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“Yes, you did,” I told her. “Do you want more sparkling cider?”
“I know I do,” Erin said. “I love the apple, and it went down way too fast.”
“Are you sure you don’t want wine?” I asked her.
“I don’t want Libby to feel left out,” she said. “I don’t mind having sparkling cider with her.”
“Exactly,” Libby said with a grin. “Erin and I are the special ones here tonight.”
“You’re always special in my book,” I told her, and she rolled her eyes with an exaggerated sigh.
“Just think, she’s not even a teenager yet,” Erin teased me.
“Don’t remind me,” I said with a laugh.
“Do you think now’s a good time?” Erin suddenly asked Libby.
“Yes!”
“A good time for what?” I asked.
“Erin got you a surprise. Well, we both did, I guess. She said I could give it to you with her, so it’s from both of us now,” Libby said as Erin fished around in her purse. She pulled out a present that had been neatly wrapped with a large bow on the front.
“Erin did the wrapping, too,” Libby volunteered.
“I can tell,” I laughed. “Thank you.”
“Open it!” Erin said. “Open it right now!”
“Okay, okay,” I said. I pulled off the paper and gasped. It was an actual hard copy of my book, polished and perfect.
“When did this come in?” I gasped.
“Two days ago,” Erin laughed. “Libby and I decided it would be a good idea to surprise you with it for Christmas, so that’s what we did. Are you happy?”
“I’m happier than I can even express,” I said as I gave her a kiss. Then I kissed Libby on the cheek, too. “Thank you both. I love it.”
“Just wait until they’re all over the shelves,” Erin said. “January first.”
“Save the date,” I joked.
“Don’t worry, I did,” she told me. “I’ve even got an alarm set on my phone.”
I grinned. I didn’t doubt that was true. Her enthusiasm for things I was doing in my life was one of the many things I adored about Erin, and I had to admit, I was glad she hadn’t had any wine for what I was about to do.
On the same note, I was glad that I had had two glasses of wine before doing it. I wasn’t sure how well it would have gone over if I were entirely sober.
Rob was here, and while he knew what I was planning, he didn’t know when I was going to do it. I wasn’t sure I would have had the guts to get down on my knee in front of him if I didn’t have at least a little bit of the liquid courage inside me.
But after the toast, I didn’t waste any time.
“What are you doing?” Erin asked me as I rose from my seat and kept talking to the dining room.
“As if I’m done with having all the attention,” I said, and several of the others laughed at my joke. “The real reason I wanted to rent out the dining room for ourselves tonight has more to do with what I’m about to say than what I’ve already said, and I would like to have your attention for a few more moments if you don’t mind.”
Everyone fixed their attention back on me, and I once more turned back to Erin.
I thought about saying something, but changed my mind as I got down on one knee, pulling the little box out from behind my back. Erin’s eyes widened as she watched me, and slowly the realization of what was happening sank in. She gasped as she put her hands to her mouth, and she looked first to Libby, then shot a glance toward Krissy.
