Chapter 26: THE PROPOSAL

"Good Morning, love ! Get ready and come for breakfast and this is for you," Dmitri greeted his lady love with a kiss before handing over a beautiful floral opal coloured dress to Audrey.
"Oh my god ! This dress is beautiful. Thank you, Dmitri !" Audrey squealed in delight as she saw Dmitri looking at her with all smiles.
"Now, stop smiling and looking at me. Let me get ready. See you at the breakfast table," Audrey said, making Dmitri grin.
"My smiles are constant, my beloved since you delighted me with your pregnancy news. I feel like I am in seventh heaven, forgetting all my worries and past. It is a feeling I can't put into words," he said as he walked out of the room and into the kitchen.
Dmitri got a beautiful tray and dressed it up with flowers, fresh fruit and plated it up with an array of her favourite breakfast dishes in wooden cloches. He left one dish free of food, but still popped a cloche on top – that"s where he hid the ring.
"Is everything fine ? I was waiting for you and you took a little longer today to get ready. Hope your body's coping well with the morning sickness," Dmitri concernedly asked.
"Oh yes ! Everything is fine. I've already started with all the supplements you got yesterday from the pharmacy. Nothing to worry about. I was just making the bed," Audrey replied.
"But there are better things to make, in case you're interested again," a mischievous Dmitri suggestively said with his dimpled naughty smile.
"Dmitri, control and stop teasing me ! Look at my dress !!" Audrey exclaimed while blushing. "How does it look ?" She asked.
"Wow ! You look absolutely stunning in this dress with your pregnancy glow, Audrey," Dmitri admired.
"Thank you, Chef ! Let us eat, I'm hungry all the time these days. I'm eating so much !" Audrey huffed.
"You can have me as one of the dishes. I'll happily get served as a dish in your arms, Audrey," a witty Dmitri flirtatiously teased her again.
"Shush you, Dmitri !" Audrey chided, her cheeks getting redder. "You're still in a trance. Come out of your ecstasy and let me know if it's healthy to eat so much ?"she asked.
"I'm intoxicated in your love, honey," Dmitri said with a dramatic sigh, hand on his heart. "I can"t help it. And coming to your question- of course ! It's good to eat when you"re hungry as long as you're eating healthy and a balanced diet," he reminded.
"Then here we go ! Pregnancy is nine months of cheat days giving in to all my crazy cravings," Audrey happily cheered as she started uncovering the dishes.
When she opened the cloche with a ring, she was stunned to silence.
Dmitri took the ring, sat on one of his knees and asked her the most beautiful question ever "Audrey Blaydes, will you marry me ?"
A hand flew on Audrey"s mouth while tears lined up in her eyes before she breathed out, "Yes."
"Yes, yes, yes ! God yes, Dmitri !!" Audrey extended her shaking hand which Dmitri gently took in his as contentment consumed her body and soul .
"You're everything that I've ever wanted and so much more than I ever thought I could find. Falling in love with you has been the greatest adventure of my life and getting to be your wife will be my greatest honor. I want to spend the rest of my life laughing, crying, and growing old right next to you. I choose you. Forever," Audrey vowed.
"For forever," Dmitri concurred and slid the ring.
"Wow !" Audrey marveled as she looked at it. "When did you get this ring ? It's beautiful," Audrey gasped out, beaming with joy.
"I was actually planning to surprise you with my proposal this weekend, so I got this ring for you but you surprised me with a better news yesterday that I couldn't wait till the weekend and therefore thought of extending our celebrations with this ring today," Dmitri said while giving Audrey a long passionate kiss on her rosy red lips.
"So, you finally mustered up the courage to propose to me, huh" Audrey teased.
"Audrey, I always had the courage but I wanted to make sure that you're not distracted from your studies. I'm settled in my medical career but wanted to wait for you to graduate before popping the question," Dmitri said as he toyed with her earlobe. She tried, unsuccessfully, to settle her heart back in her body.
"Always the logical one," Audrey sighed, making Dmitri chuckle.
"After talking to you yesterday, I felt that our love is no hindrance in your dreams and you're ready to take the plunge into a new challenging phase of life," Dmitri explained.
"Of course, I am ! This is no puppy love. We both are mature adults who resisted all the temptations of going astray while growing up and made a mature decision to stay together," Audrey pointed out. "I'm glad my heart chose you and I waited for you to come into my life. I love the way you take care of my feelings physically, mentally and emotionally. You're my safe harbour," she added.
"And you are the anchor of my life's ship. I really want to be with you to take care of you and our baby," Dmitri rasped. "I'll always be there for you, supporting you in weathering the storms of life I assure you. We'll get through every difficulty and endure all pains as a team with you by my side," he promised.
"In spite of having all the trust in our love, I was still a bit apprehensive of your reaction to our pregnancy news but your words of love, support and assurance have laid all my doubts to rest," Audrey smiled in his embrace.
"Audrey, in my profession, I've seen teen pregnancies, abandoned pregnant women, molested girls, violent selfish behavior of partners and hence, I understand the turmoil women go through and I can never ever think of inflicting such pain on you," Dmitri firmly replied.
"Dmitri, I really appreciate that you respect my feelings and honour my body. That is why I took the decision to bring our baby into this world with you by my side," Audrey replied.
"Excited to stay with me ?" Dmitri asked as he kept her close to him, close to her heart.
"Oh yeah ! I can"t wait to wake up to your alarm daily, to roll over and see you next to me- eyes closed, body still half-asleep, brew your coffee, just to feel your lips on my cheek, warm and wet from your first sip, cleaning dishes together, to dance around the kitchen with you, maneuvering around one another, laughing as you reach for the knives while I lean across your body to open the fridge and so much more," Audrey shared her feelings.
"What about you ? What do you think ?" Audrey asked.
"For starters, I can"t wait for the little things. For the moments in-between. For all the teeny-tiny memories, the laughter, the way our love isn't made of one climatic moment, but thousands of little pieces of us– little things that will make our home a paradise," Dmitri spun his dream into words.
"I hope our love grows over time and evolves into a companionship for eternity," Audrey wished.
"I've been single for a long time so one of the best parts of being a couple is always having someone to lean on, someone you can always count on," Dmitri said.
"I'm here for you, I'm your partner in life. From now until eternity, you're my one and only and you'll never be alone," Audrey swore.
A transition into a new phase of life felt like everything they had done, had been leading up to that moment. It was just the beginning of something special.
"Audrey, I'm planning to visit your parents this weekend so that we both could tell them in person that we're planning to marry with their wishes and blessings," Dmitri informed as he drove her back to town.