Chapter 22
Twenty-Two
AIDYN
One Day after Christmas
Garrett’s hiding something. And that’s fine. I don’t need to know everything. I trust him, but it’s bothering him. That isn’t fine. Because he’s good at this whole sacrifice-my-needs-for-those-I-love thing. And I’m not having it.
I could ask him, but it’s like pulling teeth from a tiger to get anything out of him. So I’m going straight to the person who would know.
Nat.
I get her number from Isaac. He does most of the scheduling for Zyetastic Weddings, so he talks to her often.
She thinks we should meet in person. When I suggest Zye’s shop, she counters with a meeting at the diner before it opens.
I’m missing something. But I have no idea what until she arrives at the diner. Then the pieces start to fall into place.
Nat walks around the kitchen inspecting, but I step in front of her when she tries to check the pantry.
“Looking for something?”
She gives me a bright smile. “I’m just looking around. Is…um, Ramon here?”
“No. We don’t open until this afternoon. It’s barely ten in the morning.”
“Right,” she says with a laugh. She checks the aprons hanging on a hook. “Is this Ramon’s?”
“Are you here to help me or get with my cook?”
She spins around. “Oh, well,” she says with a shrug. “Can’t I do both?
“Look, I don’t have much time—”
The back door opens, and I swear to God, my cook, who is never on time if he can help it, shows up five hours early for his shift. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary. What have I gotten myself into?
“Hey, boss.” He nods at me and gives Nat a sheepish smile. “Hi, Nat.”
“Hi, Ramon. I hope everything went all right with your mom.”
I let out a frustrated sound, and they both stare at me. “I need answers. Preferably before you two start—” I almost say making out and then decide dating might be a better choice. In the end, I just wave my hand at them.
Nat walks over, her boots clicking on the kitchen tile. “Listen here, Christy. If you and Garrett would talk to each other, you wouldn’t need my help.” Her brows raise, and she snaps her gum. I hate people who snap their gum, but I do need her help.
“We do talk. But this— I don’t know what this is. But it’s bothering him.”
“Why should I help you?” She crosses her arms and taps one foot as she waits for an answer.
“We can help each other. If Garrett is happy at home, he’ll be happier at work.”
“Very true.” She snaps her gum. “Okay, let’s talk. But first, do you have any coffee?”
Once we’re settled in the dining area, Ramon brings us coffee and sits with us. I want to signal him to go, but I’m afraid Nat would leave with him.
She nods for me to go on.
“I don’t know what’s wrong. He’s been on edge, but we both have. Then, we were opening presents…and he loved the present I got him—or he said he did.” I glance at her. “Maybe, I’m going too fast?” I guess. But it’s just that. A guess.
“First of all, it’s impossible for you to go too fast. And it’s not like he shares much with me, but it’s enough to know that he’s been waiting for the green light from you for a long time. A long time.”
“I get it.”
“Do you? A looooong time, Christy.”
“Christ, woman, I get it.” I think she likes annoying people.
She grins, confirming my theory. “Good.” Then she taps her chin. “You gave him a Christmas present?”
“It’s Christmas. What do you think?”
“I think you need to lose the attitude.”
I glance at Ramon, and he nods his head.
Jesus. But this is what I have to do, so I give her a quick nod.
“Good. Let me guess. He didn’t have a present for you.”
It bothers me that she assumes that. Although she’s not entirely wrong. “He said he had one, but he couldn’t give it to me.”
“Huh.” She taps her fingers again as she thinks. It only takes about ten seconds, and she smiles. “Okay.”
“Okay? Okay, what?”
“This is really good coffee, Ramon. Do you put cinnamon in it?”
“Yes. And nutmeg.”
She gives him an impressed look. “Okay. I love that.”
I don’t yell. I suspect that’s what she wants. “Can you help me at all?”
“Absolutely.” She takes another sip of coffee, and I resist the urge to yank it out of her hands. “You proposed to your wife on Christmas, right?”
“What does— Wait.” My heart gallops. “He wants to propose?”
“I assume so. He’s been carrying a ring around in his pocket for the last five or six months.”
I stare at her. “I— He wants to marry me?” All this time I thought he wasn’t ready…no, he wasn’t ready. I’m sure of that.
Nat pats my arm. “So many snarky remarks I could make, but it’s too easy. And you look like you’re going to pass out. Christy?”
“Hmm?” I glance at her.
“Do you want to marry Garrett? Because if you don’t, you need to—I don’t even know.”
“I do. I mean, I—yes.” I nod again, like an idiot.
“Oh, you poor dear.” She smiles, and this time it seems real. “It’ll probably happen today, so—”
“What?” I’m having serious trouble keeping up. “He’s going to propose today? Did he tell you that?”
“No. But logically, he’s been wanting to propose for the last six months.
He wanted to do it yesterday. That’s why he didn’t buy you another present.
But then the video reminded him that you proposed to your wife on Christmas.
” She leans closer. “He wants this to be special. He’s been obsessed with getting it right.
How do I know? Because that’s how he is.
” She’s right about that. “I doubt he’ll wait another day. ” She shrugs. “But he might.”
“You don’t know?”
Nat stands and grabs her purse. “I can’t do all the work for you.”
As she says goodbye to Ramon, my head spins. Garrett is going to propose today. And if he doesn’t? Then maybe he needs a little push.
“Oh, and, Christy…” She waits until I look up to continue. “The only dates free are this weekend. No one wanted to work on Christmas. But for bossman, all the employees will make an exception.”
“You know that for sure?”
“Absolutely. We have a pool going. Most bet Garrett would be hitched to his secret boyfriend by Christmas. The rest of us wagered it’d happen by New Year’s. Everyone thought it’d happen by the end of this year. And this is one bet none of us wants to lose.”
Since we’ll be staying at my place tonight, I brought most of my stuff home. And that gets me thinking. Is the reason Garrett was dodgy about the living arrangements because he planned on proposing?
I’m glad to have some time to think things through. Garrett’s place is big enough for all of us. My place would be a tight fit. But I’ve also got the diner to think about. What would Lanie want to do?
He hasn’t even asked you yet.
I’m antsy, and Ramon is still here, so we start prepping for tonight.
“Christy? Can I ask you something?”
I finish chopping an onion and add it to the potato soup. Chopping things relaxes me. And Ramon is happy any time I let him bake. “You can. As long as it’s not about Nat.”
“Why would I ask you about Nat?”
I don’t respond to that. “What do you need, lad?”
He kneads the dough for apple pie. “Well, Nat said—”
“I thought this wasn’t about Nat.” I stop halfway through the celery
He frowns. “It’s not.”
I feel like I’m on a Ferris Wheel and there’s no way to get off. “What are you asking?”
His shoulders are up around his ears. This is more than a simple question. “Nat— I mean, if you and Mr. Bishop get married, will you live with him?”
“I’m not sure. What’s this about?”
He finally looks at me. “Mamá told me I need to find another place to live. She says mi hermana—my sister—needs it more.”
He’s been living above his mother’s garage and paying rent.
“That’s awful.” And then I get it. “Are you wanting to live here?”
“Only if you decide to move out. I can find a place in town. But this would be perfect. I could make the bread in the morning.”
“You’re going to get up at four in the morning to make bread?”
He shrugs. “Mamá is the reason I’m always late. She waits until I’m leaving and asks me to do things for her.”
I nod. “It’s something to think about.” Sleeping in with Garrett sounds nice. And not rushing every morning to get the bread done. “Maybe. But he hasn’t asked me yet and nothing is set. Got it?”
His shoulders relax, and he grins. “Got it, boss.”
I’m glad I got started on prep because Garrett calls at noon, sounding nervous, and says he wants me to meet him at the event hall.
Before I go, I have a talk with Lanie because, no matter what, I’m ready to do this. I want to make sure she’s on board.
I make it to Bishop Fields ten minutes early. Garrett’s Lexus is in the parking lot. There are no other cars, which isn’t surprising since they’re closed.
The doors are locked, so I call Garrett to let me in.
“Thanks for coming.” He leads me into the building and gives me a quick kiss.
“Hold on, love. You can do better than that.”
He smiles, and some of the tension in his body eases. Pulling me into his arms, he kisses me like he means it. “Hi.”
“Hi. That was much better.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “Sorry. I’ve been a little tense.”
“I’ve noticed. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s great. Come on. I have something to show you.”
Garrett takes my hand and leads me to a large storage room.
It’s full of chairs and tables and wedding supplies.
Those are the normal things. Off to one side is the TARDIS.
But it’s not the only oddity in the room.
There seems to be entire shelves dedicated to various things from different themed weddings.
I pick up a coaster that says WINTER IS COMING. “A Game of Thrones wedding?”
He laughs. “We’ve had more than one this year.”
There are lightsabers, Micky Mouse ears and tiaras, and an altar made of gold fabric and olive branches.
“What was your strangest wedding?”
“Not counting Doctor Who?” He glances around the room and picks up a bowler with metal gears on it. “Steampunk Mary Poppins.”
“Wow, that is…interesting. But why are you showing me this?”
He shrugs. And I wonder if I’m going to have to drag a proposal out of him. “Let’s sit in the TARDIS.”