A Couple Months Later..."Madam Alyssa, your mother and father have left for the evening. They hired a cook for your supper. It'll be ready in about an hour." Thomas told me.
"Thank you Thomas." I smiled.
I sent Anthony a quick text letting him know my plans for the night. He claimed that he worried about me, but I knew that he just wanted to know because he can be controlling. I decided to clean my room since my parents were gone. I liked doing things for myself, but when they were here they insisted on hiring people do do things. My phone rang, Anthony.
"Hello?"
"Hey beautiful, how about instead of staying in tonight I pay for a spa night." He suggested.
"No, I'm fine. I actually have something I need to get done for mother."
"Really. Okay, well I just thought that you'd like to relax."
"Anthony I am relaxed." I said, not falling for his guilt trip.
"Okay, well I just called to offer. I love you."
"Love you too."
We hung up and I sighed.
...
"This is my daughter Alyssa." Mother introduced me.
We were at a charity ball where funds were being raised to help children with disabilities. I normally hated going to stupid dinner parties, however this wasn't a dinner party. At least by going to this I was able to give back to the community, so I was eager when these dates came up.
"Hello." I smiled as I shook the girls hand.
"Now, Mrs. Haystings. I'm from out of town but my friend told me that you had two children..."
Mother's face lost all its color and I wondered how she was going to spin this one.
She smiled and gave a small laugh, "I assure you that Alyssa is the only child my husband and I have."
"Oh, so you don't have another child?"
"Why mess with perfection?" Mother smiled and looked at me.
I smiled politely.
"Curious." The girl mumbled and walked away.
"Why don't you go get us some punch darling?"
"Oh, I'm allowed to do that?" I asked.
"Alyssa." Mother warned.
I decided not to push it any farther.
...
"Oh Alyssa! I'm glad you came inside! Your suitor has left you a present! I put it in your room." Mother said.
"Thank you mother."
I headed up to my room and sure enough there was a big rectangular box with a red ribbon holding it shut sitting on my bed. I walked over to it and picked it up. I slowly untied the red ribbon and opened the box, a note laid on the white tissue paper:
My Dear Alyssa,
I hope you enjoy your gift, I bought it personally for you.
Please wear it for our date tonight. I will be over promptly
at 7 PM at the bench behind your house. That one you told
me about? Where you go to think. Please be ready.
Love,
Anthony "Okay..." I whispered.
I removed the tissue paper and my eyes got wide.
What in the hell...? I thought.
I pulled out this dress. I can't even begin to describe what it looked like. It looked like he went into my great grandmas closet and picked it out. I held it up, I was truly thankful that no one was up here with me to see my horrified look. I groaned as I began to change into it and headed to the mirror.
"Oh my god..."
"Oh Alyssa!" My mother said walking in.
I turned around.
"That is so modest and elegant!"
I wouldn't say elegant..."Thank you mother." I smiled.
"This must be a special date if he went through the trouble of picking out something for you!" She beamed.
"I'm surprised he knew my size!"
"Well it's almost 7 now my dear, so I'll leave you alone to finish getting ready. I would recommend not wearing a necklace tonight since the dress is a turtle neck."
"Okay mother."
I turned back around as she left the room.
"You can do this Alyssa." I told myself.
...
What could he possibly want? And what's so special about this date that he bought me this... dress?"Alyssa?"
I looked up.
"Stand up! Let me see you!" Anthony said.
I got off the bench and spun around slowly.
"Simply beautiful! Red if your color my darling." He said.
I smiled.
"Do you like it?" He asked.
"I love it Anthony! It's quite wonderful." I said.
"Good good, let's sit down."
"You know I love you." He said.
"I know you do Anthony."
"I think that this is going well so far, don't you?"
"Of course!"
"You are so beautiful, inside and out. I'm glad your parents came to mine, if they hadn't then you wouldn't be so lucky to have met me."
Oh come on... Really?"I know."
"Don't you worry your pretty little head though, I'm right here and not going anywhere." He said.
...
It's been about an hour and all we've done is sit and talk about the future.
"Come here." Anthony said.
I took his hand and followed him.
"My darling Alyssa..." He started.
"Our families have plans, and our families have demands. We're here where we are because of those. However, I believe in happiness and being with someone forever. It would bring me such honor to have a wife like you. So, instead of wasting time by asking you to go study with me, I purpose that we just skip to the marriage part. Alyssa," He said getting on his knee, "Will you marry me?"
"Oh Anthony!" I gasped.
"Is that a yes?" He asked.
"Of course!"
"I'm so happy! I was worried you'd say no! I was worried I'd have to fight harder to call you mine!"
"It was bound to happen sooner or later! So why wait!" I smiled, inside I was dying.
"Here's to the rest of our lives." He said.
Poor Alyssa...
Hopefully this didn't seem rushed! It felt a little rushed! I hope I'm not going too fast!!!
