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She decided to wear her coat after all. Once she put her shoes on, she was ready to go. That was another thing I loved so much about her. She was such a natural beauty and so unpretentious. She never took hours to get ready.
We left the house right on schedule. I took her out to my car, opening the door for her. She smiled at me and slid inside. I shut her door and tried to catch my breath while walking around to the other side of the car.
“You’re shivering,” Megyn said, when I got inside.
“Maybe I should have been the one to wear a coat,” I joked. I turned the car on and twisted the knob to get heat blasting out of the vents. I was trembling, not shivering, but the heat still felt very good.
“We can cuddle if you get too cold.”
I laughed.
I took her to the warehouse and led her inside. I had had Brian come before us and he had turned the heat up and left all the lights on for us. Flower petals covered the floor, stirring around in the gust of wind that came through when the door was opened. Soft, romantic piano music played over the speaker system.
Megyn bent over and skimmed her hand through the flower petals. “What are these?”
“Roses,” I replied. All different colors of roses, red and pink and white and yellow, each shade having a different meaning. Together, they represented the strong, unending love I felt for Megyn.
Megyn stood up and smiled at me. “What is all this?”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course!”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and took her hand. “Dance with me?”
“I’d love to.” Megyn slid her fingers between mine.
I held her close to me and we danced to the slow rhythm of the music, swaying and turning with rose petals stirring around our feet.
Now. It’s the right time.
I purposefully stepped on her foot.
Megyn stumbled.
I caught her, alarmed that it had worked so well. “Are you okay?”
She was laughing, to my relief. “It’s just like you,” she said. “I’m even wearing the same shoes again.”
“I hope I didn’t scuff them,” I said. My heart thundering, slamming against my breast so hard I was certain she would hear, I dropped down to my knees.
“It doesn’t matter. They’re old and I need a new pair anyway. Carter?”
Rather than look at her shoe, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring I had picked up at the store earlier that morning. Megyn’s eyes went very wide, like twin suns.
“Will you marry me?” I asked. “I know it’s quick. I know it’s soon. But I love you and I want to spend forever with you. Will you be my wife, Megyn?”
Megyn put her hand over her mouth and looked down at me, clearly in shock. “I didn’t even think… Yes! Yes!”
I sprang to my feet and grabbed her, swinging her around before pulling her close again. I took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. I had known it would. I’d measured in secret during the night quite a few weeks ago, because I had known I would need to at some point.
Megyn lifted her hand and stared at her ring. It was a solitaire diamond set into a slender silver band, the biggest gem I had been able to find. “It’s huge!”
“Just wait until you get your wedding ring. I’ll give you the moon, honey.”
Megyn laughed, her eyes wet. She threw her arms around my neck. “Now every time I work, I can stare at my ring! I love it! I love you, Carter.”
I kissed her, swaying my body against hers. With our hearts beating together as an accompaniment to the music, we finished out our dance.