The last few days had been a whirlwind.
In fact, so had the last couple of weeks.
Her graduation with a psychology degree from Lanton University had been a crazy, life-changing day. Right after the ceremony, an FBI agent had recruited her for the bureaus ten-week Honors Internship Summer Program. Right after that, Ryan had asked her to move in with him when he started his new job.
The amazing thing was that both her internship program and Ryans new job were in Washington, DC. So she hadnt had to make a choice.
At least he wasnt freaked out when I told him I was already pregnant, she thought.
In fact, hed seemed delighted at the time. Hed gotten a bit more nervous about the idea of a baby in the days since graduationbut then, Riley felt plenty nervous about it herself.
The very thought of it boggled her mind. They were just getting started in their lives together, and theyd soon be sharing the greatest responsibility Riley could imagineraising their own child.
Wed better be ready, Riley thought.
Meanwhile, she felt strange putting her old psychology textbooks onto the shelves. Ryan had tried to talk her into selling them, and she knew that she probably should
God knows, we need every cent we can get.
Still, she had a feeling shed be needing them in the future. She wasnt sure just why or what for.
Anyway, the box also contained a lot of Ryans law books, and he hadnt even considered selling any of them. Of course, he probably would be using them in his new job as an entry-level attorney in the DC law firm of Parsons and Rittenhouse.
When the box was empty and the books all on the shelves, Riley sat on the floor watching Ryan, who kept restlessly pushing and repositioning pieces of furniture as if trying to find the perfect place for everything.
Riley suppressed a sigh
Poor Ryan.
She knew he really wasnt happy with this basement apartment. Hed had a nicer apartment back in Lanton, with the same furniture theyd brought herea pleasantly bohemian collection of secondhand items.
As far as she was concerned, Ryans stuff still looked quite nice here. And the little apartment didnt bother her at all. Shed gotten used to a dorm room back at Lanton, so this place seemed positively luxurious, despite the covered pipes hanging over the bedroom and the kitchen.
True, the apartments on the floors upstairs were much nicer, but this one had been the only one available. When Ryan had first seen it, hed almost refused to rent it. But the truth was, this was the best they could afford. They were already seriously overextended financially. Ryan had maxed out his credit card with moving expenses, the deposit on the apartment, and everything else they had needed for this momentous change in their lives.
Ryan finally looked over at Riley and said, What do you say we take a break?
Sure, Riley said.
Riley got up from the floor and sat down at the kitchen table. Ryan grabbed a couple of soft drinks from the refrigerator and sat down with her. The two of them fell silent, and Riley sensed right away that Ryan had something on his mind.
Finally Ryan drummed his fingers on the table and said
Uh, Riley, weve got to talk about something.
This really does sound serious, she thought.
Ryan fell silent again, and he had a faraway look in his eyes.
Youre not breaking up with me, are you? she asked.
She was joking, of course.
But Ryan didnt laugh. He seemed to have barely noticed the question.
Huh? No, its nothing like that, its
His voice trailed away, and Riley felt really uneasy now.
Whats going on? she wondered. Had Ryans job fallen through or something?
Ryan looked into Rileys eyes and said
Dont laugh at me, OK?
Why would I laugh? Riley asked.
A bit shakily, Ryan got up from his chair and kneeled beside her.
And then Riley realized
Oh, my God! Hes going to propose!
And sure enough, she laughed. It was nervous laughter, of course.
Ryan blushed deeply.
I told you not to laugh, he said.
Im not laughing at you, Riley said. Go ahead, say what you want to say. Im pretty sure well, just go ahead.
Ryan fumbled around in his pants pocket and took out a little black jewelry box. He opened it to reveal a modest but lovely diamond ring. Riley couldnt help but gasp.
Ryan stammered
Uh, Riley Sweeney, wouldwill you marry me?
Trying unsuccessfully to hold back her nervous giggles, Riley managed to say
Oh, yes. Absolutely.
Ryan plucked the ring out of the box, and Riley held out her left hand and let him put it on her finger.
Its beautiful, Riley said. Now get up and sit down with me.
Ryan smiled sheepishly as he sat down at the table next to her.
Was the kneeling too much? he asked.
The kneeling was perfect, Riley said. Everything is just perfect.
She stared at the little diamond on her ring finger raptly for a moment. Her spell of nervous laughter had passed, and now she felt a knot of emotion form in her throat.
She really hadnt seen this coming. She hadnt even dared to hope for itat least not this soon.
But here she and Ryan were, taking yet another enormous step in their lives.
As she watched the light play on the diamond, Ryan said
Ill get you a nicer ring someday.
Riley gasped a little.
Dont you dare! she said. This is always going to be my only engagement ring!
But as she kept staring at the ring, she couldnt help but worry
How much did this cost?
As if reading her thoughts, Ryan said
Dont worry about the ring.
Ryans reassuring smile made her worry dissolve in an instant. She knew he was no fool when it came to money. Hed probably gotten a good bargain on this ringalthough shed never ask him about it.
Riley then noticed how Ryans expression saddened as he looked around the apartment.
Is something wrong? she asked.
Ryan let out a sigh and said, Ill make a better life for you. I promise.
Riley felt strangely jolted.
She asked, Whats wrong with the life weve got now? Were young and were in love and were going to have a baby and
You know what I mean, Ryan said, interrupting her.
No, Im not sure I do, Riley said.
A silence fell between them.
Ryan sighed again and said, Look, Im starting work tomorrow on an entry level salary. Im not exactly feeling like a huge success in the world. But its a good firm, and if I stay with it, Ill be moving up and I might even become a partner someday.
Riley gazed at him steadily.
Someday, sure, she said. But youre off to a great start already. And I like what weve got right now.
Ryan shrugged. We dont have much. For one thing, weve only got the one car, and Ill be needing that to go to work, which means
Riley interrupted, Which means Ill be taking the metro to the training program every morning. Whats wrong with that?
Ryan reached across the table and took her hand.
Its a two-block walk to and from the nearest metro stop, he said. And this isnt the safest neighborhood in the world. The car got broken into once already. I dont like it that you have to go out there on your own. Im worried.