Page 97 of Josh’s Play

I could feel the sparkle in my eye as I said, “Let’s find out.” He looked quizzical but just laughed at me and didn’t ask me to explain.

We drove back to the main house, the box firmly shoved into my pocket, to find everyone crowded around the pond.

Daniel was taking pictures of his three sons, and for a quick second, I thought about offering not to don the sweater. But Camille had intentionally bought it for me; she’d invited me to be part of the tradition. I ran inside and pulled it on, running up to the Ryan brothers and adjusting Campbell’s hair where it fell out of the hat.

“I love your long hair.” I gave it a little tug.

“I love you,” he replied, kissing me. I’m fairly sure his dad was taking our picture.

I took a step back and offered my hands for Campbell to hold. He entwined our fingers in both hands. “I love you, too, you know?” Even I could hear the seriousness in my tone.

“Of course, I do, babe,” he countered with a questioning tone, obviously wondering why I’d gotten so serious.

I kept one hand in his and lowered myself to one knee, to many gasps, followed by Vera’s questioning, “What’s Uncle Joshy doing?”

I laughed up at Campbell as my brother shushed his daughter, but Campbell didn’t laugh back. His looks always had a way of holding a multitude of expressions, and this one was serious and loving and shocked and questioning all at once.

I squeezed his hand. “I love you, Campbell Ryan. I want the world to know you’re mine, but more importantly, I want your family to be mine and mine yours, for now and for forever. Campbell Ryan, will you marry me?”

I think we were both a little shocked as I stayed on one knee and fished out the box, Campbell squeezing my other hand tight. With the box in hand, I stood, and Campbell was on me, both of us overheated in the winter sweaters, his face once again buried in my neck as he said, “Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes!” There were cheers around us, and Daniel continued to take pictures.

AJ held a phone up, and I could hear my mother’s voice over it, and Camille saying, "There's no chance he won’t be splotchy now!”

Vera ran up to us, despite protests from her father and Devon, and hugged our legs. Campbell moved his head away to look down at my niece, then back to me. His face was that beautiful shade of red that I loved, and his eyes were alight. We both started laughing, and soon we were pulled apart as the rest of the family crowded around us with congratulations. I still had the box in my hand, so after a few minutes that included a video-chat conversation with my mother, I stood in front of Campbell again, taking his hand in mine, and with trembling fingers, I placed the simple black tungsten-carbide ring on his finger. I presented the box to him, and he placed a matching band on mine.

Daniel had been snapping pictures the whole time, and the image of Cam sliding the ring over the curve of my once-broken finger as we looked at each other in a way that would leave no doubt that we were two men in love, ended up being our holiday card that year.

The End