I stayed by Tyler’s side and shook hands with so many people I lost track of names and who was who. From my perspective, Tyler met many interested people. Most of his business cards were given away. In other words, the day was perfect. As time went by, people started to leave, and by the end of the day, we were back to our circle of friends and families. Most of the food was gone, which I’d thought impossible given how much we’d put out, but it seemed free food was a man’s best friend.
“I didn’t even have a chance to eat a cupcake. That’s such a bummer,” I complained, more playful than real whining.
“The cupcake place is two blocks from here, we can get you one later.” Tiff laughed. “Maybe two if you’re nice.”
“You’re not funny.” I groaned. I hadn’t eaten much of the food because of being social, and I really wanted a cupcake. It sounded ridiculous, but I wanted sweet.
“Hey, Bekky... Babe?”
“Yeah?” I turned around when Tyler called my name. “Is everything okay?”
“I had prepared a long speech for today but it doesn’t matter now. Bekky, I’ll get you a cupcake-a-day if you...” Tyler stopped and sucked in a big breath which he then huffed out as my heart started galloping in my chest. “I want you to say yes to my next question.”
Is he proposing? Now? My legs had turned to jelly, but I stepped closer to him somehow. “My answer is yes.”
He went down on one knee, and I gulped. “Rebekka Fleischer, will you marry me?”
“I already said yes, but I’ll say it again. YES!”
He slid a ring on my finger, and I knew it was there before I could feel its weight on my finger, but I didn’t look. I was more concerned with jumping in his arms to hug him, and then I kissed him like nobody was watching.
“It all makes sense now. This is why you seemed so nervous this morning.”
“Maybe.” He kissed me back while the small group remaining around us broke into applause and cheered our good news. My mother was the first to reach for me.
“Congratulations, Rebekka! We’re so happy for you. Tyler has proven that he’s a good man, for you and our grandchildren.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Although it had taken them a while to see the good in Tyler, they’d come around.
Lillian joined us and hugged me tightly. Happy tears rolled down my cheeks while everyone congratulated us in turn. Tyler held me to his side with such a smile; I couldn’t remember if I’d seen him smile like this ever.
“You’ll be Mrs. Wright.” His eyes looked a little wet. “Soon.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Cabo?”
“Really? Cabo like Nix and Levi?”
“Sure, or anywhere you want to go.”
I laughed. We had been engaged for all of ten seconds and here we were, already planning.
“Hold on. We have a bachelor party to plan first.” Levi high-fived Kyle.
“Oh, no. I’m too old for that,” Tyler said, and Levi laughed. Levi’s stag night had been all kinds of crazy, and had ended with Levi at the hospital. I couldn’t say I was looking forward to what they’d do for Ty.
No way, I’ll stop them from taking Tyler out.
“Never too old for a good party,” Nix said.
“Oh, hell no. Don’t even think about it, Nix,” I piped up, now fearing what my girls would put me through.
“Oh, but we are,” Val said with an evil grin.
This was so unfair. They were all against Ty and me. Whether we wanted it or not, we would be getting parties.
The weight of the ring started to pull at me, and I finally looked down at the shining rock Tyler had given me. “A diamond?” I wasn’t sure if I was making a statement or asking a question, but the square jewel encased in white gold was the symbol of all my wishes come true.
“Yes.” Using his fingertip, he pushed my chin up. “Do you like it?”
A nervous laugh escaped my lips. “Of course, I do. It’s perfect.” The ring was plain, not many details, but I loved its simplicity, and had always preferred the princess square cut over round stones. “You did great with the ring.” I couldn’t take my eyes away from it. “I love it.” My heart and mind were filling with so many emotions all at once. Love, excitement, happiness…
Out of the blue, and surprising myself by doing something like this here and now, I jumped into my man’s strong arms. He caught me, and then held me in place and showered me with kisses.
“Tyler,” I said through laughter which echoed in the room. My joy couldn’t be contained as Tyler’s lips stopped on mine. It didn’t matter who was looking or where we were, we were happy and living the moment to the fullest. Nothing else mattered right now.
We were engaged. I’d thought about it from time to time, of course, and had hoped the day would come. And now it had, I was going to be Mrs. Wright. Oh, my god! It made me so proud and excited. The first time I kissed Tyler, I knew we’d get married one day. Now, the countdown could begin. There was no way we were going to wait a year or more. We didn’t need a huge wedding. Only one with our loved ones. There was so much to think about, I couldn’t control my mind. Our family would be one. All under the same name. The Wright Family. My heart accelerated at the thought.
“I’m so excited,” I whispered to Tyler. “Thank you for always making me so happy.”
“It’s only fair. You make me the happiest man on Earth, Bekky. You always have.”
My parents opened up a bottle of pink champagne then, ready to start a new celebration. Surrounded by our people, we couldn’t be happier. Today had brought so much joy already, but now the engagement was giving us even more joy than I thought possible.
Our families met again. My parents had warmed up to Lillian and Amber. Both of whom had nothing but love to share with me and my family. From afar, I watched everyone interacting, smiling and laughing. I thought my father was crying at one point, but he probably had something in his eye. Right?
“Tyler has worked really hard on this project and it’ll be an absolute success. Amber and I are very proud of him,” Lillian praised her son.
“Tyler helped a friend of mine sell his property and find a new one within a week. That says a lot. He’s a good businessman,” Dad added with pride.
“Yes. He is good with people and has many years of experience as a business owner. I think the transition came naturally to him,” Lillian said between sips of champagne.
“I agree.” Mom smiled.
“Bekka changed him in so many ways. More than he probably knows, but as a mother, I see things, and he’s changed for the best. He made mistakes and tried to control a situation that was larger than him, but he learned from it and in the end, it’s made him who he is now.”
“Let’s not think of that now.” Dad laughed. “That whole time made me restless. Let’s enjoy the present for now.”
Lillian laughed as well. “Absolutely.”
Seeing them together, and happy, meant a lot to me. At times, I’d had no idea if my parents would ever get over the events with the Sullys. It wasn’t easy for any of us, but the future looked promising enough to keep going.
“Bekky?”
“Yeah?”
“It’ll be alright. I spoke to your parents, for like, two hours. They understand what happened and what direction we are going now.” His lips left a warm feeling on the tip of my nose. “We have their blessing.”
“So, you asked my dad if you could...”
“Ask you to marry me. Hell, yes, I did. I know they are open-minded but traditional, so I asked them, which led to the conversation I wished we had had before.”
“Me, too. They never really understood us.”
“Well, now they do.” His lips met mine and we kissed again. Soft and gentle kisses while I fought not to cry because of how touched I was.
“Thank you, Tyler.”
“No need to thank me. I love you.”
Tyler loved me, which was a good thing, since I sure loved him with all my soul.
Dad’s champagne was making me a little tipsy since I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in months. “That’s so good,” I said to the girls after taking another sip. It tastes a little too good, I admitted to myself.
“It looks like your dad spent big bucks on that bottle, too.” Tiff laughed and took the glass from my hand to finish the last of it. “Alcohol is bad when breastfeeding. I’ll sacrifice myself for Skye.”
“I only had two, and Dad didn’t give me as much as he gave everyone else. Life is so unfair.” I pouted.
“Says the girl with a diamond as big as her finger.” Nix rolled her eyes. “Levi went to get more cupcakes for you, so don’t be a party pooper.”
“Has he? Oh, gosh, this is the best day of my life.” If my stomach weren’t so empty, I sure as hell wouldn’t be tipsy after two small glasses of champagne. I could handle my alcohol like a man, had a high resistance to it. At least I had back when I was a party girl, before becoming a mom.
Bring me those cupcakes, Levi. I was starving.
Lillian came up to me with Skye, and I shifted into mom mode. “Is he okay?”
“Yes, but I think he’s hungry.”
“Okay, I’ll go get a bottle ready. Be right back.” I wouldn’t breastfeed with champagne in my system, but I’d brought two days’ worth of expressed milk. While my first choice was to breastfeed, today had been all about unexpected events, so thank goodness I’d thought to bring “emergency” bottles.
Good thing I’d suggested adding a small kitchenette in the office during the rebuild. The microwave would be handy now. Tyler followed me to the break area and laughed at me as I started pushing buttons, trying to figure out the new microwave.
“Are you sure you can do this?”
“Tyler, you can’t be serious now. I do it most nights, and I’m not even sure I’m awake then. This is easy.”
He watched me, resting against the counter. “So, what do you think about today?”
Unsure what he was asking, I stopped my task to look at him. “What do you mean, babe?”
“Do I make you happy?”
What? “Yes, of course, you do. Yes. You’ve always done everything to make me happy, but today you rose to a whole new level. I’m not sure you will ever be able to top it.”
The smile which bloomed on his face made my face and entire body heat with love. “We’ll see.”
“What do you mean?” I asked again.
Tyler took the bottle from my hand and took over warming up the milk. A cute snigger escaped his lips. “You’ll see, Bekky. Be patient.”
“I hope this doesn’t have anything to do with number three, because this girl needs a break.”
Raising an eyebrow at me, he said, “You know we’ll have number three in time. All good things happen to those who wait. We’re great at what we do.”
“Tyler, please tell me. I’ll get the words out of your mouth eventually.”
“Maybe you will.” Another killer smile.
“You like when I’m impatient, meanie. Surprises are great, but they also torture my mind.”
“Nah, you only need to be happy. I’m handling everything else.”
Handling. The word was a favorite of Tyler’s, but I’d grown tired of hearing it since the Sullys.
“Handling, Tyler?”
He rolled his perfect grey eyes so quick I almost missed it. “It means I’m taking care of things. I have a plan. So, while I’m getting everything organized, you just be happy.”
“Okay, I will.” Being happy around Tyler was easy enough, but I still wanted to handle things with him. “Do you need any help?” With my best innocent smile, I tried to offer help. “It can only be easier if two are working on it. The more the merrier.”
Shaking his head, he leaned down to kiss me. “I already have all the help I need.” Balling my hands into fists, I gripped his shirt and held him in place for more than a single kiss.
I’d said please. Now, I’d try seduction.
“It’s a surprise, babe. Don’t try to make me give in with your amazing breathtaking kisses.”
“Tyler Wright.” I groaned.
“Yes, that’s my name.” His hand slapped my behind so hard, I yelped. “Come, we have a party next door, and Skye is starving.”
Shit, Skye. Tyler removed the bottle from the microwave and tested the temperature on his wrist before going back to his mother to attend our son.
Going to the bathroom, I took some extra time to myself for a few seconds. So many questions about what Tyler was planning were spinning through my brain. Someone had teamed up with him to plan the surprise, and I bet it was one of the girls. They’d make sure my man didn’t miss anything. Going into Agent 007 mode, I went to rejoin the party. Tyler was at a table feeding Skye when I found him. The baked goods Levi had gone for were on the table.
I analyzed every conversation Tyler had with the girls, but heard nothing that gave me any clues. Maybe this was one of those things I should let happen rather than dig at. My impatience would ruin his surprise. I laughed to myself and peeled back the wrapper of a cupcake, but not knowing was killing me.