A week later.
The symphony's season opener took place the third weekend in October. It happened on a beautiful Saturday evening, and I went to the performance with my parents and brother, along with Ash's family, who met us for dinner at a nearby restaurant beforehand.
I had met them when they flew in the day before, but it was the first time our parents and siblings met, and I was pleasantly surprised at how effortless it was. I had been worried about it since Ash couldn’t be at dinner with us, but his parents and sister were all really easy to get along with. They were different than my parents, but not in a way that made things awkward.
Dinner passed in a flash, and the next thing I knew, we were at the Knight, watching the performance. Ash stole the show, which was another surreal experience for me. His family was probably accustomed to seeing him in action, but I was still getting used to it.
Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I kind of expected him to play my song, but that didn't happen. He played one unaccompanied piece to open the show, but it was a classic Bach number that was a crowd favorite. The whole thing was far too formal and rehearsed for Ash to ask if he could add one of his own pieces like he had done at the benefit. I felt silly that the thought had even crossed my mind.
Besides, I had his home performance of it on my phone. I listened to it every day, and it never got old. I had unintentionally recorded us talking after he played the song. We had said such sweet words to each other, and sometimes I listened to that too. It made my heart melt. I honestly never dreamed I would love like this.
I smiled just thinking about it.
It was the day after the concert, and we were on our way to Cutler Bay.
"What are you thinking about?" Ash asked, seeing me smile as I daydreamed.
He was driving his SUV. His dad was in the front seat with him, and I was in the back with his mom and sister. We were on our way to my parents' house. We would eat dinner and hang out there, letting everyone get to know each other in a more relaxed environment.
Ash had the rearview mirror aimed at me, so we all knew who he was talking to when he asked what I was thinking about.
I had been thinking about the recording of that song, but I felt too nervous to answer the question honestly. I didn't want to be too lovey-dovey in front of his family.
"Nothing and everything," I said.
"I was thinking about that fish I ate last night," Ken said from the passenger's seat. "That was delicious."
"Abigail's family is cooking fish tonight," Ash's mom said from her place on the other side of his sister, Anna.
"I bet you get sick of fish," Anna said, looking at me.
"You mean from working with them so much, or from living in Florida?"
"Both," she said.
"You would think I would, but I actually really love it. And I don't eat it all the time."
"Yeah, last night she ordered chicken," Ken said.
"No, she didn't, she ordered shrimp."
"Still," Ken said. "Not fish."
"Shrimp is fish, Dad," Anna said.
We are still talking about whether or not shrimp was fish and other food related topics a couple minutes later when we pulled up at my parents' house. It was another beautiful afternoon, and my mom had the back patio all fixed up anticipating our arrival.
My little brother and dad were in the backyard playing a beanbag toss game, but they put it aside when we got there and came over to greet us. My family had a Golden Retriever named Max who was old and walked with a limp, but he, too, hobbled over with the welcoming committee.
We gathered on the patio, talking about last night's performance and what a talented musician Ash was. He stood behind me the whole time, and I took refuge in his strength and confidence—his protection. Not that I needed protecting in this specific environment, but still, I felt protected. Loved.
My dad and brother had gone fishing earlier that morning and had brought back two good-sized Snook. Dad opened the ice chest so he could show Ash's family. I wondered why he hadn't gone ahead and cleaned them when he knew he planned on cooking them that evening, but Ash's dad was so thrilled to see the whole Snook and talk about it, that I figured Dad had done it just for the sake of having a conversation piece.
"Abigail's an expert with a fillet knife," my dad said after they all got a good look at the fish and had an exchange about Florida fishing.
That's when it hit me. He hadn't neglected cleaning the fish simply for a conversation starter with Ash's parents. He had done it for my sake. He wanted me to show off in front of them. It was completely unnecessary but so very sweet.
"Would you mind cleaning them up for us, Abby?" Dad asked.
I glanced at my little brother who knew what my dad was doing and made a face at me. "Sure," I said, knowing I should be up for the challenge. "Dad's better than I am," I added, feeling shy as I took the fish from his hands and set it on the cutting board. My mom showed up out of nowhere with a knife and a cutting glove, and that's when I knew that it had all been a setup. My whole family was completely capable of cleaning Snook, yet they waited for me to get there. I narrowed my eyes at my mom as she handed me the tools, but she just smiled.
Everyone gathered around casually to watch.
"Every time I reel in a fish, I'm tempted to check its mouth to see if there's a coin," my dad said.
"I just read about that," Ash said. "That's so interesting."
"I thought you were in the Old Testament," I said, glancing at Ash as I slid on the glove.
"I am," Ash said, with a nod. "I'm in Judges, but I got impatient and wanted to start the New Testament. I'm doing a little bit of both now. That story's in Matthew, so I just read it the other day."
I stared at Ash, finding it peculiar that this new information about him being eager to read more of the Bible made him equally as appealing as being a genius musician. I loved that he was not only reading it, but also that he wasn't embarrassed about mentioning it. I wasn't sure why it had this effect on me, but it was really attractive. I seriously wanted to drop everything and make out with him right there.
"I'm sorry, but I'm lost," Ash's mom said. She looked like she was really trying to understand what we were talking about.
"It's a story from the Bible," my dad said. "I think it was a Tilapia."
I nodded. "They think so," I said. "Jesus and Peter were asked to pay a tax, and Jesus told Peter to cast his line and check the mouth of the first fish he caught."
My dad nodded. "So, Peter did, and sure enough, there was a coin in the fish's mouth, just like Christ said—enough to pay the tax for them both."
"Most people agree that it was this type of Tilapia," I said. "Because it's got a spot in its mouth where it carries its young—a little indentation that's about the size of a coin. It also scavenges and picks up other stuff, like pebbles, that end up in that spot. That's why they think it was this certain fish. They call a St. Peter's fish now because of that story."
"That's awesome," Anna said. "Have you ever found a coin in one?"
"I've actually never caught that kind of fish," I said as I began cutting into the Snook. "I think they might be native to Israel."
"That'd be something if you caught one and found a treasure in its mouth," Ash's mom said.
"It really would," I said.
"Do you ever check other kinds of fish, just in case?" she asked.
"I'm gonna start checking them," my mom said. "If one kind of fish can do it, then maybe others can too. You never know. And there's all sorts of treasure down here in south Florida. I might find something amazing."
I finished filleting one half of the Snook, setting the fillet on the platter before turning the fish over to begin working on the other side.
"That was fast!" Ken said. "I didn't even see you do it. Are you done with half of it already?"
"She's fast," my mom said, nodding.
"So, what did Peter do?" Ash's mom asked. "Did he just open the fish's mouth and stick his finger in there? Where would the pocket be? Under its tongue? Do fish have tongues?"
I set down the knife and picked up the Snook, holding its head toward her to demonstrate. "There would be a pocket right…" I hesitated, feeling a large hook with my fingers. "This one has a hook," I said. I fiddled around with the foreign object, realizing it came loose easily.
I pulled it out of the Snook's mouth.
What I thought was a hook was actually a circular metal object, and I instantly laughed thinking it was amazing that I actually found something besides a hook in its mouth. I turned the object over, inspecting it.
"What is it?" my dad asked.
"Was there something in there?" Ken asked.
Anna leaned in, getting closer. "What is that?" she asked.
"It's a ring," I said. "A woman's ring. It's got a diamond on it."
"Is it real?" my brother asked. "If it is, I caught that fish."
I glanced at him with narrowed eyes. I felt the oddest dream-like sensation when I found that ring—not because I thought it was for me—that thought didn't even cross my mind. It was surreal because there was actually something in this fish's mouth. We had just talked about the possibility of it happening, and now it was.
"This is crazy," I said, turning over the ring. "I'm gonna seriously start checking fish's mouths from now on."
Everyone was standing by, huddled around me, trying to get a look at what I found. I stared at the ring again before glancing at Ash.
"It's nice," I said, still having no idea what was going on.
Ash smiled at me.
He wasn't looking at the ring, and he didn't seem amazed at all. He just stood there, staring at me sweetly with those golden eyes. Something was off. He wasn't behaving like someone who had just witnessed the miracle of me pulling a diamond ring out of the mouth of a Snook.
That's when I realized that it wasn't a miracle at all. The ring had been placed there. Ash's smile broadened when he saw it dawn on me. My hands dropped, but I continued to stare at him.
"Is this a—"
Before I could finish my sentence, Ash dropped to his knee. My heart began pumping blood at double speed—triple speed.
"Abigail, my family loves my playing and everything, but they didn't come here for my performance last night."
I glanced across the table at his mother, who shook her head, confirming Ash's statement. Instantly, I focused on Ash again. He was holding my hand (the one that was clutching a ring). My other hand still had on a bulky cutting glove, and I watched numbly as Ash let go of my gloveless hand so that he could pull off the cutting glove and set it on the table. He smiled at me once it was done, holding both of my hands in his.
My eyes were already beginning to sting.
"They came to Florida for this, Abigail. To be here when I ask you to—"
"Yes!" I said, unable to stop myself.
My face crumpled, and I pulled my hand out of his to cover it. This made Ash stand up and take me into his arms. I could feel him shaking with laughter as he held me.
"I didn't even get to ask you," he said. "What if I was going to ask you to go out for ice cream with me?"
"You weren't," I said, still crying.
I could feel him continue to laugh as he held me even tighter. "You're right, I wasn't," he said. "I love you, Abigail."
I took a gasping breath. "I love you too," I said.
"I'm gonna marry you, okay?" he said, just to confirm that we were on the same page.
"I know," I said in a whimper, still unable to stop sobbing. "I'm g-gonna marry you, too," I added.
I could feel everyone begin patting our shoulders and congratulating us. I smelled fish on my hands mixed with the clean, familiar smell of Ash. It felt like home. Our families were gathered around us, moving and making all sorts of approving sounds.
I couldn't imagine a better moment—and I didn't have to, because this one was mine. Ours.
I loved Ash and he loved me.
And really, when I thought about it, this was just the beginning of our story.
The End
(till book 2)
In the time that followed, some of Abigail's best friends also found love. This series will follow their stories.