The Second Proposal
Chapter 18 - The Second Proposal
Michael proposed again three weeks later.
There were no photographers.
No string quartet.
No heirloom jewelry.
He asked Natalie to meet him at the closed downtown restaurant.
She almost refused.
Then she found the lights on inside.
Michael had set one table.
On it was takeout pizza from the place where they had eaten on their first date.
Natalie laughed when she saw it.
“You broke into your old restaurant?”
“I still know the landlord.”
“That is not an answer.”
He smiled.
Then he became serious.
“I spent most of my life believing love was safer if people admired me.”
Natalie sat quietly.
“So I hid every part of myself I thought might disappoint you.”
He placed the ring on the table.
“I’m not asking you to marry the man I pretend to be when everything is going well.”
He took a breath.
“I’m asking whether you can marry the man who will tell you when he is scared, when he fails, when he needs help, and when the truth makes him look smaller than he wants to feel.”
Natalie’s eyes filled.
Michael did not kneel.
He did not perform.
He simply waited.
Natalie picked up the ring.
“For the record,” she said, “you were unbearable when you were pretending to have everything under control.”
Michael laughed.
“I know.”
“And I’m still angry about the necklace.”
“I know.”
“And we’re doing premarital counseling.”
“Yes.”
“And separate business accounts.”
“Absolutely.”
She slipped the ring onto her finger.
Michael stared.
“That’s a yes?”
“That’s a conditional yes.”
He pulled her into his arms.
Natalie laughed against his shoulder.
Outside, Evelyn and Rose sat in a parked car across the street.
Rose lowered the binoculars.
Evelyn stared at her.
“You brought binoculars?”
“I missed thirty-one years of family drama. I’m not missing this.”
Evelyn laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
Inside the restaurant, Michael kissed Natalie.
No emeralds.
No audience.
No inherited symbol of approval.
Just two people choosing honesty with their eyes open.
May you like
It was the best engagement Evelyn had ever seen.
Even from across the street.
