down at her, reminding her of a little boy who had just received his first bicycle. She didn't think he could look more excited. However, he quickly noticed she didn't share these same sentiments. "Are you sure you are feeling alright? You look pale."
Lillian took a deep breath and steeled herself. She knew she shouldn't complain; keeping her mouth shut was the smartest way to just collect her money and go. But she and Isaac had created life, and that had to count for something, right? She couldn't bring herself to lie to the father of her baby. Even if she was never going to see him again, it meant something to her that they’d made a child together.
"No, I'm not feeling great. I mean, I'm happy to be pregnant. In fact, happier than I would have imagined I'd feel at the news," she quickly reassured him.
"Then what is it?"
"Well, I know we agreed that I would give up my parental rights at birth, and I'm not going to go back on my word. It just makes me sad to think I'll only have nine months with him or her, and then it's all over. And well, I might only have nine months with you. Because once the baby is here, we won't need to see each other anymore."
"Oh Lillian, you do have a way of ruining surprises, don't you?"
"What do you mean?" she looked up quickly, her eyebrows knotted in confusion.
Isaac leaned in to give her forehead a quick kiss before dropping to the floor next to the bed. As he got down on bended knee, Lillian’s heart began to race wildly. She opened her mouth to say something, but only sputtering came out.
Isaac reached into his pocket and pulled out a little red case. Holding it in his hand, he looked up into her eyes, his gaze intense and protective. "Lillian, I have thought a lot about my future lately, and I realized that the last couple weeks have been some of the best of my life. I've enjoyed hearing about the books you are reading or listening to your dreams for the future. I've loved how you are the clumsiest person I've ever met, get irrationally invested in watching the home shopping network, and how you've never forgotten to ask me how my day was. You are kind, and complex, and breathtakingly beautiful. And now that you are the mother of my child, I never, ever plan to let you go." He flipped open the top of the case, revealing a beautiful yellow diamond ring. "Lillian Scott, will you do me the supreme honor of becoming my wife?"
"Yes, oh my god, Yes!" she cried, putting out her trembling hand so he could slip the ring onto her finger. It looked brilliant, even in the dim light of the bedroom, and she couldn't wait to take it outside to see it's full beauty under the sun.
Isaac got up from his knees and rejoined her on the bed. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. "Lillian, I love you. I thought you would know by now, but I guess it’s time for me to actually say it."
The words shot through her body, bypassing bones and muscles and hitting right to her very soul. What surprised her was how right they sounded. Somehow, over the course of the past several weeks, she had fallen in love too. An overwhelming need rose within her, and she wanted to be close to him, in every way.
"Isaac? I need you inside of me," she said in his chest.
Isaac didn't answer. He merely grabbed the hem of her white sundress and ripped it over her head, leaving her in only a lacy white bra and thong. He gave her body a lustful look and placed his hand protectively on her stomach.
"You're quite the stud, knocking me up so quickly," she said playfully.
"Oh, this won't be the last time. I can't wait to see you fully pregnant, Lillian. You are going to be so round and beautiful, glowing as you carry my child. I'm going to love every curve of your body as you grow." He pushed her backward on the bed and crawled on top of her. He leaned down and grazed her neck with his teeth before whispering huskily into her ear. "And then I'm going to do it again. I'm going to fucking love
1796-1874 Agnes Strickland, 1794-1875 Elizabeth Strickland, Rosalie Kaufman