Chapter 253: A Proper Proposal

Aaron glanced up at Keeley blankly. She was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet with her hands clasped behind her back. The picture of nervousness.

The pieces of the puzzle clicked together in that moment and his eyes immediately jumped to her completely flat stomach. "You mean you're.."

He couldn't bring himself to say it. It was too fantastical to believe. Keeley had taken the morning after pill—he had seen the box it came in sitting in the recycling bin. She had told him it would be a one-time deal and he had accepted it at face value.

She nodded, gauging his reaction cautiously.

A bunch of emotions flitted across his face in a second. Confusion. Fear. Disbelief. Sorrow. Joy.

Aaron never thought this would be happening again. Any dreams of fatherhood died with what his father and Lacy Knighton did to Keeley and the first baby. Was this real? Did he really deserve to be this happy?

The bubble burst when he realized something. She hadn't wanted this. She wanted to go their separate ways once she graduated from college. What was Keeley feeling about all of this?

"Can you say something?" she asked with a shaky laugh. "You've been staring at me for three minutes."

Nononononono, he did not want her getting the wrong idea!

"I think it's great!" he blurted. "I'm just worried about how you feel about it!"

Keeley practically wilted with relief and leaned against the table for support. "Ugh, don't scare me like that!"

Aaron rushed over to her but halted about two inches away. What was he supposed to do? Did she want to be touched right now or not? Was she angry at him? WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO DO?

She sat down at the table and gestured for him to do the same. He followed her directions wordlessly and waited for her to speak. She took a deep breath before looking at him and beginning what seemed like a planned speech.

"I found out about this while I was in Maryland. I had a lot of time to think on the bus ride home..I was happy because I've always wanted to be a mom, scared because of what happened last time, and sad because I knew what I had to do and didn't want to put myself through that again.

"Aaron..you've been very good to me this past year. I want our baby to grow up in a normal, healthy family so I've decided to stay with you. I really didn't ever wanted to get married again, especially into your family because of everything that happened before. But I'll do it if you can promise me something. Can you keep us safe?"

Her eyes were filled with a mixture of resignation and anguish. It broke his heart. Keeley was being brave and doing the last thing she ever wanted to do for the sake of their child.

She would stay with him to give their baby a normal life but she would never love him. This bittersweet ending was what he deserved.

Aaron reached out across the table to clasp her hands in his. They were cold and shaking slightly. He rubbed them back and forth in his to bring some warmth into them.

"I'll protect the two of you with my life," he vowed solemnly.

"And Keeley...I want you to know that I'll give you anything you could possibly want. Your friends, your career, the way we raise this child..you get to call all of the shots. I want you to be happy and to be able to do all the things you've ever wanted to with me at your side."

She nodded, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.

Aaron spotted a small metal ring clip holding together a pack of flash cards she was putting together for an upcoming quiz sitting on the kitchen counter. It wasn't a diamond ring but it would do in a pinch. She deserved to be proposed to properly rather than simply falling into an engagement that she brought up herself.

He stood quickly and unclipped it from the flash cards before getting down on one knee in front of her. She laughed a little when she saw his makeshift ring.

"Keeley Hall, you came into my life like a sunbeam bursting through an endlessly cloudy sky. I love everything about you, from your big heart to the way you find excitement in the tiniest things. You have always been my greatest source of happiness.

"I know our past has been difficult, to say the least..but I promise from this day forward that I will be your number one supporter and do everything in my power to make your dreams come true. Will you marry me?"

Her face broke into a smile as tears sparked in the corners of her eyes. "Yeah. Can you do me a favor though?"

"What?" he asked eagerly. He would do anything she asked for, anything at all.

"Could you maybe not get me a six carat ring this time? Even this clip would be better than that monstrosity," she giggled as she held up her left hand. The clip was more than a little big on her.

Aaron smiled a bit ruefully. He should have known the type of ring other high society women wore wouldn't be to her taste. "Why don't you come pick it out with me this time?"

"Okay, but I want it from a regular jewelry store. A retail chain," she said dramatically, as if trying to scare him with the thought of something so average.

He scoffed. "Retail chains don't scare me anymore."

Keeley clapped her hands together and pointed at him. "So you're admitting they used to?!"

He smiled indulgently as he shook his head. This girl was far too literal. He got up from his place on the ground and asked if they could have cake now. She served up two slices with a bit of a funny look on her face.

"What is it?" he finally asked halfway through his cake.

"We did just get engaged. I figured you would try to kiss me."

Aaron's eyed widened. He didn't even realize that was an option. "..you want me to?"

"No," she denied, red-faced. "I just thought you would!"

It appeared they were going to have to have a conversation about what this relationship would entail. He had assumed she wouldn't want anything physical and they would only be married in name for the baby's sake. They had an awful lot of talking to do to figure this out.historical