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He looks sheepish. “I was talking to the transport guys. It was… a lot to get this set up.”
“It’s perfect. I love it.”
“You told me that you’d planned something for me with placards at the Tru Essentials Fashion Show. I didn’t know what it was and I know you were disappointed that I couldn’t see it, so I thought I’d recreate it for you.” He glances around and then looks at me. “Was I close?”
“This is ten times better.” I smile tearfully.
Dare takes my hand and, with his other, he offers me a cell phone.
Dear Yaya,
Remember when I didn’t speak a lick of ASL and we had to communicate like this? There was a point in that process where I never thought I’d know enough ASL, but I don’t regret any step of that journey. I had to be dedicated, focused and never give up.
Similarly, there was a point in our relationship when I didn’t think you and I would ever end up together too.
I half-laugh and half-sob when I read that.
But when I gave up in that journey, you never did. And I promise you that, just like my journey to learning ASL, I will learn you, study you and be dedicated and focused on you. I will never give up on us.
When I look up again, Dare isn’t there.
Instead, I see my parents in the crowd, watching me proudly.
Dare’s head bobbing at waist level gets my attention and I look down to find him on his knee in front of me. My eyes widen in shock, and I nearly whack my eyes out with the flowers as I snap my hands across my mouth.
Dare opens the ring box and, behind him, everyone holds up their placards close together. The back of the boards form a sign that says ‘YAYA, WILL YOU MARRY ME?’
I can barely see it from all the tears. “How long did it take you all to rehearse this?”
“You don’t want to know,” Dare signs with a chuckle.
Whoever’s holding the question mark part of the sign starts shaking it as if to say ‘hurry it up already!’
I laugh and face Dare again. Looking into his chocolate eyes, I sign, “I will.”
A handsome smile tugs at his mouth. He slips the ring on my finger and then shoots to his feet. Cupping my jaw, he pulls me in and kisses me.
I return his passion with my own, glad that I kept going on this journey too. And even when it seemed to take twists and turns that didn’t make sense, it was always the right direction. It was always the right sign.
* * *
