The New Girl

Chapter 9

I unlock the door and hold it open so Regina can walk in first then I walk in and close the door and make sure the door is locked. She's quiet as she starts to get undressed to put on her nighttime clothes and I just stand quietly there by the door and watch. When she's done she turns and looks at me. "Why are you just standing there?"   "I don't know. I guess I was waiting for you to let me know what's gonna happen next".  "What's going to happen next is we are going to sit down at this table and talk. Then when we settle everything we are going to get a good nights sleep. Perhaps you'd like to get into something more comfortable before we have our talk?"  I nod and quickly start to change. Then I join Regina and the table in our room. "I'm going to start first Emma. I'm a little upset about what you said while we were having our pizza. It's nice that you want me to have everything you think I deserve, but did you once think to ask me what I want?"  I look away from her eyes and shrug. "That's what I thought. Emma I may be 18 but I'm not stupid. I know what I want. I never would have started a relationship with you if I didn't want it. I love our relationship. I love spending as much time with you as I can. As far as being treated like a queen, I've never felt anything other that. I feel respected and loved by you. I feel safe. I know you would never harm me. Isn't that what you want for me. Isn't that what you were upset about while we were sitting on that bench?"  I nod. I'm afraid to speak because the tears may  just start falling like a waterfall from my eyes. "You said your still seeing the school counselor right?"  I nod again. "Good, because I want you to talk to him about our relationship. I need you to start believing in us Emma and you need to believe that you are worthy enough for love. Otherwise this can't work and neither will any other relationship you try to have in the future. I know that you are good enough Emma. Now you just need to believe in yourself. Please keep going to see your counselor". I look her deep in the eyes. "I will Regina. I promise you. I won't give up on us. I just don't know how long that will take".  "It's ok my love I'm a very patient woman. As long as we work through things together I'll always be here".   I stand and lean across the table to give her a kiss. "I love you Regina. Thank you".  "I'm so tired my love, can we please get some sleep now?"  "Only if I can hold you".  "I wouldn't want it any other way". We both get up from the table and she gets in bed as I recheck the locks on the door, then I get in bed next to her and hold her tight as she snuggles into my chest. I kiss her forehead and say. "Thank you Regina".  "For what my love?"   "Thank you for being so understanding and patient with me, but most of all thank you for loving me".  "I do love you Emma. Earlier you said wanted me to be your wife some day. I want you to know that my answer is yes whenever you want to ask me".  "Ok. So I'll ask you now. I'm sorry I don't have a ring yet to give you, but I want to marry you. Regina, will you please marry me one day?"  I see tears in her eyes. She nods and cries. "Yes Emma. Of course I will marry you". We tenderly kiss and I hold her tight as we fell asleep. The next time I open my eyes I see light coming through the windows telling me it must be morning. I hear a soft hum and feel a warm breath against my shoulder as Regina snuggles into me in her sleep. I can't help the smile that comes to my face. I am so in love with this woman. I think back on my past and how I would have sex with anyone. I always used protection of course, but to me it was always just sex, but Regina changed all that. She's really the first relationship I've had and everything to me is all about her. I know I can't afford an engagement ring right now, but I'd like to get her something like a promise ring and I think I know the perfect one to get. I'm startled from my thoughts as Regina begins to speak. "Why do you seem so lost in thought my love?"  I kiss her lips and say. "Because I was babe. I was thinking about you". She smiles. "You were thinking about me?"  I nod. "I always think about you sweetheart. I was just thinking about buying you something special".  "Emma you don't need to buy me anything. Everything you do is special for me my love but I wouldn't mind if you bought me breakfast. I'm so hungry".  "Then it's breakfast you shall have".  We both get up and get ready to go out to eat breakfast. While we ate we talked about what we should do today and we decided that we would hang out on the beach, maybe go for a swim. It's only 9am when we get on the beach so we spent a few hours there till it got too hot around 1pm and we packed up and went to our motel room. We took a shower together then got dressed. We decided we wanted to go back to Browns for lunch. As I was driving there Regina noticed I didn't take the turn that led us to Browns so she asked where we were going. "I told you earlier babe I want to get you something special, well it's actually something for us both".  "Emma you paid for us to be here for a wonderful weekend, you don't need to get me anything my love".  "I know babe, but this is something that means a lot to me and I hope once you see it you'll understand why I want to give it to you".  "Ok my love". She smiles at me as I pull into a parking spot. "Emma this is an Irish store".  "Ya babe. I know".  "I'm Italian and Puerto Rican, what's so special in here that you want to get me?"  I lean over and kiss her. "You'll see and if you don't like it then I can get you something from somewhere else".  We kiss again. "Ok my love I trust you". We get out of the car and walk into the shop. I walk over to the jewelry counter and see exactly what I was looking for. A salesman comes over. "Hello ladies. Can I help you".  "Yes please I'd like to see those rings please". I say and he unlocks the case and pulls them out. "Emma what are you doing?"  Regina asks and I kiss her cheek. "Regina these are somewhat considered Irish wedding bands. They are called Claddagh Rings. On the front are 3 symbols. Hands, a crown and a heart. They represent friendship, loyalty and love. This is the special gift I want to get for you. I told you that I can't afford an engagement ring right now but I want to get this to show you that I give to you my friendship, my loyalty and all my love". I take the smaller ring and place it on her left ring finger. Tears start falling from her eyes. "Oh Emma this is so beautiful. Yes my love I would be happy to accept this ring". She picks up the other ring and places that on my left ring finger. They both fit perfectly its like it was meant to be. She gives me a kiss. "Thank you Emma. So much".  I smile and nod. The salesman said. "So I take it you'll be purchasing these?"  "Absolutely". I hand him my debit card and he says. "If you like I can have them shined up for you". We both nod and take them off. He runs my card and I sign the paper. A few minutes later he comes back with the rings in the box and a few papers. "Ok ladies. Here are your rings and here is some information about the meanings and history of the Claddagh. Plus this paper here is your 10 year warranty. If anything happens just let us know and we'll try to fix it right away". I shake his hand and Regina and I walk out and get in the car. Regina leans over and gives me a big kiss. I take the ring box out of the bag and put hers back on her finger and she does the same with mine. "Emma thank you so much. These are absolutely gorgeous. This is definitely not what I expected to get today".  I kiss her. "Regina until I can get the money for a real diamond engagement ring is this ok?"    "Oh my darling. This is more than ok. This ring means everything to me