Write-A-Thon 2025

Everything I write for Nano this year

Bride to Be Chapter 24

THE LAST FEW MONTHS had flown by. Anna was finally returning to the office after her eight-week maternity leave, having given birth to a precious little girl, Kaci. Her return was a significant moment for the team, and Megan, also pregnant, was due to give birth any day now. To celebrate these milestones, Megan had set up an impromptu welcome-back party in the big cafeteria in the new office space.

Calvin stood in the doorway to the bright cafeteria, watching Lisa climb the ladder to hang the Welcome Back sign for Anna at the back wall. Long, rectangular tables covered with pink flowers lined the serving tables, and each smaller dining table had a pink-and-white bouquet as a centerpiece. The room screamed girl. Megan held the edge of the sign, her baby bump growing by the day. As he observed the pair, profound thoughts of marriage and kids filled his mind, causing the corner of his mouth to quirk upward. He'd been contemplating these thoughts for months, and after meeting baby Kaci, he had a sudden realization. There would never be a perfect moment in their busy worlds to pop the question, not in the grand style he had convinced himself the proposal needed to be. It was time to stop waiting for the ideal moment and move forward.

Calvin's steps were purposeful as he approached the women, his determination radiating with every stride. He was on a mission, a mission to make Lisa feel as valued and vital as she truly was. His life had been a monotonous cycle since his breakup with Jules, a relationship that had left him feeling unfulfilled and stagnant. Then Lisa Green walked in, injecting a much-needed spark. But it wasn't enough. Only one thing could turn his good fortune into perfection--her. Lisa needed to know his intentions without a doubt. And what he desired most was to spend his life with her. With every purposeful step, his heartbeat quickened to a thunderous rhythm that drowned out all other sounds.

Lisa hung the last corner of the sign and descended the steps, her movements quick as she reached the gray tiled floor and looked up to admire her work, crossing her arms over her chest. He knew that move well. Calvin smiled and slowed his pace, only a few feet separating them now.

He could feel the anticipation building, like a crescendo in a symphony. If he counted to three, he knew Lisa would relax her stance and be satisfied with her work, and then he would be standing right behind her, ready to make his move.

"Looks good," Megan said.

"Yes," Calvin began, "it does."

Lisa spun around, a smile on her pink lips, and those soft brown eyes he loved sparkled with happiness. Her joy was infectious, and Calvin couldn't help but feel a surge of love for her.

"So, does Anna have any idea, or were you two able to hide it?" Calvin asked, the curiosity in his voice unable to disguise.

Megan laughed. "If she knows, don't look at me. I didn't mention it."

"Ah, yes, but that doesn't mean Corey didn't," Lisa said, shaking her head.

Calvin had heard stories about the closeness between Corey and Anna, a friendship that went back to childhood. At any party or gathering he'd ever attended in Endurance, the two friends would always manage to wind up in a corner and be thick as thieves, usually plotting something. Their bond was so strong that it often made others feel like outsiders, but Calvin admired their connection.

"If he told her, he kept that to himself," Megan said, though the softness in her voice and less convincing tone hinted that her husband might have confessed to the party the second he'd been informed.

Other employees filed into the cafeteria, gathering in small groups and chatting as they awaited Anna's arrival. A quiet hum filled the room. They had only moved into this office space two weeks ago, and the satisfaction of seeing his plans coming to fruition sent a warmth of pride washing over him. The new office space was a symbol of growth and change, and he hoped to build a future with Lisa there. There were just two pieces of the puzzle of his life to put into place, and with any luck, one of them would happen today. One piece was his proposal to Lisa, and the other was asking her to move into his house as soon as construction was finished. There was no way he would move out of Lisa's house, to his, without her.

Piper and Abby Brady came through the door from the cafeteria to the adjoining kitchen, carrying trays of food. It really was a brilliant idea, thanks to Lisa, that they added the small kitchen to the place. It made perfect sense, given all the events the company held each year, aside from the launch parties.

"Here we go," Lisa said, moving toward the pair and relieving Abby of her load.

Calvin followed behind Lisa and Megan, but moved to the doorway as the four women set up the long table with Abby's catering. He checked his watch and knew Anna would be pulling up soon, probably with Nolan in tow. Nolan was as overprotective about his wife as a man could be. Calvin smiled, knowing there was a time not long ago that he would've thought Nolan was over the top, but since his relationship with Lisa had come into play, he understood how precious having an equal partner in life truly was.

From his vantage point, Calvin could see most of the front parking lot, due to the enormous glass windows and two doors that aligned most of the front of the building. Nolan was a wise builder who saw the potential in the original layout and did his best to preserve some of its design elements as a testament to this building's history. Calvin spotted Anna's silver SUV pulling into the parking lot, with Nolan's truck right behind her.

"They're here," he called over his shoulder, excited to go and greet them at the door. If he pulled Nolan aside for a moment, his friend could create a diversion so Calvin could propose. There was no better time than the present. As he moved past the cafeteria and small meeting room, past the reception area, he could hear the distinct tapping of Lisa's heels on the classic gray-and-white ceramic tile.

Lisa caught up and grabbed his hand. "I know she's been here before, saw her office and everything, but somehow today feels like a homecoming."

Calvin wrapped his fingers around her soft hand and squeezed. "I love that thought. That we've built this place together, and celebrate one another. I always hoped Grayburg would have that family atmosphere."

And then it hit him like a lightning bolt straight from the skies above. He stopped walking, turned to face her, and tugged her hand. Just like that, in the entryway of Grayburg Corporation, Calvin pulled her into his arms and looked down into the sweet face of the woman he loved and admired more than anyone else in the world.

"Lisa, I know it's been a whirlwind. Things might seem like they've happened so fast, but the truth is, everything we've shared has led up to this moment."

"Cal?" she whispered, all breathy and filled with passion.

He wanted to kiss her, but knew if he didn't ask her now, the moment would disappear.

"I love you, Lisa. Will you marry me?"

He watched as tears filled her eyes. The sound of the entrance doors opening crept into the space between them, surrounding them, pulling the energy from the room, as if time had stopped. And he waited. From the corner of his eye, he could see Nolan and Anna standing still just inside the building, but he couldn't look in their direction.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lisa nodded.

"Yes?" he asked, needing clarity, wishing she'd say the words he longed to hear.

Lisa nodded again and laughed. "Yes, Cal. Yes, I'll marry you."

He pulled her tighter before his mouth claimed hers, hard, demanding, exciting. Her arms looped around his torso, her fingernails digging into his back before the cheering erupted and he pulled back.

"I knew it!" Anna said, hugging Lisa as Nolan stepped forward.

"Congratulations. I see there is a lot to celebrate today," Nolan said, clapping Calvin on the shoulder.

He turned and noticed that most of the employees who were in the cafeteria had emerged into the hallway.


WC: 1433



TONI

I lived in a world of delusion of my own making. Isn't that how it is for children who grow up in a loving home? It was for me until the day my peaceful world came crashing down all around me. I had to grow up quickly and soon realized I'd been lied to my entire life. A part of me blames my parents for not coming clean when they should have, but the other part of me —the part that knows I walked around with blinders on, that I chose to believe all the things my parents told me —is just as much to blame. It's taken me decades to make peace with the lies and anger, the betrayal and hurt, and, on some days, when I think I've conquered it, something lurking in the shadows engulfs my life again, reminding me of all of it.

This is my journey.

My name is Toni.

Wishes and Dreams