Chapter Thirty-Nine

Axel

I was on my way to see Dominic’s new home. I couldn’t believe that he had two homes, but was glad that he now had one in the area for when he visited. I asked Dominic how Pop felt about the whole thing considering he had always offered up his home to them when they visited, but Dominic said they already thought of that. Now that there were three of them, it wasn’t so easy staying in the garage at Pop’s. And when they came into town, they wanted to stay for weeks or even months at a time. For that, they needed their own place. Pop understood. But Candice had also surprised him by turning one of the rooms into a room for Pop. It was a big house, so they still had another room spare for guests. Pop’s room would only be for him. Apparently, he’d been delighted. I was glad. If there was anyone that deserved that, it was Pop. He was like a second father to me and someone I would always turn to in life. I smiled as I made my way to their house. I couldn’t wait to see it.

The house looked beautiful from the outside, and as I pulled into the driveway, I thought how lucky Stacy was to have this as her first home. I climbed out and made my way to the front door. When Dominic and Candice showed me inside, I saw that the inside was even better than the outside.

“Wow, this is quite some place,” I said to them. “You’re not going to want to leave.”

Candice smiled. “I said the same thing. And, who knows, maybe we won’t.”

“Really?”

“Right now we have no idea. Dominic is going to be getting back to his football soon, and we’re not sure where that’s going to take us. But it would be nice if we could base ourselves here for a while. We like being near Pop and near you and Savannah. Speaking of, where is Savannah? I thought she’d be here too.”

I chuckled. “Actually, Savannah has no idea that I’m here.”

“Really? How come? And why do you have such a mischievous look on your face? Come  sit down; tell us everything. Because clearly, something is going on.”

I took a seat and looked at them. “Well, as you know, I’m madly in love with Savannah,” I started.

“YOU’RE GOING TO PROPOSE!” Candice yelled and jumped up in excitement.

“Wait, don’t jump to conclusions,” Dominic said and chuckled at his excited wife.

I laughed but didn’t say anything. Dominic’s eyes grew wider as he looked at me.

“Wait . . . is she right? Are you going to propose?”

I nodded. “I sure am.”

Candice jumped up and gave me a hug.

“I’m so excited. I knew you were going to do it soon. She’s so perfect for you, Axel.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I think so too. And, after seeing the two of you together, well . . . that’s what I want.”

“Do you think she’s going to say yes though?” Dominic asked.

Candice gasped and looked at her husband as if he was completely insane. “Are you crazy? Those two are perfect together.”

He laughed. “I’m just kidding. Of course she’s going to say yes. She’d be mad not to.”

“So, how are you going to propose?”

“I thought of a million ways to do it, but to be honest, Savannah is not one for extravagant things. Also, after everything that happened, we sort of want our lives to be simple now. So, I was thinking of getting Bobby involved and asking her with him there. I don’t know. Is that a stupid idea? I wanted to get your advice, Candice.”

Candice grinned at me. “That is the best idea ever. And knowing Savannah, she’ll appreciate that more than anything else. Yes, I think you should do that. Do you think Bobby is going to give it away though?”

I laughed. “I was thinking the same thing. He might get so excited and just blurt it out. So I was thinking of telling him on the day it happens.”

“Good idea. And, any idea when that is going to be?”

“Actually, I was sort of thinking tomorrow might be a good idea.”

“Tomorrow?”

“No time like the present. I just don’t feel like waiting anymore. I don’t see the point. But I do need your help if it’s all going to happen.”

“Of course, name it.”

“I need to get her a ring. Any chance you guys want to come with me today?”

Candice grinned. “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day.”

And so, we all headed out to the shops to spend a day ring shopping. I’d told Savannah that I was off seeing sponsors. I’d sent her to Spike’s makeshift office to do some work. Spike knew where I really was and had promised to keep her busy. So there was no way she was going to find out and no chance of us bumping into her. I thought ring shopping was going to be easy, but the moment we got to the shop, I was overwhelmed by the number of choices on offer. And everything I seemed to like, Candice hated, and vice versa. And then I saw it. I knew immediately it was the one. Three tiny silver bands twisted around each other. It was both simple and intricate at the same time and reminded me a lot of our life together. I picked it up and took it over to Candice and Dominic. They both nodded.

“That’s the one.”

I smiled and took it right over to the shop assistant without even bothering to check the price tag.

“That’s the one,” I told her. And just like that, I had found my ring.

“When are you popping the question?” the woman asked me.

I smiled. “Tomorrow!”

 

***

 

The next day came about quickly. I’d barely slept the night before, but thankfully Savannah seemed to have no idea. I’d hidden the ring so that she couldn’t find it and the next day the two of us had gone to work at Spike’s. We’d gone about our normal day, and then about two hours before the end of the day, I pretended to get a phone call from a sponsor asking me to come and see them. In truth, it was just Dominic on the other side of the phone.

“I’m sorry to do this to you, but I have to go. That was one of the sponsors. He’s asked me to come by and see him. Mind staying here and finishing up? I’ll come by in about an hour or two to pick you up on the way home.”

“Of course. Go ahead! I have tons to get through anyway. Good luck!”

“Thank you,” I said and smiled. “I’ll need it.”

The moment I got out of Spike’s house, I made my way home to get things ready. In the art of keeping things simple, I moved the bed in the basement to the side and put out a small table and three chairs. I put a bottle of champagne in the middle and a vase of flowers. I looked around the room, smiled and made my way to get Bobby.

“Daddy!” he screamed when he saw me. I loved how happy he always was to see me. I gave him a big hug, and the two of us made our way to Pop’s to get Toto. Toto came bounding out to see us, and we all waved and said thank you to Pop before getting back in the car.

“Where’s Mommy?” Bobby asked.

“We’re going to get her. But first, I want to talk to you about something important.”

He turned to look at me.

I smiled at his little face. “First, I want to ask you a question.”

“I love questions.”

I chuckled. “I know you do. Well, this one is very important. Are you happy living with me?”

“Yes. Oh please don’t make us move again. I don’t to go back to that house,” he said and his face crumpled with worry. I felt so bad for him.

“You are never going back there again. Don’t worry. Actually, I wanted to know how you would feel about me asking your mommy to marry me?”

His eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yeah, but only if you are happy with it.”

“Yes. I’m happy! I’m so happy! That’s what I wanted. I even had a dream about it. I knew it was going to happen.”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you’re happy. Because I want us to be one big family together. And I want you and Mommy to live with me forever.”

“That’s what I want too. And Toto.”

“And Toto of course. Now, can you keep a little secret?”

He nodded. “I can. I’m very good with secrets.”

“That’s good to know. Well, this is the ring that I’m going to give to Mommy.” I took out the ring and showed it to him, and he gasped.

“WOW!”

“Cool, huh?”

“So cool!”

“I’m going to ask her today. We’re going to go now and get some curry for dinner and then go pick her up. I want you to keep this a secret. I’ve made a nice little pretend restaurant for us in the basement. Then, I’m going to ask your mommy if she wants to marry me. If she says yes, I want you to give her the ring.”

“Me?”

I nodded. “Yes, I want you to be a part of it. You can keep the ring in your pocket. So, what do you think of my plan? Can you keep it a secret?”

He zipped his lips with his fingers. “That’s how you keep a secret.”

I smiled at him. “You’re a great boy.”

We got the curry and then got Savannah. When she got into the car, she grinned.

“Oh, this is a nice surprise. I didn’t know you were going to be here, Bobby.”

“I decided to get him and Toto on my way.”

“And I smell curry! Tell me that’s curry I smell?”

I chuckled. “It sure is. I figured we deserved a treat tonight.”

“Ah, you’re the best,” she said. “That’s exactly what I feel like eating tonight.”

I turned around and winked at Bobby, and he giggled. When we got to the house, I told Savannah to take a warm bubble bath and said I had a surprise for her. While she was in the bath, Bobby and I got everything ready downstairs. We put little candles all over the room to light it up, and we put the curry on the table. Then, when Savannah was finished with her bath, we took her downstairs.

“What’s going on?” she asked as we walked down the stairs to the basement. She gasped when she got to the bottom and saw what we had done. “Oh wow, this is beautiful.”

“Welcome to Café Basement,” I said and pulled out a chair for her.

“Only the best restaurant ever!” she said. “Why are you both looking at me like that?”

I looked at Bobby, and he nodded at me. He looked like he was going to burst any moment if I didn’t say anything, so I knew I had to act quick. I smiled at Savannah through the light of the candle.

“Savannah, I love you. I fell in love with you six years ago, and I fell in love with you all over again. I also fell in love with Bobby.”

“And Toto!” Bobby said in a loud whisper.

I chuckled. “And, of course, I fell in love with Toto. I have never been this happy, and my life has never been so fulfilled. Savannah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”

Bobby walked forward and took the ring out of his pocket. He handed it to Savannah. “Will you marry Daddy?”

Savannah looked at me and then looked at Bobby and then back at me. Tears were streaming down her face. She put the ring on her finger and nodded.

“Oh wow, it’s so beautiful. And yes, of course, I’ll marry you,” she said with a smile and a sniffle. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my entire life. Thank you, Axel. Thank you, Bobby. I love you both so much.”

“And Toto!” Bobby said again.

Savannah chuckled. “And Toto. I love you all.”