Chapter 14 - The Question He Couldn't Command Her to Answer
Daniel planned the proposal like a hostile acquisition.
Security.
Timing.
Location.
Backup plan.
Luke discovered the ring.
"This is disturbing."
"What?"
"You have a contingency spreadsheet."
"Weather matters."
"It's a proposal, not a military operation."
"Same risk."
Luke laughed.
Daniel had chosen the blue house.
Not the mansion.
Not a restaurant.
The old South Side house had been restored.
The roses replanted.
Michael helped.
Emma didn't know.
Daniel told her they were visiting to sign foundation paperwork.
She arrived suspicious.
"Why are there flowers?"
"Gardening."
"In October?"
"Climate change."
Emma stared.
"You're bad at this."
Daniel sighed.
"Come inside."
The house looked completely different.
Warm.
Painted blue again.
Family photographs on the walls.
Not expensive art.
Memories.
Emma walked slowly.
"Daniel..."
He rarely heard her use his full name anymore.
He liked it when she did.
In the basement, the old hiding place had been preserved behind glass.
A plaque honored Nathan Mercer and Thomas Carter.
Emma touched her father's name.
Her eyes filled.
"You did this?"
"Michael helped."
She looked at him.
"Why?"
"Because secrets ruined this family."
Daniel held out his hand.
"Thought we'd try remembering people instead."
Emma cried.
"You're becoming dangerously nice."
"Temporary condition."
They went outside.
Daniel used only the cane.
Emma noticed.
"Where's your chair?"
"In the car."
"You sure?"
"No."
She smiled.
"Good."
He walked toward the roses.
Then stopped.
Emma looked at him.
Daniel reached into his coat.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh."
"That's not an answer."
"You haven't asked anything."
"Right."
Daniel exhaled.
For the first time in years, he looked nervous.
Emma almost laughed.
"The terrifying Daniel Moretti is scared."
"Extremely."
"Good."
"You're enjoying this."
"Very much."
He lowered himself.
One knee.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Emma gasped.
"Don't do that!"
"Stop interrupting."
"Danny, your knee—"
"Emma."
She covered her mouth.
He opened the ring box.
"I spent most of my life thinking love meant protecting people from everything."
Emma listened.
"I was wrong."
His voice softened.
"Sometimes love means trusting them enough to choose for themselves."
Emma's eyes filled.
"I cannot promise I won't become controlling occasionally."
"Occasionally?"
"Don't ruin the speech."
She laughed through tears.
Daniel continued.
"I can't promise my legs will keep improving."
Her expression softened.
"I don't know whether I'll use a cane forever."
He looked up.
"Or a wheelchair some days."
Emma nodded.
"I don't care."
"I know."
He smiled.
"That's why I'm asking."
He held out the ring.
"Emma Carter, will you marry me?"
Emma stared.
Then:
"No."
Daniel froze.
Michael, watching from inside, nearly dropped his coffee.
Emma began laughing.
Daniel looked betrayed.
"That's cruel."
She knelt in front of him.
"I'm not saying no."
"You literally said no."
"I'm saying get off your knee before Reeves kills us both."
Daniel stared.
Emma touched his face.
"Ask me sitting down."
"This is humiliating."
"Good."
He laughed.
Emma helped him sit on the garden bench.
Daniel held the ring again.
"Will you marry me?"
Emma smiled.
"Yes."
Daniel's entire face changed.
She kissed him.
Then whispered:
"On one condition."
He groaned.
"Naturally."
"No giant wedding."
"Fine."
"No helicopters."
"Why would there be helicopters?"
"You're you."
"Fair."
"No intimidating politicians."
"Some are friends."
"No."
"Fine."
"And no threatening the caterer."
"Impossible to promise."
Emma laughed.
"Then we're negotiating."
Daniel slid the ring onto her finger.
For the first time in his life, losing a negotiation felt perfect.
A month later, Vale was sentenced.
Life.
Voss received decades.
Hanley lost his license and went to prison.
Blake was captured in Canada.
The network was finished.
Margaret's health declined.
Some days she recognized Emma.
Some days she called her by another name.
But one afternoon, Emma brought her to the blue house.
Margaret saw the roses.
She smiled.
"Thomas loved those."
Emma froze.
"You remember Dad?"
"For today."
They sat together.
Daniel watched from the porch.
Margaret looked at him.
"You stand now."
"A little."
"I told them."
Daniel rolled closer.
"Told who?"
"The doctors."
Her eyes drifted.
"You could feel your feet."
Daniel's throat tightened.
She remembered.
"For years," Margaret whispered.
"They made me think I was confused."
Emma held her hand.
"You weren't."
Margaret smiled.
"I know."
Then she looked at Daniel.
"Take care of my girl."
Daniel nodded.
"I will."
Margaret frowned.
"No."
Daniel paused.
"Love her."
A tear ran down Emma's face.
Daniel looked at her.
Then Margaret.
"I do."
Margaret smiled.
"Better."
May you like
It was one of her last fully lucid days.
Daniel never forgot it.
