Monday, 4 January 2016

The Surprise Proposal

Here is my first short story I hope you all enjoy it. It's called The Surprise Proposal.

Lydia woke up, the sun shined through a crack in the curtains to ravel it was going to a be a lovely day. She rolled over to see her boyfriend Seth still sleeping, she smiled knowing it was only three more days till their 7th anniversary. They had met seven years ago on their first day of University Seth was doing an art course and Lydia an English course. They met whilst getting their student card and have been together ever since. Lydia got up and made her way in to the bathroom, she had a big meeting at work and her boss was not happy. She worked for a publishers and an authors book had been printed with completely the wrong title and they only had two days until the book release. Seth got up and put his arms around her kissing her on the cheek,
"Good Morning beautiful"
"Good morning Seth" she turned and buried herself into his buff chest, he stocked the back of her hair and held her close
"It's going to be ok things at work will work out, what's meant to be will be"
"I know but I don't want anything interfering with Friday" she told him
"I know neither do I" he kissed her and went to make breakfast.
      Seth worked as an artist and used the spare bedroom of the flat as his studio, he loved to paint all sorts and carried a sketch pad everywhere with him in case something inspired him,
"Are you going to the gallery today" Lydia asked him
"Yes the owner is meeting with me today about my art exhibit next month"
"I'm so proud of you Seth this is your third exhibit, hopefully more art dealers will be there this time"
"Me too I'm hoping work had spread about my work from the last two, also Marcus will be there too, he's been employed by some rich guy as an Art Consultant and he know a few other as well who have said they will come along"
"Seth that's great, and I'm so glad it's on a Saturday Night this time, I get to be there to support you. Oh look at the time I need to get going" Lydia looked at the clock to realise the was running a few minutes late. She gave Seth a goodbye kiss and ran out the door.

"So he's meeting with the gallery owner today" Sarah, Lydia's colleague said, they both sat in the board room waiting for their boss,
"Yes it so exciting, it the first Saturday of next month if you want to come along" Lydia told her
"That would be great can I my mum she loves art"
"Of course I'll let Seth know you're coming"
Lydia's boss entered the room he looked less angry than he did the day before,
"Right an update on Ash Merrygolds new book, the printers have agreed to reprint the cover for the book at no extra cost as it was their fault the name was printed wrong not anyone's in this room" he told everyone
"That's a relief" Sarah said
"Now if you would all like to get on with your work there is lots to do" he turned and walked out of the room, everyone else followed. Lydia and Sarah went back to their desks and continued with their work from the day before
"It's your anniversary on Friday isn't it Lydia" Sarah asked
"Yes it is, seven years we've been together now"
"Wow that's a long time, will we be hearing wedding bells anytime soon" Sarah asked
"No not yet, I'm happy with the way things are, anyway Seth has got his art career to get off the ground and we're saving for a house, I think it's something we will do when we're in our 30's"
"You mean you're saving for a house"
"Seth is too, I just earn more than him at the moment anyway, he does all the food shop, the cooking, the cleaning and that's all around doing his artwork as well. They only thing he doesn't do is throw away out of date food" Lydia stopped typing
"Ew, you think he'd do that whilst he cleaning" Sarah looked up
" I know but to be honest it only seems to be fruit and veg. I though a mouldy orange at him the other day, hopefully that got it into his head" Lydia laughed.

"Seth the gallery is that way" Marcus said
"I know I just want to have a look at something first" Seth walked over to shop window
"Jewellery, why are you looking at jewellery" Marcus asked, Seth gave a look of exhaustion
"It's my anniversary on Friday. Me and Lydia have been together seven years remember"
"Oh yeah, so what are planning to get her another necklace, may want to step it up a bit mate"
"What do you mean step it up" Seth asked
"I mean this" Marcus maundered Seth to a window full of rings
"No way Marcus it's not the right time, I wish it was but it's not"
"So you do want to marry Lydia"
"Yes I do, I always have but we aren't financially stable yet and we're saving for a house" Seth told his friend
"Yes but it doesn't mean you can't get engaged, my sister has been engaged for three years and still no closer to planning a wedding that she was when she said yes"
"I know but what if she shoots me down because she's not ready to be engaged, you know I can't take rejection when it comes to love, remember what happened in school"
"Ah yes Melanie Greenwood, you know she was a bitch right, still is" Marcus told him
"I know I hear she has three children to three different guy's and lives on benefits now" Seth gossiped
"I heard that one of the fathers is a premier league footballer and she taking him to court for child maintenance"
"That I find very hard to believe" Seth told him in disbelief
"I know, oh come on you're going to be late"

"Oh hello darling" Charlotte said as she opened the door to see her daughter Lydia on the doorstep
"Hi Mum, thought I'd pay you a little visit on my way home" Lydia took her shoes and coat off and sat on the sofa in the living room
"Cup of tea darling"
"Oh yes please I've been craving one all day, the office ran out of tea bags and we won't be getting a delivery until later in the week"
"So tell me how's Seth doing" Charlotte asked pouring water into a tea cup
"He's great, he's got another exhibition at the gallery beginning of next month, it's on a Saturday this time so I will be able to make it" Lydia took the cup her mother handed her "oh perfect" she said talking a sip
"That must be very exciting do you mind if I come along, I would love to see some of his work"
"Of course you can, you'll get to meet Sarah's mum too she loves art" there was a moment of silence
"How's dad doing" Lydia asked still sipping away at her tea
"He's doing well, I went to see him at lunch time, we're hoping to have him walking again soon, the people at the clinic are doing so well with him" Lydia's father had been in an accident a few months before and was now recovering at a rehabilitation unit
"I must go visit him myself I've spoken to him on the phone, he's still not saying much but it can't be easy going though all that and being away from home"
"It was your brothers decision to put him in the clinic as soon as he's better he will come home again and to be honest it's the best place for him, if he was at home I would have struggled" Charlotte told her reminding her of her own health
"I know but you've been so much better lately"
"That's because it's been summer when winter sets in again I will start to struggle more" she took her daughters hand to reassure her everything would be alright.

"There you are beautiful, dinner is just about ready" Seth said as he saw Lydia come through the door
"Sorry I went to see my mum, she went to see dad today, he's doing well still not talking much though, I should pay him a visit I haven't been in a week or so I've been that busy with work" Lydia sat down at the already set table
"Well why don't we pay him a visit this Saturday I'm sure he'll love it" Seth suggested
"That sounds great, I'll give him a call and let know" Lydia picked up the phone and dialled the number to the clinic and asked the receptionist if she could speak to her father
"Hi Dad, it's Lydia, I'm fine thank you, how are you?, that's so good to hear, Seth and I will be coming to see you on Saturday if that's ok, that's great, yes I know we've been very busy at the office with Ash Merrygold's next book coming out on Thursday but I can't wait to see you, Ok Dad I will see you Saturday, you know where I am if you need me, Ok bye" she hung up and turned to Seth with a smile
"He seemed a bit more chatty " he said plating up dinner
"I know it was so good to hear him speaking again" they sat down to eat their dinner.

"Happy Anniversary Beautiful" Seth said on Friday morning as he bright Lydia breakfast in bed
"Oh wow what a surprise, thank you Seth" she gave him a kiss and ate her breakfast
"I'll be making you something really special tonight, it will be ready by the time you get home tonight and tomorrow we will go see your father as planned"
"Oh Seth you are so wonderful"
"I also picked you out a dress to wear for work, the lovely green one like to see you in" he took the dress out of the wardrobe and hung it on the door.
Lydia got dressed and found Seth in his studio as she went to say goodbye,
"Are you starting a new painting darling" she asked looking at the blank canvas in front of her
"Oh yes, just a little something that gave me inspiration the other day" he told her
"Ok well I can't wait to see it when you're done" she kissed him on the cheek and left the flat.
     Seth spent most of the day working on his new painting of a Pander Bear he knew Lydia would like as a present, he used different shades of green for the grass and the trees as well as white and black for the Panda. When he had finished he cleaned himself up and began making dinner.

Lydia returned home on time and was amazed to see candles and roses everywhere when she walked through the door,
"Hello Beautiful, just in time" Seth dressed in an open collar suit poured Lydia a glass of her favourite white sparkling wine
"Risotto for dinner" he said putting dinner on the table
"Ooh it smells delicious" they both sat down and Lydia told Seth about her day
"So next week Ash will be on The One Show, This Morning and Lorraine, I'm just waiting to hear back from Loose Women, her agent is so pleased"
"Lydia that's fantastic" they finished eating and had desert of Crème Brulee then exchanged gifts,
"Ok you first Seth" Lydia said
"I thought you were going first"
"No I went first last year"
"Did you, oh ok then, come with me" Seth took Lydia's hand and took her into his studio
"Oh my god Seth its beautiful, I love it" Lydia said after seeing the Panda painting
"It's not dry yet so be careful" Seth warned her. Lydia had a closer look at it before taking Seth into the living room to give him his present
"Plane tickets to Paris" he said looking at his gift
"Yes and we get to go to the Louvre at New Year" Lydia added
"Lydia you are amazing I've always wanted to go to the Louvre" Seth picked her up and spun her around before kissing her.

 They both sank into the sofa afterwards wine in hand and cuddled for a bit
"Lydia, I have something else for you" Seth said after a while  
"What is it Seth"
"Well we've been together for a long time now and I love you so much I can't even begin to think how lucky I am to have met you and I want to be with for forever, and saying that" he took and little box out of his pocket and got down on one knee
"Lydia will you marry me" he asked. There was silence for a few minutes Lydia's eyes tearing as she looked at him, Seth's heart was pounding
"Yes" she finally said "Yes I will marry you" Seth slipped the ring on to her finger and kissed her as tears of happiness rolled down their cheeks,
"Oh what a lovely surprise" Lydia said as she admired her princess cut diamond ring
"You had no idea"
"No none, I can't believe it, I thought you were never going to ask, I've kept telling everyone I'm happy which I am but secretly I've been hoping you would propose this year. Seth I love you so much" Lydia kissed him again and again and kept kissing him as they fell into bed.                   
  

                             

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