27. Tyler
Riding Through the Storm
I stand there, frozen, as if the world has stopped spinning beneath me.
The murmur of shocked whispers grows louder around me, a cacophony of concern, sympathy, and confusion. Everything feels surreal, like a nightmare I can”t wake up from. My heart aches, and I don”t know what to do next.
The sound of boots scuffing against the wooden floor draws my attention. Jake strides towards me, his brows furrowed with concern. ”Tyler,” he says, his voice low yet firm, ”maybe it”ll be okay. My sister has always been weird about surprises.”
I hear him, but I can”t seem to process his words. My feet feel rooted to the floor, and all I see in my mind”s eye is the image of Sarah running away, her face pale and eyes wide with disbelief. Jake places a reassuring hand on my shoulder and shakes me gently. ”Go talk to her, Tyler. You two need to sort this out.”
His words finally penetrated my haze of shock. I push myself to move, each step heavy with the weight of the situation. The dining hall seems to stretch forever, but I eventually reach the hallway. Every synchronized murmur of the guests irritatingly rings in my ears, reminding me of my public rejection.
Reaching Sarah”s office door, I halt, taking several deep breaths. My initial sense of hurt is burgeoning into anger. I steel myself, knocking firmly on the door. ”Sarah, it”s me,” I announce, trying to mask the wavering tremor in my voice.
”Come in,” she responds softly from the other side.
I push open the door, closing it quietly behind me. Sarah is at her desk, her elbows resting on its surface, her face buried in her hands. She looks up slowly, her face pale and eyes brimming with tears of confusion and perhaps sorrow.
”What”s wrong, Sarah?” I ask, my voice strained, trying to mask my growing unease. ”I didn”t expect you to, well, just run like that.”
”I didn’t expect you to propose,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper, laden with anxiety. Her hands tremble slightly, and she clutches them together to steady herself.
I try to rein in my growing frustration, attempting to lighten the mood with a weak joke. ”Proposals are supposed to be a surprise, you know.” I offer a small, forced smile, hoping to ease the tension.
”I”m serious, Tyler,” she answers, her eyes finally flicking up to meet mine. Her gaze is filled with a mixture of fear and confusion, and it makes my heart ache.
A surge of anger flares within me, a bitter taste filling my mouth. ”Why are you so surprised, Sarah? You”re practically living with me. We”ve talked about our future together!” I gesture around the room, filled with reminders of our shared life.
She bites her lip, avoiding my gaze once again. ”Maybe it”s too sudden... for a proposal.” Her voice wavers and I can see the conflict in her eyes.
”There”s no time limit on love,” I retort, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. ”Are you saying no to my proposal?” My heart pounds in my chest, fearing the answer.
”No, I”m not saying no,” she insists quickly. ”I”m just... surprised.” Her words are hesitant as if she”s still processing everything.
”It sounds like you”re saying no,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. I feel a sharp sting of rejection, which cuts more profoundly than I expected. I turn away from her, heading towards the door. The wound of her reaction seeps deeper, the words as sharp as knives, leaving an aching void in my chest.
”Tyler, wait!” she calls, but I don’t stop. I fling the door open and walk out, the hurt and anger swirling inside me like a storm refusing to subside.
I hear Sarah scrambling after me, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. ”Tyler, wait!” she calls. Ignoring her plea, I continue walking, the anger and hurt surging through me.
Before I reach the exit, I feel a gentle tug on my elbow, forcing me to stop. I turn slightly, just enough to see the look of distress on her face. ”Tyler, please,” she says, almost out of breath. ”Can we please talk about this?”
My eyes are stinging, but I fight back the tears. ”What is there to talk about, Sarah?” I spit out. ”I thought you wanted this. I thought you wanted a future with me.”
Her face is ashen with guilt and concern, and she hesitates before speaking. ”I do want a future with you. I”m not saying no... I was just caught off guard by the proposal,” she mutters, her voice trembling.
I shake my head in disbelief. ”Caught off guard? How can you be caught off guard?” I ask, my voice rising. ”We”ve been living like a couple planning a future. It”s been a month, maybe longer since you’ve stayed at your home. You only go back to grab more clothes to bring here.”
She opens her mouth to respond, but I don”t let her. ”Timmy calls you ”Mom” now, Sarah. And Mrs. Carolyn dotes on you as if you”re already family.” My voice cracks with emotion. ”Why is it okay for Timmy to call you ”Mom” so soon, but when I propose, it”s too soon?”
Her eyes widen, and she looks genuinely hurt. ”Do you regret Timmy calling me ”Mom?’” she asks quietly, her voice shaky.
I sigh, the anger dissipating slightly. ”No, I don”t regret it,” I say, softening my tone. ”I don”t understand how you see that as normal and natural, but my proposal is too sudden.” I run a hand through my hair, struggling to control my emotions.
Her eyes fill with tears, and she steps closer to me, placing her hand gently on my arm. ”Tyler, I love you. I love Timmy. I want a life with you both. I was just surprised, that”s all,” she whispers.
I look into her eyes, searching for the truth in her words. The storm of emotions inside me begins to calm, although the hurt is still very much present. ”You have to understand, Sarah,” I say, my voice softer now. ”I thought we were on the same page. Your reaction made me feel like I was wrong about everything.”
She shakes her head vehemently. ”No, you weren”t wrong. I”m sorry if I made you feel that way,” she says, her voice steadying. ”I want this. I want us. I”ve just... never been proposed to before. It just threw me off balance. I guess I never thought of marriage much all my life because it”s always been just me and my career.”
I take a deep breath, considering her words. The hallway is silent, the tension between us slowly ebbing away. Maybe I can understand her position. Perhaps I can see how my sudden proposal could have been overwhelming, even if the signs seemed evident.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the tension in the air. ”I understand Sarah,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. ”I”m sorry if my proposal was too sudden. I didn”t mean to overwhelm you. At this point, I thought we would get engaged and have a very short engagement to get married sooner. We”re practically living together as a family now-”
Before I can say anything more, she grabs my hand and gently pulls me down the hallway. ”Come on,” she says, her tone soft but stern, her grip warm and reassuring.
We walk back to the dining hall, hand in hand, each step echoing in the quiet corridor. As we enter, the room falls silent. The air feels heavy and awkward, with everyone having sensed the tension.
The guests, a mix of close friends and acquaintances, look at us with wide eyes, their conversations halted mid-sentence. Sarah doesn”t let it faze her. She smiles, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
”Everyone, I”m so sorry for running out like that,” she chirps, squeezing my hand warmly, her voice carrying across the room. ”Tyler and I just needed a moment.”
She turns to me, her eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heartbeat. ”You should probably take your place on your knee again,” she says, her voice gentle yet insistent, leaving no room for hesitation. Her words hang in the air, a mixture of command and encouragement.
I blink, stunned, my heart pounding like a drum. For a moment, I can”t move, paralyzed by the gravity of the situation. Is this happening? However, the look in her eyes tells me all I need to know. Slowly, I drop to one knee, trembling as I hold up the box with the ring. My hands are shaking so much that I”m afraid I might drop it, but I hold on tightly, determined not to let this moment slip away.
Sarah beams at me, her eyes filled with love and joy, her smile brighter than I have ever seen. ”Yes, Tyler,” she says, her voice steady and clear, a beacon of certainty in the whirlwind of emotions. ”I will marry you.”
The room erupts into excited, congratulatory cheers, the sound bouncing off the walls as I look up at her, feeling as though I might pass out from the overwhelming surprise and happiness. The sound of clapping and joyous shouts fills the air, but all I can focus on is her radiant smile, the promise of a future together shining in her eyes. We did it. We are getting married.
As I rise to my feet, the weight of the moment finally sinking in, Sarah throws her arms around me, pulling me close. The warmth of her embrace and the scent of her hair provide a sense of comfort and belonging. The guests gather around us, their faces beaming with happiness, and we are soon enveloped in a flurry of hugs and handshakes, laughter and tears of joy mingling in the air.
In the midst of it all, I can”t help but marvel at the turn of events. I was consumed with doubt and uncertainty a short while ago, fearing that my hasty proposal had ruined everything. Standing beside the love of my life, surrounded by our closest friends and family, I realize that this perfect, beautiful moment is the beginning of our new journey together. And I wouldn”t have it any other way.
Timmy barrels into me as I scoop him up so he can hug me in excitement while I see a tear-stricken Mrs. Carolyn hug Sarah in happiness. All the hurt emotions weighing down my heart dissipate as I enjoy this celebratory moment.