Blue eyes cuttin' through the summer day
Every ray of light seems to come from her face
From the tip of her toes to the top of her curls
She's a hundred percent American girl
She's my sweet sun angel
-Sweet Sun Angel, Clay Walker
A few days after he had talked to Emma and Killian, Calin was beginning to plan out how to propose to Anna Elizabeth. He decided to go to the person whom he had told about the ring – Evie.
He knew that Anna Elizabeth was working a shift at the daycare center and had found out that Evie had stayed home from the hospital because Leo had a cold.
So, on his lunch break, he drove over to the apartment. He knocked on the door a couple of times and was greeted by a tired looking Evie.
He quickly apologized, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I should have realized you wouldn't be up for visitors. I can just come back…"
Evie cut him off, "Calin, it's fine. I think I know why you're here, and I could use the distraction. I love my son, but he isn't the best patient. It took me half-an-hour to get him down for a nap."
Calin nodded before he spoke, "Thanks, Evie. I thought you would be the best person to help," as Evie ushered him inside.
Evie nodded as well before she observed, "Well, I can tell by the smile on your face that you got Aunt Emma and Uncle Killian's blessing?"
Calin smiled as he responded, "Yeah, I did. Now, all that's left is to actually propose. The problem is that I'm not sure if she'll like what I'm planning, and even if she does, I'll be a babbling idiot trying to ask her."
Evie couldn't help but grin at him before she told him, "We both know that she's going to say yes, so there's no need for you to be nervous about that part…"
"You really think she'll say yes?" Calin asked nervously.
Evie sighed as she began, "That's just your nerves talking – you know that she will." She then took a breath and continued, "But in case you need reminding, here you go: I have known Anna
Elizabeth my entire life. Literally. We're practically sisters – we've been there for each other for everything. I'm one of the people who knows her the best, and I know that she is head over heels, hopelessly, and completely in love with you, Calin James. But more than that, I know that she wants a future with you.
She has always wanted and dreamed of having a love like her parents – both her birth parents, and Aunt Emma and Uncle Killian. She has always dreamed of the perfect little house with the perfect guy and little Anna Elizabeths running around. But then she realized that perfect doesn't quite exist, and it took her a little while to be okay with that. She knew she had to learn to stand on her own, and that she needed to get her education. She was perfectly content and happy, but then I saw a different kind of happiness when she met you, and you two began dating. And now, it's the happiness that equals forever," she finished with a bright smile.
Calin returned her smile as he sincerely told her, "Thank you, Evie. I needed to hear that."
"No problem," Evie began. She then questioned, "So, about Anna Elizabeth not liking what you have planned?"
Calin sighed as he answered, "It's just that…well… Anna Elizabeth is perfect to me. I know she has her faults – we all do – but they're part of the reason I fell in love with her. I just want the proposal to be as special as she is."
"You worry entirely too much – no wonder you and Anna Elizabeth love each other. You two can over-stress together," Evie teased. Calin rolled his eyes before she continued, "And I know that she will adore whatever you have planned. It's like I told you – she's crazy about you."
Calin nodded before he pulled a piece of folded paper out of his pocket and handed it to the brunette, "Can you at least tell me what you think?"
"Of course I will," Evie told him before she unfolded the paper. She read the few lines that was on it and smiled.
She then assured him, "This is perfect. She'll love it."
Calin returned her smile as he replied, "I knew that she would, but I wanted another opinion. Preferably a female one."
Evie chuckled at that before she surmised, "So, I take it that you tried asking Ethan?"
Calin shook his head as he responded, "Try being the key word. I love my brother, but romance isn't in his vocabulary."
Evie chuckled once again before she asked, "So, based on the lack thereof in your plans, I'm guessing that you're not going to plan out what to say to her?"
"Well, I did think about it. It'd probably be less likely I'd make an idiot of myself that way. But then I realized – like with every other genuine heartfelt thing I've told to Anna Elizabeth – that I would go completely blank as soon as I look into her eyes," Calin admitted rather sheepishly.
"Well, I think it's sweet that she still makes you nervous," Evie told him.
"I'm not sure sweet is the right word," Calin responded.
Evie only grinned at him before she told him, "Regardless, your proposal will be special, and Anna Elizabeth will say yes."
"Thank you, Evie," Calin began. At Evie's nod and "you're welcome", he continued, "Well, I should head to Granny's to grab a bite to eat, so I can head back to work."
"Alright, Calin, I'll see you later," Evie bid him goodbye. Calin did the same before he headed for the door.
However, he was stopped when he heard Evie's cry of "Oh, shoot!" He turned around and asked, "Everything okay, Evie?"
"Yeah, I'm just out of apple juice. The only way I can get Leo to take his medicine is with the juice, and it'll be time for another dose when he wakes up from his nap," Evie explained with a groan.
"No worries. I'll stay here with him while you run to the store," Calin offered.
"Would you? That would be great," Evie told him before she sighed in relief, mostly because she knew that she could trust Calin with her little boy.
"Absolutely," Calin assured her.
Evie nodded before grabbing her keys and phone. She then headed for the door. As she was walking out, she called, "I'll grab you something from Granny's." Before Calin had time to protest, she had shut the door behind her.
As soon as Evie had left, Calin moved to sit on the couch. Before he could, however, he heard, "Mommy!"
Calin rushed to the nursery to find Leo standing in his crib.
Leo looked up and furrowed his little bows as he asked, "Uncle Cawin?"
Calin walked over to the little boy and told him, "Mommy went to town. She'll be back soon."
Leo nodded before he stated, "Juice."
"That's what Mommy went to go get. You think you can wait?" Calin replied.
"Wait, Uncle Cawin," Leo responded, and Calin smiled at him.
Leo then asked, "Play cars?"
"Sure, Leo," Calin responded before he lifted the little boy from his crib.
As Calin placed Leo down, the brown-haired boy toddled over to his toy-box and pulled out his fire truck and police car.
He set the fire truck down on the floor before he handed the police car to Calin and asked, "Play wit me?"
Calin ruffled the boy's hair as he told him that he would. The boy smiled brightly as Calin moved to sit on the floor.
As he played with the little boy, he became reflective. He couldn't fathom how anyone could hurt the woman whom they loved the way that Chase had hurt Evie. True, Calin may not have known Evie when all that happened, but he could still see how hard it was for her.
Calin grew up as an only child. While he had really great friends, he never really felt like he knew what it was like to have a sibling. When he lost his parents during his first year of college, he felt completely alone.
That is, until he met Anna Elizabeth. Shortly after, she introduced him to her family, and they began dating soon after. Now, two years later, he felt like he had the brothers and sisters he had always wanted in Anna Elizabeth's brother and her cousins.
However, six months ago, Calin had discovered that he did, in fact, have a sibling. A half-brother named Ethan, who was the product of his mother's first marriage. He knew about the marriage, but she had failed to mention the fact that she had another child.
The amount of emotions that Calin felt - most of which were anger and hurt - were overwhelming. His saving grace had been a letter that he found after going through his mother's possessions.
He also owed a lot of credit to Anna Elizabeth. He wouldn't have gotten through it without her. She had saw him at his most vulnerable and at his worst, yet she stayed by his side. She even traveled with him to Rhode Island to meet Ethan (which took a hell of a lot on Calin's part to convince Killian that nothing would happen).
When they had gotten back, and Calin's life had returned to normal, he then realized that he had found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. That's when he started looking at rings. When he had found one that he knew that Anna Elizabeth would adore, he brought Evie to the jewelry store and showed her. The next week, he began working those extra hours so that he could afford to buy it.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Leo rammed the fire truck into the police car, subsequently hitting Calin's leg with the white and black toy due to his lack of attention.
"Uh-oh," Leo stated. He then brought those green eyes up to Calin's brown ones and apologized, "I sorry, Uncle Cawin."
"It's okay, Leo. I wasn't doing a very good job of playing," Calin assured him.
Leo nodded just before he and Calin both heard, "It looks like my favorite boy is up from his nap."
Leo turned toward the door and his eyes brightened. He got up and ran over to his mother, where he wrapped his arms around her legs.
He then looked up and asked, "Juice, Mommy?"
"Yes, Leo, Mommy got your juice. Now, come on, so you can take your medicine," Evie told him.
"Yuck," Leo responded.
Evie had to refrain from sighing as she told him, "It'll help you feel better so you can go outside and play."
"Side?" Leo repeated.
Evie nodded before she said, "If you are really good, and you take your medicine for two more days, Mommy will take you to the park."
"Park!" Leo repeated excitedly. He then asked, "Aunt Anna Bef and Uncle Cawin come?"
Evie glanced at Calin, who then told the little boy, "We'd love to come."
"Yay!" Leo cheered. He then ran to the kitchen, where he knew the medicine was.
Evie and Calin both chuckled before she turned to face him. She then told him, "Thanks for watching Leo."
"Any time. I love that little guy," Calin replied with a smile.
Evie returned it before she told him, "Your food is on the table."
Calin nodded before he headed toward the kitchen, with Evie following him. She scooped up her son before he got into something he shouldn't before they both bid Calin goodbye.
He told them goodbye as well. As he headed for the door, Evie's voice stopped him. When he turned around to face her, she told him, "I mean what I said earlier, Calin. There's no doubt that Anna Elizabeth will say yes to you. And then you'll practically be a member of our family."
Calin smiled as he told her, "I already am." He then headed out the door and back to his job.
That afternoon after work, Calin pulled in front of Killian and Emma's house. He found out that Anna Elizabeth was using their backyard to wash her car.
He took a deep breath before walking around to the back of the house. As he came closer, he could have sworn that he heard singing.
As he reached the backyard, he grinned where he realized from where the singing was coming.
Anna Elizabeth had her radio cranked up and was belting out some Bon Jovi: "Whoa, whoa, we're halfway there! Whoa, whoa, living on a prayer! Take my hand, and we'll make it, I swear..."
Calin's grin grew into a smile as he continued to watch her sing, especially when she added air guitar. She didn't know he was watching, but it wouldn't have mattered if she did.
For all the ways that Anna Elizabeth was wise beyond her years and how mature she was, she would never hesitate to be an 80s rock star given the chance. And Calin loved that about her.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he saw Anna Elizabeth slip on the soapy and wet ground.
His eyes widened as he ran over to her. He didn't realize how slick the ground was until he went tumbling toward the ground as well. He landed on top of Anna Elizabeth.
After a moment, he pulled back to look at her face and worriedly asked, "Are you alright, Anna Elizabeth?"
"I'd be a lot better if you weren't crushing my lungs," Anna Elizabeth quipped.
It was then that Calin realized that he was, in fact, probably crushing his girlfriend with his weight. He quickly rolled off her and sat up. He then proceeded to help her get to a sitting position.
He moved the damp curls from her face and asked once more, "Okay, now, are you alright?"
Anna Elizabeth smiled at him as she answered, "Yes, Calin, I'm fine. It wasn't that hard of a fall."
Calin returned her smile as he replied, "As long as you're sure."
"Of course I'm sure," she assured him as she ran her fingers through his brown hair.
She then carefully moved to stand up, and Calin moved to follow her.
She then took the sponge out of bucket, and he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Well, the plan was to finish washing my car," Anna Elizabeth answered. She then teased, "Are you gonna stand there and look good or are you gonna help me?"
Calin grinned and shook his head before he grabbed a sponge.
Half-an-hour later, Anna Elizabeth and Calin were drinking lemonade as they leaned against the side of the house.
Anna Elizabeth then told him, "Thanks for helping me finish washing the Mustang."
"Sure thing, Anna Elizabeth," Calin replied with a smile.
She smiled back at him before she observed, "Since I know you didn't come here for that reason, why did you come here?"
"I can't just come and see you?" Calin defended.
Anna Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at him in response.
Calin chuckled before he set down his lemonade, and Anna Elizabeth followed his gesture.
He then wrapped his arms around her waist, settling his hands on the small of her back. Anna Elizabeth lazily draped her arms around his neck before she eyed him curiously.
He took a deep breath before he told her, "Well, I came to ask you out."
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she responded, "Well, I suppose I could run home and get changed..."
Calin cut her off, "I mean a really nice date, Anna Elizabeth."
"Oh," Anna Elizabeth replied in understanding. She then asked, "What are we celebrating?"
Calin froze for a moment before he quickly recovered, "Your graduation. I know that we celebrated with your family, but I thought we'd celebrate with just the two of us."
Anna Elizabeth knew that there was more to it than that, but she was looking forward to a date with her boyfriend.
She smiled brightly at him as she told him, "That sounds wonderful."
Calin returned her smile as he replied, "Great. How about Friday night at 6?"
Anna Elizabeth nodded before she told him, "I'll see you then."
Calin nodded as well before he sweetly kissed her. They exchanged goodbyes before he went on his way.
As he got into his car, he pulled the engagement ring out of his glove box. He smiled as he looked at it. He then spoke, "I can't wait to put this on her finger."
CSCSCSCSCSCSCS
Calin finished buttoning his gray dress shirt before he looked in the mirror of his bathroom.
He even surprised himself because he wasn't nearly as nervous as he thought he would be. Then again, he hadn't seen Anna Elizabeth.
He smiled as he thought about that after tonight, he would be engaged to the love of his life.
Calin then moved toward his bedroom. He grabbed the ring box from his dresser and slipped it in his pocket. He took a deep breath before he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
When he arrived at Anna Elizabeth and Evie's apartment, he knocked on the door a couple of times. A moment later, the door opened, and Calin forgot how to breath.
Anna Elizabeth had on a knee-length red dress. The lacy dress had sleeves short enough to just show off her shoulders, and she had worn a pair of gray flats with it. Her blonde curls were pulled all to one side with Elsa's diamond clip.
Calin couldn't help but stare at her, and he did so until her voice pulled him from her thoughts, "Are you just going to stare at me?" with a small chuckle.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Calin began. He then cleared his throat and continued, "You look absolutely gorgeous, Anna Elizabeth."
Anna Elizabeth smiled at him and responded, "You're quite handsome yourself."
He smiled back at her. He then asked, "Are you ready?" as he reached out his hand toward hers.
She entwined their fingers before she locked eyes with his and answered, "You bet." They then walked hand-in-hand toward his car.
As Calin opened the car door, Anna Elizabeth asked, "So, where are we going?"
Calin grinned as he replied, "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."
Anna Elizabeth only grinned in response before her boyfriend shut her door and went around to the driver's side.
Calin drove down to a secluded part of the beach, where he had a fold-out table and chairs set up. Tiki torches surrounded the table.
Anna Elizabeth's eyes lit up as she took in the scene before her. She turned to Calin with a bright smile and asked, "You did all of this?"
Calin returned her smile as he responded, "I wanted it to be special."
Anna Elizabeth's smile widened as she told him, "Well, I say that you succeeded."
Calin grinned at her as he replied, "You haven't seen the best part."
Anna Elizabeth eyed him curiously as he pulled the car to a stop. He then put it in park before going around and opening her door.
As soon as she was out of the car, the sound of "We Built This City" was blaring through the wireless speakers hooked up to Calin's iPod.
"I know it's not the most romantic song, but…" Calin was cut off by Anna Elizabeth's lips on his. He wrapped his arms around her waist as he deepened the kiss.
When they pulled away a moment later, Anna Elizabeth gasped, "You remembered."
Calin smiled as he replied, "Of course I did."
"I sing all of the time. How in the world do you know the song I was singing when we first met?" Anna Elizabeth asked him with surprise in her voice.
Calin's smile grew as he teased, "Well, it's not every day you meet a girl belting out an 80s song."
He then moved a curl behind her ear and continued sincerely, "I knew I had to get to know the girl with the beautiful blue eyes and blonde curls who had a love of singing."
Anna Elizabeth blushed under his praise before Calin pulled her in for a soft kiss. They pulled away a minute later and rested their foreheads against each other's, just enjoying the moment.
Calin then pulled away and took his girlfriend by the hand. They walked toward the table, where he pulled out the chair for Anna Elizabeth.
He then sat down across from her and pulled out the plates from a picnic basket, as well as a plastic bowl of spaghetti.
Anna Elizabeth eyed it curiously before she asked, "Granny's has spaghetti?"
"I made it, Anna Elizabeth," Calin told her.
The look of surprise on Anna Elizabeth's face was comical as she asked, "You can cook?"
Calin chuckled as he told her, "You don't have to be so shocked."
Anna Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle as well before she pointed out, "I've known you for over two years, and you never told me that you could cook."
She then added, "That, and my experience with guys cooking is my dad throwing a pizza in the oven."
Calin grinned at her comments before he became reflective and bemused, "After my parents died, I had to learn how to take care of myself. That included cooking."
Anna Elizabeth reached across the table to squeeze one of his hands. She then told him, "You're no longer without a family, Calin. I'm your family, and I'll never leave your side."
Calin smiled genuinely at her before he brought her hand to his mouth and planted a soft kiss on it.
"If only you knew" he thought. Once he released her hand, they began eating.
As Anna Elizabeth started eating, she paused after she swallowed the first bite. She tilted her head and smiled as she looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You fixed spaghetti on purpose, didn't you?"
"Now, why would I do that?" Calin questioned, feigning ignorance.
"Well, it played a part in our first kiss," Anna Elizabeth answered. She then began laughing and added, "That probably sounds so weird to people who don't know the story."
"I'm sure that it does," Calin agreed before he laughed as well.
He then told her, "For the record, that shirt still smells like you no matter how many times I've washed it."
Anna Elizabeth grinned at him as she told him, "Well, I will be forever grateful that you lent me your favorite plaid shirt so I wouldn't have to go to two classes with a big spaghetti sauce stain front and center."
"Even though you were afraid that I would stain my shirt?" Calin reminded her.
"It's not like you can blame me. You were wearing a plain white t-shirt under your other one," Anna Elizabeth pointed out.
"And then you were freaking out when you returned the shirt because you accidently popped a button," Calin replied.
Anna Elizabeth sighed before she told him, "I freak out about everything. I can't help it."
She then grinned and continued, "Although, you were the one freaking out when you turned my grateful cheek kiss into a real kiss. You started babbling about being too forward and how you thought I would be upset because the school wasn't romantic enough. All while you kept biting your lip."
"And then you shut me up by kissing me," Calin began teasingly. He then smiled genuinely at her and continued, "I still get goosebumps when I think about how amazing that kiss was."
Anna Elizabeth blushed once again as she began twirling her hair as she looked down. She slowly brought her eyes back up to his and then asked him a bit self-consciously, "Do you think that it's a bit immature of me to still feel fireworks every time we kiss?"
Calin didn't even hesitate to respond, "Well, if it does, then we're both a hopeless case. Because every time I look into your eyes, I forget how to breathe."
Anna Elizabeth brightly smiled at him as he told him, "Well, I suppose that makes us both fools in love. That's what makes us perfect for each other."
"Yeah, it does," Calin agreed as he returned her smile.
An hour later, Anna Elizabeth and Calin were watching the sunset as they sat on the hood of his car. She had her legs folded to the side and had her head on his shoulder. Calin had one arm wrapped around her with his hand resting on her hip. The other was resting flat beside him on the hood. They were sitting in comfortable silence, save for her soft humming.
As a ballad finally came on, Anna Elizabeth looked up at Calin and told him, "Dance with me."
Calin lightly chuckled before he placed a kiss on her forehead, He then told her, "You know I have two left feet."
"That doesn't matter to me, Calin. I just want to dance with you," Anna Elizabeth responded.
Calin stared at her for a moment before he nodded. He got off the hood before he helped Anna Elizabeth down.
He then suggested, "How about we just sway to the music? I'm less likely to step on your feet that way."
Anna Elizabeth shook her head at him but agreed nonetheless.
She then wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped his around her waist. They then began swaying along to Journey's "Faithfully".
They got lost in each other's eyes and wrapped in what was truly a magical moment. Both of them leaned in and shared a tender kiss.
When they pulled away, both wearing a smile, Anna Elizabeth rested her head against Calin's chest. He knew that she could feel his heart racing.
They stayed like that until the music suddenly stopped. Calin sighed as he pulled back from Anna Elizabeth. He then lamented, "The stupid thing must have died. So much for the music unless I go plug in my…"
Anna Elizabeth cut him off, "It's perfectly alright, Calin. It gives me a chance to tell you something anyway."
"And what would that be?" Calin asked curiously.
"That I am so in love with you," Anna Elizabeth began. She then smiled and continued, "You are an amazing guy. You're sweet and sincere, thoughtful & funny. More importantly, you put up with my quirks, and you help me believe in myself. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend. Tonight was just another way for you to show how much you love me," with tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
Calin wiped her eyes as he told her, "I'm in love with you, too, Anna Elizabeth. That's why I wanted this date to be perfect."
"Oh, it is perfect. This date has been absolutely wonderful – from the music to the food to the reminiscing to breathtaking scene around us. I couldn't ask for it to be better," Anna Elizabeth sincerely replied.
Calin bit his lip before he told her, "Well, actually, I believe that it can be," as he stuck his hand into his pocket.
"Calin, I don't know what else…" Anna Elizabeth cut herself off as she saw Calin pull a small black box from his pocket. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hands when he dropped to one knee.
He opened the box to reveal the ring. He took a deep breath to calm his escalating nerves before he began to speak, "You are, without a doubt, the most amazing woman I have ever met. I believe it would take all night for me to tell you all the reasons I fell in love with you and why I find myself even more in love with you today. What it boils down to is that there are a million little things that you say and do that make you perfect for me. Whether it's how you can't make it through the day without belting out a song, the way you twirl your hair and rub your hands together when you're nervous, how amazing you are with kids, or the way you have me wishing you would see how beautiful you are – inside and out. If you'll let me, I will spend the rest of my life showing you the reasons why I'm hopelessly in love with you. So, Anna Elizabeth Jones, will you marry me?"
For a moment, all she could do was stare at him. She was absolutely speechless as tears of joy streamed down her face. She then took a deep breath and began nodding fiercely. She finally uncovered her mouth and got out, "Yes, Calin, I will marry you!"
The smile he wore was blinding as he got off the ground. Anna Elizabeth held out her shaking left hand, and he slipped the ring onto her finger.
Calin then pulled her closer to him for a kiss that left them both breathless.
As they pulled away, Anna Elizabeth wiped her eyes before she told him, "I'm not sure I could be any happier or more excited if I tried."
Calin grinned as he told her, "Just wait until we say 'I do'."
She returned his grin as she responded, "You know, I really like the sound of Mrs. Anna Elizabeth James."
"That makes two of us," Calin replied before he planted a kiss on her forehead. He then asked sheepishly, "So, uh, do you like the ring?"
Anna Elizabeth moved her left hand from around his neck to admire her ring. The silver band had a heart-shaped diamond with a sapphire on either side. The rest of the band was accented with smaller diamonds.
"Oh, Calin, it's absolutely beautiful. I love it – it's perfect."
"Just like you," Calin stated as he rested his forehead against hers.
Anna Elizabeth smiled as she replied, "You're perfect for me, too."
She then pulled back to look into those beautiful brown eyes and told him, "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life as your wife."
"And I can't wait to be your husband," Calin replied, as he moved his hand to cup her cheek.
He then slowly leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss. A kiss that held all of the love that he had for her, and she happily returned it. The kiss was truly magical.
As they pulled away, they turned to gaze at the sinking sun, with their arms wrapped around each other. Tomorrow was not only the start of a new day, but it was the start of their lives together.
This was my first time writing an actual proposal. I love how it turned out, and I hope you guys did, too!
REQUEST: Give me your thoughts on an idea I've been toying around with. I was thinking about having Anna Elizabeth and Calin live in Liam and Elsa's house once their married. Calin would ask for Killian's help to fix up the house as a surprise for Anna Elizabeth. He would reveal the surprise by bringing her to the house instead of his apartment for their wedding night.