#40: The First Proposal

After Dude left Derek's new house to go on his date with Zoe Patel, Derek and Bill returned to the Utopia House.  Bill was starved, and looked for something to eat from the fridge.

 Derek sought out Kelly for the date he had promised her.

"I'm really tired, so maybe we could just go for a walk in the park?" Derek asked her.

"That would be FINE, Derek," Kelly said.  "As long as it's a SHORT walk, because I know you're starting your new job tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., and I want you to be well rested."

"You're always SO considerate, Kelly," he said, grateful.

_______________

"So, how'd it go?"  Regina had finished her writing for the day, and joined Bill, who was eating dinner at the bar.

"Pretty well," Bill reported.  "We got the walls up, the window and the door in, and the plumbing fixtures installed.  We still have to paint and get some lighting up, but overall we're in pretty good shape."

"So, do you think Derek is going to propose to Kelly tonight?" Regina asked.

"I dunno," Bill responded.  "Derek seems to have a plan for everything, but I'm lost as to what his timetable is.  He hasn't even told her about the house yet, and he's got only a month to pay back his $40,000 loan to NASA."

"That's going to be one heck of a surprise," Regina observed, "when he finally tells her.  I have to say, though, I think it's weird for her not to have any say in her first house, and for it just to be presented to her as a fait accompli...."

"Do you think he's being a bit sexist?" Bill asked.  "Because I don't.  Sure, he's kind of a throwback to the Fifties, but he worships Kelly, and he genuinely thinks his approach will make her happy."

"And I don't necessarily disagree with you," Regina replied.  "She's very traditional, so she might be delighted that he's taken care of all this."

The two sat in silence for a while.  "You must be pretty tired by now," Regina observed.  "Going to bed soon?"

"Naw, I thought I'd go over to the river and fish for a while," Bill said.  "I'm pretty sore from doing manual labor all day, and fishing really relaxes me.  And it's not like I have to get up and go to a job tomorrow!  Want to come with me?"

"Sure!" Regina agreed.  "I could do some harvesting and then sell the plants so we can give Derek and Kelly a little more money.  Just in case they decide to move out tomorrow!"

The two left the house and walked toward the river, with Regina picking flowers and herbs along the way, and Bill digging up rocks.

Bill went to the river to fish, and when Regina was done harvesting plants, she joined him.

"Ooh!" she said breathlessly, running over to him.

 "I just saw Kelly and Derek over near the fountain across the road!" she reported.

 

"How does it seem to be going?" Bill asked, amused.  "Does it look like everything's all 'kittens and butterflies and moonbeams' with them?"

"You're soooooo funny," Regina admonished.  "They're just gazing into each other's eyes, and holding hands, and kissing, etc."

Bill was silent for a minute.  "Do you like that kind of stuff?"

Now it was Regina's turn to be amused.  "It's got its place," she laughed, as she cast her line.

They fished for a while without saying anything.  They both loved the outdoors, and were just enjoying the cool night air, the chirping of the crickets and the occasional splash made by a fish.

Bill cleared his throat.

 "So, Regina," he asked, "will you marry me?"