“Y-you’ve made me very happy, Ren. You’re such a gift to me. God has helped me see that. I promise to do everything possible to make you happy. To cheer you on as you pursue your dreams. I know the marriage part is unconventional and sudden, but we will figure it out,” he said into my hair before pulling back to look at me.
“You mean ancient and outdated? Should you bring my family a cow, and I’ll gather my dowry?” I’d asked, hoping to help lessen the heaviness of the moment.
He shook his head. “No need. All I need is for you to have an open heart.”
“Mike, so what does this mean? How is this going to work?” I asked, my eyes scanning his. I knew a deeper conversation was needed, but for now, I needed some clarification.
His face became serious again. “Ren, I’m saying let’s get married. For real. Forever. And soon.”
My eyes went as wide as saucers. I feared for the state of my own heart at that point. My cheeks must’ve looked like a cherry from the heat I felt.
“Soon.” I parroted.
He nodded. “Theoretically, I know it’s too soon.”
I chuckled lightly. “Always the Data Boy, huh? Yes, in theory, love takes longer. Marriage certainly does.”
“Yes, but I want Grammy to be there, and I’ve made up my mind, Ren. It’s you I want. But once we are married, we would take our time, go slow. Get to know one another. Like I said, build on this connection we both feel. I wouldn’t expect things to be, you know, like a real married couple right away.”
My eyebrows raised, and I tried not to blush.
His smile turned adorably shy, and my heart twisted and turned inside me. “Let’s just say I want to marry you so I can finally ask you out on a date.” His chuckle was so sweet that I ached. How did he know my favorite line from the movieThe Proposal?
“Oh.” I had no other words, but some strange joy sparked inside my chest.Were these the sparks I’d always wanted?
“We can talk more about this somewhere more private, okay?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. My blush deepened, and I had to put my hands over my face to cover it. I saw a glimpse of the Mike I’d seen a few days ago. The gleam in his eyes, the upturn of his lips. It gave me confidence that we were doing the right thing.
“Listen, I’m going to check with her nurses again. See when I can go back. I know we have a lot to talk about, Ren, and we will.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead before pulling back and looking at me, seeming to struggle with whether to stay or go.
“Go. She needs you,” I said, helping him make the decision.
He nodded, then looked around at the still startled faces of his friends. Niko walked up to him, his face contemplative.
“Mike, um, congratulations?” Niko offered, his face unsure of what to say.
Mike hugged his friend, who whispered something in his ear that I didn’t hear. He took one last look at me and walked out of the room, leaving me with his friends, who turned towards me in a synchronized movement.
I waved and smiled sheepishly.
“Well,game nightjust got more interesting,” Luke mumbled with a smirk.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mike
She said yes.I can’t believe it. Ren said yes.
I took in a deep breath, frantically trying to calm my racing heart. My feet felt like lead as I headed to the ICU doors, my heart torn between wanting to run back to her and getting to see Grammy. I pushed the button for the nurse’s desk, but was told I needed to wait a few more minutes to see Grammy again. Thanking them, I collapsed into one of the blue plastic chairs that lined the wall.
My world had been suddenly turned upside down this evening. First, I received an emergency call from the on-call nurse at the facility. I raced across town to the hospital, frantically praying for Grammy’s life. I made a vow to God that I would push through this depression and try to make Him proud of me again, if only He would not take her. Not yet. When I finally calmed the sobs that overwhelmed me upon arrival, I was told she was stable and that more tests would be needed.
In that cold, sterile hospital room, I made another vow. Her wish, her heart’s desire, was to see me married. I would neverhave considered making that vow if it weren’t for the way Ren had turned my world upside down in just a few days.
Your heart will know it’s home, Mikey. It will just know.
Grandpa’s words kept echoing in my mind as I held Ren in my arms and proposed the craziest plan I had ever come up with. As her warm eyes looked at my face, trying to understand what I was offering and asking of her, I saw the hesitation. But when those words from 1 Corinthians came back to me, I knew it was God.
