Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
October 15
At Snorkels for breakfast, Amelia seats us at a different table than usual. This one is much more private.
“Thank ya kindly, Amelia,” Jack says as he helps me shift my chair up to the table. My belly is heavy, and I’m in that awkward stage where my body isn’t ready to give birth, but my mind is so done already.
“Why are we sitting here? We never sit here.” I slap my hand over my mouth as soon as the words escape. I’m not a whiner—I never whine—but that was definitely a whine.
“I guess they weren’t expecting us.” Jack is so gracious to overlook my complaining. “Or maybe they promised our table to someone else?”
“Yeah? Probably.” The waterfall provides nice background noises. I like this table better anyway.
“Sorry I fell asleep on you last night.” I pout to let Jack know I’m disappointed in myself. “Were you able to get everything you needed to get done, done?” Jack rubs my protruding lip with his fingertip, and I snap my teeth. He pulls away with a laugh.
“Yep. Done and sent back.” Jack laces his fingers together and stretches his arms way over his head. “One step closer to retirement!”
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
Before Jack can answer, a new member of the wait staff interrupts us. “Good morning, I’m Emerson. I’ll be assisting you today.” He fills our water glasses. “How are you doing on this beautiful day?” Emerson is casual but confident. Nothing like I was when I started at the Aqua Oyster. This is obviously not his first wait staff job.
“We are great, thank you,” Jack says as Emerson sets down a couple menus.
“Can I start you off with something to drink?” he asks, no pen to write anything down. He’s very smooth.
“I would like a cup of coffee, please,” I say.
“I’ll take the same.”
“I’ll be right back for your breakfast order.”
And then we’re alone. I open my napkin and put my silverware on the table, placing my napkin in my lap.
Jack stands up. “I’ll be right back. Need to use the restroom.” He leans forward and kisses me before heading into the main building.
Emerson comes back with our coffees. “Cream and sugar?” he offers.
“Just cream.” He sets down a little carafe of cream and a plate with a large dollop of fresh whipped cream and a couple of Pirouette cookies. What a cute display! I get busy making our coffees, topping them off with whipped cream.
“That looks good.” Jack drops a kiss on top of my head before he sits down. “Thanks for making mine.”
“Anytime.” I smile and take a sip of my coffee. The whipped cream tickles my nose, and I quickly lick away the mustache it left behind.
“What would you like this morning?” Jack asks as he peruses the menu.
“Seriously?” I don’t even bother to look at the menu. “I haven’t had waffles in what feels like months.”
Laughing, Jack shuts his menu and sets it beside his plate. “I thought you might say that. It’s kind of our thing.”
I roll my eyes, but he’s right. We have a thing; waffles are our thing. I let out a great big smile. I love being here with Jack.
When Emerson comes over, Jack orders the waffles with bacon and sausage and plenty of fruit.
“Nice job,” I compliment.
“I aim to please.” Jack sits back, and he looks a little… nervous.
“Are you okay?” I hope Jack isn’t getting sick. He seemed to be fine before he went to the restroom.
“Oh, yeah.” Jack coughs, clearing his throat. “I’m fine.”
Soon Emerson and a helper bring our breakfast out and set the plates in front of us. They run off, leaving me to just stare.
My waffles aren’t their usual square shape. Instead, they’re cut in a heart shape, as is the mango. But what really catches my attention is on the rim of the plate. Written in mango syrup are the words “Please Marry Me.” Next to the waffle plate is a smaller dish covered in fresh flowers, with a haint-blue box in the middle.
I look up at Jack, whose face is a mixture of yearning and nervousness. He rises from his chair, takes the haint-blue box, and gets down on one knee beside me. He opens the box, revealing a rather large sparkling diamond above a platinum band. “Please. Please marry me.”
My mouth falls open, and I gaze into his eyes. The truth is, I have been debating his question since he asked it. The pros and cons. All the mistakes from the first go-round and how not to make them again.
But the cons don’t outweigh the pros with Jack. The mistakes were with Ben, not with Jack. I could spend all day comparing Jack and Ben and never find one similarity, because that is what they are—complete opposites. The boys love Jack, and Jack loves the boys. He loves my daughter. And, even though it took me a while to believe it, Jack loves me, and I love Jack, very dearly.
“I know I’ve asked you several times. But I wanted to ask you officially. What do you think? Will you marry me?” Jack is filling in the silence while I come up with the right words to say to him where he obviously spent a lot of time and effort planning this proposal.
“You came into my life at its lowest point. And with your help, you watched me come back to life.” I reach out and take his free hand in mine. “You’ve stuck with me through a violent ex-husband, a controlling producer, and a combative sea urchin, a pregnancy with a baby that isn’t yours, and you’ve welcomed two rambunctious boys into your house, only for you to love them and help take care of them. Am I forgetting anything?”
Jack shakes his head.
“What’s the phrase? Distance makes the heart grow fonder, or something like that?” I ask. “Well, it’s true. I missed you so much while I was gone. I started thinking I was the one who made the mistake.” I slide from my chair and carefully kneel with him. “I did make a mistake, and I’m not going to make it again.” I nod my head emphatically and take a deep breath. Peace suffuses my soul. “Yes, I will marry you.”
Jack’s face goes slack, and then he breaks into the largest smile I’ve seen. “Really? You want to marry me?” He helps me to my feet and pulls me into his arms.
“I love you,” I say into his chest. “I don’t want another day to pass where we aren’t together as one. And, if it’s not too much to ask, I’d like to get married soon, so our daughter can have your last name, just like her mother.”
Jack holds me tight and kisses me. He rolls his chin away so our foreheads are touching, using his hand behind my head to hold us together. “You just made me so happy, Isa. Can we see if this fits?”
He releases me and steps back so he can take the ring out of the haint-blue box, then slides it onto my left hand. Perfect.
“It’s so pretty.” I wiggle my fingers, and the diamond sparkles. “It’s quite the attention-getter.”
“It looks beautiful on you.” Jack takes my left hand and raises it to his lips. He kisses the back of my hand before turning it over and kissing my palm. His eyes darken with desire. “We’ll seal the deal properly at home. Thank you for saying yes.”
“When should we tell the boys?” I want them involved; I don’t ever want them to feel left out.
“Speaking of, they’re so excited. They helped pick out the ring. I’m surprised they haven’t spilled the beans.”
“What? They did?” Looking down at my new ring, I realize I’ve been ambushed by the men in my life; at least they have great taste.
My stomach growls, and we laugh. I’d forgotten about my waffles, but now my mouth is salivating. “I’m famished.”
“Let’s eat, then, fiancée .”
“I love all the hearts , fiancé .” But I love yours the most.