A Chance Encounter

by Charlie Conwell

I start to breathe again and look at both before I am enveloped in a bear hug from Gwen. “Oh my god Charlie, this is wonderful news. Does Em know that you are thinking about this?”

  I shake my head. “No, I want it to be a surprise for her.”

  Gwen claps excitedly. “What do you need me to do?”

  I look at Adam who hasn’t spoken yet. Gwen follows my eye line to her husband and watches as he stands up. She frowns at him as he looks at me and I stand. “Sir, I mean no disrespect in your home. I want both of you to be happy with this and if you aren’t I will wait until I earn that from you.”

  He moves in front of me, his facial expression not changing and I hold my ground. When he is toe to toe with me, he grins and lifts me off my feet into a hug. “You are a special person Charlie and I am pleased that you asked us to give you our blessing. You going on tour is an obstacle but knowing that you are fully committed to Em means you have something to fight for to come back safely. You were always a part of this family from the first day you arrived, now it will be official. You have my blessing, but if you ever hurt her, I will have to come after you.”

  I am struggling to breathe with the weight of his hug. “Adam… Adam… sir, I can’t breathe.”

  He starts to laugh and puts me down. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

  “That’s okay and I know you would come after me but I promise that I will always do right by Em. I love her and would rather feel the pain myself than have her in pain.”

  He grins and shakes my hand. “This is going to be great, do you know how you are going to do it?”

  “I have an idea but I do need some prep time. My mom is planning to take Em out for a walk after dinner. I was hoping Gwen that you would go too and make it a long walk to give me time to set it up. Adam, I need your help with some of it, will you help me?”

  Gwen is clapping her hands wildly making me laugh and Adam nods his head. “Sure, I will help you with whatever you need.”

  I turn to Gwen. “You will be able to keep this a secret, right?”

  She laughs and slaps my arm. “Hey, I’m just excited and yes I will be able to. Now I am going to start prepping for dinner. Ray, Daniel and Maeve will be here shortly. There will be wrapping paper all over the place with a tornado called Ray.”

  “I will go and get dressed and I will help you, Gwen.”

  “Thanks, Charlie, but Ellie told me to keep you away from knives.”

  “What?”

  “Your mom told us about you almost losing a finger while trying to cut carrots.”

  “Oh my god, I was nine years old when that happened I can cook now.”

  “I have it all under control, you just relax.”

  Adam looks at me. “If you want something to do, you can help me with my bike.”

  I grin. “I’d love to, give me five minutes and I’ll meet you in the garage.”

  ****

  Gwen wasn’t kidding, when Ray arrives, the living room becomes a bomb site. Ray is so excited and everyone is enjoying the moment. Em looks so cute in her Christmas jumper and skinny jeans. My mom is even wearing one and she looks so happy. Ray gets attached to my mom very quickly and I know how it felt when it happened to Em when he stuck to me. Dinner is smelling divine and spending time with Adam, working on the bike, just made me feel at ease. Adam recounted his own proposal to Gwen and he said that he had never experienced nerves like it.

  We are all called to the dining room and dinner is served. It was amazing and everyone is in great spirits. Em and I exchange gifts with the rest of the family and she loves the watch I bought her with a few more trinkets that she loves. She bought me some awesome clothes and a leather jacket I have been looking for, for so long. We bought Ray some clothes and toys. He strips out of his own clothes and into a new one straight away. Maeve tries to stop him but he is having none of it, so in the end, she just let him change.

  There is singing and dancing from Ray. We all have to make sure that he gets our full attention since he keeps starting over when we don’t. My mom gives me a subtle nod and I feel the butterflies kick in.

  “Em, how would you feel about showing me around?”

  Em looks up at my mom and smiles. “Sure, I would like that. Babe, we will take your mom on a tour, what do you say?”

  Before I have a chance to answer, Adam pipes up. “She can’t, she is helping me with my bike.”

  Em frowns. “You are going out to work on the bike again, it’s Christmas day.”

  “Em, Charlie is the best damn help I have had. We have made a lot of progress and we both want to do it.”

  Em looks at me. I shrug and smile. “I was having fun with your dad.”

  Em looks disappointed but she grins. “Unreal, he finally found a grease monkey to hang out with. Looks like it’s just you and me Ellie.”

  “I could use a walk too; do you mind if I tag along?”

  Ellie grins. “The more the merrier. I will just get my jacket and I’ll be ready.”

  My mom stands up to get her jacket and is quickly halted by Ray. “Are you leaving me?”

  She kneels down in front of him. “I’m going for a walk with your Nan and Em and then we will be back again.”

  “Can I go with you?”

  My mom looks at Em and Gwen. They laugh and nod. “Sure buddy, we will all go together, but you need to get your jacket too, it’s cold outside.”

  He runs out of the room and returns a minute later dragging his jacket. “I need help, I can’t do this on my own.”

  He stands in front of my mom looking up at her with a smiley face waiting patiently. She laughs, kneels and does up his jacket. The four of them then leave. We wait for a few minutes just to make sure that they don’t come back, before Adam and I make our way out to the back garden. “This will work Adam, right? We will be able to get it looking right. Do you think she will say yes?”

  Adam starts to laugh. “Charlie relax, we will have this place twinkling and romantic in no time and I have no doubt in my mind that Em will say yes.”

  He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Breathe Charlie, you two are a great match and you will have a long happy life together, you mark my words. Oh, and I will have tissues at hand because I believe there will be three crying women here later.”

  I look at him confused. “Where are you getting three from?”

  “Well Em is going to cry, Gwen will be in tears and I am pretty sure your mom will shed a tear too. You will probably be teary-eyed but I don’t think I will need tissues for you.”

  I smirk and shake my head. “Come on smart mouth, let’s get this done before they come back and we get busted. Then I really will need the tissues because I will cry. I want this to be magical for her.”

  “Look who is getting brave now, I can always take back my blessing.”

  I smirk. “No, you wouldn’t, Gwen would hurt you.”

  He starts to laugh. “Touché.”

  We get the back garden set up and I am getting more nervous. The rest of the family now know what is going on and I can feel everyone’s excitement. I really don’t want to mess this up. I hear Ray announce that they are back and he comes running to me. “I got to feed the ducks and they ate all the bread. It was cool. I like your mom, she is pretty too.”

  “I’m glad you had fun buddy.”

  Em comes over and kisses me. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too baby. Did you survive my mom?”

  “Always, I really like her.”

  Adam comes in with a bottle of wine. “Who’s up for a little drink and then we can settle down to the family movie of Ray’s choice.”

  We all get a glass and settle in to watch ‘A Muppets Christmas Carol.’ He is engrossed in it and Em is cuddled up in my arms. She is so contented and I can feel the nerves building up inside me. It doesn’t help that both Gwen and my mom keep staring at me.

  I catch my mother’s eye and she smirks at me. I roll my eyes but smile at her. She can tell I’m nervous about what I am a
bout to do. We are waiting for the end of the movie. After, Adam is going to show everyone the bike that we fixed up and got it working, which will be my cue to start the proposal. Gwen will turn on the lights to make the deck romantic and my mom will play our song, Sarah Bareilles. “I Choose You.”

  I look over at Adam and he is even getting twitchy making me roll my eyes. Em moves her head and looks into my eyes. “Babe, is everything okay?”

  I smile softly and kiss her lips. “Everything is perfect, we are all here together and I have you in my arms. I love you.”

  “I love you too babe, this feels so right, so nice.”

  “Yes, it does my love and I love every minute of being with you.”

  Ray jumps up from his bean bag chair. He comes into the middle of Em and I as the credits start to roll.

  “Wasn’t that totally awesome Charlie. Em, you are squishing me.”

  Emily looks at me and pouts as she has to move away from me to allow Ray to sit close by me. I quickly lean over him and kiss the pout away, making her smile and it lights me up inside. Ray is chatting animatedly about the movie and I answer all his questions. Daniel gets the nod from Adam and I know it’s time that I propose to the woman of my dreams.

  “Come on buddy, we need to get that special present that’s left.”

  Ray’s eyes widen and he claps his hands. “There is another present, is it for me?”

  Daniel picks him up and treats Ray like an aeroplane making him laugh so hard. Emily takes the opportunity to snuggle with me again and I feel bad that she will have to move again, but I hope that she will like what is about to happen to make up for it.

  “I have an announcement.”

  Everyone goes quiet and looks at Adam waiting for what he is going to say.

  “This is very exciting, today Charlie and I finally finished my pride and joy. I want you all to come outside and see my new beauty.”

  I hear everyone groan including Emily and I nudge her. “Babe, he is so excited about this, he wanted to ride the damn thing in the house when it was finished.”

  She giggles. “He has tried that before to go through as a shortcut to the back. Mom was so angry, I thought she was going to kill him.”

  “Come on, let’s share in his joy baby, it’s Christmas.”

  She tuts but smiles and stands up. “Okay dad, show me this death trap of yours.”

  “That’s my girl, now come on the rest of you, it looks and sounds like a dream.”

  We follow him outside. I watch for Danny, he catches my eye and winks at me. I smile at him and try to relax my breathing. I look at Emily who looks a bit bored waiting for her dad. He brings out the bike and everyone ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ over it because we have it looking so sharp. I take Emily’s hand and move her over the porch a little. She looks at me and smiles but tries to see what I am doing. She can sense something but isn’t sure.

  “Are you okay babe?”

  “Yes, I’m perfect.”

  Just then the lights go out and all the lights we put up, start to twinkle into life. Gwen plays the song and Emily looks around her. It filters through what is happening. “Oh, my God.”

  She turns to look at me but I am down on one knee and Ray steps forward in a little suit looking adorable and hands me the box.

  “Baby, you are the woman I love. You have made me see and feel what it is like to be loved unconditionally. You have opened me up to a world of wonder, a future of brightness. I want to grow old with you, to share your dreams and make them come true. You stand by my side as my girlfriend but I want you now to please do me the honour and agree to be my wife. Emily, will you marry me?”

  I can see the breath escape her and then the biggest smile comes onto her face. “Oh my god, yes, yes, yes.”

  I place the ring on her finger and then stand up gathering her into my arms, kissing her lips, smiling into it as I do. We hear cheers and clapping before we are pulled apart by our two moms sandwiching us into a bear hug.

  “Congratulations to you both, we are so excited.”

  “Thanks, moms.” We both say together and then we are promptly separated from them by Ray squirming in. I kneel and hug him. “You were awesome and look so handsome too. You were my little superhero.”

  “I did good Charlie, I made Emily smile but now she is crying, did I do it wrong?”

  I look up and Emily smiles. She bends down and picks him up. “You were perfect and these are happy tears.”

  “Emily, you are bouncing me too much.”

  Emily laughs and puts him down. We then hear the champagne corks popping and cheers again.

  The night hits full swing. Emily and I can’t stop the smile on our faces. That night I make love to my fiancée and explored each other’s bodies until the early hours of the morning. I knew I was home and it all felt so right. I know with me going on tour that we will survive it and it will bring us closer together. I love this girl and I will work tirelessly every day to show her how much she means to me. I fall asleep with Emily’s head on my chest and her arms wrapped tightly around my body. I smile, truly happy for the first time in a long time.

  Chapter 22

  Christmas seems so far away and the reason is that my baby has been away for the last five weeks and six days at the training camp. I have missed her so much. I can’t wait for her to get home and back into my arms. I have spent so much time with Stacey, studying and going to visit Ellie on the weekends. I had a few Skype calls from Charlie, to see her smile and happy just lights me up. She looks so much fitter and stronger. Seeing her in those camouflage pants and t-shirt has driven me insane. We have gotten a few nights of pleasure with each other but I need to feel her lips on mine and her hands on my body. I can already feel myself grow damp as I think about her hands roaming my body and her tongue reuniting with mine. I am driving myself crazy with the thoughts of Charlie and me. I need to distract myself from these thoughts, so I grab my jacket and go knock on Stacey’s door.

  “Stace I need a fix of Starbucks; do you want to come?”

  She comes to the door grinning and I cock my head to the side. “What?”

  “Your fix of Starbucks is code for I’m horny and I’m thinking of Charlie and you need out before you explode.”

  I start laughing. “Shut up, are you coming with me or not?”

  “I’m coming, you know she will be home literally tonight or first thing tomorrow morning, right?”

  “Yes, I do and I can’t wait to see her, I have missed her.”

  “I have too and you have been driving me nuts the last two days with your pacing and constant checking of your phone. You realise dinner was burnt last night and you left the oven on?”

  I look at her shocked then blush. “I’m sorry about dinner but I’m sure I turned off everything.”

  “No, you didn’t but I have your back, it’s all good. It just gives me a chance to see what I need to do when Charlie goes on tour. I think I will get her to cook loads and have it in the freezer so we don’t starve.”

  She puts her arm around my shoulder. “You know you are the best thing that has happened to Charlie. I have never seen her this happy. You make her feel that way Emily, you gave Charlie a reason to smile again.”

  I blush again but I love hearing this because it’s exactly how I feel about Charlie. She is my first and my last thought. I look at the engagement ring on my left hand and the smile comes to my mouth instantly.

  We are sitting having our coffees and Stacey’s phone keeps beeping. I feel a twinge of jealousy as I watch her grinning. She looks up at me and I try to hide my feelings but fail miserably.

  “I’m sorry Em, he is just being cute.”

  “No don’t be sorry, it is really nice to see you happy and Niall makes you glow.”

  I see Stacey blush and I smile. “Let me get you a muffin as a treat to show you I’m happy for you.”

  “Oh…um…why don’t we go shopping. We can grab a light bite and we will go and pick you up some sexy lingerie fo
r when Charlie gets back.”

  I grin at the thought. “Sounds even better, let’s do that.”

  We head to the shopping centre and we go from shop to shop. We are having fun and every so often Stacey is on her phone. She keeps grinning like an idiot. I even take my own phone out but I know there won’t be a message there yet from Charlie. I am in a dreamlike state when Stacey brings me out of it. “Em, I need lunch, so let’s do that and then we will find you the sexiest outfit for you to blow Charlie’s mind.”

  We end up having soup. Every time I suggested something, Stacey would drag me off track. I’m still hungry but I am being distracted by looking at the lingerie. We pick up a couple of sets each. Stacey has that twinkle in her eye that she gets when she drifts into sexing Niall up in her mind. I give her a nudge. “If you don’t stop, you will combust.”

  She blushes but laughs. “I can’t help it, he is so fucking sexy in bed. Damn, I just think it and I’m so ready.”

  I laugh. “Jesus Stace, is that why you are walking funny?”

  She looks at me shocked. I start to laugh again and get a thump on the arm. “Ouch, wow, I was kidding.”

  “Yeah, well to answer your question, I need to stop wearing underwear, it’s a disaster.”

  “Stop, jeez, ok, I get it, ever heard of too much information?”

  She laughs again and struts off in front of me. We spend another little while shopping and I am getting tired and hungry. Stacey takes the long route back to the car and I flop into the seat. “What will we do for dinner?”

  “Oh umm…Niall is coming to take me out for dinner and be with me for a couple of days.”

  “Ohh…ok, I will just order in, take out.”

  “I’m sure Niall won’t mind you coming along for dinner.”

  “No, it’s fine Stace, I want you to have a romantic meal and you really need time with Niall or you will be a seething mess of hormones and I can’t deal with that.”

  We joke and laugh. I feel better for spending the day with Stacey, she has really helped me. We pull up to the drive and I get out to gather the bags. Stacey opens the door and the first thing that hits us is a smell of food cooking and I frown.