“And I think that's it.” Eileen closes her folder. “What do you think, Lyllian? Is there anything else you want to add?”
“No, I think you covered all of it.”
“Good, then I think we're done here. Doug, I'll have the scripts ready for you by next week. When do you think filming will start?”
“I'd say we'll be ready in a few weeks.”
“Perfect.” Eileen presses her palms against the table and stands up.
“Oh, Eileen, can I borrow Lyllian for a minute?”
“Of course, dear, I'm going to go hit up the lobby and get a coffee.”
I wait for Eileen to leave, then look at my girl. “I got you something for your promotion.”
“You did? You didn't have to do that.” Lyllian is packing up the portfolios.
“I didn't have to, but I wanted to. Turn around and close your eyes.”
She purses her lips, her eyes squinting. “All right, but I'm not going to get hit in the face with a pie or something, am I?”
“Maybe, but it won't be a surprise if I tell you.”
She laughs out loud and holds up her hand. “I swear, if you're pulling some prank on me. . .”
“I'm not pranking you, just keep your eyes closed.”
“They're closed.”
I grab the basket out from under the table and set it on top. “Okay, you can turn around and open your eyes.” Lyllian spins back. “Surprise,” I say.
There's a basket of muffins on the table with a giant pink bow around the handle. Tilting her head, she giggles. “Aw, you shouldn't have.”
“They're your favorite. Banana nut, hold the gluten.”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I figure you got muffins the last time your job changed, so a promotion deserves actual muffins you can eat. Go on, have one.”
She reaches into the basket, plucking out the one on top, but as she pulls on it, she realizes that there's a ribbon stuck to the bottom. “What's this?”
“I don't know, keep pulling.” My smile grows wide as I walk around the table to her side. Placing my hand on the small of her back, her eyes flick to mine. “Go on, pull it.”
There's a curiosity in her gaze. A light twinkle glints as she grips the ribbon with two fingers and slowly pulls it out. Dangling on the end is a diamond ring.
“Oh my God, Doug, is this—” She cuts herself off as her eyes well up with tears.
I untie the ring and drop to one knee. Lyllian covers her mouth with both hands. I can hear her breathing, and see her chest begin to rise and fall in rapid bursts. I pinch the ring between my fingers and reach up for her hand.
She lowers her left hand, her fingers trembling as I take them in mine. Tears are making her eyes look like glass as they glaze the surface, waiting for one blink to be set free. But she isn't blinking. She's staring at me in shock and disbelief.
“Lyllian, I've loved you since the first day I met you. I always knew that we were meant to be together. I can't tell you how many times the words I love you almost came out of mouth.” I place the ring at the edge of her ring finger. “And now, I want you forever. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have kids and grow old with you. I want to call you my wife. Lyllian Hoxie, will you marry me?”
She nods eagerly, her voice a mere whisper. “Yes, yes I'll marry you.”
I slip the ring on the rest of the way and rise. Lyllian jumps into my arms, kissing me as the tears finally let go. She's crying, sobbing as her lips press against mine. I can taste her salty happiness as her tears mix with our kiss.
“I love you,” I say. “I wanted to do this right, not like before. This is real, this is for you.”
“I love you too,” she says, her words vibrating against my lips. “I love you so damn much.”
Loud clapping comes in from behind us. Lyllian turns around, and almost drops to her knees as she sees everyone. My parents are here, Eileen, her husband, Jim and his wife, and her mother.
“Woo, congrats!” Jim yells.
Everyone is hooting and hollering. They're smiling as big as we are. My mother is crying, and so is Lyllian's. Even Eileen sheds a tear, wiping it away nonchalantly as she winks at us.
“Did you all know about this?” Lyllian asks.
“We did,” her mother says. “Doug called me awhile back and even asked my permission.”
“You did?”
“I did. Your mother was more than happy to give you away to me. Your father—”
“Don't worry about him, I'm sure he's pretty busy.”
“Actually,” her father says as he steps in from behind the small crowd, “he called me too.”
“Dad?” Her tears come down even heavier. “What are you doing here?”