8. Epilogue
Maggie and Grace’s mom help me set up everything while Grace is out with her dad.
This is the fourth time Mrs. Stewart visits us in Maxwell. She still dislikes the city, but she is more open to visit Grace and check on how I’m treating her daughter and maybe how serious we are. I invited her mid-October to pick the engagement ring from the five rings I narrow it down. I’ve been hiding the ring in my office for months, waiting until the perfect time.
I thought to propose during the same day we confessed our feelings during my company’s Valentine’s dinner, but she was on a business trip during those days and I was in the middle of closing our biggest yet consulting project with a new client. Somehow we are now finishing decorating Grace’s living room on February 14th; one year and a few days later after we started dating. Of course, her mom and her sister think is a third year in a committed relationship. At this point, I don’t think clarifying timelines would benefit any of us. As long as we keep the years straight, we can pull the cat out of the bag years down the line.
Maggie calls Grace and informs us they are on their way back to the apartment. We light up the candles around, turn off the lights, and I stand in front of the decorations with the box in my pocket. Her mom and sister hide in the hallway as we all hear her turning the keys to open her door.
Her hand stops at the light switch the moment she notices the candles surrounding me.
“What is this?”
“What do you think it is?” I ask.
“I’m asking because I’m not sure. Definitely something romantic, but what? I thought we were going to dinner with my parents, baby sister and her boyfriend in like three hours.”
“We are.”
“Honey, can you fully step inside your apartment so I can close the door behind us?” Her dad says.
“Oh right, sorry.”
“Maybe you should want to be closer to Seth for this conversation?” her dad suggests.
Grace makes her way to me, miraculously not noticing her mom and her sister recording the interaction from the hallway.
“This is pretty. I thought dinner was the special thing for today.”
“It is, but there is something I want to ask you and I think you prefer for me to ask it without stranger’s eyes on us.” I take the box out of my pocket and bend one knee.
Grace covers her mouth with her hands as she gasps.
“Grace Stewart, we have talked about this many times and have dreamed about it for far longer. Like I said that morning when I tried to find your ring size; waiting every second for you is worth it. Would you marry me and start waiting together until we can be husband and wife?”
She nods, her eyes glassy with the tears threatening to fall as she whispers her yes and kneels to hug me. I slide her oval shape diamond with a gold rope band with encrusted diamonds all around the band between kisses and the cheers of her family.