But two thoughts occurred to me as we approached the restaurant’s dark wooden door:
Any speech I made would have Elise blushing crimson.
I didn’t know if I could wait that long. I didn’t know if I could wait even a minute longer.
And then Flora and Ava rounded the corner of the building, and my decision was made.
Clutching Elise’s hand, I dropped to one knee right there on the Jefferson Street sidewalk. I heard a series of gasps, and as I fished the velvet box out of my coat pocket, I knew one of the gasps had been Elise’s because she was staring down at me, her amber eyes as wide as quarters and her lips just parted.
She looked truly startled, so I squeezed her hand and tried to give her a reassuring smile, but honest to God, I was nervous as hell. I felt almost certain she’d say yes. Of course she’d say yes…
But what if she said no?
Could I really blame her? It had only been four months.
Well, eight years and four months. But who was counting?
Aware of the silence that had fallen around us — even the crowd-heavy street seemed silent; we must have stopped traffic — I cleared my throat.
“Elise,” I said, her name grounding me, reaffirming my purpose, and giving me the courage I needed. “You’ve known me for most of my life, and despite my mistakes, you thought the best of me… at least since high school.”
While I spoke, her slack mouth shaped into a shy smile, and color rose to her cheeks.
“You’ve always been my safe haven. My shelter. When I could trust no one else, I trusted you.” I thought of the times she’d cleaned me up, hid me in her room, or stayed in the kitchen of our old house when she thought one of us might have been in danger. Just her quiet, witnessing presence was sometimes enough to make my rage-addled father slink upstairs or retreat to his office.
When I thought of that now, it amazed me how much courage she’d possessed. How much courage she’d always possessed. As long as I had known her, Elise had been willing to do damn near anything for those she loved. Stare down child predators. Protect us from my father. Help us escape. Even give me up when she thought that was best for me.
Of course, she’d been wrong about that. And I was about to make sure she never doubted it.
“The last few months with you have taught me what it means to be loved. I never want to go without that. I want to make a life with you. Make a family with you,” I said, grinning at the vision that had started taking shape just months ago.
Elise could make me a dad. And even though the thought scared the hell out of me, I knew I’d never become my father. Any babies I made with Elise would have me wrapped around their little fingers. Elise would have to be the strict one.
Until they got old enough to mouth off to their mother. Then they’d better watch out.
I opened the black velvet box, and all gazes fell on the ring that matched both our eyes. “I’m not just asking you to marry me, Elise,” I said shamelessly. “I’m begging you. Please say you’ll share your life with me.”
By now, a small group of onlookers had gathered around us. A few of them were recording us on their phones — as was Alberta — but I wasn’t worried. The butterflies in my stomach had settled their wings because Elise’s eyes shimmered with bright tears.
“Of course, I will!” Tears slipped down each cheek as she tugged at my hand. “Get up here and kiss me.”
I rose, but before I claimed her mouth, I plucked the ring from its box and brought it to her finger. It slipped on with a perfect fit, as I knew it would. And I watched Elise’s smile grow as she realized what it meant. Fire and ice. Fall and spring. Sunsets and starlight. Her and me.
Her gaze rose to mine. “It’s us.”
I nodded, relishing the rush of pride this gave me. She loved it. No doubt about it.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, blinking against fresh tears.
I kissed her then, the sound of applause from our friends, our families, and the strangers who’d crowded around us falling on our ears. The hand that now wore my ring clutched at my lapel while her other gripped me behind my neck, pulling me tighter against her. She didn’t have to work so hard. I wasn’t going anywhere. Not ever.
Sometime later, I heard Louis make a forceful throat-clearing noise, and Elise pulled away from me, turning pink.
“We’re getting married!” she cheered, flashing her left hand at Flora, Alberta, and Ava. Our small crowd laughed, and then both of us were mobbed with hugs and congratulations. A few strangers even slapped me on the back.
I shook hands and gave half answers when our friends peppered me with questions about my sudden change of plans.
“I just couldn’t wait,” I muttered, shrugging. My eyes found Elise who was hugging Flora a second time. As I watched, Ava wrapped her arms around both of them. I didn’t think I’d ever seen those three women happier.
