Voice Memo
Voic e Memo
Gabby
3 years, 3 weeks, 2 days after the accident
I’m absolutely exhausted after today’s events, but I didn’t want to forget any of the fun details, so I decided to make a memo. I haven’t done one of these in a long time, but let’s face it: I’m a better talker than I am a writer. So here we go.
Tonight I got to play my best role yet as the official proposal coordinator for Operation Engagement Day. (Yes, this is a self-appointed title.) The only title I have loved more is being Tyler Pimentel’s girlfriend, which I hope will be updated to fiancée in just a couple of summers.
Anyway.... Today, July 10th, is the day when my brother finally made Sophie his fiancée!
The original plan started out simple enough. A quiet little surf date before sunset, followed by an on-bended-knee moment. Sure, it was a sweet idea, but I had a few suggestions to add. After probing my brother for some key facts he had to fish out of the depths of his memory bank, I helped him create a new plan. A better plan, in my humble opinion.
Don’t worry, they still had their surf date, but when they came back to shore, there was little private about it. I mean, come on—Sophie is a thespian! She loves a big stage. So with the help of friends and family, we set up at least a dozen picnic blankets on the sand with to-go boxes filled with tacos, queso, salsa, and hot chips from her favorite Mexican restaurant in Bodega Bay. And of course Sophie’s favorite salt-water taffy was also there.
Basically, we recreated their first date on a much larger scale, and it was fabulous.
My br other popped the question on bended knee in the surf while the golden sunset glowed behind them. Sophie screamed and jumped and cried and would have been swept right back out to sea if not for my brother picking her up and carrying her to the engagement party awaiting her. It was quite the sight, and I made sure Tyler got that shot—he’s been taking a photography class at college, and his pics are amazing!
Anyway, Sophie was glad I’d thought all the details through, seeing as I knew she wouldn’t want to attend such a special event in a sandy wet suit. I brought her a sundress, sandals, and her favorite pink headband and matching lip gloss to change into. She was stunning. No surprise there.
While the newly engaged couple mingled with guests and Tyler took their pictures alongside #Augie carefully written in the sand, I hopped from blanket to blanket visiting with some of our favorite people—like the world’s sweetest baby boy, snuggled into the baby carrier strapped to Natalie’s chest. Three-month-old baby Finn and his mama have had lots of help between Sophie and his doting grandma ... as well as one very good-looking FBI guy Natalie insists is only a friend. Probably because her divorce isn’t quite final yet, but I’ve seen the way he watches her when she’s not looking. And I also saw the way he showed up to the winery with flowers and pregnancy snacks to “check in on her” more than a few times when I was there. Oh, I guess I should have mentioned Natalie hired me as her part-time personal assistant which also means I get to care for Finn when she’s in meetings. That might be my favorite part of the job.
After all the media craziness died down about Sophie’s brother’s secret life of crime, the winery reopened in the spring for private events only. It’s the perfect job for me, and I love it out there—especially now that I can drive myself in my dad’s old Bronco. I’ll never get over how my brother surprised me with that for my graduation gift in May. Best brother ever!
I see Sophie at the winery at least one day a week, but seeing as she and my brother just won a huge audiobook award for Allie Spencer’s fantasy duology, they now have more requests for full-scale audio originals than they have time for. I love watching the two of them work together, and I love even more that my brother’s been composing music again. And not only for his day job with Sophie, but also for the Twilight Theater. He’s been consulting with Portia on ideas for our first all-access show with deaf and hearing cast members this coming winter! I absolutely cannot wait for that!
Okay, I got off track again. The engagement party. Right.
So Chip was also there, of course. He’s not the biggest fan of the beach, but he’s always a good sport. Although, I’m not gonna lie, when he told me about the booklovers cruise he got roped into going on next week ... I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. At least he’ll have some great stories to entertain us with during the wedding.
Which, of course, will be absolutely magnificent. In just a few months, August and Sophie will be married at the winery on a beautiful October day, and I absolutely could not be happier about it! I’m thrilled for my brother, but if I’m being completely honest, I am maybe the tiniest bit more thrilled for myself.
For Sophie’s engagement gift, I gave her a name in ASL. It’s a combination of several signs—sing, star, and my personal favorite, sister.