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“What? No one heard me. No one knows.”
I shook my head at my brother who looked like a kid on Christmas morning.
“I’m ready,” I said with a nod.
He had come with me to pick out the ring at Tiffany’s a few months ago. I was waiting for the right time, and today felt like the perfect occasion with all of our friends and family here to witness.
“I’m happy for you,” he said.
“Thanks, Brody.”
After Bridgette opened her gifts and dug her hands into her smash cake, it was nearing time for everyone to go home. It was almost her naptime, anyway, and she made it known by the long yawn she let out that everyoneawwed over.
It was now or never.
I pulled Heart to the center of the room, where Bridgette sat at our feet playing with wooden blocks my mom had got her from Paris. Heart looked at me curiously as everyone made a circle around us.
“I want to thank everyone for coming,” I said, holding her hand tightly in mine. “I especially want to thank this woman right here. Heart, you have turned my life upside down and made everything right. I love you for the woman you are. The mother you are.”
Heart’s eyes glazed over with tears as she looked at me.
“I can’t imagine life without you,” I said as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the velvet box.
I heard the crowd gasp and a few squeals emerge from our mothers, but I kept my eyes on Heart, who looked as shocked as anyone. Her hands flew up to her mouth as she watched me get on one knee.
“Will you marry me?”
I opened the box, revealing the solitaire oval diamond that sat on a thin gold band. Effortlessly beautiful, just like Heart.
“Yes,” she cried through her tears.
THE END