“Do you not remember when we first arrived in the city and we saw a coupledoing this?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Course you do. We laughed uncontrollably for about five minutes because you pretended to be a teacher telling them off.”
There was a delay in conversation as the soundwaves made their way across the arch. One or two words sounded muffled, but they managed to piece together the majority.
“Oh, of course! I’d put them in the naughty corner,” Madison chuckled.
“We thought they were strange. Little did we know this was what theywere doing.”
“Okay?”
“You’re wondering why I’m making you stand here,aren’t you?”
“Kind of.”
“I was curious to see if it worked, but I also wanted to trysomething.”
“What?”
“Listen verycarefully.”
Ashley took a deep breath.This was it, she said to herself. The moment of truth. Without further ado, the words she’d been fearing all day left her lips.
“Will you marry me?”
Madison paused, her voice shaky, “What did you say?”
Ashley quickly went the length of the terminal to land behind where Madison stood. Dropping swiftly to one knee, she held the small black box in her hand, now open, revealing the gold-banded square solitaire diamond. She could feel the beat of her heart throughout her whole body, vibrating like a sound system cranked allthe way up.
“I said…will you marry me?”
Madison spun around. “Oh…my…God,” her hand flew to her mouth. “are you serious? Really? You want to marry me?”
Ashley noted the commuters who had stopped in their tracks, waiting for an answer to the most important question Ashley would ever ask.
“I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t.” She laughed. The silence was unbearable. “Well?”
“Yes, 100% yes. I willmarry you.”
Ashley placed the ring delicately onto Madison’s finger.
“Wow, like wow. It’sincredible.”
“You like it?” Ashley grinned.
Madison held her hand towards the light, wiggling her fingers. The shine of the diamond like a star in the clear night sky. “I absolutely love it.”
The commuters who’d taken the time to observe began to clap. Ashley pulled Madison closer. If there was one occasion fit for public displays of affection it was a proposal. They kissed softly, repeatedly, as the tears began to fall.
“I hope they’re happy tears?”Ashley said.
Madison grinned. “The happiest tears anyonecould cry.”
***
The Campbell Bar was a historic architectural masterpiece with a contemporary twist. The hand-painted ceilings soared twenty-five feet above the ground and century-old lead glass windows were the backdrop for the contemporary gold and black bar. Every part of the room was so thoughtfully curated, from the bold brass finish to the green leather furnishings. They took a seat over by the grand stone fireplace. Their cocktails arrived promptly—a Moscow Mule along with an Old Fashioned.
