AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The look she gives me now shows just how well she knows me.
“What’s wrong?” she says. Like I’m wearing a sign or something.
“Nothing,” I say, meaning it. “Nothing at all. You all finished up?” I look around the store. The other saleslady, Vickie I think it was, is nowhere to be seen, but almost as if on cue, good old Aunt Margaret comes out of the backroom, her face already set in the disapproving scowl I’ve come to expect when I walk in the door. As far as she’s concerned, I’m the worst kind of man. Not only am I not looking to buy something, but I’m also looking to take something, and if my guess is right, she’d rather have me knock off a whole case full of necklaces than pry her niece out of her grip.
“Oh,” she says, glancing at me. “I thought it was a customer.”
What a load. She’s got cameras on every inch of this place. She knew it was me before I even opened the door.
“Evening,” I say, doing my best to summon Friendly Cop.
“Mm,” she says, sitting down on her little stool by the cash register.
I glance over at Megan and, without giving myself time to think about it, I make a decision. “I actually had a question for you,” I say, turning back to the bitter old pill. “I was wondering if you could help me out.”
She looked up without lifting her head, one eyebrow raised. “Do you need something appraised?”
“No,” I say and walk to the case in front of her, the place they keep the snazziest of the snazzy, the things old Aunt Margaret doesn’t want to be more than a few steps away from at all times.
“This one here,” I say, pointing through the glass. “May I see that for a moment?”
She sniffs. “I think you can see it quite well. We don’t like to open this case unless a purchase is intended.”
I smile. “May I see the ring please?”
She sighs dramatically, too much theatricality for even our little local amateur playhouse, and pulls the bracelet of keys off her wrist. I hear Megan walk over from behind her counter, coming up behind me. I hold a hand back, gesturing for her to wait just a moment, everything is okay.
“This one?” Margaret asks, as if she needs to make sure the absurd man in front of her didn’t make a mistake.
“That’s the one,” I say.
“It’s really quite expensive. Are you sure you need me to get it out?”
“Ma’am,” I look at her, enjoying every moment of this. “I’ve been a pretty frugal man for quite some time now. I think you oughtta stop judging the book by its cover, because my book is a checkbook, and you’re gonna like what’s inside.”
She pauses for a moment, the expression on her face saying she’s sure she’s being conned and just can’t wait to vicariously hold a bounced check in my blue collar face. Still, without any real recourse, she hands me the ring.
“I love that one,” Megan says from beside me.
“I hoped so,” I say and go down on one knee.
I hear two gasps, both of shock, but one much lovelier than the other.
“I know this isn’t the most romantic time and place,” I say, “but then again, I’m always thinking about what I told you that first night. Everything with you is perfect, Megan. Every time. Every place. And I don’t want it to ever be any different.” I swallow, surprised at the weight of the simple words I’m about to say. I reach over and take her hand. “Megan Reynolds, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
She takes a breath and says the only word I need to hear. “Yes”
Epilogue
Megan
I’m changing a diaper, what seems like the millionth one for the day, though at this point I’ve gotten so adept at it that I think I could do it in my sleep. Maybe I have. It’s funny though; I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
It’s been a year since we got married. Fifteen months since Brady proposed, just about giving my aunt an aneurysm in the process. Which makes it about fifteen months and one week since he told me things would be perfect.
I think back on the night in the hotel a lot. Not just because it was amazing, which it was, and not because he’s continued to amaze me with his love, which he has, but because of something he said to me. Something I didn’t even notice at the time, or if I did, I didn’t mind it.
When he’d told me to lay off the champagne, I thought we’d been just musing about having a child. I think he somehow knew. He said things would be perfect.
