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There is a crew of people running around, putting the finishing touches on the perfect proposal, accompanied by the photographer.
If we’re going to do this, it’s at least going to be believable.
“Chase.”
Gram is once again at my shoulder. “Hm?”
She holds up a ring box. It looks old. “I want you to give this to her.”
I furrow my brow and take the box. The mechanism to open it is antique, a little metal button I have to shove inward to unlock the lid. When I open it, I immediately shake my head. “I can’t accept this.”
“Why not? I always said to myself I’d give my engagement ring to whichever one of you got married first. And now here we are.” Gram touches my arm. “Nothing would make me happier than for you to have it.”
My stomach is in knots. Not sure if vomiting would make it feel better, but I briefly wonder if it might be worth a try.
“Well, except a grandchild. But one thing at a time.”
Now Iknowvomiting would make things better. “Thank you, Gram. She’ll love it.”
“Of course, she will. Now, go and make her a Gladstone.”
I stand under the arch pacing for way too long, trying to calm my nerves.
Calm down, Chase, she’s contractually obligated to say yes.
I must be the most pathetic man in history to be calmed by that thought.
All eyes are on me. And there area lotof eyes. My family tree sprawls out in all directions. There are second cousins here I have never met. Jude’s family is on the smaller side, huddled together as if the Gladstones might bite.
It obviously wasn’t my idea to have everyone and their mother here. But Gram insisted. And what Gram says, goes.
I warned Jude last night of what was awaiting her in terms of the proposal.
“Caroline will pick you up to take you to ‘dinner’,” I told her over the phone.
“Dinner is in quotation marks, I assume?”
“Yes exactly. Instead, she’ll bring you to Gram’s and take you out into the backyard where I’ll be waiting to propose. So, act surprised.”
“I’m an artist, Chase. Not an actor.”
I shut my eyes tight. “Well, I need an Oscar-worthy performance. For both our sakes.”
Jude sighed. “I’ll do what I can. Fake tears will be extra though.”
I’m worried now that I couldn’t have possibly prepared her for the audience we will have.
The French doors leading into the house open and Gram appears with a knowing smile. “Everyone. She’s here.”
I watch the crowd seize with anticipation.
Don’t vomit, don’t vomit, don’t vomit.
“What are we doing here, Caroline?” I hear Jude cry out from inside the house. Yep, what she said was correct. She’snotan actor.
“You’ll see!”
Caroline waltzes out the double doors and hurries out of the way, taking her place next to Gram in the peanut gallery.
