“I’m trying to make this day special. I thought about giving this to you on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, but then I realized what I love most about you, about us— is the little moments, spending our days and nights together doing ordinary things, relaxing with the cats, working together, laughing and loving each other. I don’t want to do this on a holiday. I just want you to know how special you are to me every day.
I love you, Emma and I love our life together, and I’d really love to make it official. We don’t have to commit to a date, but I do want to commit to each other, and I hope you do too. Will you make me the happiest man on Nantucket and say you’ll marry me?” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. The ring inside was perfect. It was a lovely diamond, not too big but not small, and it was set in an antique platinum setting. It was delicate and very pretty. “This was my grandmother’s ring. If you don’t like it, we can change it and get whatever you want.”
Emma’s eyes were suddenly watery, the ring blurry as she blinked back happy tears. “Yes! It’s perfect, Paul. I love it. More importantly, I love you. Thank you for making this such a special Sunday.”
He slid the ring on her finger, then stood and pulled her in for a hug and a sweet kiss. They broke apart when the stove timer beeped.
“Dinner’s ready. I hope you’re hungry?”
“I’m starving.” She watched as Paul pulled a pan out of the oven that had two thick strip steaks smothered in a blue cheese and panko crumb topping that was slightly browned from the broiler. He put each steak on a plate, then poured a red wine reduction sauce over it, added scalloped potatoes and roasted asparagus.
“That looks amazing. I didn’t realize we had any really good steaks.” When he’d said steak, she’d been picturing a simple thin cut, not these prime strips that were over an inch thick.
“I bought them yesterday and hid them in a drawer.”
She admired his planning, and couldn’t wait to show her sisters the ring. They were going to be thrilled. They’d been waiting for this to happen almost since they all started working together. Emma knew both of her sisters had hoped that she and Paul would find their way back to each other. And they had. After going their separate ways after high school and marrying other people, they were back together and it felt right. Emma sighed with contentment and couldn’t stop staring at her ring. She was glad that Paul hadn’t waited. He was right, this was much more special and unexpected, to get engaged at home, on a Sunday night. It was perfect.
* * *
Mandy and Jill were drinking coffee in the kitchen Monday morning around nine when there was a knock on the door. Mandy glanced out the window and saw Emma’s car parked out front. She often stopped in to visit over coffee on her day off, so Mandy didn’t think anything of it. She opened the door as Emma was walking towards it.
“Perfect timing, I just made a fresh pot of coffee. Jill and I were just gabbing and we have chocolate donuts too, if you’re interested. I know we shouldn’t but I was hungry when I was at the store and couldn’t help myself.” Mandy stopped talking when Emma held up her hand and showed off the sparkly new engagement ring.
“Oh, my gosh! And here I am babbling on about donuts. Come in, let me take a closer look.”
Emma stepped inside, and Mandy took her hand and leaned in to admire the ring. “Em, it’s really lovely. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. It was his grandmother’s.”
They went in the kitchen where Jill was already standing and she came over to see the ring too.
“It’s beautiful. When did he do it? Sit down and tell us everything.”
Mandy poured Emma a cup of coffee and put a donut on a plate. Emma reached for it immediately and broke a piece off and popped it in her mouth. She loved sweets.
“He asked me last night. Made an amazing dinner while I was in the shower and then got down on one knee. It was a total surprise.”
“I thought he might do it on Christmas,” Jill said.
“I wondered about that too,” Emma admitted. “But he said he didn’t want to do it on a holiday. That it was special enough, just getting engaged and Sunday night felt right.”
“That’s so romantic,” Mandy said. “I’m so happy for you, Emma. Paul’s such a great guy.”
Emma smiled. “Thanks. I think so too.”
“What are you guys up to today?” Jill asked.
“We’re actually heading off-island soon, to do some shopping in Hyannis and depending how much time we have, we might see a movie.”