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“That sounds good to me,” said Antonio. He turned and put his arm around her mom’s shoulders. “I hope you’ll come to Napa to see us soon? I know a few nice restaurants there we can go to.”
Mary Ellen couldn’t resist. She smiled at her mom. “He’s being too modest. He owns the best restaurant in town.”
Her mom’s eyes looked as though they might pop out of her head. “Oh! That’s nice,” was all she managed to sputter.
“Mary El, do you want to go and help you mom with a salad for us?”
Mary Ellen met her dad’s gaze. She understood. He was stepping up. Saying he wanted a word with her boyfriend. She was so thrilled at that, that she didn’t even resent being relegated to the kitchen with her mom.
Antonio dropped a kiss on top of her head and smiled as she followed her mom into the kitchen. He knew what was going on, too, and it seemed he was fine with it.
When they reached the kitchen, her mom closed the door behind them and Mary Ellen braced herself. She needn’t have worried. Her mom smiled at her with tears in her eyes. “Oh, Mary Ellen. He’s lovely!”
Mary Ellen’s eyes filled up, too as she hugged her. “I know, Mom. I’m glad you can see it.”
Her mom leaned back and waggled her eyebrows. “I don’t think there’s a woman on earth who could miss it. You’ve done so well for yourself.”
For a moment, Mary Ellen tensed. She wanted her mom to see beyond his looks and his charm and wealth. She wanted her to know the man and to understand just how well she really had done for herself. She relaxed. She should just be happy that her mom approved. The rest could come—with time—hopefully. “Thank you.”
When they were done making salad, they went out to the back yard. She had a feeling that Antonio and her dad would become fast friends. She’d expected it, but it still made her stop in her tracks when she reached the back door and saw them standing there, laughing together in the last of the setting sun. She swallowed around the lump in her throat and swiped at her eyes. Wow. Her world was complete.
Antonio turned and saw her standing there. He held his arm out to her with a smile and she went to him. He closed his arm around her and hugged into his side in that way that he had. She loved it. It made her feel … she smiled as she realized just what it made her feel—it made her feel like she belonged. She’d have to tell him that later.
“I was coming to check on you both, but you seem to be getting along.”
Her dad laughed. “That’s an understatement. We’re doing great, aren’t we, Antonio?”
“We are. In fact, we were just figuring out when your parents can come and visit us.”
Mary Ellen eyed them both warily. She wondered how much he’d said. She hadn’t mentioned anything to her parents about them living together—since technically, they weren’t yet. She needn’t have worried. The two of them were grinning at each other, as if they were in on some secret she knew nothing about. “That’ll be nice.” She didn’t know what else to say.
Her mom had gone back into the kitchen and came out with a tray of glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. She frowned at her husband. “You should pour your beer into a glass.”
Apparently, he was ready to assert himself. He just smiled and raised his bottle and said, “No, thanks,” before taking a swig.
Antonio came and poured a glass of lemonade and handed it to her mom, before turning to her. “I should have stopped to pick up Margarita mix on the way here.”
She laughed. “I’ll take a beer.” She gave her mom an apologetic smile as he handed her one and she took a drink from the bottle.
To her delight, her mom chuckled and set down her lemonade. “Well, if you can’t beat them, then I suppose you just have to join them. Would you pass me one, Bill?”
Mary Ellen buried her smile in Antonio’s shoulder as her dad popped the top off a bottle and brought it to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek. “There you go, Vee. Relax and enjoy yourself.”
It made Mary Ellen want to cry happy tears. It was the most intimate moment she’d ever witnessed between the two of them, and it was all thanks to Antonio. She smiled up at him gratefully.
He had that look in his eyes again. She’d wondered, that first night he’d spoken to her at Molly’s, what it would be like if he cared for her for real, like a boyfriend. Now she knew. His eyes shone with love and it was all for her. She reached up and planted a kiss on his lips. “Thank you for coming here. I love you.”
He nodded and cupped her face between his hands. “And I love you. That’s why I’m here.” He shot a look at her dad who nodded. Mary Ellen sensed a change in him. His smile was still there, but if anything, he seemed a little tense—nervous? No. Antonio didn’t do nervous. Then she understood as he dropped on one knee before her and held up a ring. “I love you, Mary Ellen. You know I do. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I want us to have babies and grandbabies and grow old together. I know we haven’t been together very long, but I also know the truth of my heart. Please, say you’ll be my wife—just as soon as you’re ready.”
Her hand flew up to cover her mouth. She hadn’t expected this. She looked down into his big brown eyes, they shone with hope and with love. He looked uncertain, as if she might say no. She looked at her parents; they were clinging to each other, watching her expectantly. She grinned at Antonio. “Yes! Yes, I want to marry you. I’m ready.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and got to his feet. “You’re ready?”
She nodded eagerly. There was nothing left to think about. He was it for her. He was the one. There was no point delaying getting started on their future.
Her parents came and hugged them both. She was relieved how happy they both seemed. Her dad raised his glass. “Here’s to the two of you. You have my blessing and my best wishes for a long and happy future together.”
“And mine.” Her mom raised her bottle and took a drink of her beer. “We’ll need to start making plans, Mary Ellen.”
