Chapter 22
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Time seemed to have frozen before her as she sat there looking between the ring and Jacob's face. So many thoughts flew around her mind.
He treats me like a princess, say yes… No, you've only been together for a few months… Yes, he's everything you've ever wanted… No, you need to put Grace and your career first… Give yourself a chance to be happy, with him- NO! Don't be a complete idiot.
Everyone in the room was quietly waiting for Connie to answer but it seemed as though she wasn't about to. "Grace why don't we go upstairs for a while…" Charlie raised as Elliot stood and spoke to Grace. "You can show me how this upad works-" "It's an iPad Uncle Elliot." The young girl laughed before standing up and wandering from the room with them.
Jacob moved and sat beside Connie. "Talk to me…" She visibly swallowed, almost as though she was struggling with keeping everything down. "Jacob, this is- it's all so quick. I mean we don't even live together yet…" Her eyes seemed to flicker between the box and him like she couldn't look at him.
He was leaning back against the chair before moving to pick up the two glasses from the table. When he came back he replaced the box in her hand with one of the glasses. Placing the box closed on the table her attention turned back to him.
"Are you happy?" Connie swallowed the mouthful of wine before a small content smile fell across her face. "Of course, today's been one of the best days of my life Jacob and that's down to you." He smiled before shifting himself slightly closer to her. She moved the rest of the distance before resting her head against his shoulder.
It was quiet for a moment before Jacob decided he needed to speak. "I'd never leave you-" "What?" Connie lifted her head to face him. "I'm not about to break down your barriers and earn your trust just to break your heart and leave you." Jacob watched as the tears appeared behind her eyes realising he'd got what she was thinking in one. "So many people have hurt you in the past Connie and I swear to you I'm not about to join them..."
"I want to be the one that wakes up beside you every morning and ask myself how the hell I was so god-damn lucky. I want to be the one you come to when something goes wrong. I want to be the one who can make you feel better and make you see just how amazing you are. I want to be the one who can change your mood just by being with you. I want to be the one you can always rely on. I want to be the one who gets to look at you all dressed up and be able to say that's my girl."
Jacob entwined his fingers with hers and had turned to face Connie. She moved to sit across his lap as he continued to speak. "I want you to know that no matter where we are, whether we're together or apart… I'll always love you just as much as the first time I ever saw you. Give me a chance to prove that to you."
Connie went to speak as Grace came tumbling through the door laughing followed by Charlie and Elliot. Connie moved from his lap as Jacob looked towards the door before moving as though he was about to stand up and leave Connie where she was. "Grace-" "Jacob." She reached out for his hand causing him to look back at her confusion etched across his face. "Yes…" a small smile on her face.
He knelt back down beside her again, half smiling half confused. "Yes-" "Yes. If anyone is going to try prove you wrong with all that I want it to be me for every day that I'm alive." Jacob smiled before kneeling forward and placing his hands on either side of her face before kissing her deeply. Connie leant closer wrapping her arms behind his neck as she responded to him, not realising how much she yearned for his touch.
When they broke apart she rested her forehead against his looking into his eyes. "I love you-" "I love you too." For a moment time seemed to stand still again and she knew that she could never let him go. No matter what happened, she needed him more than she'd ever let him know. Jacob only moved back when he reached for the small black box on the table beside them.
Almost for the benefit of the three people who had just stumbled into the room he rested back slightly. "Connie Beauchamp, marry me." She laughed with the tears that had been there earlier making another appearance. At first she couldn't find any words and so nodded her head as the tears finally began falling down her cheeks. "Yeah… Yes of course I will!" He pushed the ring onto her finger holding onto it for a moment looking down at his Mothers ring upon her hand.
Jacob felt overwhelmed himself before Connie's hand moved to his cheek as she placed her lips onto his. When she went to move away she felt Jacob kiss her back resting a hand in the back of her hair.
Grace ran across the room breaking the pair apart. "Mum! Does this mean you're going to have a wedding?" She threw herself onto the lap of Connie, squished between her and Jacob. Connie's eyes were still linked with his as she nodded. "Yes baby it does." Grace hugged her Mum tightly as she responded leaning down and kissed the top of her head.
Meanwhile Jacob rose from where he was and was greeted by Charlie and Elliot. "Congratulations Jacob." He embraced Charlie as he pat him on the back before stepping away as Elliot shook his hand. "Make her happy and you'll be fine." Jacob smiled laughing as he turned back to Connie and Grace sitting and laughing on the floor together. She lifted her eyes to his and the smile still sat comfortably on her face. "Don't worry I will. Always."