We drive into town, but instead of going to the bar, he stops at the corner before it.
“What are we doing here?” I ask him.
The corner building and lot has been vacant since I have been here. It looks like it’s been years since anyone has been inside the building.
“You will see,” he says.
He takes my hand and walks me to the front door. He pulls a key from his pocket, and I am thoroughly confused. He unlocks the door and smiles at me. We step inside the abandoned space.
We are standing in the center of the space looking towards the back. Chris stands in front of me and points to a door on the side of the building that leads outside.
“It’s a door,” I say.
“Okay smartass,” he laughs and takes my hands in his. “Close your eyes.”
I do.
“Now picture this. A bell dings as you walk through the front door. To the right, there's a small sitting area with oversized chairs, and to the left is a coffee nook. Now take a few more steps, and the scent of pages invades your nose, and you look down both sides of the walls, rows and rows of bookshelves, filled to capacity. Now, go out that door on the left. You walk out to a sitting area and just beyond it, small trees, flower beds, a fountain and bird feeders.”
I can’t help it. The tears flow. I open my eyes, and he’s still looking at me.
“My dream,” I say.
“It’s not a dream anymore. This is yours.”
I gasp as my hand flies to my mouth.
“Are you serious?" I ask.
"Yes, it's yours," he says.
"Thank you, so much," I say as I leap into his arms and kiss all over his face.
“I have one more.” Chris sets me on my feet, steps to my side, claps his hands twice, and I expect lights or something to come on. Quit the opposite, actually. From the back of the store walks all of our friends and family, including Chrissy and my parents. My hands fly to my mouth, and I don’t even know what to do. Everyone is smiling. I look at Chrissy, and the smirk on her face has me wondering what she’s up to. She leans to the side and looks behind me, so I do the same.
Chris is there, on one knee, with a little red velvet box in his hand.
“Sarah, my world changed the day I met you, and I can’t see myself living my life without you. Will you marry me and be my tweetheart forever?”
He cracks the top of the box and a beautiful circle cut diamond ring sits on a black cushion. I gasp and nod my head.
“Yes. Yes. Of course, yes,” I say and he takes the ring from the box and slides in on my finger. Everyone around us erupts into cheers, and Chris stands, wrapping me in his arms and kissing me.
I pull away from him and say, “I love you, fiancé.”
“I love you too, fiancée.”
He winks and I know the rest of my life is going to be full of joy and laughter with this man. My tweetheart. The love of my life.