Page 13 of Your Fan Forever

I hurried towards her and put my hand on herwaist.

“Hey, Baby. You okay?” I guided her to the bed and sat her down. I knelt in front ofher.

Sheexhaled.

“We’re getting married in Aspen?” She asked with pure disgust on herface.

“Well, it’s an idea. They have this amazing mountain outdoor chapel area that you have to fly up in ahelicopter.”

“Helicopter.” She gripped thecomforter.

“I know. It’s a little crazy, but I thought we’d keep it small. That way we can do something special. Something we’ll remember.” I rubbed herthigh.

I spoke, but I wasn’t sure she heardme.

She nodded and stared down at the ground. Nip came over to investigate. She reached down and placed him on her lap. Like she needed a buffer between the two ofus.

“Callie. What’s wrong?” Istood.

“You’ve,” she paused and took a deep cleansing breath, “planned the whole wedding? Have you set a date,too?”

“No.” I rubbed my face. “Of course not. I’m just saying these are some ideas. I’m not saying we’re getting married next week, but since we’ll be in Aspen, we can have alook.”

Valentine whimpered from her crate. She wanted in on the family discussion,too.

I crossed my hands over my chest. When it appeared Callie had nothing else to say, I shook my head and went to let Valentineout.

I walked to the laundry room through thekitchen.

Callie followedme.

“Hey Val.” I reached in and picked herup.

She barked and wagged her tail. At three months, she fit in mypalm.

“She needs to go out,” Calliesaid.

I nodded and opened the backdoor.

I set Valentine down. She looked back up at me. Callie steppedout.

“It’s okay, baby. You can do it?” It gave Valentine confidence to navigate thestairs.

We stood side by side, watching our little girl stumble down the stairs, one by one. We both signed in relief when she made it the bottomsafe.

I leaned back on therailing.

“Are you trying to tell me something?” I askedCallie.

She set Nip down and looked up at me. She blinked her eyes, leaned in, and placed her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her. I stroked her hair and squeezedtight.

“It was a surprise.” She leaned back and looked up at me. “The proposal. I thought we were a year away from marriage talk, especially since what happened at Preston’swedding.”

Istiffened.

“I thought we resolved all ofthat.”

“We have. But, it was still asurprise.”