Episode 506: Don't Cry

Now she’d ruined the play that everyone had worked so hard on. With only one scene left, she’d fallen to pieces. Ryley shouldn’t have climbed up onto the stage. She was glad he had though. Glad he stood on bended knee even if her brain was too addled to realize why he’d strike such a pose. She just wanted to sink down to the stage with him, have his arms around her.

"I need to apologize to the audience," she blubbered into his shoulder. Everyone was so quiet, but she knew they were still there, she could feel them watching.

"No, you were great, they loved you. I’m so proud of you."

"I screwed up."

"The only people who screwed up were your parents."

She lifted her head, shook it at him. "It went just like you said it would."

"I didn’t want to be right."

Adria didn’t need to hear his sincerity, see his pained expression to know he meant it, that it wounded Ryley in the deepest way to see her so upset. "I’m sorry, I should have listened to you, but don’t worry, I’m okay." It would be a lot more believable if she sounded okay. Her face probably didn’t look okay either. She’d try to pretend on the off chance of convincing him. He didn’t deserve to suffer for her mistake. "I’m a big girl, I knew this was a possibility, that I could end up alone."

Ryley took her face in his hands. "You’re not alone. You and I, we’re a family. Marry me, Addie, right now. That dress, it’s yours; I bought it for you, not just for the play, but also for you to become my wife. There’s someone here to officiate, too."

"Because you feel sorry for me?"

"Because I love you, and I want this to be the best day of your life."

Episode 507: Troubled Land