It is a lazy morning. Neither Tamora or Felix have to go anywhere, so lounging in bed for the morning is a privilege. Felix insisted on staying with her ever since her days of bowing to the porcelain throne, and Tamora lets him. She had to invite him into her bed though (after a week of him sleeping on the couch), because even in their untraditional situation, Felix is still the gentleman he always has been.
Tamora's back is propped against the wall with two sturdy pillows behind her. She combs slim fingers through the sandy brown head pressed gently against her ever-growing tummy. She's become comfortable in their arrangement. They hadn't officially claimed to be boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but in a way, they hadn't had to.
A little thump bumps Felix's temple. A broad smile crosses his face as he raises his head. "Mornin', Little Bit," he tells the little person he can't wait to meet. "Don't be too rough on your mama today. Her ribs need a break."
Tamora snorts. "Sometimes I think she's already practicing maneuvers."
"Or practicing her carpentry skills," Felix counters, offering a lop-sided smile.
Tamora rolls her eyes. "Okay, maybe."
It didn't happen often, but moments like these flooded Felix's heart to overflowing. Images of Tamora – he dares to think of her as his Tammy Jean – cuddling a little girl with blonde pigtails on her lap, a golden band snug on her ring finger, as she smiles at him over their daughter's head. They could build a life together; a happy, joyful existence that he had only dreamed about before meeting Tamora Calhoun.
In a faraway corner of his heart, it hurts to think about how their relationship came about and in a way, he's still ashamed of not having the willpower to stop Tamora's arms from snaking around his neck and kissing him senseless when he could tell she was in a vulnerable state. But what's done is done, and the only thing left to do is move forward.
Keep moving forward.
With a joyful laugh, Felix presses a loving kiss the Tamora's belly then pecks her on the cheek. His smile is infectious, because Tamora can't help but mirror it. For a moment, they gaze at one another until Tamora's cheeks shade a light pretty pink and she rubs his forearm unconsciously.
"What?" she asks.
Felix is about to burst; he can't contain the question he's wished to ask for months. "Will you marry me, Tammy?"
In an instant, Tamora's smile is replaced with surprise and all she can do is stare at him with wide-eyes. She swallows hard and replies convincingly, "You don't want to marry me."
Felix grasps her hand that lay froze on his arm. "But I do!" He kisses the back of her palm as only a gentleman would. "I love you, Tamora."
This is not the first time he's declared his love for her, but she has yet to return the sentiment.
"No," Tamora shakes her head, "You're caught up in the moment, that's all."
"If I was," Felix lays her hand gently beside her on the bed and hops off to retrieve something from his duffel bag, "Would I already have this?" He seats himself opposite of her on the bed, and presents a small black velvet box on his palm.
Tamora exhales a trembling breath as she reaches for the box. She pops the lid open using both hands. A golden ring with two round diamonds nestles together is shining back at her. The diamonds are small, but lovely. She wishes to pluck the ring from its holder, but she can't find the strength to move. "When did you buy this?"
"After the ultrasound when we found out our baby was a girl," Felix answers softly, averting his eyes to the bump between them.
Felix's expectant expression melted as Tamora slowly closed the ring box, clutching it in a tight fist. "You want to marry me because of the baby," she stated gravely.
"What?" Felix couldn't help the shock that rattled his voice. "No. No!" He grasped the hand Tamora held the ring box in with both of his. "I love our baby, but Tamora Jean Calhoun, I loved you first. The first time we met in the hallway of these apartments, I fell head over heels for you! I wanted to be with you and hold you and learn everything about you, even the tough parts." He raised a hand, cupping her cheek with such tenderness it made Tamora's heart ache. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Tamora feels the corners of her eyes prick with tears. She huffs, quickly swiping the droplets away before they could dampen her cheeks. Damn pregnancy hormones making me into a driveling fool, she blames inwardly. She knows she could survive on her own. It is programmed into her inner being to find a way to endure, and Tamora Calhoun was prepared to do whatever it would take to raise her child on her own.
But in truth, she didn't want to. A spark of delight – that she tried desperately to tamp down – always jolted her whenever she was around the handyman. That's why she turned to him the night she needed to forget her painful past. She trusted him from the beginning, and even through the doubt that shadowed her heart, deep inside her beating center, the trust never faltered. That's why he was there beside her right now holding her heart in his calloused yet gentle hands.
She tugs softly and Felix releases her hand that still clutches the ring box. She pops the lid again, staring uncertainly at the gleaming rocks. She could love this man, and if she would just ask herself, she already does.
"If we do this," Tamora begins, eyes fixed on the ring, "it needs to be soon and very small."
Felix is frozen, gazing at Tamora with no breath entering his body. The stunned moment finally passes and an ecstatic squeal escapes him. He bounces on the mattress then plants an excited kiss to her cheek. "You'll be my wife?" he asks with the biggest smile Tamora has ever seen cross his face.
Tamora laughs softly, letting her protective shield of iron down enough to enjoy this. "Yes." She presents the ring box to him, and Felix plucks the ring between his index finger and thumb from its hold. With reverence, as if this is the most sacred moment in time, slides the golden band on Tamora's waiting digit. He leans into her, pressing against the swelling belly as he rests a palm atop the bump, and pours every bit of love he has into kissing her.
Neither has ever imagined this is how a marriage proposal would go, but they don't need a fancy setup or romantic location. This is uniquely theirs and that's all they need.