Marmee repositioned herself in the chair, raising her chin. Even in her old age, her beautiful features caught my attention, especially in the sunshine. Blue and silver gems glittered across her fingers as she raised a hand toward him.
“Nice to meet you, young man,” she said. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
We made eye contact, and I gave her a polite smile to acknowledge the lie. I’d never even mentioned Oliver’s name to her before, despite the fact that we’d been dating for several months. Again, Marmee and I always had more interesting topics to discuss.
“The pleasure is completely mine,” Oliver said, taking both her hands into his. “Tippi has told me all about her childhood here.”
He stared in bewilderment at the botanical gardens that surrounded us, the same look of amazement on his face I’d seen from other friendsthroughout the years. The blooming flowers and large green leaves were hypnotizing.
Marmee stood shakily, leaning on her crow-crowned cane. “Should we move inside and get to know each other better?”
Mrs. Wilson presented cucumber sandwiches, pimiento pinwheels, and a kettle of Earl Grey tea. We sat in the parlor, surrounded by Marmee’s most beautiful belongings; on the rare occasion guests came over, she always brought them to this room to show off. Venetian glassware. Hand-painted portraits. Priceless photographs taken by some of the most influential artists of her generation. Such displays were commonplace for me during my childhood but often left others speechless. Including Oliver.
After we finished our meal, I gave him a tour of the house. A personal one, not only showcasing the beautiful rooms but also revealing my memories in them. Countless movie marathons in the cinema room. Rounds of pool played in the billiard room. The way I’d torture myself with thoughts of ghosts and hauntings before falling asleep in my bedroom.
“This place is unbelievable,” he said, as we wandered back outside. “What part is your favorite?”
“I’d have to say the cinema,” I said, my eyes landing on the large fountain before us. It was made of dark stone, the material carved into the shape of birds banded together. At the top, a spray of water trickled down. The concrete around the base was beginning to crack. “I’ve always loved the fountain, too.”
“Beautiful,” he said, taking it in.
“I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else. Something about it feels magical,” I told him. “I love that there’s this symbol of beauty welcoming people into the house.”
“I can’t believe you grew up in a place like this,” he said, looking across the grounds. “Makes me feel like I’ll never be enough for you.”
I stepped forward, draping my arm across his shoulders. His woodsy cologne aroused my senses. I pulled him closer, planting a passionate kiss on his lips.
“Don’t ever feel like you’re not enough.”
Oliver smiled, his eyes narrowing as his cheeks flushed. He took a deep breath.
“I suppose this is the perfect moment.”
“For what?”
Oliver was no longer standing. He knelt in front of the bird fountain, a small box in his hands. My stomach seemed to plummet to my feet, anchoring me in place. I kept staring at him, blinking as though this entire image would disappear.
“Tippi, from the moment I met you, I felt a connection I didn’t know was possible,” he said, a visible sheen in his eyes. “The more time we spend together, the more I think we complete each other.”
He opened the box.
I knew the piece of jewelry inside well. A square-cut diamond with small sapphires on either side. For years, I’d admired that particular ring from Marmee’s vast collection.
“Oliver,” I said, almost breathless. “It’s my favorite…how did you…”
“I have a confession to make. This isn’t my first time meeting Marmee,” he said. “I had the pleasure of meeting her earlier this month. When she gave me her blessing.”
My eyes searched for her. I thought she might be standing just a few feet away, watching, but it was only the two of us, surrounded by an otherworldly beauty, the sunlight overhead making the jewels in my grandmother’s ring glitter. The intimacy of the moment overwhelmedme.
“In case you haven’t put it together yet,” Oliver said, “I’m asking if you’ll marry me.”
My hands were shaking. He slid the ring on my finger, and it felt like I was slipping into a new life, a new world, yet still surrounded by the hallmarks that kept me grounded and safe.
“Yes.” The word slipped out without thought, without permission, as though I’d lost agency over my body and mind. My heart was taking over.
He stood quickly, sweeping me into his arms. He spun me around, my skirt billowing outward. He kissed me, and for several moments, it was just the two of us together with the promise we’d made.
When we walked back inside the house, Marmee sat in the Reading Room, her hands pressed together, an encouraging smile on her face. She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy, my dear.”
