The muscles in her stomach jumped but Gladys tamped them down. “I would like that a lot Edward, but we‘ve not planned for it or any of the outcomes.”
“Well there‘s a way to resolve this. I want us to get married.”
“How do you mean?” They‘d never talked about marriage in relation to themselves.
Edward said the first thing that came to mind. “Will you marry me?”
Gladys was confused at first. This evening that had started off so well had not worked out in any way she could have imagined. What he‘d just said made no sense at all and then it sank.
“Is this a ploy to get me into bed or are calling my bluff?”
“No I am serious Gladys. It‘s time to take this relationship to the next level.”
Gladys considered him in silence for several minutes. What kind of proposal was that? If she had fantasized about how this would go, this was no way near it. He still hadn‘t said how he felt about her.
“Based on what?” When he didn‘t reply she added. “I love you Edward, how do you feel about me? I know you care about me and find me attractive but do you love me?”
Edward came to stand before her. He took her hands in his. “Doesn‘t it matter that I‘m attracted to you? I really care for you Gladys and want us to be together.”
“If we‘re to think about marriage, it has to be more than that. For goodness sake we‘ll be planning to spend the rest of our lives together.”
“Sweetie, we get along together so well. I‘ll cherish and take care of you. And …”
Why was he was rambling all over the place? You either loved someone or you didn‘t. Gladys pulled her arms out of Edward‘s grip and said shakily, “I don‘t think you know me very well. I couldn‘t think to marry someone who cannot say he loves me.”
Edward blamed the frustration that had made him blurt out the marriage topic. It was great that they struck sparks off each other, but he always had to go and spoil it. He took a step closer and took her hand, “Gladys, please listen to me…”
“No, you listen to me Edward. I thought I really knew and understood you but I must have been mistaken all along. I knew you kept back some things about yourself but you‘ve been pretty open about others. I told myself you‘ll get to the rest in your own time but I was wrong.”