Chapter 19 #2
The effect of their nails, which Diana admired as she and Eloise let them dry while watching a show about demon hunters that was popular with the tween set, was actually quite classy.
Really, the whole thing was quite like the effect that Diana might have put together for herself, if she was planning a big night out, instead of a quiet night hanging out with Eloise at home.
“You look really pretty, Diana,” Eloise said, smiling fondly at her when the episode credits were rolling.
“Thank you, honey,” Diana said, being careful of her nails as she hugged Eloise to her side. “You do too.”
Eloise gave her an intent look. “Yeah, but especially you,” she said. There was meaning in her tone, but before Diana could ask what it was, Eloise turned back to the television, which had auto-played to the next episode.
It was just before seven in the evening, which was when Anthony had promised to come pick up Eloise, that the little girl sat up sharply on the couch.
“I think I hear Daddy’s car,” she said.
Diana hadn’t heard anything, but her ears weren’t quite as acute as Eloise’s, she assumed.
“Oh yeah? Okay, let’s wrap things up, then, and go meet him—”
“I have an idea,” Eloise said, interrupting her, which was very out of character. She normally had very nice manners. “Let’s go around the back and then surprise him. We can jump out. And he’ll be so surprised.”
“Um, yeah, okay,” Diana said, laughing a little. Eloise had been in such a determined mood all day, but her ideas had all been very fun. “Let’s do that.”
Diana put her long wool coat over the top of her Eloise-approved look, and helped the younger girl into her coat, as well. Eloise was giggling uncontrollably as they crept to the back door, and then stepped out onto Diana’s porch.
And then, Diana drew up short.
Because Anthony wasn’t at the front of her house. He was back here, straight-backed, hands folded in front of him, shifting his weight nervously.
And behind him was an enormous sign, illuminated by a floodlight.
Marry me?
Diana read the words on the large sign, which had some clear signs that Eloise had helped in the decoration, and pressed her hands over her mouth, feeling totally overwhelmed.
“Oh my gosh,” she said. “Oh my gosh.”
“This is why we had to get pretty,” Eloise said, the words rushing out of her like she had reached her absolute capacity of holding in secrets. “Because you had to look so beautiful!”
She darted over to her father and stole his phone directly out of his pocket. For once, Anthony didn’t protest. His eyes were fixed on Diana.
“Diana Madsen,” he said formally, looking as though he was so brimming with emotion that he was at risk of tears.
“When I met you, I was starting a new life. I wanted a future for myself and for Eloise that let us get distance from the sadness of our pasts without losing any of those memories. I thought this town could provide that… and I was right.”
Diana felt the hot trail of tears course down her cheeks. That was probably messing up the makeup she and Eloise had spent so long carefully applying, but she couldn’t help it.
“Except,” Anthony went on, “I was actually wrong. Because I didn’t realize how good things could be, because I hadn’t met you yet. And Diana… I love you. You light up my life in ways that I thought I’d never experience again. You are so wonderful and thoughtful, and gosh, how you make me laugh!”
“And me!” Eloise chimed in, not to be ignored. It was perfect timing, however, because Diana was starting to feel as though she might pass out from all her happiness, and the laugh she and Anthony both released at his daughter’s contribution provided some much-needed levity.
“And Eloise,” Anthony amended dutifully. “It isn’t just me who is lucky to have you, Diana. It’s my daughter too. So I am hoping—we are hoping that you would make the three of us a family. Officially.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. “What I’m trying to say is…”
He sunk down on one knee, and a happy sob hiccupped from Diana’s mouth.
“Diana Madsen, will you marry—”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, unable to keep the word back any longer. Anthony froze, his grin taking over his face, and Diana reached for him, pulling him to his feet.
“Yes,” she repeated, this time not quite as loudly. “Sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t wait. Yes. Yes! I will marry you!”
She tugged him in for a kiss while Eloise jumped around, cheering.
“We’re going to be a family! We’re going to be a family!”
Diana pulled back from the kiss to grab Eloise, so that they were all hugging together.
“I love both of you so much,” she said. “My life is a million times better than it was without you. I love every minute we spend together, and I am so happy to spend the rest of my life with you both.”
She kissed Anthony again, then bent down to press a kiss to Eloise’s forehead. She didn’t know that she had ever felt so happy, not in all of her thirty-eight years.
“I did a really good job keeping it a secret,” Eloise said, slumping against Diana’s legs as though the struggle of doing so had physically exhausted her. “We’ve been planning for practically a million years.”
“A few weeks,” Anthony amended in a quiet voice to Diana, and she laughed again as all the pieces fell into place. This was why she’d seen so little of them the past few weeks. They hadn’t been trying to push her out of their lives… they’d been working on a scheme to keep them all together forever.
“Well, I was very surprised,” she told them genuinely.
“Daddy, you didn’t even show her the ring!” Eloise protested, and both Anthony and Diana jumped in realization that she was correct.
“Whoops,” Anthony said, pulling the box back up between them.
“It’s not like I really gave you a chance,” Diana said, her giddy happiness evident in her tone.
When he opened the box, though, it took her breath away.
The ring inside was art-deco inspired, done in a floral halo style, with a large round-cut center gem surrounded by a gold filigree shaped like petals with small gems laid in each of the extensions.
It was completely Diana’s style, and it was utterly perfect.
“Oh no,” she said, pressing her hands back to her face. “I’m going to cry again.”
“I thought she was happy,” Eloise murmured to Anthony.
“Oh, I am,” Diana said, bending down to hug Eloise, then popping up to hug Anthony, then kissing her new fiancé, then giving her soon-to-be stepdaughter another hug. She was so overwhelmed with her joy that she didn’t quite know how to spread it around. “I’m so happy I can hardly stand it.”
“Try it on!” Eloise urged.
“Here, let me,” Anthony said, his grin as big as the corresponding smile on Diana’s face felt. He slid the ring onto her finger, and it fit perfectly.
Of course it did, Diana thought. Every single thing about this moment was perfect, so why shouldn’t this be too?
“I love you, Diana,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers.
“I love you too,” she said, feeling her heart brimming over with the kind of joy she had, for so long, worried that she would never find.