Everwood

Trudging

Waters

Chapter Two the Engagement

A week later the new Mr. and Mrs. Brown headed home from their honeymoon to see their kids. The two small families now made up one big one. It seemed too perfect to be true, at least that's what Ephram thought then again he still remembers his and Delia's mom very clearly. Delia, however, doesn't remember their mom very clearly. As far as Sammy was concerned, he was excited about having two dads.

On Friday, Ephram was able to bring his son home. He looked so, much like Madison, but unlike her, he was quiet.

When Nina and Andy got home around midnight they were surprised to find a baby boy sleeping on the couch. So, while Nina went up to get ready for bed, Andy went in to talk to Ephram, who was still working in the kitchen. "You're up late." Andy said putting his arm around his son's shoulder.

"Dad your back. Did you have fun?"

"I'm not discussing that with you."

"I meant did you guys go to any great sites?"

"Yeah, we went to the beach."

"I figured you would since you were in Hawaii."

"What are you doing up so late?" Andy asked sitting down at the counter.

"I had to get this report done I've been, distracted."

"I can see that, who's the boy?"

"You've seen him? I was hoping to talk to you first."

"What's going on Ephram? Who is he?"

"His name's Adam Bradaly. He's your grandson."

"What?"

"He's Madison and my son, I adopted him. I get to raise my son and its perfect timing because my job's taking off and I have a decent place to live until I find a two bedroom place."

"Well, I'm here for you if you need help. I can't believe you got custody of him. That's great."

"You didn't even want me to know about him. Why are you glad I got him?"

"You were too young when Madison got pregnant, but you're more mature now and I think you can handle it."

"Thanks, wait till you meet him. He's the sweetest baby boy."

"I'll meet him tomorrow, but for now why don't you go and get some sleep, so you're not tired for class tomorrow."

"Alright, I'm done anyway. I'll see you tomorrow dad." Ephram said as he started to get ready to leave.

"Why don't you stay here tonight?"

"Because I left something important at the apartment."

"What did you forget?"

"My laptop and I need it for class tomorrow, plus I don't have any clothes here because I forgot to pack some. So if I stayed I would have to leave by 6:30 tomorrow morning, so I can get home to take a shower and change and grab my laptop."

"Okay, well drive safe and I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Ephram said as they reached the living room. Ephram grabbed Adam and headed back to his apartment.

Delia surprised Ephram the next day by confronting him about Amy. "Hey Ephram whatcha doing?" she asked in a little girl tone.

"Nothing, what do you want?" he knew that whenever she used that innocent tone she wanted something.

"Look, I'm just going to come right out and say it. You need to do something about Amy."

"What's that suppose to mean?" he asked confused. He always thought that Delia liked Amy, so he found this conversation a little odd.

"Well, you have two choices. You can do anything to protect your relationship."

"Or?" Ephram asked now intrigued.

"Or let it slip through the cracks again." Ephram knew that she was right and that afternoon after a long debate over the pros and cons, he knew what he was going to do to protect their relationship.

Ephram went to his dad's office to tell him what he decided to do, but first he needed to talk to Dr. Abbott. "Dr. Abbott, do you have a minute?"

"Yes I do, this is a surprise. Normally you're here for your dad." Dr. Abbott said as he put what he was doing aside.

"Well, my dad couldn't help me with this. I wanted to ask you for permission to ask Amy to marry me."

"You're so young."

"I know, but I love Amy. If we're good to each other then I think we're meant to be together, forever. I promise, I'll take really good care of her."

"Okay, you can ask her." Dr. Abbott said giving him a smile.

"Thank you Dr. Abbott. Do you know if my dad's busy?"

"I think he's doing charts, but he should be able to talk."

"Thanks." Ephram said as he pushed open the door that connected Dr. Abbott and his dad's offices.

As he entered his dad's office Ephram noticed that his dad didn't seem surprised to see him. "Hey your sister said I might see you today." His dad said as if he knew what he was going to say.

"Remind me to thank her. I wanted to talk to you about Amy. I'm going to ask her to marry me." He waited for his dad to say he didn't think it was a good idea, Ephram knew his dad thought he was too young, but he just sat down at his desk.

Andy looked at his only son and felt a little happy and sad at the same time. "You really are growing up aren't you? When we moved here you hadn't even been out on a date and now you're proposing. You can give her this if you want."

His dad took a ring box out of the top drawer of his desk and handed it to him. When Ephram opened it he noticed it was the same ring that his mom took off the day his parents had that huge fight and his dad went to stay at a hotel. "It's one of mom's rings." Ephram said not wanting to think about that day anymore.

"Not just anyone of her rings, it's her engagement ring."

"You knew what I was going to tell you."

"Your sister had a hunch and I wanted to be prepared just in case."

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yeah, we all knew you'd ask her someday. I hope she says yes."

"Thanks, me too."

When Ephram and Amy were on a date the following week he took her to the high school to ask her once and for all to be his wife and part of his family for life. Since it was a snow day, they were only ones there. "Ephram, what are we doing here?" Amy asked as they walked through the familiar halls of County high.

"This is the exact hall where we met." Ephram said stopping. "It's also the same hall where we've had some of our interesting conversations and fights in. So, I figured this would be the perfect to this conversation too." Ephram said kneeling and pulling out his mom's engagement ring. "Amy, I love you and would love to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" Please say yes, he thought, please.

"Of course I will!" Amy gasped. "We have to tell our families." Amy said as Ephram put the ring on her finger.

That night they got their families together to tell them the good news. Their dads and Delia already knew he was going to ask, but they didn't know what she said. After Bright and Hannah got there Amy and Ephram decided it was now or never. "We're getting married!" Amy announced.

"My baby's getting married!" Rose cried as she hugged Amy.

"Congratulations you two!" Andy said putting his arm around Ephram's shoulder.

"Thanks dad!" Ephram said thankful that his dad was okay with this.

The next week Amy, Rose, Hannah, and Nina got together to discuss wedding plans. "Shouldn't Ephram be here Amy?" Nina asked sitting down at the table.

"He had a piano student, but he should be able to meet with us later."

"What color do guys want to do the wedding in?"

"Well, we were thinking of peach sort of a transition color from winter to spring."

"It's January."

"I know, but we're getting married in April."

Over the next few months the woman arranged the whole wedding. Everything from the flowers to the bride's party's dresses was in peach and Ephram and Amy finally picked their wedding parties. Bright and Hannah were going to be the best man and maid of honor. Andy and Sammy were going to be groomsmen and Delia and Nina were going to be bride maids. Ephram wanted Adam to be the ring bearer, but because of how young he was decided against it. On the day of the wedding Harold walked Amy down the aisle."Who gives this woman to this man?"

"Her mother and I do." Harold said before lifting Amy's veil and sitting down.

"Do you Amy Nicole Abbott take Ephram Mathew Brown as your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do!"

"Do you Ephram Mathew Brown take Amy Nicole Abbott as your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do!"

"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."