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“A few things,” he said. “Like straightening a piece of art or screwing in a light bulb.” He chuckled, because no, he wasn’t handy and he’d stopped worrying about it a long time ago.
The conversation paused again, and Ty wondered how many more times it would have to do that before he found his bravery, tugged on it, and proposed to Sage.
No, the weekend wasn’t over. They still had the food tour in the morning, as well as the drive back to Hilton Head.
If she tells you no…
Wow, what an awkward night and day tomorrow he’d have.
But if she says yes…
Well, things tonight and tomorrow would be radically different then, wouldn’t they?
You said you’d give her the weekend.
Ty had said that, but he also suspected that Sage already knew what she wanted. She just needed to take the step.
“I’m going to use the restroom,” she said, and Ty watched as she stood, got directions from his momma, and left the room.
With his heartbeat crashing like cymbals, he quickly pulled the diamond engagement ring out of his pocket. “Momma,” he hissed. “Daddy. Help me propose to her.” He held up the gem so the lamplight caught it, and Momma sucked in a breath.
“Oh, my, Ty.”
Daddy grinned and grinned. “Do I need to delay her? What’s your plan?”
“How will you delay her in the bathroom?” Ty shook his head, his thoughts scattering with the movement. “No, it’s fine. I just need…” He looked around the living room. “Can we move this chair? That way, when she comes back, I can be right there, front and center.”
His throat felt like someone had forced him to drink a bottle of white glue. But he and Daddy moved the chair, and Ty let his momma look at the ring while he wiped his sweaty palms down the front of his slacks.
Down the hall, he heard the door open. “Momma,” he hissed again, and she handed him the ring. He dropped to both knees, making more noise than he’d anticipated. Didn’t matter. He couldn’t hear anything above the booming of his heart.
“That soap in there smells—” Sage cut off when she crossed from hallway to living room and saw Ty.
“Sage,” he said, his voice as strong as he’d ever heard it. “I’m so in love with you. I believe in the institution of marriage, and I want to pledge myself to you. I want you to be mine, and I want the world to know it.” He held up the ring, praying with everything inside him that it would be something she liked. He figured it would be, as it was a simple, white-gold band that was obviously circular, but not smooth.
It had bumps in it, and swirls, and while it matched up, it was a crooked circle. The diamond on it wasn’t ostentatious, as she had to wear gloves at work while she colored hair, and be able to move her fingers through someone’s hair as she cut it.
“I chose this ring,” he said, his courage coming in strong now. “Because it’s not a perfect circle. It’s wavy, and it has some potholes in it, and sometimes it goes a little off-course. That’s how my life has been, and I know that’s how your life has been.”
She sniffled, the light catching on the glassy tears in her eyes.
“But it’s still a circle,” he said. “The two ends still meet up. It’s still whole, and beautiful, and it still represents the endless way we could love each other. The infinite way we could be together.”
He swallowed, the most dangerous words in the English language about to come out of his mouth.
“Sage, will you marry me?”
35
Sage sent the picture of herself and Ty to her Supper Club friends. She added a caption, then did the same for the group thread with her three children on it.
She couldn’t stop smiling as the picture went through, the caption right behind it. In the photograph, she looked radiant and happy, tucked right against Ty’s side, who laughed in the picture, pure joy flowing from him and going out into the world for anyone who saw the photo.
I said yes.
36
Six months later:
