Chapter 11: Will You Marry Me?

Arnold waited nervously outside Ruby's apartment building, glancing at his reflection in the gleaming orange Lamborghini. He clutched a bouquet of sunflowers, their bright petals a hopeful contrast to the nervous flutter in his chest. When he saw Ruby and her daughter, Ariel, step out, he couldn't hold back a smile. But a tightness formed in his throat—this was the family he might have had all along.

Ariel's eyes widened with curiosity as they approached. She looked up at Arnold, tilting her head.

"Hello!" Ariel waved, grinning.

"Ariel, this is Arnold. He's... a friend of mine," Ruby said softly, glancing at Arnold with uncertainty.

Arnold bent down, extending his hand to the little girl. "Nice to meet you, Ariel." He gently picked a single sunflower from the bouquet and handed it to her, then offered the rest of the bouquet to Ruby.

Ariel's face lit up as she took the flower. "Mummy, this is my first flower!" she squealed, clutching it like a precious treasure.

Ruby watched her daughter with a fond smile, her gaze softening as she looked back at Arnold. "Thank you. That was very sweet."

They climbed into Arnold's car, and he drove them to an amusement park on the city's edge. But when they arrived, Ruby looked around in surprise.

"Arnold... the park is empty," she said, glancing back at him with a puzzled look.

He shrugged, a soft smile on his lips. "I booked the entire park for the day so Ariel could enjoy herself without the noise and crowds."

Ruby's eyes softened, her voice almost a whisper. "That's... incredibly thoughtful. Ariel doesn't do well with large crowds. She's autistic, so things like this can be overwhelming for her."

Arnold nodded, understandingly. "I wanted her to feel comfortable and have fun."

Ariel's eyes sparkled as she looked at the Ferris wheel. "Mummy, can we go on that one first?" she squealed, tugging Ruby's hand.

Ruby chuckled. "Hold on, sweetheart, let's not run off too fast!" She looked back at Arnold. "Let's go, then. Seems like we have an energetic kid to keep up with."

For the next hour, Arnold and Ruby trailed after Ariel, who was tireless as she raced from one ride to the next. They laughed, ran, and shouted, letting Ariel set the pace. By the end of it, Ruby and Arnold were exhausted, but Ariel was still grinning from ear to ear.

Finally, Ariel's energy waned, and she nestled into Ruby's arms, her eyelids drooping. Arnold led them over to a grassy spot where he laid out a picnic blanket and unpacked a basket filled with snacks.

Ariel's eyes lit up again at the sight of the food, and she immediately reached for a little sandwich. Ruby smiled, nibbling on some snacks as Arnold poured them each a glass of wine.

"Cheers to... new friends and fun days," Ruby said, clinking her glass against Arnold's. Ariel, ever eager, raised her plastic cup of apple juice and clinked it against their glasses with a giggle.

Arnold chuckled, eyes misty as he watched Ariel's wide smile. "She's wonderful, Ruby... she reminds me of someone."

Ruby's expression turned concerned. "Is something wrong?" she asked, noticing the glisten of tears in his eyes.

Arnold hesitated, glancing down as he wiped his eyes. "No, it's just... Ariel reminds me of... the life I thought I'd never have. I missed so much time, and it's hard to think about." His voice trembled slightly. "It feels like... I've missed out on years I'll never get back."

Ruby reached over, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "It's okay, Arnold. What matters is what you do now, knowing what you've missed. Being a parent, it's a blessing, but it's also the hardest thing I've ever done. Just... knowing you're doing it alone."

Arnold's heart ached as he watched her. She looked exhausted but determined, a woman carrying the weight of raising a child alone. He felt a surge of guilt and love, battling to say what had been burning inside him for days now. How could he tell her Ariel might be his daughter? How could he reveal the truth about their connection?

As the sun began to set, Ruby gathered their things, trying to coax a now-tired Ariel to her feet. "Well, I guess we should get going. It's getting late."

Arnold felt panic creep into his heart. He didn't want them to leave. Didn't want this brief glimpse of a family to vanish so soon. Her words echoed in his head: *What matters is what you do now, knowing what you've missed.*

The words escaped his mouth before he could think. "Ruby Miller, will you... will you marry me?"

"Uhn!" Ruby froze, her mouth open in shock.