Only then did I feel warm tears welling in my eyes.
Getting Marmee’s involvement for the engagement was only the beginning of his elaborate proposal. When we left her house, Oliver insisted on stopping by our favorite Italian restaurant for dinner. Even on a Sunday, securing a table without a reservation was rare. I was surprised when the hostess escorted us to the back right away, passing the crowded dining room of linen-clad tables.
When she opened the door to the back room, that’s when the shouting began.
“Surprise!”
A cacophony of voices rang out, although Ava’s was the loudest. She stood at the front of the crowd, the makeup around her eyes smudged with fresh tears. Behind her stood everyone else. Constance and Marlowe. Preston. My content manager and friends I’d met through social media.
I looked at Oliver, amazed. “Did you organize all of this?”
“I had a little help,” he said, nodding toward my trio of closest friends.
“Let me see it in person,” Constance said, reaching for my hand immediately.
I splayed my fingers. The diamond and sapphires sparkled beneath the low-hanging lamps.
“It’s gorgeous,” Constance said, caressing the jewel with her thumb.
“I love it,” I say. “You’ll have to pry this gem out of my cold, dead hands.”
“Totally perfect,” Marlowe said, squeezing my waist.
“Were you surprised?” Ava asked.
“Completely.” I looked back at Oliver, beaming. “Even more now that I know all of you knew.”
“This is the type of thing you only do once,” Oliver said. “I had to make sure I didn’t mess it up, so I asked for their input.”
The comment perturbed me. This wasn’t the first time Oliver had proposed, but the second. I shook the thought away as quickly as it appeared, vowing to make the most of the moment.
Ava wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me forward until I was facing the rest of our guests.
“Everyone, we’re here for a very important reason. The unbelievable has happened. My best friend, Tippi, has found the one.” Her voice cracked on that last part, resulting in encouraging claps and sentimental whimpers from the crowd. “For as long as I’ve known her, Tippi has insisted this would never happen. After a while, I started to believe her. Until she met Oliver, and everything changed.”
She looked back at him, smiling.
“And yet things don’t really feel different,” Ava said. “They feel exactly as they should. They feel right. It only takes one person to change your entire outlook on life, and I’m grateful Oliver and Tippi have found each other.”
The crowd applauded. Ava and Oliver switched positions, and he leaned me backward before planting a passionate kiss, like I was a starlet in an old-timey movie. The cheers made my cheeks flush, my delight growing when I saw the looks of happiness on everyone’s faces. My friends. Colleagues. Oliver. Everyone seemed so happy.
I spent the next hour walking around the room, hugging people and receiving their congratulations. I lifted my fingers a few dozen times, showing off one of Marmee’s most prized possessions, completely overwhelmed by its weight on my finger and what it represented. Even strangers dining in the restaurant ventured back to fawn over the ring and offer their congratulations. I welcomed their stares and compliments. Peering into the restaurant, I saw a woman with auburn hair sitting alone. When I looked at her, I recognized myself from years past. That lonely, untouched girl who never knew how full of meaning life could really be. Our eyes met only for a second before she looked away.
After I visited everyone in attendance, I snuck outside and sat on a moss-covered stone bench in the garden area, craving some alone time. The day had been like a scene ripped out of a movie, but I needed time to process. Ava was right. I’d never considered myself the type to getmarried; it was strange to think how much my life and expectations had changed since Oliver came along.
“Are you okay?”
I’d been so lost in thought, the voice startled me. I dropped my hand to my side, as though I was hiding something, and looked up to see Marlowe standing in the doorway, her billowy skirt sweeping across the stone patio.
“You look terrified,” she said, walking over to sit beside me.
“You scared me.”
“I’m not talking about just now.” She looked at me. “How are you really feeling about the engagement?”
I exhaled, my defenses collapsing around me. It had been all squeals and jazz hands since he popped the question. My face stung from smiling. An entire day of celebration, and someone, finally, had seen through to the real me. I didn’t know if that felt reassuring or intimidating.
“Is it that obvious I’m freaking out?” I asked, watching the doorway in the hope no one else would appear.
