Where It All Began
“This is where it all began,” Jorgen wrapped his arm around Pam’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Three months ago, I was minding my own business. You appeared in the seat beside me, and my life has never been the same.”
He opened the door to the brewery and stepped back to make room for her to walk through. The popcorn machine was to the left, the corridor to the general area was straight ahead. It all looked the same. The only difference was she was in love. While she remembered what life was like before Jorgen, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like without him. Being with him was a joy.
Jorgen took Pam’s hand in his and headed straight for the general area. She stopped short of the corridor. “Can we get some popcorn?”
Her request seemed to fluster Jorgen. He scanned the general area and turned back to answer her question. “Sure, but we have to hurry.”
“The beer doesn’t start to get warm until they pour it into the mug.” Pam rubbed the back of Jorgen’s arm to sooth him. He had been on edge for the past couple days.
“No,” he corrected, “It doesn’t get warm until it passes through my lips.” He nodded a hello to someone at the back of the room. “Nancy and Clark are here. They’re sitting with Claire, Sam, and William.”
Pam held out the two bowls of popcorn and motioned to step in the direction Jorgen headed. “Let me get that for you.” Jorgen took the bowls and stepped away to make room for her to walk with the brace around her ankle. She limped in the direction he pointed.
Claire moved to make room for Jorgen and Pam to sit together at the table. The two had been roommates since the Claire was released from the hospital. After weeks of talking about it, Claire had finally agreed to venture out and visit the brewery. “You’re right. This place is fun. I’ll have to bring Darius here the next time he visits.
Stephanie, the waitress, placed the coaster on the table. “Are you going to have your usual?”
Familiar music from the sound system signaled the start of the next trivia game. “Yes, that’ll be fine.” Jorgen pulled out his phone in preparation to play.
The gesture caught Pam by surprise. Usually, he talked more. “I’ll have a Blond Sunrise.” Pam picked up his role of chatting with everyone they encountered. “How are you doing this week?”
“I’m doing well,” Stephanie replied. “My son got first place in the track meet last week.”
Pam was about to ask what event he ran when Jorgen broke into the conversation. “You’re going to want to pay attention the game.”
Stephanie smiled in amusement. Usually, Jorgen talked to everyone. Pam was taken back by his aloofness but didn’t have time to question it. The first question came up. He read it aloud. “How many men did Elizabeth Taylor marry?”
“If she’d have married me, the answer’d be one,” William joked.
“I know there were eight weddings,” Claire answered.
“Seven!” Nancy exclaimed, “She married Richard Burton twice.” When the answer was correct, Nancy elbowed Clark. “I know a thing or two about marriage.” Clark who had been quiet just grinned.
Stephanie set the beers on the table. Pam decided to pick up Jorgen’s social skills. She turned away from the game to give Stephanie her attention. “Thank you,” The room fell silent, but Pam was committed to being friendly. Planning to pick up the conversation where they left off, Pam asked, “What event does your son run?”
“I think you want to pay attention to this question.” Stephanie grinned.
Pam looked up at the screen. The silence made sense. The question read, “Pam, will you marry Jorgen?” The available answers were: A. yes, B. definitely yes, C. of course, and D. yes, yes, yes.
A collective aww from the people around them pulled her attention from the screen to find Jorgen bent on one knee beside her chair. He held out a diamond engagement ring that glistened so bright she had to blink to make sure it was real.
“Pam, you are the best friend I have been searching for, for my entire life. Talking to you is the highlight of my day. I wake in the morning wondering what we’re going to do. When I rest my head on my pillow, my last thought is something you said, or we did together. The only way my life will be better is with you beside me for the rest of my life. Please say you’ll marry me.”
She gasped in response and covered her mouth with her hands. The swell of emotions stole her words. Her mind wandered back to the first day she met him, and his crooked grin caught her attention. Back then she mistook what she felt for him as the beginnings of a crush. Hindsight showed her it was love at first sight. The feelings hadn’t changed, they only deepened. Like him, her only vision of the future included him. Still, at a loss for words, she nodded her answer.
A familiar voice from across the bar called out, “What was that? We didn’t hear you from over here?”
Pam’s eyes followed the sound. Her ears hadn’t deceived her. It was Curtis. Her parents, who stood beside him, beamed with pride. Her mouth fell open, and she turned to regard Jorgen. She wondered why he was so intent on getting her to the table. He was keeping her focus away from the area where her family sat.
His smile widened. “What do you say?”
“I said, Yes.” She opened her arms to pull him into a hug. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Another collective “awww” came from the brewery. This one had a happy note at the end of it.
Jorgen stood and held Pam’s hands to help her rise. He gently slid the ring onto her finger. When it was in place, Pam set her hands on his chest and stood a little taller to kiss him. Right before their lips met, he said, “You have made me the happiest man in the world.”
A flashback of the mind movie that played when he kissed her in the hospital came to her. She smiled in return. “I could say the same thing about you.”