Taking Off
Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Upon their return from Chicago, Matt received a work promotion and Charlene a letter from the Home Office stating that they had declined her visa renewal application due to a period of unemployment the previous year. Matt had enjoyed a relaxed Christmas in Chicago, away from the pressures of London and Katie, and he had achieved his goal of becoming a special needs nurse with a position to match, but when Charlene mentioned heading back home, he snapped at her.
After a few days, he resolved to ask Charlene the one question preying on his mind.
“If you could stay, would you stay?”
“Of course. But it’s not going to happen. The letter sounds rather final.”
“There must be a way.”
“I ain’t staying here with no visa, I don’t want to be an illegal.”
“I’m not suggesting this. There must be a legal way.”
“Sure. Maybe I can prove my grandfather was British.”
“Was he?”
Charlene laughed. “Yeah, right.”
Charlene’s shiny eyes fixed Matt and he caressed her cheeks. His life had changed for the best when he had met her that night, his first night shift at Kings College Hospital, and she had opened her heart to him. Charlene raised an eyebrow at Matt’s silence and he looked down at his hands, delaying the moment where he would agree and admit that their future seemed compromised. He massaged the skin around the scar underneath his knuckles for a few seconds. Then he smiled and clapped his fingers. “I know a way.”
“Care to tell me?”
“You could stay here but it would mean… Do you love me?”
“Of course I do.”
Matt kneeled down. “Then, Charlene Andrea Johnson, will you marry me?”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. I would have done it in a year or so, but we need it now. I don’t want them to take you away, I know our future is together.”
“Are you sure you’re not going to regret this?”
“Yes I‘m sure. I know I don’t have a ring, I should have got it first. But I mean it. I love you Charlene and I want to spend my life with you.”
Charlene accepted and called her parents to share her news. Over dinner, Matt told Linda and Jim, who both admired and congratulated him for his decision.
