sure that's what I want."

Bill finished pouring his own drink, his back facing Karen. "That's not what I want either," he told her. Silently he opened the ring box and extracted its contents. He closed the ring in the palm of his hand before he turned and got back into the hot tub. He could feel his stomach churning.

"So how do we remedy the situation?" Karen asked.

Bill took her glass from her and set it on the side of the hot tub. He opened his hand to expose the ring and then carefully slid it onto her finger. Karen gasped in disbelief. "We get married. That's how we remedy it," he whispered through an emotion filled voice. It wasn't exactly the romantic speech he had so wanted to prepare, but it seemed to fill the bill at the moment.

"Oh my God, Bill!" was all Karen could manage to say. "It's beautiful. I can't believe this is happening. I love you so much."

Bill pulled her into his arms and they kissed for a long time. "I'm sorry," he said as the kiss broke. "I wanted this to be the perfect moment. I wanted to do it at dinner tonight and I planned to take you on a romantic stroll on the beach, but I just couldn't wait another minute. I know this wasn't very romantic…"

"Are you kidding me! We're sitting in a hot tub drinking champagne after making love half the night. It doesn't get any more romantic than this. I won't exactly be telling my friends or my kids how we got engaged," she laughed, "but I'll always know and it will always be special to me."

"We have to come up with a plausible lie, because I know both Elise and Danielle are going to want to hear exactly how I proposed and they'll probably compare notes, so we have to tell the same story."

"We both work in government intelligence, there are no two people better suited to make up a lie that's plausible," Karen said smiling. "We'll work that out this afternoon."

"There's one more thing I have to tell you before we really make this official," Bill said.

"What's that?"

"Do you remember back when we went out to lunch after Jack was rescued and I first told you about Elise?"

"Of course I do."

"Well, I told you that day that I come with strings attached and that hasn't changed. When Elise called earlier, she wanted me to ask you a favor after I proposed tonight."

"Elise knew that you were proposing?"

"Yes, I felt like I had to talk to her and to your children before we took a step this big. I wasn't really asking their permission, but I did want to know that I had their support. All four of the kids were supportive."

"Even Dani?"

"Even Dani. She helped me pick out a ring." Bill stopped for a moment to explain the shopping trip.

"We got off track, Bill. What was the favor that Elsie wanted?"

"She wants you to adopt her."

"Adopt her?"

"That was my reaction. She said that she wants you to be her real mother and not just a stepmother."

"Oh, Bill," Karen started to cry. "I'd love nothing more. The answer is yes to everything. Yes, I want to get married and yes, I want to adopt Elise. How soon can we make this all happen?"

"Let's work out the details this week and we can tell her when she gets home." Bill paused for a second. "I hope you know how much I love you."

"I've never felt more loved in my life. And I love you, too."

Bill enveloped her in his arms unable to get enough of her. How a terrorist attack six months earlier could have put his past, his present and his future on such a collision course, he just couldn't figure out and he really didn't bother to try. Was it fate? Was it destiny? Was it all a part of some grand scheme? It didn't matter. All that mattered was that it happened and he and Karen and Elise were together now. They were a family facing a long and happy future together.

Thanks again to my faithful readers for reading and reviewing. Some of you have been R&Ring my stories for over two years now and I really appreciate it. I feel as if I've become friends with some of you.

In just over two years I have posted 16 stories or a total of 142 chapters with over a half million words in them. You have responded in kind by sending me 1288 reviews to date. But after all of that I'm starting to feel a little burnt out. I'm, at least temporarily, out of ideas. I've never been able to say that before. In the past when I've finished a story, I always had an idea for another story in the back of my mind that I wanted to work on.

So, I've decided that I need a break, at least for a while. I'm really hoping that if/when I decide to post again that you will be there to read and review. If not, I understand. For those of you who haven't read my earlier stories, I'd love to have you read and review. I love to get reviews and I'm going to go crazy knowing that I don't have any new stories to post and that the reviews are going to stop. So, help me maintain my sanity and read and review some of my old stories! Thank you all. It is really gratifying to know that you took the time out of your busy lives to read something that I posted. I can't thank you enough.