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"Was it too much? Did I--"
"Im just teasing you," Angie said. "You know I want Lauren home by midnight, right?"
Lauren giggled. A curfew. She must be the only kid in the world who was pleased by that.
He looked down at Lauren, obviously confused. "What do you want to do? Go see a movie?"
Lauren wanted to be with him; that was all. "Maybe we could play cards here. Or listen to music. "
David frowned, glanced at Angie, who said quickly, "Ive got work to do upstairs. "
Lauren loved her for that. "What do you think, David?"
"Sure. "
"Okay," Angie said. "Theres food in the fridge and pop in the carport. Lauren, you know where the popcorn maker is. " She looked pointedly at David. "I will be walking through every now and then. "
Lauren should have been irritated by that, but in truth, she loved how it made her feel. Cared for. Cared about. "Okay. "
Angie said good night, then went upstairs.
When they were alone, Lauren took the flowers and put them in a vase. As soon as she finished, she got his present from the kitchen and took it to him. "Merry Christmas. "
They settled into the big overstuffed sofa, cuddled up to one another. "Open it," she said.
He unwrapped the small box. Inside lay a small gold St. Christopher medal.
"Itll protect you," Lauren said, hearing the catch in her voice. "When were apart. "
"You might get into Stanford," he said, but there was no conviction in his words.
He took a deep breath, then let it out.
"Its okay," she murmured. "I know well be apart. Our love can take it. "
He looked down at her. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautifully wrapped package.
It wasnt a ring box.
She took it from him, surprised at how unsteady she suddenly felt as she unwrapped the present. She hadnt known until just now--this second--that shed expected a proposal tonight. Inside the box lay a pair of tiny diamond heart earrings, suspended from thread so delicate it looked like fishing wire. "Theyre beautiful," she said in a shaky voice. "I never thought Id own diamond earrings. "
"I wanted to buy you a ring. "
"These are great. Really. "
"My mom and dad dont think we should get married. "
So they were going to have to talk about it. "What do you think?"
"I dont know. Remember that lawyer my dad wanted to talk to?"
"Yeah. " It took everything she had to keep smiling.
"He says there are people who would love this baby. People who would want it. "
"Our baby," she said softly.
"I cant be a father," he said, looking so sad and beaten that she wanted to cry. "I mean. I am one. I know that, but . . . "
