Ten months later…

“Are you joining us?” I ask David as I leash up Wrigley, the rescue ‘Pomsky’—part Pomeranian, part Husky— we adopted from a local shelter two months ago. Wrigley wags her fluffy curled tail shaking all of her sixteen pounds this way and that, looking up at me with her mismatched eyes—one blue, one brown.

David looks up from his phone, and his face says it all. “Sorry, Tal. Jimmy just messaged me about this deal we’ve got going on, and…” he squats down to let Wrigley kiss his nose.

“On a Saturday?” I whine.

“If you can give me thirty minutes…”

Wrigley whines, eager to get out and relieve herself.

“It’s fine,” I assure him. I know David has several important projects wrapping up, and it’s stressing him out. Besides, I really don’t want Wrigley peeing in the apartment. I slip my arms into my coat and give David a kiss of my own.

“Walking your regular route?” he asks.

“Yeah, probably. You know how Wrigg likes the park up on East Chicago.”

“Just stay safe,” he cautions.

I chuckle at his protective nature and assure him that Wrigley will lick any attacker to within an inch of his life and head down to let our little baby take care of business.

In the lobby, the doorman, George, smiles broadly when he sees his new best friend and me.

“Wrigley!” George grabs a small treat from his stand and comes over to hunch down to Wrigley who has come to expect this treat every time she sees George.

“You spoil her.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he says, putting his nose to Wrigley’s when she’s finished chewing her treat.

“Enjoy your walk,” he says, extra cheerily as he opens the door.

“Okay,” I say chuckling to myself as Wrigley and I step out into the still brisk, late spring air.

Spring, I think to myself. Has it really been more than a year since I bought that fateful ticket? The other day was the one-year anniversary of my very first payout. How my life has changed is immeasurable, and not just my bank account.

The past months have been a balancing act of epic proportions.

First off, there was my mom. For the eight weeks of Mom’s residential therapy program, David accompanied me on Thursdays with Chip flying the helicopter back to the treatment center for family therapy. I still can’t believe I’m dating someone who has a helicopter at his disposal, but it sure beats the seven-plus hour bus ride each way.

Therapy was tough watching my mother anguished with guilt which rivaled my own, and I accepted private sessions with her therapist to quiet some of my demons, basically refreshing all I’d learned in Al-Anon, but sometimes reminders are just what we need. With the help of her therapist, I told Mom about my lottery winnings and Jimmy. Both were quite a shock to her, but thankfully she was still at the treatment center so she could get the therapy to deal with it all. The therapist was able to help Mom recognize that although I’d left with my good fortune, I had shared it with her and ultimately led her to her path to recovery, even if she had stumbled. As far as Jimmy was concerned, I was surprised that she was genuinely happy for Jimmy’s success and our new relationship.

When she was released, she and Jude both moved to the Carbondale area for that fresh-start Jude was after. They got their own apartments just a few blocks from each other, and the independence is suiting them both wonderfully. I’m still helping my mom financially since I’d bookmarked part of my winnings for her mortgage. Jude refuses the help. They not only go to AA meetings together, they also are both working for Brian—Jude on construction sites and Mom working in the office. She’d always told me I got my knack for numbers from her when I brought home my math tests with A’s on them, but it was hard to know for sure if she was just telling tales. Turns out, she’s actually more than mathematically competent. It made my day when she let me pay for her to go to classes locally to get her bookkeeping accreditation from a community college near her home.

As for my living situation, I passed on renewing my lease after nine months and moved in with David since I was spending all of my time at his place anyway. A month after moving in, we adopted Wrigley.

“Hi, Aunt Crystal,” a young familiar voice says. I turn and see Francisca with her bedazzled cane in one hand and in the other she’s holding out a white rose for me and says, “This is for you.”

“You are just the sweetest thing,” I answer squatting down and taking the rose. I give the white blossom a sniff and hum at the sweet perfume. I hug the angelic girl with her thick black hair, golden skin, and seriously dark eyes. Her smile is bright, and I defy anyone not to smile when she’s smiling at you. She’s making great strides with her doctors at the hospital. Wrigley starts to jump all over her making her giggle with delight.

Teresa, Leo, and Marisol join Francisca and me, and also hand me a pair of white roses. “We are all so grateful for everything you did for us,” Leo says, getting emotional. I’m about to burst into tears myself as he and Teresa pull me into their arms.

We catch up for a minute, and then they head off to run some errands. Leo looks so happy, and both parents appear much more rested. With the help David and I were able to find, Leo was able to give up the night-time security job and spend more time with his family. We've spent a lot of time together over the past months, and I was totally honored when Cisca and Mari started calling us Aunt Crystal and Uncle David.

With my roses in hand, Wrigley and I keep walking, and I further think about how my life has changed. Things with Jimmy have been incredible. I started working in his office, and it is rewarding in so many ways. Not only have I gotten to know Jimmy, Dad—which feels so cool to say—professionally and personally, I’ve discovered that I really do have an aptitude for law. With Dad’s help, I applied to Loyola in Chicago, the University of Chicago, and Northwestern. I was beyond floored when I got accepted to all three. I decided on Northwestern which is where Dad went, and I’ll be starting in the fall.

I look up and see a paparazzo across the street snapping a picture of me walking Wrigley and snug the collar of my coat to hide my face a bit more. It’s even worse when David and I go out together, and it’s not something I’m sure I’ll ever get used to. They’re everywhere trying to snap photos, both flattering and unflattering. I’m terrified they’ll find out about my mother and make that whole situation worse, but so far, so good.

“Hi Talia,” a woman says, pulling my attention from the cameraman. Looking a little closer, I realize it’s Pam, my real estate agent. She holds out another rose, and my heart is pounding. What is going on?

“Thank you, Mrs. DeWitt,” I reply, getting choked up and feeling my cheeks burn brightly.

She and I talk a little and catch up before she has to run off and show some condos to a couple moving from the suburbs.

I rush Wrigley to the park, and she plays with some of her familiar puppy friends, which is much busier since it’s a Saturday. As Wrigley dashes around with the other dogs, some twice her size, the woman from the shelter who helped us find and adopt Wrigley shows up and gives me another rose. Now I know David is up to something.

Once Wrigley is tuckered out from running all around, we head back home, and I have half a dozen gorgeous, fragrant roses cradled in my arm. People are smiling at me as they note not only the cutest dog on the block, but also my flowers, when a familiar voice sounds from behind. “That’s quite a bundle of flowers you have there.”

I turn to find Lainey. “I know, right? I have no idea what David is up to.” By now I’m laughing at this bizarre morning, then Lainey surprises me with another stem to add to my collection. “Seriously?”

Lainey grins and starts giggling as she sets her flower with the others then stoops down to love on Wrigley.

“What is going on?” I quiz my friend.

“You just look like a woman who needs flowers, I guess,” she replies not so innocently as she locks her arm with my free one, and we continue home.

“Miss! Did you drop these?” another familiar voice says behind me, I turn to see Dad and Deb, each holding a white rose.

“This is getting out of hand,” I say through my giggle fits, noticing people looking at me as I carry this growing bouquet.

Dad, Deb, and Lainey accompany me the rest of the block, and we turn the corner, and my giggles stop and are replaced by tears of joy.

Mr. And Mrs. Schwarzkopf are standing there holding another pair of roses for me.

“What are you doing here? When did you get here?” I ask bewildered by their presence, hugging them tightly.

“Last night,” Mr. Schwarzkopf answers smiling the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“And we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel,” Mrs. Schwarzkopf adds, emphasizing the words Waldorf, Astoria, and Hotel with giddy excitement.

I make quick introductions between the Schwarzkopfs, my dad, Deb, and Lainey, and then Dad suggests we head in and up.

George opens the door for us, and we parade in. “Looks like you’ve had a good walk, Miss Talia,” he observes with a giant, if not secretive smile.

“The best,” I answer wondering how this morning could get any better.

I pick up Wrigley, and the seven of us squeeze into the elevator. I slip in my card for the penthouse, and up we go with Mrs. Schwarzkopf going on animatedly about the ride they’d had in David’s helicopter. I can’t believe he’d do this. And why? I have a sneaking suspicion, and I don't know if I'm excited or scared.

When we get to our floor, I’m about ready to interrogate David as to what he’s up to, but I find only my mom and Jude both standing there with more flowers.

Mom is beaming, and I can’t believe how good she looks. She’s gained a few pounds, which makes me happy as she’d always been on the ‘too thin’ side of things with alcohol as her main food group. Her skin and eyes are still bright and clear, and her smile is as big as I’ve ever seen. Her nine months of sobriety look good on her. Lainey takes Wrigley, and I run to hug Mom tightly with my one arm still clutching the flowers.

Jude also looks amazing and has actually gone back to the short hair and clean-shaven look. He’s also bulked up, a result of working on construction sites, I surmise. He squeezes me with his super strong embrace careful not to crush my flowers. When he sets me down, I’m now full on crying and blubbering trying to ask my mom and Jude what’s going on when David’s parents walk out with yet another pair of flowers and tuck them into my growing bundle and bestow kisses on my wet cheeks.

Finally, David emerges and is standing there with his parents and holding another dozen roses, and these are all red.

“What are you…?” My heart leaps to my throat, and I start to fear that he’s going to pop the big question. I’m not ready for that. Am I?

“Happy anniversary,” he says, laying his dozen in my arms, and I pause, startled. “It’s today, right? The anniversary of you coming to Chicago?”

“Is it?” I ask, wiping my face with the back of my free hand and think it through realizing it is, indeed, the one-year mark since I came to the city. How could I have forgotten?

“I’ll never forget the day, Crystal-Clear!” Mr. Schwarzkopf booms.

Everyone chuckles, and I breathe easier that this isn’t some grand proposal, and David’s mother kicks into gear taking coats and offering refreshments to Dad, Lainey, and the Schwarzkopfs—introductions flying everywhere as I seem to have forgotten to talk.

I watch with curiosity as Dad and Mom exchange pleasantries. Dad came to the session when I broke the news to her about finding Jimmy. Things were tense at first, but once she realized that no ill feelings were felt by Jimmy or myself, she’d relaxed. I’m happy to see she still seems relaxed.

“I hope you don’t mind this little celebration,” David says as he wraps his arm around me.

“I’m just so blown away,” I tell him honestly.

“And I’m so happy you came to Chicago. Nothing but the best and good surprises,” he promises and kisses me with Wrigley, now unleashed, leaping up at David’s feet. She seems to think that whenever David kisses me, she should be getting a little love, too.

“I’ll go put these in water,” Lainey offers, and kisses me on the cheek, her eyes glittering.

After coffee and pastries, David pipes up. “What does everyone think about a dolphin show at the aquarium? It’s where Talia and I first met.”

I think Mrs. Schwarzkopf may pass out at both the idea of a dolphin show and David’s sentimental suggestion.

I can’t imagine being happier than this moment right now.

With our front row seats, the dolphin show has been a blast. I love watching Mom’s fascination with the tricks and intelligence of the always-smiling mammals.

“How about a volunteer?” the trainer asks.

Hundreds of hands fly into the air from both young and old.

David raises my hand for me, and I try to pull it down, but he just grins.

The trainers select one young boy, a teenage girl, and me. Reluctantly, I go up front where the trainers teach us some commands, and we instruct the graceful creatures. After they’ve performed their maneuvers, the lead trainers ask the dolphins to get some presents for the helpers, and they each dive and return with small closed buckets in their beaks. The trainers make a big show of opening each little bucket giving the little boy a plush toy dolphin, the girl a seahorse necklace, and a large sealed clamshell for me, each with the aquarium logo on it. The audience applauds, and the three of us return to our seats.

I let my family and friends get a look at the shell, and I scold David, “You should have let a tourist get the opportunity. Mrs. Schwarzkopf would have loved that.”

David just shrugs and keeps grinning.

After the show, David suggests a trip to the John Hancock Building with its fantastic views. I argue that we should go to the Sears Tower, but David wins when he adds that it’s where we had our first date.

Instead of heading to the 94th floor, the observation deck, we go to The Signature Room on the 95th floor where David has reserved a table with a view, and we all enjoy drinks and some appetizers. I’m nervous, but proud of Mom as she sips her Shirley Temple kiddie cocktail and Jude his Coke.

Everyone enjoys the views, and I point out the Ferris wheel to the Schwarzkopfs who plan to go to Navy Pier the next day.

“So, we’d eat dinner here, but I have one more stop today,” David declares as he signs the check I hadn’t even noticed was called for and apparently paid.

We all stand and head downstairs. In our three-car caravan with Chip driving the Schwarzkopfs, David, and me, and David’s parents’ driver, Max, driving them along with my mom and Jude, and Dad and Deb in their own car bringing Lainey and Lance, we make our way across the city.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he answers mysteriously.

“So, you’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope.”

“Not even a clue?” I bat my mascara-laden eyelashes at him, and he rolls his eyes.

“Fine. A hint. I first saw you at this place.”

“We were already at the aquarium,” I reply, bewildered by his clue. The only other place that comes to mind is the library, but that’s not much of a place to have dinner. But with David, one never knows. Maybe he rented out the Winter Garden on the top floor and has something catered. He’s proven he’ll go above and beyond, the flowers still fresh in my mind.

David just shrugs and says not another word, just holds my hand and rubs small circles on the back of it. As we drive through the city, I point out other points of interest for the Schwarzkopfs still not believing they’re up here for me.

I love that David would make my anniversary of my new life so memorable.

Fifteen minutes later, we’re not at the aquarium nor the library, but rather we’re pulling up to a restaurant. “I ate here my very first night in Chicago,” I tell David with a laugh.

“Oh, you ate here?” he asks.

“Yes. I was so nervous. I was underdressed and surrounded by beautiful people. But the food smelled so good, I couldn’t leave. So, I just sat at my table and read my book.”

“Hmm,” is all David says.

Inside, David is greeted warmly, and I receive a very different reception than I’d gotten last time. I wasn’t treated rudely, but I was squirreled away into a corner. I didn’t really mind at the time since I was just wearing a pair of jeans and everyone else was dressed in fancy dresses and suits, pearls and diamonds. Frankly, I was surprised they sat me at all. I’m incredibly surprised when we’re seated this time.

We’re seated at a long table, all twelve of us, right in the middle of the restaurant where everyone can see us.

“So weird,” I tell David when the hostess leaves. “That’s the booth I sat in last time.” I point to a booth in the corner.

“I know,” he replies quietly. “I was sitting right here.”

I’m stunned silent. I think back to that night and don’t remember seeing a large table set up, then again, I was doing my best to hide. Besides, once I’m into a book, often the world around me fades away.

“It was just me and one other that night, but I was drawn to you from the start. I couldn’t stop watching you. Is that creepy?”

“A little,” I answer, shoving my shoulder into him.

“You were reading a book.” The smile on his face is infectious, and I can’t fight the smile on my face.

“Little Women. That’s what I was reading.”

He nods and leans over kissing my temple just as our server comes to our table to take drink orders and announce the dinner specials.

Dinner goes perfectly with everyone getting along so well. I can’t help but keep an eye on what Jude and Mom are drinking, but they keep it clean all night. When dinner is done, and the table has been cleared, David asks, “Talia. Do you have that shell from the aquarium?"

“Uh, yeah?” I answer and grab my purse pulling out the souvenir and hand it to David.

Maybe it’s just my imagination, but everyone at the table quiets.

“Talia. When we met a year ago, I was as closed as this shell. I first saw you sitting at that booth over there, then we met at the aquarium. When I saw you at the library, I knew there was something more to you, and I had to get to know you. In the beginning, I held on to my secrets just as you did. We both had our reasons. At first, I was determined to keep closed, but as I got to know you, I found myself opening up bit by bit. You are smart, funny, clever, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, both inside and out. I love your optimism, your willingness to try new things, and your compassion knows no bounds. Your strength of character is inspiring. This past year has shown me this over and over again. And there’s not a person sitting at the table who doesn’t see that. You got me to open and see the possibilities of the future. It’s a future with you.”

David drops to one knee and takes my left hand, but I can barely see any of it, my eyes are filled with tears. I push the tears away not wanting to miss a moment.

While this morning, I wasn’t so sure about a proposal, after this day with everyone I love around me, and all the special things David has arranged, knowing what’s coming, I know what my answer will be.

David does something to the souvenir shell, and it pops open revealing an incredible diamond ring nestled in a bed of white velvet. My hands fly to my mouth, but it’s not like I could speak anyway. My heart is in my throat.

“Talia, Crystal, or whatever other name you want to use, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your days with me. Will you marry me?”

For the second time today, I’m crying and can’t speak. But I have to. I have to say the word.

“Yes,” I squeak, and David’s smile goes from big to enormous. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” I clarify.

David pulls the ring from its soft bed and slips it onto my left ring finger. It’s a perfect fit. There are so many diamonds I’m almost afraid to wear it. Next, I’m in David’s arms, and we’re kissing. Then I’m being hugged by my mom, and brother, and father, and everyone. Somewhere in the back of my mind, it registers that the entire restaurant is applauding. There are flashes from cell phones, and maybe paparazzi—who knows. Who cares?

I found love. True love. He’s seen me, all of me, and still loves me.