Hanna gazed around the Gomez rooms. Alonzo’s parents had done a nice job of decorating. Even if there wasn’t much to use to decorate, they had done well.

There was a pristine white tablecloth on the table and the chef had helped out by providing the meal. Mrs. Gomez had pulled out the china she had brought with her from Earth and laid it out along with her precious candles. Mr. Gomez had thoughtfully gathered a bunch of flowers that he knew were Hanna’s favorites and placed them in a large cup, which he had found in the kitchens.

Hanna turned to Alonzo. “It’s beautiful.” She looked over at his parents. “You did a beautiful job with it, Mr. and Mrs. Gomez.”

Mrs. Gomez smiled. “Thank you, dear.”

Hanna’s parents walked in then.

“Hey, Bess!” Hanna’s mom gave Mrs. Gomez a hug.

“Chenn, how are you?” Mr. Gomez asked.

Chenn smiled, shaking Mr. Gomez’s hand as he answered. “Doing well. You, David?”

“Oh, we’re doing great. Even better tonight, in fact.”

Chenn smiled at his friend. “I dare say. My wife and I are quite pleased as well.”

Hanna looked back and forth between them. “What’s going on? We’re just here for dinner, right?”

Her parents smiled at her, but didn’t say anything.

Hanna just stewed.

Ali chose that moment to walk into the room. “Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Gomez. Alonzo. Mom and Dad.” He looked at Hanna, giving her a slight, secretive smile. “Hey, sis.”

Mr. and Mrs. Gomez smiled.

“Hello, Ali.” Mrs. Gomez answered, giving him a warm hug.

“Great night tonight, eh, son?” Mr. Gomez whispered conspiratorially.

“Yes, sir!” Ali shook hands with Mr. Gomez.

Alonzo looked at him. “Have you got it?”

“Got what?” Ali gave his friend an innocent look.

“Come on, Ali. Don’t play games.”

Hanna looked back and forth between the two. “Okay, something is so going on. What are you two up to? Got what?”

A note of worry crept into Alonzo’s voice. “Ali, tell me you didn’t forget.”

He wouldn’t forget something like that on my big night, would he? Alonzo wondered.

Ali smiled at him, clapping him on the back. “Nah. It’s a special night for you. I wouldn’t forget something like that.”

Alonzo sighed in relief, tension bleeding out of him.

Hanna gave her brother an annoyed look. “Hello, are the two of you even listening to me?”

Ali turned to her. “Why, Hanna… I didn’t notice you there.” He teased.

“Hanna, why don’t you sit down?” Mrs. Gomez led Hanna to the table so that Ali could slip a little box into Alonzo’s hand.

“Well, we’re ready to eat anytime now.” Mr. Gomez smiled at the boys and Ali’s parents.

They smiled back and followed him to the table.

When they were seated, Mr. Gomez said the blessing for the food and they dug in.

***

After dinner, the two women cleaned up.

Hanna offered to help, but they waved her off.

“Dear, go sit down with the boys. We don’t need the help.” Mrs. Gomez instructed, shooing Hanna off towards the beds.

Since there weren’t any sofas, the beds had been made neatly and pillows were spread for convenience.

Mr. Gomez and Chenn sat in the chairs while the boys had opted for the beds.

Hanna walked over to them and sat down next to Alonzo. “Thanks for inviting us for dinner, Mr. Gomez.” She said.

Ali smiled to himself remembering all the times he and Hanna had had sleepovers with Alonzo here in their rooms or had dinner with them at the big teak-wood table, which was another thing Mrs. Gomez had brought along when she and Mr. Gomez had come to West Base just before Alonzo was born.

After dinner, the three of them had often sat on these very beds and talked or wrestled. And sometimes, they had played in the halls until bedtime together, weaving between the few people who were still walking the halls at dinner time.

Snapping back to reality, he focused on what was going on.

The two women had finished putting the dirty dishes onto the tray that the chef, Mr. Undersee, had lent to Mrs. Gomez to bring the dinner and dishes to and from the kitchens. Now they sat beside each other in two of the empty chairs, watching Alonzo quietly.

He hesitated, clearing his throat nervously. Can I do this? I mean… I know I have her parents’ approval, but is this what she wants too? We love each other… But does she love me enough to say yes? Alonzo worried.

Hanna glanced at him suspiciously. “Alonzo? What’s going on?”

He smiled weakly. “Who says anything’s going on?”

Hanna raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? Alonzo, when you’re acting like this, something’s definitely going on.”

He looked to his parents.

They nodded approval, and his mother made a shooing gesture.

Alonzo wiped his sweating palms on his pants to dry them. Then he pulled the box Ali had given him out of his pocket and kneeling before Hanna, he took her hands in his.

Nestled in the box that he set onto her lap was a little silver band with a delicate array of diamonds inlaid into its filigreed surface.

He hesitated a moment longer, but then he plowed on ahead. The worst she could do was turning him down.

And he really wanted this. His voice barely made a whisper when he spoke. “Hanna Covalenti, will you marry me?”

Hanna’s cheeks were rosy with embarrassment. “I… I… Alonzo, I don’t know what to say… I mean… I’m just sixteen…I’m so… young.”

Everyone laughed softly.

Alonzo smiled. “That’s okay. If you want to wait, I understand. But in a year’s time, will you?”

Hanna looked to her father. “Da?”

He smiled. “He has my permission and approval. Your mother’s as well. It’s up to you.”

Hanna looked at her brother. Wordlessly, she asked him what he thought. His eyes told the whole story. He knew how happy Alonzo made her, and he thought it would be the perfect match for her.

She looked back at Alonzo who was looking at her hopefully. She looked down at their intertwined hands before letting her gaze flit back up to his eyes. “Yes.” She whispered.

Then more loudly. “Yes! I’ll marry you in a year!”

Alonzo swept her up into his arms spinning her about in a circle. She was laughing and crying at the same time as she held onto the little ring box and put her arms around his neck.

The whole scene ended in a kiss. It surprised Hanna, and her cheeks flamed red. When Alonzo finally stopped, she murmured in his ear. “Alonzo! Not in front of our parents!”

He grinned. “Sorry. I got a little carried away.”

His mother heard it and laughed. “Son, that was more than a little.”

Alonzo blushed. “Uh… Maybe a lot?”

Everyone laughed at that, and Hanna clung tighter to Alonzo’s neck.

Finally, she was out of everyone’s shadow. She was free to simply be who she was. She didn’t have to worry that no one would like her. Alonzo did, and even if he alone loved her for who she was, it would be enough.

She was home and she was where she belonged surrounded by family and a young man who loved her very much. She had a brother who had, despite a year or two of difficulties between them, finally opened up to her and admitted how much he really loved her. And she knew her dad and mom loved her too.

Da had always loved her, she knew. He just didn’t know how to relate to her as well as her mom, and so he’d left her training to her mom as much as possible. Hanna understood that now, and she saw that he had never really neglected her. She had been imagining things and misunderstanding people because of her own inner pain and turmoil.

But all that was over now. She had everything she’d ever dreamed of and more besides. It was a good ending for her. And while it wouldn’t always be happily ever after for her and Alonzo, she knew she truly had found the one person who could make her happy. Her soul mate. And that was all she had ever really wanted.