FORTY-THREE
Two years later
Maeve
Finn and I are sitting in the back of the limo on the way back from the launch of season two of my solo show, Not Okay . Over the last two years Evangeline and I have partnered on a wide range of female-fronted projects, from movies to docuseries to reality TV, and slowly but surely we’ve become a force to be reckoned with.
“Think they liked it?” I ask Finn, half joking. We’re sitting pressed against each other in the very back seat. I’ve kicked off my heels, and his arm is around my shoulder.
“I think they loved it.”
The crowds gathered outside the event were loud and enthusiastic, and the first episode of season two that was screened tonight got a standing ovation. I’ve been both shocked and thrilled by the success of this show. I never thought I would be doing a reality show, but last season we won the Emmy for Outstanding Structured Reality Program, and I’ve been having my assistant go through DMs and fan mail so that I actually hear from people who are positively impacted by the show, while avoiding any negativity. It’s gratifying to see the world excited about therapy.
And it was pretty incredible that we both won Emmys the same year, in different categories. Finn and his mother both won supporting actor Emmys for their ensemble drama, which was produced by us and cowritten and codirected by a talented young female screenwriter and Finn’s dad, as part of the mentorship program we launched. I have never seen Finn as happy as when he accepted that award. It’s amazing to see the man I love finally find his purpose.
We still do Tell Me How You Really Feel and have candid conversations with celebrities. But when our Streamify contract ends, our show is moving under Evangeline’s and my production company.
“They did love it,” I agree happily. “I can’t believe I’m this lucky.”
“I can. Because it’s not lucky. You’re the luck. Your hard work, intelligence, and passion made this happen.” Finn takes his arm out from behind me and pours out two glasses of champagne. He hands me one, and we clink our glasses carefully in the moving car. “To the most amazing woman in the world. I am constantly in awe of you and everything you do.”
We each take a sip of the champagne, and then he takes the glasses and puts them on the bar area to the right. I hold out my hand, eager for him to wrap his arm back around me. It’s incredible celebrating with everyone like we just did, but it means even more to share this moment with Finn.
But Finn doesn’t wrap his arm back around me. Instead, he turns to me and pulls a small pink box out of his suit jacket pocket. His hands are visibly shaking when he starts to talk.
“Maeve. I love you. I have loved you since the moment I met you, and fall deeper in love every day because you are the most brilliant person I know. You are changing the world, and I know you don’t need me for that, but I love being able to do it with you. Maeve … will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!” I’m agreeing before he can even open the box. I throw my arms around him, crying and kissing him anyway, undoubtedly smearing my makeup all over his face.
He kisses me firmly, then pulls away just enough to open the box and slide the ring onto my finger. It’s perfect. A classic square diamond on an impossibly thin gold band. Exactly what I wanted.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. Did my sisters help?”
Finn shakes his head proudly. “I know you, remember?”
I kiss him. “You really do. I love you so much.”
“I love you too,” he says quietly. He wraps his arm around me, so we’re sitting how we were before, but this time both admiring the ring on my finger.
We’ve shared so much with the world. I’m really happy that this moment was just for us. Two years ago, I think we both would have felt pressure to have this happen during an episode, at the premiere, somewhere our fans can experience it too. But now it feels right for this moment to be ours . I love giving them so much of ourselves. But it’s important to keep some things for just us.
When we pull up to my house, which Finn has moved into, I practically jump out of the car, excited to call my sisters and tell them the news. Finn takes my shoes and we walk up the drive hand in hand. But when I go to open the front door, Finn stops me. “Let’s go around the back.”
Something about the look on his face makes me follow him instead of begging off for the FaceTime call first. We walk around to the yard, and I gasp. String lights and candles are everywhere, illuminating hundreds of roses. There’s champagne and diner milkshakes, and just as I’m about to tell him how lovely it is, I jump.
“Surprise!” My sisters, my parents, and Finn’s family jump out from behind the bushes. They all have lit sparklers and look overjoyed, but also slightly terrifying in the candlelight.
“Tell me you said yes!” Sarah yells.
“Yes!” I hold up my hand, still wrapped up in Finn’s. He is so thoughtful. Saving the proposal for just us, but still bringing my family and his? I reach up and wrap him in a huge hug and kiss.
“So, Maeve, tell me how you really feel,” Finn teases.
I throw my head back and laugh. “Like I love you more than humanly possible. I love you so much, Finn. Now, tell me, how do you really feel?”
“Like the luckiest guy in the world.”
I pull Finn down to me and he wraps me in his arms for a kiss.