I step back, letting him in, and he strides into my apartment, taking up all the space and reminding me how small it is.
“Do you want some cake?”
I grab him a fork from the kitchen, and we sit on the couch. He seems nervous, his foot tapping.
There’re so many things I want to say to him. I open my mouth to tell him that I might have made a mistake, but he gets there first.
“Maggie. I know you think you can’t have love and a career. But that is not true.”
He takes my hands in his, and then he sinks to one knee in front of me on the couch. The breath goes out of me when I realize what he’s doing.
“If you marry me, I will support you one hundred percent. I will not get in the way of your career, and I will help you in any way I can to achieve what you want to achieve. You’re an amazing chef, and I want you to have everything you deserve, and I want to be the support that will get you there.”
I go to speak, and he holds up his hand.
“I know you don’t want children, and that’s okay, if that’s what you decide. You’re enough for me, babydoll. But let me tell you something. All those male chefs that you compare yourself to, they have families. Who do you think looks after the kids? There’ll be two parents in this relationship, Maggie. And if I need to step up and be a full time dad so that you can achieve your dreams, then that’s what I’ll do. So, what do you say?”
He takes a ring out of his pocket It’s a blue amethyst surrounded by sparkling diamonds, a perfect little blueberry.
“Will you marry me?”
Tears sting my eyes, and my heart opens. He’s offering me everything I ever wanted, but I realize the thing I want most of all is him.
I see a future that I didn’t dare to dream of. But that’s not why I say yes. I say yes because the alternate future without him is too painful to think about.
“I don’t want to live without you, Arlo. Even if I have to give up cooking, I want to be with you.”
He smiles and cups my cheek in his hand.
“Babe, I don’t ever wanna hear you say that again. You aren’t giving up shit for me, alright? I’m gonna support you one hundred percent to be the best damned pastry chef in the state. So, what do you say?”
My eyes get lost in his, and my heart is full. “Yes!” I throw my arms around his neck. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Arlo slides the ring on my finger as he climbs over me onto the couch. He pulls me down, and I squeal.
“You just made me the happiest man alive.”
He pulls me close, and I grind myself against him.
“There’s only one thing that would make me happier,” I say.
He pulls back and looks me in the eye. “You name it, sweetheart, and it’s all yours.”
I bite my lower lip. “I had a taste of blueberry. Now, do you want some cherry pie?”
12
ARLO
Ipull Maggie to her feet, and my hands hook around her waist. Her feet stumble over each other as I drag her to the bed in the corner of the room. My pint sized fiancé giggles as I throw her onto the bed.
“I’m going to destroy that cherry pie.”
She scurries back onto the bed, but before she gets too far, I grab her ankle and pull her toward me. She squeals with delight and immediately clamps her hand over her mouth, reminding of another thing I’m determined to do.
“By the time I’m done with you, you’ll be screaming my name. No more hiding your light, beautiful.”
She looks scandalized. “I’ve got neighbors, and these walls are thin,” she whispers.
