After finally distracting Lily with her favorite cartoons in the living room and ensuring she was happily absorbed, we slipped out, closing the door softly behind us.
I glanced back once, double-checking that she wouldn't overhear anything she didn't need to hear. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor, utterly enthralled by the animated creatures dancing across the screen.
Good. The last thing I needed was more questions about "bruises" or "wrestling" explanations.
Ciara squeezed my hand reassuringly as we headed to the dining hall, where my parents were waiting with their typical mix of concern and curiosity.
My mother had already started setting the table, her hands fussing over napkins and placemats even though we weren't actually having a meal.
My dad stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, trying for a composed expression but glancing over with thinly veiled anticipation.
I took a deep breath, feeling Ciara's calming presence beside me, and smiled at my parents. "So… we actually have some exciting news," I started, trying to keep my voice steady.
They both straightened, exchanging glances. My mother's eyes sparkled with excitement, and my dad's brow lifted slightly, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.
"What kind of news?" my mom asked, though I could tell she had a hunch.
Ciara looked at me, her gaze so soft it sent a thrill of warmth through my entire body. I nodded, giving her the go-ahead to share, but she simply raised a brow as if to say, "No, this one's all yours."
With my nerves firmly in check—well, mostly—I took a deep breath and looked at my parents. "Mom, Dad… Ciara proposed. We're getting married!"
For a heartbeat, there was absolute silence. Then my mother's face broke into the biggest smile I'd ever seen, her hands flying to her mouth as she let out a tiny squeal.
"Oh, my goodness! Aeliana, that's… that's wonderful!" She rushed forward, pulling me into a tight hug, her excitement contagious. My dad followed, shaking Ciara's hand with a genuine smile that melted some of my remaining nerves.
"Aeliana," he said, looking between us both with a mix of pride and affection, "this is wonderful news. Congratulations, both of you." He placed a hand on my shoulder before turning to Ciara with an appreciative nod. "Welcome to the family officially, Ciara."
"Thank you, sir," Ciara said, her voice smooth but filled with unmistakable warmth. She glanced over at me, her eyes shining with such pride that I could practically feel her love radiating out of her.
My mother pulled back, beaming, but her eyes quickly narrowed as her attention shifted to Ciara. "So… what brought this on so quickly?" she asked, her tone half-teasing, half-genuine.
Ciara's signature smirk appeared, her confidence unshaken. "Well, when you know, you know, right?" she said, casting me a soft look. "And Aeliana's made it pretty hard not to be sure."
My mother gave a light laugh, then turned to me with a grin. "And you, Aeliana, do you feel the same?"
"Yes, absolutely," I replied with no hesitation. I couldn't keep the smile off my face, and my cheeks warmed as I felt their happiness settling around us like a warm blanket.
Then, in typical Ciara fashion, she wrapped her arm around my waist and whispered with a wicked grin, "Couldn't resist making it official. Didn't want anyone else to even think they had a chance."
"Ciara!" I elbowed her gently, but my parents laughed, clearly amused by her candidness.
My dad cleared his throat, a touch of his formal tone returning. "Well, I hope you're ready for a lively family," he said, clearly aiming the comment more toward Ciara than me. "There's plenty of chatter and activity, and sometimes it's a bit… messy."
"Oh, trust me, sir, I'm well aware," Ciara replied with a grin. "I've already gotten the, uh, grand tour of family life."
Just then, there was a loud burst of laughter from the living room where Lily was watching her cartoon.
My mom's eyes darted over her shoulder, and she let out a slight sigh. "We've definitely been a 'lively' family," she said, shaking her head affectionately. "And now with you two adding your own dynamic… well, it's a lot to take in."
I caught my dad's expression—a mix of happiness and a bit of bewilderment, like he hadn't quite anticipated that his oldest daughter would be making such big life moves so soon. He chuckled, rubbing his temples.
"You know, Aeliana, I remember when you and Lily were just toddlers causing chaos. And now… you're engaged!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I'll have to start mentally preparing for the wedding already."
"Oh, yes," my mother chimed in, eyes gleaming.
"You'll have to tell us all your ideas! I'm sure you two already have some plans in mind. What about the venue? Or the decorations?" She paused, clearly excited, and then went on. "Aeliana, darling, do you want a traditional gown? Or maybe something a bit more modern?"
I blinked, a bit overwhelmed by the sudden flood of questions. "Uh… well, we hadn't really thought that far ahead," I admitted, glancing at Ciara, who gave a tiny shrug, though I could tell she was mentally backing me up.
Ciara leaned forward, her mischievous grin returning. "All I know is I'll need a suit sharp enough to make Aeliana swoon all over again."
"Oh, I'm sure you will," my dad said dryly, casting her a playful look. "But that still leaves a thousand details to plan, and I think your fiancée might need a say in some of those."
"Oh, don't worry, sir," Ciara replied, a touch of humor in her voice, "I wouldn't dare get in the way of her vision. Whatever Aeliana wants, she'll get. I just hope she knows I can be a bit… stubborn when it comes to the guest list."
My mom laughed at that, but then her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity. "Speaking of which, Aeliana, will you be inviting… you know, anyone from your past?"
It took me a moment to realize she was asking about old friends or distant relatives we hadn't seen in years. I glanced at Ciara, and she gave me an encouraging nod.
"We'll see," I said, smiling, my excitement bubbling over again. "Honestly, I'm just excited to be with Ciara and have all of you with us on that day."
My mom clasped her hands together, her eyes brimming with emotion. "Oh, Aeliana, it's all going to be wonderful. And just think, after everything, you two have each other now. That's what matters most."
A comfortable silence settled over us for a moment, each of us basking in the happy realization of what was to come. But then Ciara's voice broke the quiet.
"So… anyone want to tell Lily not to invite her whole class to the wedding?"
We all burst out laughing at that, and I couldn't help but think that this new chapter in my life was going to be filled with laughter, love, and so many beautiful, unexpected moments.
The laughter was just beginning to die down when my dad's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Well, since we're all sharing, how about a few stories from Aeliana's younger days?"
"Dad, no," I groaned, feeling my cheeks heat up instantly. I already knew where this was going, and Ciara's amused smirk told me she was all too ready to hear every embarrassing detail.
"Oh, come on, Aeliana," my mom teased, clasping her hands. "I think Ciara deserves to know just a few highlights!"
With a resigned sigh, I slumped back in my chair as my parents exchanged a look, clearly thrilled to have an eager audience.
"So," my dad began, chuckling, "there was this one time, maybe when she was seven? She decided she wanted to 'fix' the bathroom sink. Except, the sink wasn't broken… she just thought it would be fun to see if it could handle… well… a whole box of cereal."
"A box of cereal?" Ciara snorted, trying to stifle her laughter.
"Yes! And she thought if she added enough water, it would all magically disappear. I had to unclog that mess for hours!"
I buried my face in my hands, completely mortified, as my mom chimed in, "Oh, but wait, there's more! Remember her 'fashion phase' at eight?"
"Please, no," I muttered, peeking out between my fingers.
"Oh, yes," my dad said, nodding dramatically. "Aeliana insisted that pajamas were perfect daywear. She refused to wear anything else for a week, even to the grocery store!"
Ciara's laughter filled the room as she leaned back, clearly enjoying herself. "Wow, so you've always been a trendsetter, huh?"
I shot her a playful glare, cheeks burning. "Ha-ha, very funny."
But before I could recover, my mom added the final blow, laughing as she said, "And who could forget the time you tried to 'bake' without an oven. That poor, poor toaster…"
"Mom!" I cried, covering my reddening face.
Ciara reached over and took my hand, squeezing it reassuringly, but her eyes sparkled with laughter. "I don't know, Aeliana. I think this just makes you even more adorable."
I could only groan, my cheeks still aflame, while my parents exchanged satisfied smiles.